Siem Reap is a charming, French-influenced city located in northwest Cambodia. Its close proximity to the world-famous temples of Angkor Wat is what pulls in the crowds. Holding the title of the biggest religious monument in the world, the hundreds of mighty monuments that remain in the vast Khmer temple complex are quite simply astounding and create everlasting memories to anyone who visits them.
Whilst Angkor Wat is the show-stopper, the town itself and its rural surrounds are also worth exploring for historical, cultural and natural sights. Spending some time wandering around Siem Reap town is highly recommended. Highlights of which are the French colonial and Chinese-style architecture of the Old French Quarter and around the Old Market; as well as museums and traditional Apsara dance performances.
Travel to the nearby countryside and you’ll be rewarded with vistas of resplendent rice paddies, insight into traditional living and a wealth of natural beauty. Recommended sights include a Cambodian cultural village, Silk Farms and the floating lakeside fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near Tonle Sap Lake.
