Siem Reap: Gateway to Angkor Wat in Northwestern Cambodia

Siem Reap is a province and its capital city in northwestern Cambodia — the primary access point for the Angkor Archaeological Park.

Geographic Context

• Location: 314 km NW of Phnom Penh; 15 km from Angkor Wat
• Topography: Tonlé Sap floodplain → Kulen Hills (NE)
• Climate: Tropical wet/dry — dry Nov–Apr (peak tourism), wet May–Oct

Angkor Wat & Beyond

• Angkor Wat: World's largest religious monument (162 ha); 12th C Hindu → Buddhist
• Angkor Thom: Bayon (faces), Baphuon, Terrace of Elephants
• Ta Prohm: "Tomb Raider" temple — silk-cotton tree roots
• Banteay Srei: 35 km NE — pink sandstone, intricate carving
• Roluos Group: Pre-Angkorian (9th C) — Bakong, Lolei, Preah Ko

UNESCO World Heritage (1992). 3-day pass: $62; 7-day: $72.

Siem Reap Town

• Pub Street / Night Market: Tourist core — restaurants, bars, massage, souvenirs
• Psar Chas (Old Market): Local food, produce, crafts
• Phare Circus: Social enterprise — Cambodian contemporary circus
• Apsara Dance: Classical performances (dinner shows)
• Artisans Angkor: Silk, stone, wood carving workshops (fair trade)

Access

• Air: Siem Reap–Angkor Intl (SAI, new 2023) — 40 km from town; REP (old) closing
• Land: 6–7 hr bus from Phnom Penh; 4 hr from Poipet (Thai border)
• Boat: Phnom Penh → Siem Reap (fast boat, 5–6 hr, seasonal)

Siem Reap = Angkor + vibrant town + gateway to Tonlé Sap biosphere.