Northwestern Cambodia - Cambodia - page 509

like fried calamari, noodle soups and curry beef with baguette. It's the last in a row of res-
taurants on the right just north of the roundabout (toward Prasat Preah Vihear).

Pkay Broek Restaurant
(mains US$2.50-6; 6am-10pm) Located 3km west of the centre on the road to Anlong Veng,
Pkay Prek Restaurant is famous for its grill-it-yourself phnom pleung (hill of fire, trans-
lated as 'Korean Fire Beef' on its menu).

CAMBODIAN $

VISITING THE TEMPLE

Driving in from Sra Em, your first stop should be the information centre ( 7am-5.30pm) in the
village of Kor Muy. This is where you pay your donation, secure an English-speaking guide if you
want one (US$15), and arrange transport via moto (US$5 return) or 4WD (US$25 return, maximum
six passengers) up the 6.5km temple access road.
The first 5km of the access road are smooth and gradual enough, but the final 1.5km is extremely
steep; nervous passengers might consider walking this last bit, especially if it's wet. Private vehicles
are allowed up this road, but you'll need a motorbike or a 4WD for the steep parts at the end. Parking
at the top costs 2000/5000r for a motorbike/car.
Another option is to walk up the Eastern Staircase - look for signs to the 'Ancient Staircase' on the
road from Sra Em before you get to the information centre in Kor Muy.
It used to be possible to get to Prasat Preah Vihear from Thailand, where paved roads from Kanthar-
alak led almost up to the Monumental Stairway. However, due to the long stand-off between Thailand
and Cambodia, access from the Thai side has been forbidden since mid-2008. That could, of course,
change so check the situation on the ground.

Getting There & Away

The roads up in this northernmost part of Cambodia have improved dramatically in recent
years.
With a private car you can get to Prasat Preah Vihear in about 2½ hours from Siem
Reap. The day trip usually takes in Koh Ker and/or Beng Mealea and/or Banteay Srei en
route and costs US$100 to US$150.
It makes much more sense to break up the long trip with a night in Sra Em, which is
23km from Kor Muy, where the temple information office is, and 30km from the temple
proper. From Sra Em's central roundabout, take a moto to Kor Muy (US$10 return), where
another moto will take you up to the temple ($US5 return). There is no public transport to
Kor Muy.