What should you know before you arrive in Siem Reap?

Please make a reservation in advance to avoid in the crush on your arrival. If you did a reservation before, do not worry! When you arrive at the Siem Reap Pier or Bus station, just walk a way from the crowds and find a Tuk Tuk, head straight to Golden Temple Villa. Otherwise you will be cheated by those people who are waiting to bring you to other guesthouse with commission. Then your room rate will be over charged. Or sometimes when you stay in some other guesthouse at your precious trip, they will send your name to the people who are waiting at the pier or bus station and saying that you are arranged to pick up from someone. They will say that the transfer will be no charged but it will add to your room rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

The New Airport Tax , PhnomPenh & SiemReap Airport
International Travel
FOREIGNER : Adult USD 25....../ Under 12 years USD 13......./ Under 2 years FREE
CAMBODIAN : Adult USD 18....../.Under 12 years USD 10......./ Under 2 years FREE

Domestic Travel
FOREIGNER : USD 6 CAMBODIAN : USD 5

Q&A -Cambodia

Passport & Visas
Q: My passport will expire in four month , can I go to Cambodia?
A:Issueing Cambodia visa require : one photo,passport must valid more than six months,two blank pages left for visa and immigration stamp and if you must go or come back to Thailand and you hold passport that need Visa to Thailand please check your Visa-There is NO Issueing Thailand Visa at SiemReap and Border / the only place you can get Thailand Visa in Cambodia is Thailand Embassy Phnompenh.

Q: Can I issue Cambodia Visa on arrival ? How ? where can I issue ?
A: Only Malaysians NOT require Visa , All other nationals require visas to visit Cambodia.
Arrival by flight can issue "On arrival Visa" at at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap International airports
Overland crossings can issue Visa at the following check point borders:

Cambodia-Vietnam
-Svay Rieng Province:Bavet(Cambodia-Vietnam)
-Kandal Province: Kham Sam Nor (Cambodia-Vietnam)
-Prey Veng Province: Koh Rorka (Cambodia-Vietnam)
Cambodia-Thailand
-Koh Kong Province: Cham Yiem (Cambodia-Thailand)
-Banteay Meanchey: Poipet (Cambodia-Thailand)
-Ordor Meanchey: O'Smach (Cambodia-Thailand)

(Arriving overland from Vietnam at either Chau Doc, or from Laos at Voen Kham, you'll need to have obtained your visa in advance.)
A single-entry tourist visa ($20 plus one passport photograph required) is valid for thirty days, including the day of issue, and can be extended once only, for one month.
A business visa ($25 plus one passport photo) is also valid for thirty days, and can, in theory, be extended indefinitely and converted into a multiple-entry visa.
Visa can only be extended in Phnom Penh at the inconveniently located Department for Foreigner (Mon-Fri 8-11am & 2-4pm), 8km out of town opposite Pochentong Airport.
A tourist visa extension ($35) takes 28days to process and takes effect from the date you submit your passport-it cannot be forward dated to the day your current visa expires. As few people can afford to be without their passport for that length of time, they are forced into taking the three-day service at $40 for a one-month extension. Even then, applying for the extension is a time-consuming exercise involving at least two trips out to the airport. A fare easier option is to use the visa-extension services offered by travel agents and guest houses in town, who will do all the running around for just a few dollars' commission.
Overstaying your visa is charted at a hefty $5 per day.
When crossing into Cambodia by land, sometime you'll be asked to show your health card or international vaccination card. If you can't produce it, you're asked to play a "fine" of 50-100 baht at the Thai border post, or a dollar at the Vietnamese border. These charges have been introduced locally to supplement the salaries of immigration officials, and politely declining to pay doesn't have any repercussions

Issue Cambodia Visa at Poipet need 1,100 Thai Baht ( Thai Baht only...No USD)

Q:What shall I do , if I do not have photo ?
A: No problems ,If you're arriving by air and you forget your photo they'll charge you a dollar or two and let you in anyway.
If arriving by land your they will do the same...money talk.

Q: What's the application form like?
A: The visa application form is so simple . The only requirement for obtaining a visa - tourist or business, is that you have a valid passport and the proper money. The same holds true for business visa extensions. There are no questions asked, no verification of employment, nothing. You pay the money - they give you the stamps. It's that easy. Don't waste time worrying about showing onward tickets, proof of funds, contacts, etc. Nobody cares. Ask and you shall receive (for the proper fee). Cambodian visas are about one thing and one thing only - raising hard currency. The visa process has absolutely nothing to do with controlling who gets in to the country, for how long, or for what purpose. They really don't care. However, the relative ease of the visa process is not universally applied. If you are arriving by air or you are a westerner arriving by any means you can expect what I have just described. But if you are African, South Asian, Middle Eastern, or even from one of the poorer Asian countries and you are arriving overland you may encounter some hassles in the visa process. Ultimately it will come down to money.

Q: What is the proper currency to use?
A: US dollars are as commonly used as the Cambodian Riel and even Thai Baht is acceptable in many places. Most hotels and many restaurants and shops set their prices in dollars. Small transactions are usually done in Riel. Always carry some small Riel for motorcycle taxis, snacks, beggars and other small purchases.
Riel notes come in 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 50,000 and 100,000 denominations, but the distinctive red 500 Riel note is the most commonly used.
Credit cards and travelers checks are not common but are catching on. US dollar travelers checks are much more easily encashed than any other kind.
Money changers cluster around the markets. When accepting money, inspect the bills. Marred Riel is acceptable tender, but the tiniest tear in a large US note renders it worthless.
There are banks in all of the larger provincial capitals, including Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Battambang. Banks can change money, effect telegraphic transfers and some banks can cash travelers checks and accept Visa cards.
There is only one ATM in Cambodia, at the Canadia Bank in Phnom Penh, and you must have a local account in order to use it. You cannot access foreign accounts from this.
The riel fluctuates in the range of 3900 to 3950 to the dollar, though for convenience some shops use 4000 as the exchange rate. Make sure you always have small bills (ones and fives) as you can never be sure of getting change on larger denominations.

Q: Doesn't using the local currency result in cheaper prices?
A: Not in Cambodia. For all intents and purposes, the US dollar is the currency of Cambodia. If anything, using riel for larger purchases may cost you more, not less, than if you used US dollars.

Q: So change is given in riels, do the merchants cheat you?
A: Not really. The most common way to scrape a few extra riel is that some merchants will put the riel at 3900 to the dollar when giving you change, but put it at 4000 to the dollar when you are paying in. Until September 2002, 100 riels was the smallest denomination, and what you would get for fifty cents change then, was 1900 riels. To you, these few extra riels they make are only a couple of cents, but spread that out over thousands and thousands of transactions during the course of a year and it adds up to a tidy sum of cash. For purposes of giving change, many foreign-owned businesses value the riel at 4000 to the dollar regardless of the direction, but it's more common for Khmer-owned businesses to use the 4000 in/3900 out system, which, if you really get analytical about it, is cheating.

Q: Where can I change money?
A: The best place to go is to any of the hundreds of private money changers. Do not bother with banks as most (all?) are not in the money changing business. You'll always see a concentration of money changers around the markets, but they are everywhere. They can be recognized by the glass case full of money (also a testament to the general honesty of most Khmers), most of it riels, and two numbers on the glass, both numbers being 39xx. These numbers are the present exchange rates for US dollars and riels. Exchanging dollars and riel is a straightforward process and rip-offs are extremely rare. With any other currency some bargaining may be necessary. Japanese yen, euros, and baht seem to pose no difficulties, though rates may vary slightly from changer to changer. However, the more obscure the currency is, the less likely the money changer will know the actual rate nor be willing to offer a fair rate as it may be more difficult for them to reconvert the notes. It's also been my experience that in most cases the money changers will offer a better rate than the hotels regardless of what currency you're changing.

Q: Are there a lot of counterfeit bills floating around?
A: Some, yes, but if I ever had one I didn't know it, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. If for any reason you find yourself with a possible counterfeit, just keep trying, eventually somebody will take it. The best place to get rid of it would probably be in paying your airport departure tax as they don't seem to check the money their handed.

Q: Does the condition of the bills make a difference?
A: For Cambodian riels, you will see some bills so worn and torn you might have trouble figuring out what denomination it is. But with the US dollars one little rip in a bill and nobody will accept it. I can't for the life of me figure out why this is so, but it is. On my very first visit to Cambodia I got stuck with a torn ten-dollar bill that nobody would take until finally as I was leaving via Pochentong International Airport they took it when I paid the departure tax. Do not accept torn money and if you're receiving money from a bank, check every bill and don't be shy to turn one back if you don't like the appearance of it. I've often handed back bills at several different banks and they've exchanged them without question. Old dirty bills that aren't torn can still be spent, but new ones are better, so if you can, turn back the dirty ones, too.

Q: Are there any ATMs?
A: There is presently only one ATM machine in the entire country (Canadia Bank, Phnom Penh, main branch) and it's for local bank cards only. So where tourists are concerned, no, there are no ATMs.

Q: Can I use a credit card?
A: More so than before. Better hotels, some restaurants, and a handful of shops in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap take plastic (usually Visa), but cash is still the best way to go and some establishments that do accept credit cards slap a surcharge of several percent (sometimes as high as 7% or even 8%!) for the convenience. You can however, get a cash advance from numerous banks in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap with commissions usually around 2%. Some private businesses also offer cash advances but their charges tend to be a few percentage points higher than the banks.

Q: How about traveler's checks?
A: You can cash them in at many banks. Spending them is a bit more problematic. Cash is king.

Travel to Angkor Wat & Temples

Q: Do I need a guide to see Angkor?
A: There is no requirement that says you have to use a guide to visit the Angkor Archaeological Park. It's entirely a personal decision. Some people find carrying a guide book with them to be sufficient, others prefer having someone escort them through the temples explaining things as they go along. One option to consider is hiring a guide for one day only and spending your other days on your own.
Guides cost between $20 and $25 a day and are available speaking a number of foreign languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Thai, and Chinese. Go to the tourism office opposite the Grand Hotel or talk to your hotel or guesthouse.

Q: How many days do I need to see Angkor?
A: This is a very commonly asked question that really doesn't have a definite answer. Some people are happy with a day, some find a week is not enough. But to give you some kind of answer, try to give yourself at least three days in Siem Reap, though a week may be better as you can take a break from the temples for one or two days to see some other area sights and avoid temple burn-out.

Q: How much does Angkor cost?
A: A one-day ticket is $20, a three-day ticket is $40, a seven-day ticket is $60. Unfortunately, the multi-day tickets must be used on consecutive days, a policy I strongly oppose. I do believe that Siem Reap could see a noticeable increase in tourist revenue if this consecutive day policy was eliminated and, for example, three-day tickets could be used on any three days in a one-week period and one-week tickets would have a two-week validity. It would not be a difficult policy to implement.

Q: Angkor sounds expensive, can I sneak in?
A: Umm, no. Not anymore. Getting past the main gate is easy and contrary to what you may have heard, you don't really have to stop at the main gate, though if you don't stop and they don't know you, they'll probably chase after you anyway. This is all stupid, because anybody can legally enter the Angkor Archaeological Park without a ticket, but what you can't do is enter the temples themselves. Most of the temples have ticket checkers at the front and they do their jobs rather efficiently. If you are caught trying to sneak into one of the temples without a ticket you'll face a hefty fine. Don't be a blubbering idiot. If you've come to see the temples - buy a ticket.

Q: Where do I buy a ticket?
A: For three and seven-day tickets there is only one place to buy a ticket and that is at the main gate on the main road from Siem Reap to the Angkor Park. It's a big facility that looks like a large toll plaza. It's off to the right and your driver will know to take you there. You need one passport photo but if you forget this photo they'll take one for you, free of charge. One day tickets can also be purchased at Banteay Srei and Rolous as these tickets don't require photographs. You absolutely cannot transfer the ticket to another individual. If any guesthouse, taxi driver, moto driver, or anybody else for that matter offers you a ticket, says they've purchased one for you already, will take care of it for you, etc, stay clear of this individual. There's a 99.999999% chance that the ticket this guy is offering is bogus and you will almost certainly be caught. You might even do the next tourist (and all of us for that matter) a favor and turn the guy into the police. Everybody MUST purchase their OWN tickets!

Food & Drinks

Q: How's the local food?
A: Personally, I don't particularly care for Khmer food. It's a cross between Thai and Vietnamese but with a fraction of the flavor. I find Khmer food quite bland, really. It's been suggested that Khmer food is less exciting than its neighbors' because of years of war and occasional famine, whereupon they just let their cuisine fall away. It's a plausible explanation as apparently Cambodia did have quite a cuisine but in the past thirty years or so, like so many things, it seems to have been lost. That said, there are those who do like the food and of course if you're coming on a holiday, please ignore what I say, try the food and make your own decision about whether you like it or not.

Q: What's the availability of western food?
A: In Phnom Penh just about any cuisine you can think of is represented somewhere by a restaurant and represented fairly well. Siem Reap also has a generous supply of western and other Asian cuisine restaurants. If Khmer food doesn't do it for you, you'll find plenty of satisfactory alternatives in either of these locations. Elsewhere the choices become slimmer. Sihanoukville has a couple of eateries with western food and in Battambang there are a couple of places as well. Anywhere else and you're going local.

Q: Is the food safe to eat?
A: Everybody eventually comes down with some kind of food poisoning here but everybody has to eat. I wouldn't stress too much on the food. Look at it, smell it, whatever, just eat. I've gotten sick at nice restaurants and I've eaten from street stalls where the food was pre-cooked hours before and had no problems whatsoever. The best rule to follow is if you see a place with a lot of locals, than the restaurant is probably okay.
Also realize that individual body chemistry plays some role in how you will react to unfamiliar food. Five years I've been here and there is still some kind of bacteria I can't seem to get my body to adjust to.

Q: How about water and ice?
A: Do not drink the tab water!!!! Bottled water is readily available and any brand, even the cheapest, is fine. I've never had a problem with ice and have it in my drinks all the time. The ice to be careful with is the stuff delivered in the big blocks covered with saw dust. You can recognize this ice because it will be broken up in non-uniform shapes and sizes. Most restaurants will not use this ice in drinks. Still, I've drank this ice without problem. But almost any restaurant or bar is going to serve you safe ice, so don't worry about it.

Q: What beer is available and what's best?
A: In restaurants and bars the most common brands are Angkor, Anchor, Beer Lao, and Tiger. Angkor is domestic, Tiger and Anchor are from Singapore but brewed locally (Anchor is young Tiger), and Beer Lao is imported from Laos. Tiger and Angkor are the most common beers on tap. Two other local beers are Crown and Bayon but these are cheap rat's piss and rarely seen in restaurants and bars catering to westerners. There are several other local brands as well but the contents hardly qualify as beer. You can also find Heineken, Budweiser, and some of the Thai brands. Most expats seem to drink either Beer Lao or Anchor. I go for Beer Lao.

SAFETY

Q: Are land mines a problem for tourists?
A: No. Half a million tourists alone walked around Cambodia in 2001 and nobody stepped on a land mine (though a few probably stepped in human excrement outside Wat Ounalom in Phnom Penh). To this day, there have been no reported incidents of any foreign visitor stepping on a mine in Cambodia. Not one. The major tourist areas are absolutely mine-free. While the guidebooks still suggest being careful, even around Angkor Wat, the question you need to ask yourself is - do you plan to go bushwhacking through the trees, treading upon land no human as walked upon in years? I think the answer is 'no'. Even if you step into the bushes to answer nature's call, you're almost certainly going to walk along a well-worn path. So relax. According to the head of the HALO Trust in Cambodia, you'd have to drive at least one hour from Siem Reap to find a mine.

Gerneral Information

Climate / What to wear
Generally speaking, November through June is the dry season and July through October is rainy. The temperature range between 27 C (80F)and 23 C(73F) Wear light, airy, covering clothing. The sun can intense so bring a hat, sunglasses and perhaps sun block. Consider buying a traditional Khmer scarf (Krama) to keep the sun off your neck. Carry raincoat during the wet season, though you will probably only need it in the afternoon. You should have a mosquito repellent for sunrise and sunset hour. For serious temple explore, a flashlight and compass can come in handy. Sport shoes are the best for exploring the ruins. The peak season - is from November till March , Best time of the year , No rain , Not too hot , all activities in town operate , more flights , more bus & boat Service.

Sent Postcards Home
Mail to Europe, Australasian and North America takes between five and ten days to arrive, leaving Phnom Penh for major international destinations around twice a week the specific days can be checked at the main post office. Stamps for postcards sent from the capital cost 1800 Riel to Europe and Australia, 2100 Riel to America (add 300 Riel if posting from the provinces).

E-mail
If you want to get online, do it in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap - here you're never far from an Internet shop or caf? and rates are $1-2 per hour. In the provinces it's a different matter: even in Battambang and Sihanoukville access is limited, and expensive at around $3 per hour. One of the best ways to keep in touch while traveling is to sign up for a free email address that can be accessed from anywhere, for example Yahoo Mail or Hotmail. Once you've set up and send mail from any Internet Caf?, or from a hotel with Internet access.

Do I need any vaccinations?
Travellers have very little to worry about in a country where health standards are ranked amongst the highest in Asia. Vaccinations are not required to enter the Kingdom of Cambodia; you are unless coming from a "yellow" infected area.

More things to do & see in Siem Reap

Les Chantiers Ecoles (Artisans d'Angkor) locate next to Golden Temple Villa
Launched in 1992 under a join Canbodian/French initiative and partly financed by the EU since 1998 under the "REPLIC" programme,Chantiers-Ecoles vocational center trains 650 apprentices a year included 160 in five arts & crafts trades united in the "Artisans d'Angkor" production net work. The site open to the public wanting to be guided through the different workshops and watch the artisans at work. The visit is free of charge and guide will take you around.
Open Mon-Sun 7.30am to 5.30 pm.
Entran Fee : Free

Markets
SiemReap abounds with small markets but the three main ones are the Psaa Chas "The Old Market" ( 5 minutes walk from Red Lodge) ,the Psaa Loeu and the New Market The Psaa Chas (less than 3 minutes walk from Red Lodge ) built in the Old French Quarter near the river , cater to tourists. Dozens of small stalls offer the usual cheap handicrafts one can find in any such place , along with vidios , CDs,postcards,books,ect. It is worth a visit after a day spent an Angkor . Bargaining is the order of the day.
The Psaa Loeu is on Road No.6 to PhnomPenh . It is the economic centre of the region and certainly worth a visit if you don't have time to get other parts of "'real" Cambodian.
The New Market, 2-3minutes walk from Psaa Chas new complex open 2003 , Next to this market are the biggest night food stalls area in SiemReap.

Angkor Wat in miniature
Artist Dy Proeung displays his detailed miniature concrete replicas of Angkor Wat, Banteay Srey and other temples at his home /workshop. not a cultural must, but an interestingly an interestingly different diversion
Entrance Fee : USD

Angkor Zoo
The owner of the zoo says, "vistors see the stones and jungkles of angkor, but cannot see the animals of Angkor. Now the animals can be seen at the Angor Zoo."Small zoo of dubious zoological value containing jungle and water fowl, monkey, deer,snakes,lizard,small mammals, a few crocodiles and other jungle animals.
Entrance Fee : USD

Apsara (Traditional) Dance Performance
Innumurable apsaras - celestial dancers - adornthe walls of many of the Angkorian temples. Their earthly counterparts performed traditional dances for the kings,and these dances have been passed down through the ages. A traditional apsara dance show is an absolute must for the visitor to Cambodia. Nightly dinner-theater performance are held at several location. Traditional dance such as the graceful, the fun and romantic fishing dance, excerpts from the Ramayana and other selections are performed. Dinner & Show is at 7:00PM and last about an hour Price range from $12-25 (Local restaurant $12 / Grand Hotel $+25) Book at Golden Temple to get special discount

Beatocello if you are in town on Saturday
Dr. Beat (Beatocello) Richner plays Cellomusic by J.S. Bach on the cello and speaks about the activities of this children's hospitals every Saturday at 7:15PM at the Jayavarman VII hospital. An entertaining and worthy evening. The hospital welcomes both monetary and blood donations at any time. On the road from town to Angkor Wat. More informations http://www.beat-richner.ch.

Butterfly Garden
An absolutely wonderful new addition to siem reap the Cambodia butterfly garden and bar is about the six of a residential lot, and provides an inviting relaxing place to spend an hour away from the temples. A lovingly constructed garden with paths, fountain and a large fishpond are all covered by light netting. More than a thousand live butterflies, represented as well. the friendly proprietor will usually five a small guided tour of his garden. Soft drinks, water, beer and other drinks are available at the patio bar in the garden. Ask about the butterfly cocktail open 8.00am.- 5.00 pm
Entrance Fee : USD 1.

Crocodile Farm
Hundreds of crocodiles in several pens separated by age. Also on display are various small animals (e.g.gibbon, deer, lizards) in abysmal little wire cages. 7.00am-6.00pm one km. South of town.
Entrance Fee : USD 1

Countryside Tours
Rice paddies and water buffalos. Stilted houses and little villages, a tour through the cambodian countryside can be a scenic,bucolic, cultural experience. The road from siem reap to the tonle sap south of tour is both nearby and picturesque. Following the siem reap river past traditionnal khmer houses, pagodas, water wheels and more. For more extensive tours consult a travel agent or Terre Cambodge.

Elepant Rides
During the day, ridable elephants await customers near Bayon and the south gate of Angkor Thom. In the evenings elephants are stationed at the base of Phnom Bakheng, ready to climb the hill for sunset.

Exhibition On The Khmer Heritage
Sponsored by Krousar Thmey, (which means New Family a Cambodia-based NGO assisting children in Cambodia), 'the current echibition is dedicated to the tonle sap lake and the people, culture and environment of the area. Displays include maps, photos, models of traditions houses, and a working scale model of the lake. There are also exhibits on the work of Krousar Thmey open everyday.closed noon till 2.00pm. admission is free, donations acceptedd. Located on the road to angkor wat just past the jayavarman VII hospital. (Tel: 063-964-694,E -mail: [email protected] )

Helicopter Tours
Helicopters cambodia (62) offres helicopter tours of the temple area. Exiting and unique experience. The office is near the old market. (012-814500).

Balloning over Angkor Wat
New …..in town

Massage
Relaxing and refreshing traditional khmer massage is offered at chai angkor wat on the road to angkor wat, traditional khmer health massage near the okd market and angkor massage bu the blind on rte.6.

Mine Museun ( Not War Museum) IT A MUST if you have time..
Years of war have broght cambodia one of the worst landmine problems in the world. The museum contains a variety of defused mines, bombs and other ordinance.'there is also a mock minefield where you can test your demng skills. The creator and proprirecent years. He is often there to provide personal relevant and educational. 7 am-6pm. Turn off the road to Angkor Wat at the Krousar Thmey sign, go 750 m, turn left and then another 750 m, Entrance Fee : Free / Donation accepted

Pagodas & shrines
Buddhist pagodas are the traditional seat of khmer culture. Siem reap, like many cambodian towns, is a collection of villages, which grew around individual pagodas, later coalescing into the town. To get a true feel for Cambodia, a visit to at least one pagoda is a must. Preah Ang Chek & Preah Ang Chorm of particular importance to the locals is the small shrine in front of the Grand hotel d' Angkor containing two standing Preah Ang Chorm (shorter). They are surrounded by stories of power and indestructibility. Vistors are welcome to make offerings and take photos, the reverence of local pilgrims is palpable. Shrine to Ya Tep under a huge tree in the traffic circle.