Asia - Advice needed for Angkor Wat

Hi there,

I'm hoping to travel from Hong Kong to Angkor Wat in May and have a few questions:

1) Is this a horrible time of year to go?

2) Is it best to fly to Phnom Penh?

3) How long does it take to get from Phnom Penh to Angkor Wat and how do you do it?

4) How much time should I spend in Angkor Wat - is a couple of days enough?

Thanks!

Welcome to FT paehk, :)

I will move this thread to the appropriate forum where other FTers can address the issues you have raised : the Asia FT forum. Thanks for your understanding.

Jouy31
TravelBuzz moderator

Hi there,

I'm hoping to travel from Hong Kong to Angkor Wat in May and have a few questions:

1) Is this a horrible time of year to go?

2) Is it best to fly to Phnom Penh?

3) How long does it take to get from Phnom Penh to Angkor Wat and how do you do it?

4) How much time should I spend in Angkor Wat - is a couple of days enough?

Thanks!

A search on this forum will yield many discussions.

1) It would typically be very hot and humid in May. from what I've heard if you're lucky it will rain and that will be a relief!

2) You can fly into Siem Reap, the town closest to the Angkor temples via Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos etc. Or you can take a bus from Phnom Penh.

3) The plane hop is about 50 minutes. Don't know how long the buses (express and other) take.

4) Depends on your threshold for temple burnout! We spent 3 days "doing temples" (with sensible siestas every day) and another just wandering about the town and were very happy with that choice. 3 days for temples is about as much as the average, interested lay person can take, I imagine. Many do less than that.

I'd echo what Cheetah_SA said about flying into Siem Reap. Various airlines (eg. Vietnam Airlines, Bangkok Air) fly in there; Phnom Penh is optional, though I found it a fairly interesting place to visit (interesting in a very different way from Angkor & Siem Reap), but I would fly in & out of Siem Reap.

I would guess that 2-3 days would be enough for most visitors, though the Angkor complex is huge and if you wanted to cover it thoroughly, you would definitely need more -- some temples are much more remote.

I haven't been there in May, but I'm guessing that it will indeed be HOT. Drink lots of water.

4) How much time should I spend in Angkor Wat - is a couple of days enough?

To see all the "main" sights, you need 2 days with a hectic schedule, 3 days would be more relaxing. The entrance fee for 3 days is the same as 2 daily pass (2 X USD20).

I think the bus takes about 7 hours. The plane fare between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap though is only about $50 so not that expensive. The bus will obviously be cheaper but much more uncomfortable.

We spent 2 days at the temples and another couple of days pottering about Siem Reap before moving on to Phnom Penh. That was enough for us as the hordes of tour groups were starting to get on my nerves. We managed to avoid them in some places but it was never really quiet. In May it shouldn't be so bad as December is peak season.

I would definetly recommend flying into Siem Reap. Overland travel is not worth the trouble.

I'm hoping to travel from Hong Kong to Angkor Wat in May and have a few questions:

1) Is this a horrible time of year to go?

We went in mid April and it was fine. See http://asiaforvisitors.com/cambodia/angkor/aw-weather.html

2) Is it best to fly to Phnom Penh? No, fly into Siem Reap. There are very good flights from Bangkok.

4) How much time should I spend in Angkor Wat - is a couple of days enough?
Two full days is the minimum I would recommend. It is well worth the trip and makes Machu Picchu look like a pile of rocks. Enjoy.:)

Hi there,

I'm hoping to travel from Hong Kong to Angkor Wat in May and have a few questions:

1) Is this a horrible time of year to go?

2) Is it best to fly to Phnom Penh?

3) How long does it take to get from Phnom Penh to Angkor Wat and how do you do it?

4) How much time should I spend in Angkor Wat - is a couple of days enough?

Thanks!

I just came from there this past May - and it is just a beautiful place. It might rain, but it's still a magical place.

I would go via BKK and take Bangkok Air to Seam Reap, it's the most easiest and least hassle.

You can actually get your e-VISA on the Cambodian website (http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/) it is so easy to do and when you land you breeze through customs.

It is so economical there you are in for a surprise. I would stay at the Le Meridien, where I stayed, and you can rent a driver or "tuk-tuk". Dinner for one person was like $2 (SERIOUSLY!).

Two days/two nights is all you need, in my opinion. One day to see Angkor Wat (which is so magical) and then the next day the surrounding area. If you want, talk to the concierge and you can go visit a Buddhist monastery. You can actually do this ahead of time via e-mail.

You are going to have a very unique time and going to love it!

Happy travels,
UG

I was there in April and I found it very hot. One just had to get used to the heat. Just make sure that the taxi you rent has good airconditioning so that you will have a welcome relief as you move from one temple to the next. I stayed at a pension near Sofitel which was great value @$25/night for two persons and includes breakfast! We stayed for 4 nites so as to take it easy, and we got a chance to try their foot massage which is a welcome relief after a day of trekking around the temples. Bring lots of singles or $5 bills as this is the main currency used locally.

A search on this forum will yield many discussions.

1) It would typically be very hot and humid in May. from what I've heard if you're lucky it will rain and that will be a relief!

2) You can fly into Siem Reap, the town closest to the Angkor temples via Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos etc. Or you can take a bus from Phnom Penh.

3) The plane hop is about 50 minutes. Don't know how long the buses (express and other) take.

4) Depends on your threshold for temple burnout! We spent 3 days "doing temples" (with sensible siestas every day) and another just wandering about the town and were very happy with that choice. 3 days for temples is about as much as the average, interested lay person can take, I imagine. Many do less than that.


I agree on all counts. But I would definitely fly into and out of Siem Reap. And it is truly a wonder of the world. A fantastic place to visit.

Thanks so much everyone. Some really fantastic advice.

Thanks everyone - I'll be uising a lot of the advice above (and still need to 'search' ;)).

What hotel is recommended, for a 3 day stay at Angkor Wat?
The following one was recommended above but I'd appreciate options and comments.
From hotelclub.net
Allson Angkor Hotel Siem Reap

Recommended Hotel (what's this?)
Offering relaxed environment and warm hospitality, the Allson Angkor Hotel Siem Reap makes your stay in Siem Reap a memorable one.
Location
Ideally located at Siem Reap, this property is easily accessible from Angkor Temple as well as shopping centres, restaurants and entertainment venues, while the Siem Reap International Airport is 10 minutes by car.

Rooms
This property offers 193 comfortable accommodation units that are gracefully designed with all the essential amenities to ensure you a relaxing stay.

Restaurant
Guests can dine at the Lotus Restaurant that serves a blend of local Khmer and Continental cuisines. You can also enjoy refreshing cocktails at the Tropical Bar as well as relish light snacks and various drinks at the pool bar.

General
This property features well-equipped meeting rooms for organising your various social gatherings, business discussions and seminars. After a tiring day, you can have a refreshing dip at the beautiful swimming pool or make use of the health club that offers massage services, sauna and gymnasium.

Thanks everyone - I'll be uising a lot of the advice above (and still need to 'search' ;)).

What hotel is recommended, for a 3 day stay at Angkor Wat?
The following one was recommended above but I'd appreciate options and comments.
From hotelclub.net

We stayed at the Raffles. Very nice, French colonial style. When we came back to the hotel at mid-day to get out of the heat we were greeted by the staff with cold towels on silver platters. People were very friendly and the restaurants were good.

[QUOTE What hotel is recommended, for a 3 day stay at Angkor Wat? . . .[/QUOTE]

BiziBB -- I see you are enrolled in SPG; I stayed at the Le Meridien Angkor in Siem Reap in Jan/Feb 2007 and really liked the hotel (nice facilities, comfortable large room, good bar, friendly staff). It's a pretty good deal if you want to use Starpoints -- I believe it's only 3000 pts per night. Just checked on spg.com using random dates in April and the rates for cash or cash+points look very good, too. Can't really compare it to any other options since I haven't stayed elsewhere, but it's worth checking out.

Have a great time in Siem Reap and Angkor. I loved the place. ^

This www.taraangkorhotel.com looks quite nice; brand new and just down the road from the LeMeridien (towards town centre). Have not stayed there to comment on rooms & service.

While the LM is quite comfortable and the service excellent, its an architectural disaster with ugly facade and dark rooms. I have also stayed at the Angkor Century which is a notch below the LM and seems to be a local interpretation on how an "international" hotel should look like.

[QUOTE What hotel is recommended, for a 3 day stay at Angkor Wat? . . .

BiziBB -- I see you are enrolled in SPG; I stayed at the Le Meridien Angkor in Siem Reap in Jan/Feb 2007 and really liked the hotel (nice facilities, comfortable large room, good bar, friendly staff). It's a pretty good deal if you want to use Starpoints -- I believe it's only 3000 pts per night.
it's worth checking out.

Have a great time in Siem Reap and Angkor. I loved the place. ^[/QUOTE]

Thank you LosAngeleno, I'll check with my points and miles guru and IIRC a Stay 3, 4th free promo which I think is running at LM or at least SPG.

Cheers!

This www.taraangkorhotel.com looks quite nice; brand new and just down the road from the LeMeridien (towards town centre). Have not stayed there to comment on rooms & service.

While the LM is quite comfortable and the service excellent, its an architectural disaster with ugly facade and dark rooms. I have also stayed at the Angkor Century which is a notch below the LM and seems to be a local interpretation on how an "international" hotel should look like.

Thank you mario33; Tara's opening specials are tempting; I'll check with my guru re. the tradeoff against the LM.
SPG LM guests: If LM is not in SPG but is bookable on there, do LM stays gain starpoints? :)

I'll check TA for reviews of both - Tara's inclusions are good - airport transfers and other stuff.

Are transfers included with LM and other international hotels?
I suppose if they are close to REP then probably yes.

Lastly - what research, preparation is recommended (aside from inoculations) for Cambodia??

Thank you mario33; Tara's opening specials are tempting; I'll check with my guru re. the tradeoff against the LM.
SPG LM guests: If LM is not in SPG but is bookable on there, do LM stays gain starpoints? :)

I'll check TA for reviews of both - Tara's inclusions are good - airport transfers and other stuff.

Are transfers included with LM and other international hotels?
I suppose if they are close to REP then probably yes.

Lastly - what research, preparation is recommended?

I think the main thing is to get a good guide. There are some threads here on FT where a number of different guides are mentioned. I would recommend that you read those and use them to help chose a guide and contact them in advance. I think a good guide is very valuable in getting the most out of your visit. It is a VERY large area with a lot to see.


Some pictures from the area around Siem Reap, including Angkor Wat and other sites (http://www.flickr.com/photos/97883009@N00/sets/72157594390630255/). Roughly the first half are from Cambodia, the remainder in that set are from Hanoi.

I think the main thing is to get a good guide. There are some threads here on FT where a number of different guides are mentioned. I would recommend that you read those and use them to help chose a guide and contact them in advance. I think a good guide is very valuable in getting the most out of your visit. It is a VERY large area with a lot to see.

THANK YOU GadgetFreak! Better I do this now - only 2 weeks to go!

If anyone can add a recommendation of guides, please add it below.

From the inclusion list of the Tara hotel, it would seem possible to use a bike on the AW area.
With a guide, does one get driven around plus some walking or due to the size of the place is there biking too?

We'd be fine biking - just wondering if that is a typical tour/guide option, or whether it's more time-effective to be taken around in a car/tuk-tuk etc.

THANK YOU GadgetFreak! Better I do this now - only 2 weeks to go!

If anyone can add a recommendation of guides, please add it below.

From the inclusion list of the Tara hotel, it would seem possible to use a bike on the AW area.
With a guide, does one get driven around plus some walking or due to the size of the place is there biking too?

We'd be fine biking - just wondering if that is a typical tour/guide option, or whether it's more time-effective to be taken around in a car/tuk-tuk etc.


We were driven from one area to another. Some of them are miles apart. We would then walk to that complex and explore on foot. We used a company called Diethelm. They were actually subcontracted for us but they have local guides in Siem Reap. Our guide was absolutely superb. He grew up in the area and spoke fluent English. He was the guide and had someone else driving. He took us on some jungle paths to get to some of the temples from unique perspectives. Lots of other suggestions for guides if you search FT for "Angkor guide".

Thanks again GadgetFreak. The Angkor Wat guide thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=644003)from 2007 is very useful.

Advice from friends here is to have a guide whenever going anywhere that isn't trodden daily, so that we take safe paths. :eek:

OT, I notice you took some good shots with your camera. I'll be taking a newer model with me, so would appreciate any tips on what to take (lenses, tripods etc). I only have basic EF kit lenses so far (cheap Canon 28-80, 80-200) and no wider angle lenses. :(

Thanks again GadgetFreak. The Angkor Wat guide thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=644003)from 2007 is very useful.

Advice from friends here is to have a guide whenever going anywhere that isn't trodden daily, so that we take safe paths. :eek:

OT, I notice you took some good shots with your camera. I'll be taking a newer model with me, so would appreciate any tips on what to take (lenses, tripods etc). I only have basic EF kit lenses so far (cheap Canon 28-80, 80-200) and no wider angle lenses. :(

Thanks. I had three lenses with me. These were the 17-40 f/4.5L, the 70-200 f/4.5L and a 50 f/1.8. I looked at some of the images and noticed in the data files online that some of them were shot at ASA 800. There was surprisingly (to me at least although I suppose I should have expected it) little light in a lot the the areas. The main temple, Angkor Wat itself, is in a clearing. A lot of the temples are surrounded very closely by jungle. Also, even in cleared areas there is a lot to photograph in shadows of the structures. I think getting a fast lens like the 50 f/1.8 would be a really good investment. It is pretty cheap and would give you a better low light option I suspect (although Im not certain of the speed on your lenses). I had a tripod that I uses in Agra but I dont think I used it in Cambodia. It wouldnt be a bad thing to have though given the light if you are willing to slog around with it (some climbing in the temples) and are patient enough to use it.

We flew into Siem Reap on Bangkok Air and out of Pnom Penh on Air Asia.
There is a luxury bus between Pnom Penh and Siem Reap which costs less than $10 and takes about 4.5 to 5 hours. I found it a great way to travel since you get to see a bit of the countryside. Also, the bus was very comfortable and water and a snack was included in the price.

We spent 5 days in Siem Reap and toured the temples on 3. One day for the main temples, one for the surrounding ones, and another for those that are farther away (Beng Mealea, Kbal Spean).

I usually prefer hotels but this time stayed at a guest house and didn't regret it. They also organised a driver and tour guide for our trips (between $50 and $90 per day depending on the distance).
In Pnom Penh we stayed at the Raffles which was really nice and not too expensive.

If you're the backpacker type, there's a great guesthouse called Mahagony or some type of wood, can't remember what. Two years-ish ago it was something like $11/day and the proprietress did my laundry for free.

I took a government guide from the tourist information center place... I think people called him Yokohama (and he did speak Japanese). Showed me around on the back of his motorcycle, then at the end of the day bought some palm wine packaged in individual-sized garbage bags and we sat around with a few other guides while he told stories about what the old regime did to his family. Neat guy.

The trials and tribulations of overland travel from Phnom Penh are sorta fun and memorable... again, if you're the backpacker type.

If you're feeling adventurous about the biking it is possible to bike around the inner circuit. I saw plenty of people doing this and it looked fun. For the outer circuit and some of the farther temples you'll definitely want to take a motorbike, tuktuk or car.