Other Things to do in Siem Reap after The Temples Tours

Traditional Performances: No visit to Cambodia is complete without attending at least one performance. Traditional Khmer dance is
better described as ‘dance drama’ in that the dances are not merely dance but are also meant to convey a story or message. And Apsara Dancing Show is the most popular performance for most tourists. Some restaurants in Siem Reap town offer the Apsara Show included buffet (serve all kinds of Khmer and Asian food). Booking with me only $11 for one person.

Land Mine Museum: Years of war have brought Cambodia one of the worst landmine problems in the world. The
Cambodian Landmine Museum & Relief Facility contains exhibits displaying information and a variety of defused mines, bombs and other ordinance. The creator and proprietor of the museum, Akira, worked as a deminer in recent years. He is some times on hand to provide personal tours and tell of his experiences as a young soldier. Located six km south of Banteay Srey Temple.

Phnom Kulen Resort (Kulen Waterfall): Phnom Kulen is considered by Khmers to be the
most sacred mountain in Cambodia and is a popular place of pilgrimage during weekends and festivals. It played a significant role in the history of the Khmer Empire, as it was from here in 802 that Jayavarman II proclaimed independence from Java, giving birth to modern-day Cambodia. There is a small Wat at the summit of the mountain, which houses a large Buddha carved into the sandstone boulder upon which it is built. Nearby is a large waterfall and above it are smaller bathing areas and a number of carvings in the riverbed, including numerous linga. $25 for foreigner to visit the Kulen Waterfall. We can go up there by car or motorbike.

Cambodian Cultural Village: A unique, sprawling cultural attraction, intended to introduce the visitors to Cambodia culture and history. Interesting wax museum features scenes and figures from history. Large park area with 1/20th scale models of important cultural sites and landmarks. Full scale models of variety of Cambodian architectural types. Live shows, traditional dance performances and music.

Angkor National Museum: The Angkor National Museum in Siem Reap offers eight chronologically ordered galleries of Angkorian-era
artifacts and multi-media presentations of Angkorian history and culture. The Museum has just recently its doors and is still in the process of putting the finishing touches on some of it’s exhibits. Admission price: $12 (for foreingners). Hours: 8:30am – 6:30pm.

Floating Village (Chong Khneas): Chong Khneas is the floating village at the edge of the lake closest and most
accessible to Siem Reap. If you want a relatively quick and easy look at the Tonle Sap, boat tours of Chong Khneas are available, departing from the Chong Khneas boat docks all day long. The Boatman will probably point out the different Khmer and Vietnamese floating house-holds and the floating markets, clinics,schools,church, mini mart and other boatloads of tourists.

Kampong Phluk (Flooded Forest): Kampong Phluk is a cluster of three villages of stilted houses built within the floodplain of the Tonle
Sap about 16km southeast of Siem Reap. The Villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3000 inhabitants between them. Flooded mangrove forest surrounds the area and is home to a variety of wildlife including crab-eating macaques. During the dry season when the lake is low, the buildings in the villages seem to soar atop their 6-meter stilts exposed by the lake of water. At this time of year many of the villagers move out onto the lake and build temporary stilted houses. In the wet season when water level rises again, the villagers move back to their permanent houses on the floodplain, the stilts now hidden under the water.

Bird Sanctuary & Biosphere of Prek Toal: Prek Toal is one of three biospheres on Tonle Sab lake, and the establishment of its bird
sanctuary makes Prek Toal the most worthwhile and straightforward to visit. It is an ornithologist’s fantasy, with a significant number of rare breeds gathered in one small area, including the huge lesser and greater adjutant storks, the milky stork and the spot-billed pelican. Visitors during the dry season (December to May) will find the concentration of birds like something out of a Hitchcock film. As water starts to dry up elsewhere is the birds congregate here.

The Silk Farm: Set aside a couple of hours to visit the National Silk Center. The silk farm is a fascinating farm/workshop where you can see the entire silk creation process including growing the food for the silk worms (mulberry bushes), breeding the worms, silk extraction, spinning and refinement, traditional ikat dying, pattern creation, and looming. It’s a very interesting and educational tour well worth the time to drive out to the silk farm.