Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Kantha Bopha Children's Hospital
Vithei Charles de Gaulle/Angkor Wat Rd, 2.5km north of the centre • Concerts Thurs & Sat 7.15pm • Free •
W
beatocello.com • Around
$2/$3 from the centre by moto/tuk-tuk
Dominated by a massive head of Jayavarman VII, the
Kantha Bopha
Children's Hospital
is one of Cambodia's unsung wonders; here all treatment is free and charitable
donations allow staff to be paid a living wage. Free concerts are staged twice weekly by
Dr Beat Richner - usually known as “Beatocello” - the Swiss doctor and cellist who
oversees the hospital. Entrance is free, although donations, either of money, blood, or
both, are warmly welcomed.
Cambodian Cultural Village
3.5km west of the centre along NR6 (Airport Rd) • Daily 8am-7pm • $15 • Around $4/$5 from the centre by moto/tuk-tuk
West of the centre along the road to the airport, the
Cambodian Cultural Village
is one
of those “see the whole country in an hour” theme parks that every country in
Southeast Asia seems to have. As well as miniatures of many of Cambodia's temples and
monuments, there are tableaux of wax figures portraying events from history. However,
given the spectacularly racked-up admission price, few overseas visitors bother.
3
War Museum
5km from the centre (4km west along NR6/Airport Rd, then 1km along a side road north) • Daily 8am-5.30pm • $5 (including guide) •
T
088 848 7351,
W
warmuseumcambodia.com • Around $4/$5 from the centre by moto/tuk-tuk
Not far from the airport, Siem's Reap's
War Museum
provides a salutary reminder of the
three decades of fighting endured by Cambodia up until 1998. The collection includes
significant quantities of military hardware including a MiG jet fighter along with
various tanks and plenty of guns (some of them dating back to World War II). For
many visitors, though, the museum's real highlight is the chance to talk with its guides,
some of them war veterans and land mine victims themselves, whose stories and
reminiscences bring the Khmer Rouge era to life rather more vividly than the clunky
piles of rusting weaponry.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
SIEM REAP
Poipet, although there are fewer services along the less-
travelled routes to Battambang and Kompong Cham.
Tickets can be bought through most guesthouses and
hotels; alternatively, visit the bus company o
ces
themselves, which are clustered along Sivatha Blvd west of
Psar Chas.
Stations and stops
Arriving in Siem Reap, buses usually
call first at Chong Kov Sou bus station 3km east of town,
although most continue into town (or at least to the
junction of NR6 and Pokambor Ave, north of the centre,
from where a tuk-tuk into town will cost $2).
Destinations
Anlong Veng (2 daily; 2hr); Battambang
(4 daily; 4hr); Kompong Cham (2 daily; 3hr 30min);
Kompong Thom (20 daily; 2hr); Phnom Penh (20 daily;
6-8hr); Poipet (10 daily; 3hr); Sisophon (10 daily; 2hr).
BY PLANE
For information about flights to Siem Reap, see Basics (see
pp.19-21).
Airport transport
Registered taxis ($7) and tuk-tuks
($5) for the 6km ride from the airport into town can be
hired at a booth just outside the exit from the arrival
lounge. Minibuses from certain hotels meet planes, so look
out for them if you've booked accommodation in advance,
or intend to stay at one of them.
Airlines
Bangkok Airways, 571 NR6/Airport Rd (
T
063
380191); Cambodia Angkor Air, Sivatha Blvd, near Central
Market (
T
063 969268,
W
cambodiaangkorair.com);
Jetstar, 50 Sivatha Blvd (
T
063 964388); Malaysia Airlines,
Siem Reap Airport (
T
063 964135); Vietnam Airlines, 342
NR6/Airport Rd (
T
063 964488).
BY BUS
Companies
Siem Reap has a plethora of bus companies
(including Capitol, Neak Krorhorm, Phnom Penh Sorya,
Giant Ibis and Rith Mony) servicing the popular Siem
Reap-Phnom Penh route. Most also provide services to
BY SHARED TAXI AND MINIBUS
Arriving in Siem Reap
Shared taxis stop at the transport
stop 3km east of town, although most continue on into
town.
Leaving Siem Reap
Shared taxis to Phnom Penh and
