2015 Visitors Guide

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Getting around in Siem Reap, even by foot, is very easy and tuk-tuks are awaiting weary feet on every street corner. Bicycles (for as low as $1 for a daily rental) do make for an interesting and fun means of transport, especially through the shady foliage of the Angkor temples. Please note that although motorbikes are now available for rent, it is not advisable unless you’re willing to take the risk of crazy, chaotic traffic!

To prepare yourself for Siem Reap, we highly recommend reading Move to Cambodia, a great website written by Lina Goldberg. It is full of useful tips and information, and very well updated.

Air Travel

Many international airlines fly directly to Siem Reap every day. The Siem Reap International Airport is only 7km and a 20-minute ride away from the town center. The airport now has an official taxi stand, and you will be encouraged to book a taxi with a standard flat rate.

Tuk-tuks are officially no longer allowed into the airport, but some tuk-tuk drivers manage to find their way in to look for guests at the arrival area, and others are gathered outside the main airport exit. (The one-way tuk-tuk fare from the airport ranges from US$5 to $7 – depending on your bargaining skills!)

Overland from Bangkok

Bangkok and Siem Reap is a mere 357 km apart and there are a variety of transport options available. The border crossing is only open from 8am to 10pm, so plan your trip to avoid being stranded. The name of the town on the Thai side of the border is Aranyaprathet, crossing it brings you to the Cambodian side of Poipet.

Minibuses have been the most popular (yet not the most reputable) choice, and tickets are sold by many travel agents throughout Bangkok, but do involve a vehicle change at the border. There is a new, increasingly popular, direct bus service running from Mo Chit bus station in Bangkok to Siem Reap (and vice-versa). It departs Bangkok at 9am daily and costs 750 Baht ($23). The bus will take travellers to the border, wait in Poipet until passengers have cleared customs, and then continues the journey to Siem Reap.

Another option is taking the a minibus or the train (from Hua Lum Phong station near Khao San) to Aranyaprathet, then taking a quick tuk-tuk ride to the border. Once on the Cambodian side in Poipet, getting a shared taxi from to Siem Reap (2 hours, approx. $35-40/per car) is a popular and efficient choice. Total travel time from Bangkok to Siem Reap is approx. 8 hours, including the border crossing, but please be aware that this may vary!

More details on Move to Cambodia
♦   Crossing the Poipet/Aranyaprathet border overland
♦   How to get from Siem Reap to Bangkok (and vice versa)
♦   Review: Direct bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap

Overland from Phnom Penh

There are many plenty of bus and minibus companies serving this popular route. Travel time is usually between 6 and 7 hours. Note that there is no one official bus terminal in Phnom Penh, and buses leave from each company’s own station. Bus companies usually offer a free pick-up from your hotel. The best is to pre-book with your hotel / guesthouse, or with one of the many travel agents in town. 

More details on Move to Cambodia:
♦   How to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (and vice versa)

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Visas

Most nationalities can obtain a 30-day Cambodian tourist visa upon arrival at the airport or border crossing (have ready US$30 and 2 passport photos) or can apply for an e-visa in advance. (Planning to stay longer than 30 days? Tourist visas are single-entry only, so apply for an ordinary visa instead, which can be further extended. More details in the link below.)

Please Note: Some nationalities are not allowed to get an e-visa, a visa-on-arrival, or enter through border crossings. These nationalities have to visit a Cambodian embassy to obtain the visa before entering the country. Please check your individual visa requirements carefully prior to your trip.

More details on Move to Cambodia: Cambodian Visas
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We wish you a safe journey and are looking forward to having you with us at the 11th Angkor Photo Festival!

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Since the discovery of the Angkor complexes, the town of Siem Reap has transformed from a small village into a major tourist hub of Cambodia. More than two million visitors come to see the ancient wonder every year. Siem Reap is the capital of the Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia, and the gateway to the magnificent Angkor Wat temples. The awe-inspiring heritage site, originally built for King Suryavarman II, was the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to 13th century. Often referred to as the 8th World Wonder, Angkor Wat is now a protected UNESCO World Heritage site. While the historical site is what Siem Reap has become well known for, visitors to the town will soon realize there is a lot more to discover and enjoy. From its friendly and welcoming residents to its charming colonial and Chinese-style architecture, the charming town is also next to the Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Siem Reap is home to a lively restaurant and bar scene, colorful local markets, museums, spas, art galleries, yoga retreats, handicraft workshops, and an array of shops with many treasures to discover.

DID YOU KNOW?

♦   In Khmer language, ‘rice’ and ‘food’ is the same term!

♦   Siem Reap literally translates to “Flat Defeat of Thailand”.

♦   Traditional boat racing, buffalo racing, Pradal Serey, Khmer traditional wrestling, and Bokator are the local sports of Cambodia.

♦   Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake, the Tonlé Sap’s flow actually changes direction twice a year, draining into the Mekong River in Phnom Penh during the dry season, and then backing up during the heavy monsoon season into the enormous lake.

All photos by the amazing Anjali kids from our annual Anjali Photo Workshops.

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Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa

Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa provides a sense of serenity with the nostalgic comfort and elegant refinement of the French Art de Vivre in the heart of Siem Reap. The building’s graceful colonial architecture of the 1930’s provides a sense of peaceful tranquility. The Hotel has been designed to be in total harmony with its natural surroundings and is enchantingly situated in the heart of Siem Reap, opposite the Royal Park.

Webiste: www.victoriaangkorhotel.com

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Alliance Angkor

Alliance is an oasis of calm right in the heart of vibrant Siem Reap. Situated in a stylish French colonial building constructed in 1953, previously home to the French cultural centre, our guests enjoy an Old World atmosphere complete with modern comforts. The experience is enhanced by a beautiful garden and a salt water pool offering an ideal way to unwind at the end of the day.

FESTIVAL BOOKING PROMOTION!

Looking for a great place to stay while in Siem Reap? Alliance Angkor is offering all festival attendees an special rate of only US$50 a night!
Simply book directly with the Festival Secretariat to redeem this offer with our wonderful accommodation partner.

Website: www.allianceangkor.com

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Park Hyatt

The Park Hyatt Siem Reap is the city’s most prestigious address. Located in the heart of the city, 104 rooms and suites are encased in an elegant, contemporary, residential facade that dramatically rises above Siem Reap’s skyline, and secluded by manicured gardens from public view. Park Hyatt Siem Reap is located in the centre of Siem Reap town. It is the best hotel in Siem Reap that is within a safe and short walking distance to the Old French Quarters where restaurants, bars and curio shops abound.

Webiste: www.siemreap.park.hyatt.com

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Heritage Suites

This sophisticated boutique retreat is nestled in tropical gardens within what we call our village, a few paces from the peaceful Siem Reap River. We are only 6 kilometers from the renowned Angkor temples and 15 minutes from Siem Reap international airport. It takes a gratifying 4 minutes tuk tuk ride to reach the Old Market, the new fascinating National Museum and lively Pub Street. The Heritage is the ideal intimate base for an astounding Angkor experience. With only 26 suites and rooms, we can truly focus on a highly customized service, authenticity and tradition, while providing all expected modern facilities. The architecture, the beautifully spacious suites, the unequalled kindness and efficiency of the Staff and its culinary delights make Heritage unique as a luxurious sanctuary.

Webiste: www.heritagesuiteshotel.com

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Rambutan

Rambutan Hotel & Resort – Siem Reap (Formerly known as Golden Banana Boutique Hotel & Resort) caters for the independent traveler who wants some privacy and luxury. The Boutique Resort is designed in a modern Asian style with locally crafted furniture sourced from sustainably-harvested palm wood, modular terrazzo surfaces, vibrant Asian art, Cambodian crafted silks, secluded balconies, alfresco private stone bathtubs and locally tiled floors. The Resort has a large salt water pool with water-fall, pool-bar, restaurant and massage, all set within a lush tropical garden.

Webiste: www.rambutanresortsr.com

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Royal Angkor Resort

A 5 star elegant hotel in Siem Reap, the Royal Angkor Resort & Spa consisted of 2.5 hectares of land with a beautiful landscaped garden and surrounded by colorful flowers and tall trees. Inspired by the early 20th century architecture, Royal Angkor Resort & Spa has its own unique theme combining the traditional Khmer design influence with exclusively handmade colonial style furniture and present-day’s technology fitted for present-day’s traveler.

Webiste: www.royalangkorresort.com

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Mulberry

Mulberry Boutique hotel is an oasis in the heart of Siem Reap. With 5 min walking distance to pub street, night market and the popular old market area, we are located in the heart of the city. We provide a quiet and relaxing atmosphere in the heart of Siem Reap within walking distance to all the city has to offer. After a long day at the temples, relax at our swimming pool with our house cocktails or/and food from our fusion kitchen. Or enjoy a relaxing Spa treatment in your room.

Webiste: www.mulberry-boutiquehotel.com

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Pavillon D’Orient

Pavilion d’Orient boutique hotel is an old Colonial Style resort that reflects the ancient traditional Cambodian architecture. There are four mansions hidden in a lush tropical garden located on the same premise. The small size and the limited number of rooms of our boutique hotel allows us to offer a genuinely personalized service to our clients. Come and enjoy the perfect place to discover the Magnificient Angkor Temples. Pavillon d’Orient Siem Reap is located along the road to the temples.

Webiste: www.pavillon-orient-hotel.com

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Sala Lodges

Sala Lodges capitalises on its simplicity to create a sense of absolute luxury, ideal for welcoming guests with exacting yet relaxed standards. The eleven wooden houses on stilts were spotted in villages in the Cambodian countryside, dismantled, transported and beautifully restored to offer the ultimate in comfort to guests.

Webiste: www.salalodges.com

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FCC Angkor

(FCC) Foreign Correspondents Club offers guests a quality dining and hospitality experience and attentive service in a relaxed environment. From our very first days FCC has been the meeting place for intrepid adventurers, locals and visitors from around the world – where, in colonial settings perfect for conversation, good food and drink have always been the order of the day. And, where over a great repast, sharing of information and telling of stories big and small, myths have been born.

Website: www.fcccambodia.com

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King’s Road Angkor

King’s Road Angkor offers an authentic modern vision of a traditional Khmer wooden village – in the heart of Siem Reap. When entering King’s Road Angkor, visually you are struck by the architecture. It’s a beautiful, enclosed courtyard style village on two levels. The outlets are set in individually designed, traditional Khmer wooden houses. The upper levels stand impressively on wooden stilts, with balconies and terraces overlooking the courtyard. King’s Road Angkor accommodates 15 world class restaurants & cafés and a dozen exclusive shopping boutiques.

Website: www.kingsroadangkor.com

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Hard Rock Café

Enjoy good food and a lively atmosphere at Hard Rock Cafe Angkor. Situated in an old colonial-style building in the historic city center, their two-story restaurant features 160 seats indoors and a large, 80-seat terrace overlooking the Siem Reap River. Enjoy their diverse menu features popular American dishes as well as signature dishes inspired by their location in the historic heart of Angkor.

Website: www.hardrock.com/cafes/angkor

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The Brothers

The Brothers is the perfect place for you and your friends by offering delicious breakfasts, coffee, beautiful music, Hi-speed Wi-fi plus nice view of Siem Reap river. Located at the heart of Kings Road we can offer food and beverage to all festival goers at a very reasonable price.

Website: www.facebook.com/TheBrothersKH

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Le Malraux

Located in the lively Old Market area in the heart of Siem Reap, the brasserie “Le Malraux” is a unique setting to fully enjoy a break from sightseeing temples. Discover their French and Khmer specialties in the open terrace on the main street or take a seat on their comfortable seats in our brasserie decor “Art Nouveau” of the 1930s.

Website: www.le-malraux-siem-reap.com

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Laundry

Established in 2002, Laundry has played its eclectic mix of tunes to a chilled out crowd for a decade. Well prepared drinks are served a reasonable prices to a mixed crowd of expats, locals and visitors. Darts, pool and wifi are free. Bands and guest djs make regular appearances.

Website: www.facebook.com/laundry.bar.3

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New Leaf Book Café

New Leaf Book Café is a restaurant, bookshop and event space in one. Their mission is to provide a high quality restaurant experience, so as to generate profits to invest in educational programmes in Siem Reap province.

Website: www.newleafbook.org

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Charlies

Charlie’s is an international drinking and dining destination for the discerning traveller in Siem Reap.

Website: www.charliessiemreap.com

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Rockabillies

Rockabilly Rock ‘n’ Brews. Classic rock, your favourite brews (beer, wine, spirits and cocktails). Great food, open early till late

Website: www.facebook.com/Rockabillys.siem.reap/info

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Picasso

This tiny tapas bar in the Alley West area is a convivial spot for a bit of over-the-counter banter.

Website: www.facebook.com/cambodia.picassobar

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Irina Sports Bar

Live sport’s events, Playstation 3 & 4, Xbox 360, foosball, darts, weekly games tournament, cold beers, cocktails and snacks.

Website: www.facebook.com/Irinasportbar

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Project Y

Conveniently located next to Siem Reap Night Market, grab yourself a frozen yogurt, smoothie, ice coffee or ice chocolate and stroll though the market!

SPECIAL PROMOTION for December, 20% off FROZEN YOGURT!!

Website: www.projectyfroyo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/projectyfroyo

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Angkor What Bar

Angkor What? Bar started it all – the very first bar on Pub Street, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Promoting Irresponsible Drinking Since 1998 and still going strong. Great music, lively backpacker bar and buckets of alcohol…

Website: www.facebook.com/cambodia.angkorwhatbar

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Phare Circus

Uniquely Cambodian. Daringly Modern. More than just a circus, Phare, the Cambodian Circus performers use theater, music, dance and modern circus arts to tell uniquely Cambodian stories; historical, folk and modern. The young circus artists will astonish you with their energy, emotion, enthusiasm and talent.

Website: www.pharecircus.org

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DPI Printing

The official printing lab of the Angkor Photo Festival,DPI are a graphic design, prinitng and advertising agency based in Siem Reap. They are able top handle everything fromstretching frames, to poster design, to engraving.

Website: www.dpiprintings.com

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Futureworld

FUTUREWORLD is an Apple Authorised Reseller in Siem Reap. They’re holding full range of Apple products and other well-known third party accessories in stock. With our Apple well-trained Sale staffs and Certified Engineers, they are bringing the Cambodia Market One-Stop apple store, carrying Products, Services, Solutions and updating the new technology developments.

Website: www.futureworld.com.kh

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Technokhmer

TECHNOKHMER is an IT sale, service and solution company serving locals and expats living in Siem Reap.Newly established but their team of professionals has, on average, 10 years of experiences serving in various IT Services. At TECHNOKHMER, they supply wide-range of genuine products which help customers get their job done more effectiveand faster. With our stocked spare-parts, repair jobs can be done quicker and mostly customers can get back their materials quicker and on time

Website: www.technokhmer.com

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ABOUTAsia

ABOUTAsia is about life changing travel. Not only do they provide visitors to Cambodia and Laos with memorable and meaningful tailor-made travel experiences but also create a sustainable funding model to support local communities: 100% of all profits are donated to sister organization, ABOUTAsia Schools. The passionate team lives and works in Cambodia where their destination expertise is unrivaled. And with crowd avoidance core to their travel philosophy, you can expect them to lead you down the uncommon path.

Website: www.aboutasiatravel.com

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Grasshopper Adventures

Beyond the temples, join them for an easy ride through the Siem Reap countryside. Ride the quiet trails through rice fields and small villages. They make lots of stops to learn about daily village life in Cambodia and to enjoy some delicious local snacks. Connect with the real Cambodia. You don’t have to be a regular rider to enjoy it.

Website: www.grasshopperadventures.com

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Ammo

Ammo is an exciting new brand of women and mens jewellery, hand-made in Cambodia. The collection uses recycled brass bullets and sterling silver, and has been designed by founder – Madeline Green.

Website: www.facebook.com/ammojewellery

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Frangipani Spa

Frangipani Spa offer a variety of massage therapies, body and facial treatments, waxing and nail care, all performed by their specially trained spa therapists.

Website: www.frangipanisiemreap.com

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2015 Festival Map

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