Siem Reap: your gateway to the Angkor temples

Siem Reap Cambodia

Siem Reap Temples Siem Reap, which literally means the “Defeat of Siam”, is the most prosperous region of contemporary Cambodia. Its close proximity to the Angkor Wat temple complex has turned the city into one of the world’s premier travel destinations. More than one million travelers visit Siem Reap every year to explore over a thousand years of Khmer heritage built near Tonle Sap Lake, the foundation of the economic power of the ancient Cambodian empire.

The heart of Siem Reap’s tourist district is known as Old Market, or Psah Chas. This part of town is home to a large concentration of restaurants and shops geared towards an ever-increasing number of American, British and European tourists. The influx of tourism has transformed a quiet little city into a bustling downtown area with an eclectic array of restaurants, bars and nightclubs that rivals any college town along with a night market that keep going well past midnight.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Temples Scattered across a 1,000 square mile region of northern Cambodia are the ruins of one hundred or so temples and monuments.

These magnificent structures are the remnant of a thousand year old Khmer civilization that once reigned over all of Cambodia, portions of Thailand and Vietnam, and across the Bay of Bengal.

The most famous of these ruins is the temple complex of Angkor Wat, sometimes spelled Angkor Vat or Angkor Watt.

The best way to experience Angkor Wat is to allocate at least one week to the exploration of the massive temple ensemble. Many travelers mistakenly approach Angkor Wat as though it were a Japanese pagoda or a European cathedral – something that can be examined in a day.

Angkor Wat, however, is not a mere monument. It was once a thriving metropolis that contained all of the elements of a modern city, such as irrigation, religious edifices, agriculture, and military operations.

Siem Reap Hotels

Angkor Temples In recent years, Siem Reap has reinvented itself as the center of modern-day Cambodia.

The city has risen to meet the demands of an ever-increasing wave of tourists, most of which are en route to the world famous Angkor Wat temple ruins.

There are a great range of hotels in Siem Reap including luxury resorts, first-class spas, and an eclectic array of hotels and guesthouses have sprung up throughout the city.

Siem Reap is the perfect entry point into Cambodia’s northern temple region. The city’s close proximity to Angkor Wat, as well as its laid-back vibe, has turned Siem Reap into one of the world’s premier travel destinations.

And don’t worry, the tourism boom hasn’t caused Siem Reap to let go of its Khmer heritage… the city has retained its longstanding traditions, allowing visitors to experience authentic Cambodia.

Additional pages on this website

Destination map

Latest News from this website

Casa Angkor Hotel
Location: Oum Chhay / Oum Khun Street, Mondol 1, Svay Dangkom Tel: N/A Web: www.casaangkorhotel.com Rates: From US$46 The Casa Angkor Hotel is a colonial-style getaway located on the outskirts of Siem Reap. Lush gardens, an open-air restaurant, and a cozy reading room support the Casa Angkor’s peaceful, relaxing atmosphere. The Siem Reap River flows nearby: the perfect place [...] No related posts.
Preah Pithu
Temple Name: Preah Pithu Notable Features: Obscure pyramid-style ruins in advanced disrepair. Getting There: Preah Pithu is located on the right side of the road, just east of the Terrace of the Leper King and the Terrace of the Elephants in Angkor Thom. Five Obscure Temples in the Jungle Preah Pithu is a group of five small temples, all [...] No related posts.
Preah Palilay
Temple Name: Preah Palilay Notable Features: Chimney-shaped tower. Getting There: Take the pathway behind Tep Pranam northwest for 150 meters. Preah Palilay is located inside Angkor Thom. The Chimney of the Khmer Preah Palilay is a Buddhist monument built sometime in the 12th century. According to Khmer lore, the name Preah Palilay is an adaptation of the name “Parilyyaka”, [...] No related posts.
Our Siem Reap Guide
This site is inspired by our trip to Cambodia in December of 2008 and particularly by Ara, our Siem Reap Guide*. We met Ara an hour after we arrived in town while having lunch at Khmer Kitchen on Avenue 9. She spent a couple days as our local guide and arranged for our tuk-tuk, for [...] No related posts.
Experience The Power Of Angkor Wat
Notable Features: More than 2000 richly ornamented Apsara carvings. Gorgeous sunrise over the northern reflection pond. Getting There: Angkor Wat, Cambodia is located about 5.5 km north of Siem Reap. It is impossible to miss, for it is the largest monument in Angkor. Any tuk tuk driver or tour guide will know how to get there. The [...] No related posts.

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