Cheap Flights to Battambang

Capital of the northwestern province of Cambodia sharing the same name, Siem Reap is widely considered the square one of Cambodian tourism. Once a quaint village, the booming town hints of a colonial past spritzed with Chinese influences. Literally meaning “Siam Defeated”, the name is far from reality today as throngs of tourists make their to this popular destination, thanks to its vicinity to Cambodia’s most famous attraction – the Angkor Vat temple. The humdrum town with echoes of a once quiet and subdues past, Siem Reap is a nice way to ease into the Cambodian lifestyle.

Tip: As a major tourist destination, Seam Reap is not difficult for a first-time traveler. However, most prices are fairly higher than the norm in the rest of Cambodia, including transport and stay.

All you need to know about Siem Reap

The small village-town of Siem Reap gained prominence when French explorers “re-discovered” the Angkor in the 19^th century. However, the recent history has been bloody to say at the very least due to the brutal Khmer Rouge regime of Pol Pot. Upon his death, the city revived to turn into a prominent destination on the Cambodia tourist trail.

Tip: While the archaeological site is the main reason tourists head to Siem Reap, there’s lots more that the city offers in terms of history and culture. Make sure to spend a minimum of 3-4 days in the region.

Your flight to Siem Reap:

The modern Siem Reap Internation Airport (REP) is the second-largest airport in the country. The airport was expanded in 2006 and accommodates international and domestic flights in separate terminals. Direct flights to Siem Reap are offered from international destinations from nearby South-East Asian countries, China as well as the Middle East. Cheap flights to Siem Reap are available in plenty, thanks to budget airlines. With 15 to 20 airlines flying to Siem Reap, including AirAsia, Air Seoul, Bangkok Airways, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Dragon, Cebu Pacific Air, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Dragonair, and many more, getting to Siem Reap is not a herculean task. For the luxury experience, you can opt for charter flights from Sky Angkor Airlines and Lanmei Airlines.

Tip: The airport is quite busy as it handles about 4 million passengers each year. There have been cases where immigration officers ask for a “red envelope” in USD for entry, especially during Chinese New Year, but politely decline. 

Traveling in Siem Reap:

To get to the city from the airport, you can hail taxi services from the Airport Taxi Association who charge fixed rates. Other cheaper options include using a taxi-app Grab or a Tuktuk. The city center is quite small and can be covered by foot or vike. Another popular option is the rental Green e-bikes. Other fun options include renting a motorbike, taking a motodop (motorbike taxi) or Tuk-tuk (3-wheeler taxi). Of course, cars are also available throughout the day.

Tip: You can hire a taxi to travel around for the day. An English-speaking taxi driver will happily tour you around an take you to the places you want to see, while also seconding as a guide if you need it.

Visiting Angkor Wat

Siem Reap serves the purpose of acting as a gateway to Angkor Archaeological Park. The vast expanse covering 400 km, the UNESCO World Heritage Site includes the Bayon temple, Ankgkor Thom and forested areas apart from the world-famous Angkor Wat temple. The attraction is about 20km from the city center of Siem Reap. The ancient Hindu temple is built in the image of Mount Meru. The other temples in Angkor are largely Buddhist temples, built by Jayavarman VII. The most mysterious part about the temple is the baray, a large water reservoir. While all other reservoirs around the temple have dried up, this reservoir and the moat around Angkor still contain water. Neither NASA imagery nor exploration has been successful in finding the outlet to the reservoir. As the temple is extensive it is highly recommended that you opt for licensed tour guides. A pass is required to get into the area. To get around the temple, you can opt for tour buses, private operators, rent-a-bikes, cabs, motodops or tuk-tuks. For a thrill, you can also take helicopter flights that help you tour outlying temples.

Tip: Tether balloons that go up to a height of 200m are offered at Angkor Wat. This way you can enjoy an aerial view of the premises to really take in all its beauty.

Siem Reap City:

While Angkor Wat is the main attraction, there are lots that you can do while in the city itself. Top spots include:

Museums: The Angkor National Museum. The Cambodia Landmine Museum and Relief Center and the War Museum Cambodia are home to Cambodia’s most prized possessions and treasures. They are all worth a visit to get to know the country better.

Markets: Shopping enthusiasts can head to Psag Chas, Angkor Night Market, Phsar Kandal, Phase Leu and the Made in Cambodia Market to indulge in some retail therapy. You can find all kinds of trinkets, souvenirs and the best of local street food here.

Culture Trips: If you want to encourage rural employment and local artists, a visit to Artisans Angkor and Cambodian Culture Village is a must. Apart from the restoration work of historical sites, Artisans Angkor is well known for silk and weaving.

Tip: A beautiful candlelit dinner at one of the four floating villages around Siem Reap is unmissable. Kompong Khleang is the most authentic and less crowded. Meychrey is home to abird sanctuary.

While looking for flights to Siem Reap, make sure you book along with hotel reservations to avail of a great deal. Trip.com’s user-friendly interface can really help you in this regard, when you’re looking big savings. Moreover, the site offers quality travel services including unlimited  24-hour customer service. Trip.com makes it extra-convenient for you as you can even skip queues and avail passes to the biggest attraction through online booking!

Ensure a hassle-free journey at Siem Reap, the tourist hotspot of Cambodia with Trip.com.