Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MASSAGE, SPAS AND SWIMMING
You can hardly move in central Siem Reap without insistent calls of “massage?” following you
down the street, particularly around Sihanouk Boulevard, Hospital Street and at the Angkor
Night Market. While these are all bona fide establishments, the cheapest places, though
usually clean, will probably give you your massage on a reclining chair or in a room with
several massage couches, sometimes in full view of the street. Paying more you'll get relaxing
surroundings, a robe and a private room.
Most of the cheaper places offer traditional Khmer-style massage - neck, head, back, full
massage and so on, with or without oil, while better places (see below) offer the full range of
international massages, from Thai to Swedish, along with other spa treatments. A growing
number of places are offering “Seeing Hands” massage , given by blind masseurs, while there
are around a dozen “fish massage” places set up on pavements where you can sit with your
feet in a tank for twenty minutes while shoals of little fish nibble the dead skin off your feet.
Many hotels and guesthouses have swimming pools , while some allow non-guests to use
theirs for a fee (or if you take drinks or a meal). Unfortunately the spectacular sunken pool at
the Ra es Grand Hotel is out of bounds except for guests, although the lush pool at the Victoria
Angkor runs it a close second and is sometimes open to non-guests if the hotel isn't too full
($13). The Angkor Village Resort is another option ($10, free if you have lunch). Cheaper pools
can be found at the Siem Reap Hostel ($6, including $5 bar credit), La Noria ($3) and the Kannell
restaurant (free with a meal). Alternatively, do as the Khmers do and head to the West Baray
(see p.186) where you can swim, picnic and lounge about all day for nothing.
SPAS
Amrita Spa Ra es Grand Hotel d'Angkor T 063
963888. Siem Reap's most upmarket spa, offering
opulent massages (including Thai, Khmer, Swedish,
aromatherapy and four-hand) plus facials, pedicures,
manicures and herbal baths (from $60/hr).
Bodia Spa Off Hospital St T 063 761593, W bodia
-spa.com. Traditional and aromatherapy massages,
wraps and facials (from $25/hr).
Body Tune Spa Pokambor Ave, near Psar
Chas
3
recommended Thai spa offering affordable Thai, oil and
aromatherapy massages, plus facials and scrubs (from
$12/hr).
Kaya Spa Hospital St, by Senteurs d'Angkor
T 063 966736. Traditional herbal and aromatherapy
massages, plus scrubs, facials and wraps (from $20/hr).
Kong Kea Spa La Résidence d'Angkor T 063
963390. Luxurious spa at one of the city's top hotels -
signature Khmer and Indochina massages, scrubs and
facials (from $70/hr).
T 063 764141, W bodytune.co.th.
Highly
Artisans d'Angkor
West off the southern end of Sivatha Blvd • Daily 7.30am-6.30pm • Free • T 063 963330, W artisansdangkor.com
A short walk west of Psar Chas, Artisans d'Angkor offers a fascinating snapshot of
Cambodia's varied artisanal traditions collected under one roof in a single little crafts
village. English-speaking guides meet visitors for a tour of the workshops, where you
can see students - selected from deprived local families - following intensive studies in
skills including wood and stone carving, lacquer-work, gilding and silver-working. The
gorgeous end products of all this work can be bought in the upmarket boutique
attached to the centre (see p.154).
The centre has also revived local silk-weaving skills, lost during the Khmer Rouge era.
Silk is produced at the Angkor Silk Farm (daily 8am-5pm; free) at Puok, 16km west of
Siem Reap off NR6, where guides explain the intricacies of silk production and
weaving. Free buses run from Artisans d'Angkor to the farm daily (9.30am & 1.30pm;
returning 11.30am & 3.30pm).
Wat Damnak
East of the river opposite Psar Chas and behind the Siem Reap Art Center Night Market
The sprawling Wat Damnak is one of the largest temples in Siem Reap. It's home to the
Center for Khmer Studies - the largest library outside Phnom Penh - while at the rear
 
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