Walk and Ride in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Cambodia is a lush jungle paradise with phenomenal food often overshadowed by its neighboring Thailand, a rich culture, a long and often tragic history, and overwhelmingly warm and inviting people. At the Angkor National Museum, learn about the history of Angkor Wat and its enigmatic rulers. Discover the ancient mysteries of the holy site and learn about the modern cruelty of the Khmer Rouge. Siem Reap is no stranger to tourists and it is a large part of their economy. The hotel we stayed at was a local business, the manager and staff were particularly wonderful and accommodating. As we walked through the main streets (careful of oncoming traffic), we discovered rich treasures at the markets. As our tuktuk whisked us away to our cooking class, we saw the extreme natural wealth and extreme poverty of this once war-torn nation. Be open minded, give it time, and this place might capture you like it did me.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Travel
Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
Coordinates: 13.3633° N, 103.8564° E

Cost & Admission
Most accommodations are well-priced, ranging from $7 budget stays to $100 luxury digs. Food varies from $1 to $7.

Food
A lot of food options with spots geared for tourists or local eateries.

Activities
Discover Angkor Wat, tuktuk rides, shopping, eating.

Tips
We stayed at a Golden Temple Boutique Hotel which I’m told is a local business. So many amenities like getting picked up and dropped off at the airport, inclusive massage, meals, etc. They do have sister hotels in other locations but we chose this to be walking distance to the main shopping area.