24 Hours in Siem Reap
This will be a short post about a short trip. You read the title correctly; I spent 24 hours in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The goal was to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat.
Background: Located in northwestern Cambodia, Siem Reap is a bustling tourist destination as it is the entry point to Angkor.
Itinerary highlights: We left Manila Saturday evening at around 8:45pm and arrived around 10:30pm local time. By 10pm Sunday we were on a flight back to Manila.
US citizens need a visa to enter Cambodia which you can get on arrival at the airport for $30. Important note here is that the US dollar seems to be the preferred currency here so no need to exchange any money.
From the airport we took a cab to our hostel (Onederz) for $15. There are a few options for transportation like motorbike, and ramork.
The tour started the next morning at 4:15am with bus pick up from our hostel. We had to pick up other guests along the way but it didn’t take very long. Tickets to enter Angkor Wat weren’t included so our first official stopof the tour was the ticket office. A one day pass is $37. If you’re staying longer, you also have the option of purchasing a three day pass or a week long pass.
Sunrise at Angkor Wat. Photo by J. Lynn
Once we arrived outside Angkor Wat our tour guide Pytar or “Peter” set us in the perfect spot to catch the sunrise. The sun started to rise at around 6:30 and it was a bright hot pink. Peter took some great photos of us with the sunrise in the background. Actually, he took great photos all day, he really knows his angles.
We made our way through Angkor Wat as “Peter Family” as we’d been dubbed. If you aren’t fond of animals you may want to be cautious. At one point we saw a monkey jump on a woman’s back and she pushed him off with a modified heisman move.
Angkor Wat. Photo by J. Lynn
We left for breakfast at 8:30 to Sala Reussey Restaurant. The restaurants nearby apparently serve the same menu and at the same prices because competition is only based on service. I had the chicken fried rice, soup, tea, and mixed fruit.
Next stop on the tour was Ta Prohm Temple. This where Angelina Jolie filmed some famous scenes in Tomb Raider.
Ta Prohm Temple. Photo by J. Lynn
Bayon Temple was next and by far my favorite stop. The detailed work, the many faces of Buddha, the openness of it, it was breathtaking.
Bayon Temple. Photo by J. Lynn
With our few remaining hours we grabbed lunch at The Red Piano on Pub Street. I would recommend the fish amok. We did a little shopping and honestly I wish we’d had more time for that. There was however, time for some rolled ice cream and foot massages.
Rolled ice cream on Pub Street. Photo by J. Lynn
Overall experience: So far this is my shortest trip to anywhere and it’s also one of my favorites. I would love to see what else Cambodia has to offer, but if that’s not in the cards then this trip was more than enough. To my Peter Family, if you come across this, I love you guys!
Budget: The flight was PHP 9,400 which is around $188. A two night stay (only one night was necessary but in order to get a nap in after the tour we booked two nights) was just $20. As mentioned before, a one day pass to Angkor Wat is $37. Our guided tour was only $12 (You can book this at siempreapshuttle.com) And each meal we had was under $10.
Tips: It is hot. Pack your sunscreen, hat, shades, and breathable clothing. Be sure to take a bottle of water or two with you. One of those misting fans will come in handy as well. When visiting Angkor Wat, remember to wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
