From the amazing temples surrounding the infamous Angkor Wat, the hustle of the city center, and beyond to the floating villages of Kampong Plouk, Siem Reap is a captivating city. I was really surprised to see just how busy it is. From wonderful restaurants to great hotels, it is a bustling city with one magical attraction that is responsible for bringing people from all over the world to its streets; Angkor Wat. Before I dive into that EPIC journey, I wanted to touch on some great things the can be done in and around the city of Siem Reap itself. For most, the temples will take about 3 days of your time, but many are "templed-out" after the second full day excursion. Don't fear! Siem Reap has everything you need from budget dining to high-end delicious dinners.
Essentially, Siem Reap is made up of a string of villages located around the Siem Reap River. Consisting of multiple Buddhist Pagodas, its quite easy to enjoy wandering through streets via tuk-tuk. (I recommend going by tuk-tuk and not by bicycle as many roads are not paved and they stretch for miles. Bring something to cover your face while out because the dust is no joke and you'll regret it if you don't!) Don't stress about night-life. There are literally so many options that you'll definitely find what you're looking for. From backpacker bars with raging club music and classy wine bistros, to massage parlors and night markets; Siem Reap's got it. While we're not really into the backpacker bar scene, we did opt for lounging at our amazing swimming pool at our boutique hotel. And after long hot days of touring temples, its the best way to unwind. We enjoyed eating great food out and exploring the night market. (Be sure to bargain there as the average t-shirt and yoga pants cost about $3-$6!) The best thing about Siem Reap is that its literally a hub for so many other ventures. Not only can you spend two days going through the temples of Angkor Wat, you can also take a day trip to the floating village of Kompong Phluk. There is a page dedicated to our excursion outside of Siem Reap so you may reference that to find out more. |