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When talking about traveling to Cambodia, especially Siem Reap, people often think of visiting the unique Angkor temples. But did you know that there are still plenty of interesting things to explore here?
Don't miss out on 7 incredibly 'cool' experiences when traveling to Siem Reap according to Mytour's suggestions below!
1. Add visiting the impressive Angkor temples to your list
A very familiar yet unmissable experience when in Siem Reap is visiting the Angkor temples. Just hop on a tuk-tuk from the city center, and you can start exploring Angkor - one of the largest and most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia.
Here are some suggestions for you: Angkor Wat Temple is an ideal spot to admire sunrise and sunset; Ta Phrom Temple was a filming location for the famous movie 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'; if you want to visit peaceful yet beautiful temples, you can venture a bit further to Banteay Srei Temple.
2. Walk through the 'Thousand Lingas River'
Located in the Phnom Kulen National Park and only about 49 km north of Siem Reap is Kbal Spean - the 'Thousand Lingas River,' a famous archaeological and tourist site in Cambodia. This place is known as a sacred river, with its bed carved with numerous Linga symbols - the symbol of the god Shiva, carved stone slabs depicting the meditating god Vishnu, or the lotus flower symbol of the god Brahma, and many sculptures of Apsara dancers...
What's special is that the water in this river in summer is only ankle-deep, so tourists can easily wade through the river to admire the hidden sculptures beneath.
3. Enjoy impressive circus performances
After visiting the ancient Angkor temples during the day, in the evening, you can completely relax by attending a performance at Phare - a famous circus and theater in Siem Reap. The performances at Phare often combine traditional and modern cultural elements, revolving around themes such as love, family life, discrimination, gender roles, and even the consequences of war. The performances here are considered creative, exciting, and the best in Cambodia.
4. Find inspiration in life at 'New Hope Cambodia'
“New Hope Cambodia” is the name of a volunteer center established by a philanthropist named Soth Kemsour, located in Mondul 3 village - one of the poorest areas of Siem Reap province. After buying land in Mondul 3, Kemsour decided to open a school here. Starting from humble beginnings with simple classrooms and limited facilities, “New Hope Cambodia” has now developed into a free educational and healthcare center for the community in Mondul 3 village. Tourists visiting Siem Reap can sign up for a tour to visit the facilities of “New Hope Cambodia” to explore and learn about the center's activities and find inspiration in life through community assistance.
5. Join a party at Pub Street (Western district) in Siem Reap
Located in the heart of Siem Reap city, Pub Street in the Western district is bustling and vibrant at night with closely-packed houses. Dubbed the Western district because every night, Pub Street is a gathering place for many foreign tourists to visit, trade, and enjoy specialties in this area. If during the day you've had tours exploring the famous temples in Siem Reap, then at night is the time for relaxation, fun, and making friends in this lively district.
6. Enjoy performances by 'Apsara nymphs'
While exploring the monuments of Angkor, you may come across carvings of Apsara dancers on the walls of temples. The Apsara dance is one of Cambodia's oldest traditional art forms, performed by beautiful and graceful women. When traveling to Siem Reap, don't miss out on enjoying these unique performances. There are often free performances on balconies at temples in the Pub Street area, but you may have to endure crowds. Although a bit pricey, the performances at Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor and Paradise Angkor Village Hotel, accompanied by dinners, will be a great experience worth trying.
7. Explore life in rural areas
One particular ultimate experience that will surely excite you is to venture out of the city center of Siem Reap and explore the small villages in the countryside. You can get there by hitchhiking, tuktuk, motorbike, or bicycle. The feeling of riding through the villages and lush green fields, where children run after you, waving and welcoming you, and you can catch the first rays of sunlight of the day amidst the lush green terraced fields, is truly a unique experience.
According to Straytravel blog
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Reference: Mytour Travel Handbook
MytourOctober 14, 2015
