Welcome to Angkor Drivers and Information About Siem Reap City
Gateway to the Temples of Angkor
Nestled between rice paddies and stretched along the Siem Reap River, the small provincial capital of Siem Reap Town serves as the gateway to the millennium-old temple ruins of the Khmer Empire. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses dozens of temple ruins including Bayon, Banteay Srey and the legendary Angkor Wat whose artistic and archaeological significance and visual impact put it in a class with the Pyramids, Machu Pichu and the Taj Mahal. Unlike many other world class monuments, the ruins of Angkor are as yet unspoiled by over-development. This will not be true in a couple of years. Though the major temples are relatively well touristed these days, it is still possible get away from the crowds, to explore the area and discover Angkor.
Siem Reap Town is where you will stay during your visit to Angkor. The area has been receiving foreign visitors to the temples for over 100 years. The town is actually a cluster of old villages, which originally developed around individual pagodas, and later overlaid with an French colonial-era center. Note the colonial and Chinese style architecture in the town center and around the Old Market. Nowadays, Siem Reap offers a wide range of hotels, restaurants, pubs and shops including several upscale hotels and dozens of budget guesthouses. Often missed are the many opportunities to experience traditional Cambodia: ‘Apsara’ dance performances, craft shops and silk farms, road tours through rice-paddy countryside, boat trips on the great Tonle Sap Lake to fishing villages and bird sanctuary, and much more.
Background Aspect of Cambodia
Cambodia locates in Southeast Asia at the southern part of Indochina. Among 10 countries of ASEAN, the dimension of Cambodia is 181, 035-square kilometers, and the populations is 13.1 million shaping as almost square polygon, which its central point is Kampong Thom provincial.
Geographical location is in the middle of order ASEAN countries, which makes it easy accessible development economic and tourism. The geographically, Cambodia situated between 10-15 parallels of northern latitude and 102-108 of eastern longitude. The geographical location indicates Cambodia is a tropical, warm and humid country. If affected by Asia monsoon with money rains to enable growth Vegetation and all varieties of crop. With these characteristics made Cambodia a favorable for tourism development is highly desirable due to warm climate in a year round. In general, Cambodia is and plain at the middle and enclosed by mountains, plateaus and coastal areas at the southwest part. Cambodia transportation network comprises land, river, sea, rail, and air.
Cambodia Fact file:
Country name : Kingdom of Cambodia
Motto : Nation – Religion – King
Government : Constitutional Monarchy
Language : Khmer (official), English, French
Religion : Theravada Buddhism (95%) and others: Islam, Christianity
and animism.
Population : 13.1 (2001 estimate)
Land area : 181.035 square kilometers.
EthnicGroups : Khmer (90%-95%), Ethnic-Chinese, Charm, ethnic-
Vietnamese, several hill Tribes in the northeast.
Climate : Tropical
Average temperature 32c
Rainy season, June to November
Dry season, December to May
Cool season, November to February
Detail :1/ Cool/Dry season: November to February
2/ Hot/Dry season: March to May
3/ Hit/Wet season: June to August
4/ Cool/Wet season: September to October
Siem Reap is the northern province of Cambodia. There are many ways to reach to this province by air, by road, or by boat. Angkor Driver has gathered the detailed information to support your needs and plan your vacation travel itinerary to and from the province. Many travelers quote Angkor Wat, one of the great wonders of the world and the symbol of the heart and soul of the Cambodian nation, as a highlight of a visit to South East Asia. However, few tourists delve beyond the glory of the temples into wider Cambodia to discover other aspects that make up this diverse and captivating country. If you plan a visit you can find details below of arrival and departure information:
Passports
Visitors ’passport should be valid for at least six months at time of entry after date of return from Cambodia required by all nationals of countries. Passports of International staff of UN/NGO agencies should be valid for at least one year, at time of entry.
Visas
The online application of e-Visa has been launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, makes it possible for you to apply for a Cambodia tourist visa. Instead of applying through a Cambodian Embassy, all you need to do is
(1) To complete the online application form and;
(2) To pay with your credit card;
(3) The visa will be submitted by MFA through your email;
(4) You just print it out and bring it along when you travel to Cambodia.
Applicants from non-eligible countries including Afghanistan, Algeria, Arab Saudi, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Sudan should apply for a Visa from their nearest Cambodia embassy.
On-arrival visas are available for all, except nationals of Afghanistan, Algeria, Arab Saudi, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Sudan; but for Malaysia, The Philippines and Singapore the validity is limited to 21-30 days. Visitors arriving by air can obtain a visa for stays of up to 30 days on arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, Phnom Penh or Siem Reap International Airport, Angkor. Visas are also available from Immigration at the border posts of Bavet, Poi Pet and Koh Kong. Visitors are advised to check current situation before traveling.
For those who wish to apply for Business Visa, K-Visa or Diplomatic Visa, please contact your nearest embassy for more information. Visitors can also apply for an electronic visa (e-Visa) online through the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation on website http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/
At present, visitors travelling on an e-Visa must enter Cambodia at either Phnom Penh International Airport or Siem Reap International Airport. Tourists on package tours will normally have their visas arranged by the tour operator.
Types of visa and cost
Tourist (single-entry): US$26 (US$52 for express);
Business (single-entry): US$43 (US$69 for express).
Express visas are issued within 24 hours.
Validity
All visas are valid for a one month period, and visas issued by the Embassy must be used within three months of date of issue. Extensions of up to one extra month for Tourist visas or six or 12 months for Business visas (which can be multiple) may be granted by the Ministry of the Interior at the Immigration Office in Phnom Penh.
Application to
Consulate (or Consular section of Embassy); see Passport/Visa Information. Tourists on package tours will normally have their visas arranged by the tour operator. Applications by post will only be accepted through a recognized visa courier. For further details, contact the nearest Consulate (or Consular section of Embassy).
Application requirements
(a) One completed application form;
(b) Two passport-size photos;
(c) Valid passport. Children need a passport and visa also;
(d) Fee in cash only;
(e) Self-addressed prepaid envelope if applying by post;
Note: (a) Children traveling on their parent's passport must submit an extra photo. (b) Nationals of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Sudan also need a return ticket. (In addition, they will require a routine check-up. For Tourist visas, a letter of guarantee from the travel agent, and for Business visas, a business letter).
Working days required
Five from day of receipt of application form. Express visas are issued within 24 hours.
Travel Advice (applicable to all of Asia and Africa)
You should be aware of the general global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners. However, most visits to Cambodia are trouble-free.
There are always some risks to travelers for instance from road traffic accidents, armed robbery after dark and even landmines and unexploded ordnance in remote rural areas. However for most times and places Cambodia is now a safe and pleasant country.
There has been some limited outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) amongst poultry in Cambodia. Visitors to Cambodia are unlikely to be affected, but should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where they may come into close contact with wild or caged birds; and ensure poultry dishes are thoroughly cooked.
This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:
Working Days Required
Five from day of receipt of application form. Express visas are issued within 24 hours. E-Visas are issued within three working days; the visa is delivered electronically to the applicant's mailbox.
CABODIA AND WEATHER
Cambodia is located in Southeast Asia, in the tropical zone, just 10-13 degrees north of the equator. Like most of Southeast Asia, Cambodia is warm to hot year round and the climate is dominated by the annual monsoon cycle with its alternating wet and dry seasons. The monsoon cycle is driven by cyclic air pressure changes over central Asia. As the pressure drops during the summer months (June through October), moist air is drawn landward from the ocean bringing the southwest monsoon rains to Cambodia and much of Southeast Asia. Come the winter months (November through May), the air pressure over central Asia rises, driving cool dry air back across Southeast Asia and bringing on a largely rainless dry season to Cambodia. The mean daily temperature also rises and falls with the winter and summer months, but not exactly in time with the wet and dry season.
ENTRANCE FEE OF ANGKOR
Passes are sold in one-day ($20), three-day ($40) and seven-day ($60) blocks that must be used on consecutive days. A one-day visit allows you to see the highlights of the most famous temples but very little more. Three days is sufficient to visit all of the major temples once, a few of the minor ones and have a little extra time at your favorites. Seven days is enough time to really explore some of your favorite ruins and visit many of the minor structures as well. One passport-sized photo is require at time of purchase of three and seven day passes. If you do not have a photo, free photos are provided at the main entrance, though this can be a time consuming process at peak entrance hours.
Visiting hours are 5:00AM - 6:00PM. Angkor Wat closes at 6:00PM, Banteay Srey closes at 5:00PM and Kbal Spean at 3:00PM. Always carry your ticket. It will be checked upon each park entry and at major temples. There is a significant fine for not possessing a valid ticket inside the park. A regular admission ticket is not required to visit Phnom Kulen, Koh Ker or Beng Melea, but there is a separate entrance fee of $20, $10 and $5, respectively.