Siem reap Province

Siem Reap, located north-west Cambodia, is a charming provincial town defined by a cluster of villages, Chinese-style shop houses, and French-colonial architecture. As a gateway to the ancient temple ruins of Angkor, Siem Reap has experienced exponential growth in recent years with hotel and resort developments turning this once sleepy village into a tourism mecca.
Activities to experience in the town of Siem Reap include watching a traditional Cambodian “apsara” dance performance and participating in a Khmer cuisine cooking class to exploring the peaceful countryside on the back of a horse or on a quad bike. The rural outskirts offer plenty of interesting activities such as visiting craft villages, workshops and silk farms, taking a bike ride through the scenic countryside, or participating in a humanitarian assistance program by making a pump well donation or funding a local school.

Geography

Siem Reap Province is located in the northwest of Cambodia. It covers an area of approximately 10,299 square kilometers (3,991 square miles). The provincial capital is also called Siem Reap Town. Siem Reap is one of the most visited provinces in Cambodia due to its famous temples, particularly those in the Angkor Archaeological Park.

Siem Reap Province is predominantly flat, with its landscape characterized by low-lying plains and rice paddies.Siem Reap Province is predominantly flat, with its landscape characterized by low-lying plains and rice paddies. It borders the provinces of Oddar Meanchey to the north, Preah Vihear and Kampong Thom to the east, Battambang to the south, and Banteay Meanchey to the west.

Administration:

The province is divided into 1 municipality and 11 districts and further subdivided into 100 communes and 907 villages.

Siem Reap Province is divided into several districts, each with its own unique characteristics and attractions. The districts in Siem Reap Province are:

Angkor Chum: Known for its rural landscapes and agricultural activities.
Angkor Thom: Famous for its proximity to the Angkor Archaeological Park, including the Bayon Temple with its smiling faces.
Banteay Srei: Home to the Banteay Srei Temple, renowned for its intricate carvings and pink sandstone.
Chi Kraeng: A predominantly agricultural district with rice paddies and traditional farming communities.
Kralanh: Features rural villages and local markets, offering a glimpse into traditional Cambodian life.
Puok: Known for the Angkor Silk Farm, where visitors can learn about traditional silk weaving.
Prasat Bakong: Contains the Bakong Temple, one of the early temple mountains in the Angkor area.
Siem Reap: The central district and hub of tourism, featuring the city of Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat.
Sout Nikom: An agricultural district with scenic landscapes and local crafts.
Srei Snam: A rural district known for its quiet countryside and agricultural activities.
Svay Leu: Home to the Phnom Kulen National Park, a significant historical and natural site.
Varin: A remote district with dense forests and traditional communities.
Each district contributes to the cultural and economic tapestry of Siem Reap Province, offering diverse experiences for visitors and locals alike.

Religion

The predominant religion in Siem Reap, as well as in Cambodia as a whole, is Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism is the most widely practiced form of Buddhism in the country. It deeply influences the culture, traditions, and way of life of the Cambodian people.
More than 99.3% of the people in Siem Reap province are Buddhists. About 0.4% population of Siem Reap province follows Christianity. Islam which is mostly followed by Chams is 0.2% in the province.

Climate

Siem Reap Province experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons.
The wet season typically lasts from May to October, characterized by heavy rainfall and high humidity.
The dry season, from November to April, sees less rainfall and cooler temperatures.
Average temperatures range from 25°C (77°F) to 35°C (95°F) throughout the year

Economy

Tourism is the backbone of Siem Reap Province’s economy, with millions of visitors coming to explore the ancient temples of Angkor each year.
The tourism industry supports a wide range of businesses, including hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and souvenir shops.
Agriculture is also important, with rice cultivation being the primary activity in the rural areas surrounding Siem Reap Town.

Siem Reap Travel Guide

Siem Reap offers a plethora of activities and attractions for visitors. Here are some things you can do while visiting:

Angkor Archaeological Park: Home to iconic temples such as Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm, and many others.

Tonle Sap Lake: Offers opportunities to visit four main floating villages Chong Kneas, Mechrey, Kampong Phluk, and Kampong Khleang, and observe traditional Cambodian life.

Siem Reap Town: The provincial capital with its vibrant atmosphere, restaurants, markets, and cultural performances.

Banteay Srei: Known for its intricate pink sandstone carvings.

Landmine Museum: Provides insights into Cambodia’s history of landmines and efforts to clear them.

Local Market: Siem Reap, Cambodia, is home to several markets catering to different tastes and preferences. While the exact number may fluctuate over time due to new developments or closures, here are some of the notable markets you might encounter in Siem Reap:

Old Market (Psar Chas): This is the most famous and centrally located market in Siem Reap, offering a wide range of products including fresh produce, spices, crafts, clothing, and street food.
Angkor Night Market: A popular evening market with a relaxed atmosphere, featuring a variety of stalls selling handicrafts, clothing, artwork, and souvenirs. It’s also a great place to enjoy local street food and live entertainment. Pshar Leu Thom Thmey Market: Situated a bit further from the town center, this market offers a more authentic local shopping experience with fewer tourists. It’s a bustling market where you can find fresh produce, household goods, clothing, and more.

Siem Reap offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit various preferences and budgets. Here are a few hotels in Siem Reap that are well-regarded by travelers:

  • DELUXE
  • Somadevi Angkor Hotel
  • Royal Crown Hotel
  • SUPERIOR
  • Ambar Angkor Village
  • Grand Bayond Hotel
  • STANDARD
  • The Twizt
  • Lub d
  • Onederz Siem Reap

Dining in Siem Reap offers a tantalizing journey through Cambodia’s rich culinary heritage, blending traditional flavors with modern twists. From elegant fine dining establishments to vibrant street food stalls, the city caters to every palate and budget.
Here are some restaurants in Siem Reap that you might want to check out:

  • FINE DINING
  • Malis
  • Embassy Restaurant
  • Kroya
  • MID-RANGE
  • Sokkhak River Restaurant
  • Cafe Indochine
  • CHEAP EAT
  • Street food
  • Street 60 Siem Reap

For booking bus and flight tickets in Cambodia, you have several reputable options. Here are some recommendations:

Giant Ibis: Giant Ibis is one of the most popular bus operators in Cambodia, known for its comfortable and reliable services. They offer routes between major cities such as Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, and Kampot.

Mekong Express: Another well-regarded bus company, Mekong Express provides services connecting various destinations in Cambodia, including Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

Virak Buntham Express: Virak Buntham operates a network of buses covering multiple routes within Cambodia and to neighboring countries like Thailand and Vietnam. They offer both daytime and overnight bus services.

Cambodia Angkor Air: Cambodia Angkor Air is the national flag carrier of Cambodia, offering domestic and international flights. They operate flights to Phnom Penh from Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, and other regional destinations.

Lanmei Airlines: Lanmei Airlines is a Cambodian airline that provides both domestic and international flights. They offer routes connecting Phnom Penh with destinations such as Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bangkok.

JC Airlines: JC Airlines is a relatively new airline in Cambodia, offering domestic flights to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. They focus on providing affordable air travel options.

Here are some important emergency contacts for Siem Reap, Cambodia:

Police: Dial 117 for the police in Cambodia. This number can be used to report emergencies, crimes, accidents, or any other incidents requiring police assistance.

Medical Emergency: For medical emergencies, dial 119. This will connect you to emergency medical services in Siem Reap, including ambulances.

Tourist Police: Siem Reap has a dedicated Tourist Police unit to assist tourists with any issues they may encounter. You can contact the Tourist Police by dialing 012 942 484 or visit their office located near the Angkor National Museum.

Embassy or Consulate: If you’re a foreign national and need assistance from your country’s embassy or consulate in Siem Reap, it’s important to have their contact information on hand. You can typically find this information on your country’s embassy website or by contacting them directly before your trip.

Fire Department: In the event of a fire or fire-related emergency, dial 118 to reach the fire department in Siem Reap.

Tourist Hotline: The Ministry of Tourism in Cambodia operates a tourist hotline for assistance with travel-related inquiries, complaints, or emergencies. You can reach the tourist hotline by dialing 1800 1234 or 012 939 191.

It’s a good idea to save these emergency contact numbers in your phone or write them down and keep them with you while traveling in Siem Reap. Hopefully, you won’t need to use them, but it’s always better to be prepared in case of an emergency.

Gallery
Next Destination
WHAT'S HOT?

Welcome to Cambodia, one of the hottest destinations in Southeast Asia offers an incredible amount of history and culture and its nature is simply amazing, to say the least; ranging from the gorgeous National Parks to the pristine beaches and relaxing islands, the flavors of Cambodia are not only in the exotic cuisines but also its overall ambiance.

Post Image Placeholder
Angkor And Mekong...

The cultural tours to visit the main temples in Angkor and the hidden treasures of Cambodia in the north as...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
The National Parks...

Visit Kirirom and Ream National Parks before spending 4 days of relaxation on the exotic island of Cambodia, Koh Rong...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Mekong Multi-Adventure Tours

Having great fun multi-adventure tours from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh or V.V. through the Mekong Cities, it is a...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Battambang Bamboo Train

Battambang is not only the bamboo train but you can visit the pre-history nature cave, and ancient temples, learning the...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Cambodia Mekong Lifes

In the Cambodia Mekong in-depth, the trip will allow you the visit all treasures of the Mekong from Kampong Cham...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Battambang Tours

Off-the-beaten-track tour to experience the bamboo train in Battambang, learn to cook and stay with locals in Banteay Chhmar temple.

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Preah Vihear Temple...

Preah Vihear 4WD to discover the unseen temples, and hidden treasures along the Mekong River and combine them with soft...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Angkor Driving Guide...

The most flexible and cost efficiency tour in Siem Reap. Our guide-driver speaks excellent English and will drive you around...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Angkor Wat Tour

The Sunrise and Sunset tour is the best choice to experience during your 2-day visiting to Angkor Temples, Angkor Wat...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Cambodia Rainforest Off-Road...

The amazing Cambodia Rainforest off-road motorcycle, the tour will start and end in Siem Reap, the riding get through Battambang,...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
The Lost Temples

The off-beaten-track trip to visit the Sambor Prei Kuk temples, a one-night homestay with locals in the village, and visit...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Veunsai – Siem...

Take the boat ride to Veunsai and jungle trek to Siem Pang National Park to watch the gibbons and Tribe...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Oral Mountain Trekking

To challenge yourself and getting once in a lifetime experience, take this 3-day trek to the highest mountain in Cambodia,...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Village walking &...

Drive to local villages outside of Siem Reap City Center. Enjoy our ox-cart ride through the rice paddies and walk...

From 50.00$
Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Vietnam and Cambodia

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival Upon arrival, you will be greeted at the airport by a tour guide and transferred to...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Elephant Watch And...

Take a 3-day to watch elephants and trek to the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to more than...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Phnom Kulen Trek

Kulen Trek gets you the real hiking adventure, trek up to the top of the holly Kulen mountain, it was...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Siem Reap Street...

Discover the vibrant flavors of Siem Reap with a 3-hour culinary tour. Enjoy a scooter ride, sample over 10 local...

From 55.00$
Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Cambodia Northeast Off-Road...

Cambodia off-road adventure by motorcycle to the northeast, you will get much more fun with these off-road trails, as much...

Explore this tour
Post Image Placeholder
Cambodia Highlights

Highlights of Cambodia, visit the main sites in Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, and fly to enjoy the...

Explore this tour
What our clients say
Why Choose Us?

Merry Travel’s extensive Cambodia network of insiders and experts allows us to create the trip you’ve been dreaming about. Want to make Amok in Siem Reap with a legendary chef? Go to visit temples of Angkor without crowds? How about interaction with local family living in floating village, or have a private helicopter ride to visit Preah Vihea temple? Would you like an off-road ride with Dirt Bike or 4WD to visit the last rain-forest? We can make it happen. We can also arrange for you to travel through Cambodia by bikes and can have you sleeping in a room in a luxury tent in the middle nowhere, or homestay with the hill tribes. We have more knowledge, relationships, and expertise than anyone in the industry, and we use it create one-of-a-kind journeys and experiences that you will cherish for a lifetime.

Every travel suggestion we make is based on our personal experiences, and we continue to travel the new places to ensure that our recommendations are accurate and inspired. We don’t just know the best hotels and restaurants; we know the rooms with the best views and the best local dishes. We don’t just connect you with random chefs, experienced guides, surf instructors, and artists; we connect you with true experts we know well enough to call friends. We don’t just suggest places we’ve read about; we suggest the far-flung islands, ancient temples, and jungle camping that we’ve been to ourselves and still dream about everyday. We are discerning, we are opinionated, and we welcome the opportunity to share our knowledge with you.

We learn about your interests so we can create a customized itinerary that really inspires you. We have arranged for art lovers to meet up-and-coming visual archeologist in Angkor and learn centuries old metal-working techniques in Angkor. Spiritual seekers have made pilgrimages to see Hill Tribes deep in the Northeast bush, and have sat with monks in local pagoda in country. We can build a trip around any of your passions or desires, such as outdoor activities, cooking, yoga, archaeology, or volunteering, or M.I.C.E, or student group or just incorporate them into a larger journey.

Our founder, Samban, was one of the longest experienced tour guides in Cambodia. With more than 10 years experienced tour guide in travel industry to serve clients from very adventurous up to high-end Samban created his own company in 29th December 2009. Samban brought tourists to unexplored parts of the Cambodia and innovated the luxury travel experience by making it completely personal and extreme adventure by Kayaking, Biking, 4WD, Dirt-bike. Samban’s dedicated his life to creating unique, adventure, and luxury trips for travelers who want to experience the staggering and diverse beauty of the Cambodia, and he’s staffed this company with people who want to share the power and joy of travel as much as he does. You simply won’t find another company who knows Cambodia as well, is as excited by it, and who will inspire you to see it so thoroughly.

Merry journeys are worry-free. We have expert local staff in every city who are always working behind-the-scenes so you can just focus on having a great time. Our local staff, along with the rest of the Merry Travel team, are available not just to ensure your happiness, but to ensure your safety and comfort as well. When you travel with us, you can feel confident knowing that if you encounter any sort of issue, we will be there to assist you.

How it works
Step 1

Tell us your tour ideas
Complete our inquiry form

Step 2

Discuss with a travel specialist
Customize your itinerary

Step 3

Securely book your tour
Confirm when you're satisfied

Speak to a specialist to start planning your tailor-made holiday