How millennials do “Last day in Siem Reap”:
✔See the town on foot
✔Check out the Art scene
✔Starbucks Afternoon
✔Visit local markets (bargain!bargain!)
✔Local Cuisine
✔Angkor beer
✔Pub Street the night away
Note: Millennial years start at 1981. DBS blogger @iamjosemanuel qualifies as one.
😋😬
Cebu Pacific Air flies Manila to Siem Reap 3x weekly. check schedule and ticket cost here http://bit.ly/CEB_SiemReap8
Without doubt, Angkor Wat of Siem Reap is one of the most celebrated heritage sites of our time. For more than 700 years, it was the centre of the Khmer empire. And still today, it remains as the spiritual heart of Cambodia.
Built between roughly A.D. 1113 and 1150, and encompassing an area of about 200 hectares, Angkor Wat is one of the largest religious monuments ever constructed. For the adventure junkies and photo enthusiasts, the best way to experience the complex is to rent a scooter and explore the temples for two to three days at your own pace. However, with proper planning, tourists with time constraints can still enjoy the best of Angkor in one full day. Tour starts at,
4:40AM – Buy Ticket 37 USD for 1 day . Should be bought personally because officers will take a photo of you. Ticket office is located 4 KM before reaching Angkor Complex. Ask police or tuk-tuk drivers if lost.
5:00AM – Sunrise Viewing
6:30AM – Coffee/Breakfast at local stalls nearby. People watch.
7:30AM – Angkor Wat Main Temple . Visit the four galleries showcasing well preserved stone carvings that tell stories of the Khmer royals and their religious beliefs (appreciate better with a tour guide)
10:30AM – Early Lunch at Blue Pumpkin just outside the gate (The Chicken Ginger si a must try)
12:00NN – Bayon Temple – Towers of the four faces of Buddha. (This place gets crowded and with tight passages. Better visit when everyone’s mostly having lunch)
2:00PM – Elephant Terrace and other lesser pagodas near Bayon.
3:00PM – Ta Prohm – the temple swallowed by the rainforest. made more famous by Lara Croft/Angelina Jolie Movie. (Do some shopping here at random vendors. bargaining here is really cheap!)
5:30PM – end of tour.
Expected Expenses for a day tour:
1) 37 USD Entrance ticket 1 day
2) 25++ USD Tuktuk/Tricycle rental
3) 20 USD Meals and coffee
4) Memories and stories to tell – PRICELESS!
optional expenses
1) 30+ USD – Guide -(PM me on facebook Biyahe ni Josemanuel for reco)
2) 40+ USD – car rental (in lieu of tuktuk)
3) 10+ USD – electric motorbike (limited use)
Tip: Visit Angkor National museum a day before the actual site tour to better understand the Ancient Cambodian (Khmer) history. only 12 USD.
Cebu Pacific Air flies Manila to Siem Reap, Cambodia 3x weekly.
check schedule and ticket cost at http://bit.ly/CEB_SiemReap8
Have more time in Siem Reap to spend? Check out the THREE DAY ITINERARY by clicking here.
With all these promo airfares popping almost every weekend, it is now easier for us Filipinos to plan weekend getaways overseas without spending so much. Vietnam, Hongkong, Thailand and Singapore are nearby destinations we usually visit, as these countries are just around 3 hours away by plane, and are Visa-free for Filipinos.
Aiming to encourage people to see beyond the usual, I am uploading a series of blogs shedding more light to a humble Buddhist nation seated between Thailand and Vietnam, which is the Kingdom of Cambodia (…also Visa-free up to 21 days for Filipinos and we have direct flights as well).
Two weeks ago, I had a chance to revisit Siem Reap,Cambodia. It was my second time to see the city. Still enchanting and deep-rooted as it has always been. Among our neighbouring Southeast Asian nations, Cambodia probably boasts the most intriguing records of ancient times. The Khmer (ancient Cambodian) civilization dates back 802 CE. The preserved ruins and temples tell a lot of stories. Written words will never be enough to describe a Cambodian experience. As such, I am sharing a sample itinerary, expenses and places to see in Siem Reap, with hopes on encouraging readers to include Cambodia up their travel bucket list.
Here’s a sample three-day Itinerary that may help you plan your weekend stay in Siem Reap. I made this itinerary as relaxed as possible.
Take the weekend flight. Cebu Pacific flies Manila to Siem Reap every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Take the Thursday flight out, and return on Sunday. Three days in Siem Reap is good enough. For proper schedule and ticket cost, click here.
Day 0 (Thursday): Cebu Pacific flies to Siem Reap in the evening. With this, pwede ka pa mag half day sa work and file a scheduled leave in the afternoon. File mo na din Friday. Don’t forget.
There’s an hour time difference between Siem Reap and Manila. You’ll probably arrive there at 10 PM.
Day 1 (Friday): Siem Reap is most known for its centuries-old Buddhist Temples,made more famous by Angelina Jolie in her movie “Tomb Raider”. Most tourists visit the temple complex immediately on the first day. However, I highly suggest that we visit the “Angkor National Museum” before entering the temple proper. The museum’s presentation of Cambodia’s historical timeline is impressive. A visit to the museum will give a better perspective and understanding on the history of Cambodia, and on how and why these sacred temples were built. This is highly suggested for history and Architecture enthusiasts. Ticket is only 12 USD. Optional 5 dollars to rent a walk-thru audio guide in English, to further explain each exhibit you are viewing.
Late afternoon is a good time to visit the temple. Spend your hours at the Angkor Main Temple ’til sunset.
Three Days Temple Pass costs 62 USD per person (One day Pass is also available at 37 USD, and Seven days pass at 72 USD. Kids 12 and below are free, with passport as proof).
In the evening, you may opt to avail traditional Thai massage for relaxation. Casual street massage cost 6 to 8 USD. Spa setting or hotel service at 12 to 20 USD. Your hotels can help you book this if desired.
Day 2 – Sunrise at Angkor Wat. Be on site at 5:00 AM to experience the breathtaking moment, as the sun shines striking colours and atmospheric effects against the spiring towers of the Angkor. Spend the rest of the day touring nearby cluster of temples built between 9th to 12th Century
Bayon Temple. The most intricate temple with 54 towers, decorated with 216 smiling faces of Buddha.
Ta Prohm . The Tomb Raider Temple. (Sidewalk bargains here are the cheapest. Just haggle.)
Banteay Srei. renowned for its intricate decoration of carved sandstone that covers the walls like tapestry. Portrait photo by @Detourista
Tuktuk drivers normally charge 25 USD for a whole day service (Driver and car included). However, a trip to Banteay may require an additional 5 USD, as this cluster is around 30 minutes away from the rest of the temples.
After whole day temple hopping, spend the Saturday night at Siem Reap’s city centre Pub street.
Day 3 (Sunday): Shopping day. Siem Reap local products are cheap. The main old market is the best place to haggle and shop in the morning. The Art Centre Market in front is also worth visiting. For the rest of the day, you may just laze around the artsy cafes and restaurants while waiting for your flight. Cebu pacific has a Sunday evening flight back to Manila. Back to work on Monday. =)
Rough Budget :
Where we stayed:
Crown Angkor Hotel (link here). Hotel pool area photo grabbed from hotel’s official Facebook page with permission.
Related links:
One Day Angkor Wat Sample Itinerary
Foodtripping Around Siem Reap
Siem Reap, Cambodia and Bangkok, Thailand are probably the two most visited and most interesting cities in Indo-China Peninsula , and given enough days, visiting these two cities in one vacation is possible since they are just around 5-6 hours direct travel ( 400 kms.) on lean days (not much immigration cue) , and border crossing is relatively easy.
There are several options when travelling to Bangkok from Siem Reap, depending on ones preferred time schedule and budget. Below are some of the usual options done by backpackers . Hope this would help.
The cheapest way is to have several transfers (Bus+Tuktuk+Train) which only costs around 16 USD , exclusive of Visas if required. See http://www.seat61.com/Cambodia.htm#Siem Reap for detailed Information.
Speedboats can also take you from one city to another for 35 to 40 USD, which is probably the most scenic and adventurous option that makes it worth the pay.
The easiest way to travel between these cities is with Nattakan Direct Bus Lines which has just been launched Feb 2013 . Be aware that some travel agencies in Siem Reap would recommend a different direct bus to Bangkok, when in fact you would still be transferring to another bus when you get to Thailand. Nattakan Bus Line is the only public bus recognized and allowed by government of both nations to take passengers directly between the two cities.
For convenience and to avoid touts and hassle , I took this Bus trip for 28 , USD , inclusive of AM Snack , Coffee , packed lunch and water. All passengers are given an ID for the trip.
Do note that there are No Visa fees for Filipinos and and other Aseans when crossing these borders , and Thailand is kind enough not to collect minimal entry fees, unlike when entering Cambodia and Laos.
Thai Immigration is just around 150 meters walk from Cambodian Immigration, and you will notice large hotels and casinos at the Cambodian side. Gambling is illegal in Thailand.
After clearing with Thai immigration at Aranyaprathet , the bus loads up all the registered passengers , then head directly to Bangkok . No more bus stops since the bus also has a comfort room . Travel time took around 8 hours , including immigration stop overs and an hour traffic we got when we entered Bangkok.
My Visit to Angkor Wat Complex has somewhat put to reality the days when we used to research and detail this temple for our History of Architecture Subject. More than Just a sacred Religious Site for Buddhist , Angkor Wat is a showcase of early mankind’s craftsmanship and ingenuity, making it one of Man’s greatest Architectural Masterpieces . On my first morning in Siem Reap, I rented a tuktuk for $ 19 USD that i could catch the temple as the sun rises behind its towers and perfect symmetry. At 4:30 am , Indeed, it was amazing!
Angkor Complex is around 20 minutes ride from the city. It would have been cheaper if I knew how to ride a bike since they can be rented for only 3 USD. Entrance fee to the complex is 20 USD. You get an ID Pass with your picture in it.
I did not book a guide to talk me though the temples but I made brief researches on its history, and also the maps and brochures I got from Angkor Museum were helpful.
The Angkor Wat Main Building ,
The biggest and most well preserved. While generally considered a temple for worship, some expert say this was built as a tomb , because of its west orientation.
The Bayon in Angkor Thom,
one of the most widely recognised temple in Siem Reap because of the giant stone faces that adorn the towers. Built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII, the Bayon stands at the centre of Jayavarman’s capital, Angkor Thom.
The Ta Prohm
Strangely beautiful as it has been taken over by the jungle , and minimal restoration has been done to maintain its atmosphere of of trees growing out of the ruins. This is the most dramatic of all Khmer Temples .
After I visited the lesser temples , I asked my tuktuk driver to take me back to the main Angkor Wat to see the sunset. But it was obvious that a storm was brewing, so we decided to head back to the City.
It was a tiring day of walking and climbing, but Ill definitely visit this place again to take an Angkor Sunset Selfie =)
On my last day in Siem Reap , I decided to make it my ‘No Itinerary day’ and just experience the charming small city on foot. I Got up at 6 am and decided to visit the central market to experience how the locals start their day. Indeed, it was an interesting morning where everything was relatively new to my senses.
Central Siem Reap on Foot .
A Local referred me to this 4 usd Khmer Shabu Shabu / BBQ Buffet walking distance from Angkor Thom Guesthouse ! super sulit .
Perfect way to cap a tiring day is a relaxing 2 USD foot massage by the street with wifi, fruits and drinks .
Travelling from Vietnam to Cambodia was probably the easiest border crossing I had so far. Below is my travel experience from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Siem Reap, Cambodia . Hope this would help .
There are a number of bus companies travelling HMC to Siem Reap route which takes around 10 hours (500 km) between two cities. I booked my ticket with Sinh Tourist Inc, which is conveniently located near Bui Vien St. where I stayed in HMC. Ticket was at 23 usd, leaving HMC at 6 AM. I booked this a day in Advance. There were other bus options available and some are cheaper by a dollar or two, but since I am travelling solo, I prefer to take the earliest departure time available to get me to Siem Reap before dark.
Upon crossing the border, one can immediately see the distinctiveness between the two nations. Vietnam has stretched its commercial development up to the border while the surrounding immediately changed to rural scenes and flat lands the moment you reach Cambodia. The architecture also changes, from the Chinese-inspired buildings in Vietnam to Cambodia’s shrines and residences more similar to Thailand.
We left Ho Chi Minh at around 6:30 am and Reached Vietnam Border at Moc Bai in 2 hours , the bus staff took our passport and assisted us in the Vietnamese immigration, then we hopped on the bus again to the Cambodian immigration which was just 200 meters away.
The Cambodian border was too relaxed, our baggages were not even checked . We were also asked to pay 2 Dollars for processing and stamping fee. Some said this was tout by that immigration office but I did not bother to argue about it.
We got our passport back and left the immigration building ,crossed the Mekong River for about 15 minutes by ferry and travelled for 3 hours to Cambodia’s Capital , Phnom Penh . We arrived at Sinh Tourist Office in Phnom Penh at around 12 nn, had lunch and a quick look around at the nearby market , while waiting for our bus transfer to Siem Reap at 2 pm..
Central Cambodia is generally flat , rice fields , with some vast patches of swampy areas. Road itself was OK. Some parts are a bit bumpy , but I dare not complain since I am used to travelling by bus here in the Philippines and some provincial roads are worse .
We arrived in Siem Reap at 7 pm , at the Sinh Tourist office opposite the Angkor National Museum . Siem Reap is relatively a city which is easy to navigate with the help of google map. Cambodians generally accept US Dollars, even for fares and in public market purchases.
I took a tuk-tuk for 1 USD to the Central Market where a lot of guest houses can be found. Streets were wide and well lit.
I did not make any prior hotel reservations since I was looking for decent affordable dorm types and wanted to check my options first before booking . But for convenience, pre booked hotels are ideal .
Travel + Lifestyle + Architecture Blog 