SIEM REAP PROVINCE

Angkor Wat Temple

Siem Reap is the famous historical province located in the north-west Cambodia. A lot of great and long time temples make this province well-knows all the over the world especially Angkor Wat temple. The south of the province is near to Tonlesap lack, the greatest sweet water and lot of source fishes water reserve in whole Cambodia country. Sieam Reap province named is refer the meaning of the Siamese Defeated, the victory of the Khmer Empire over the army of the Thai kingdom in the 17th century. 

Geography
Siem Reap province is 10,299 square kilometers big and definitely one the most famous ones in Cambodia. It's located in the Northwest of the country bordering the North with Oddor Meanchey, to the East with Preah Vihear and Kampong Thom, to the West with Banteay Meanchey and to the South with the biggest sweet water reserve in Cambodia, the huge Tonle Sap Lake. The province in general, especially in the Southern part consists of the typical plain wet area for Cambodia, covering lots of rice fields and other agricultural plantations. The northern part is turning into an undulating area covered with some deeper, green forests. A quite distinguished mark of Siem Reap Province is the smaller, but important Siem Reap River. It rises from Phnom Kulen, meanders through the northern part of Siem Reap Province and eventually into the Tonle Sap Lake. 

Climate
 Cambodia has a tropical climate: warm and humid. Siem Reap in particular could be classified as having a tropical wet and dry climate. During the rainy season, the city averages approximately 1500 mm of rainfall per year.The average temperature is around 27 degrees Celsius. Thus, it is suitable to visit most of the year round because it lies in a tropical zone.

The best time to visit the Angkor area is during the cooler months between November and March.

From late April or May to late October rains can be expected. 

Area
 10,299 square kilometers one of the big province in Cambodia. 

Population
The current population in this province is about 903,030 people or 6.3% of the country’s total population (14,363,519 person in Cambodia, 2007, provincial government data), with 440,395 male and 462,635 female. The population density is therefore 87,7 people per square kilometre. 

Economy 
 Generally spoken Siem Reap Province is all in all economically focusing on the foreign tourist due to the famous Angkor Temples. Since of the year 2000 the economical growth rate is gaining double-digits. It’s all sub-sectors such as hotels, restaurants, bars, entertainment places and transportation to profit from the annual influx of tourists, which was in 2007 more than 1,000,000 people.

Except the tourism sector the provincial economy was and still is growing due to the enforced fishery. Thousands of tons are annually exported to other provinces within the country or outside Cambodia. Farming and fruit cropping has probably become a minor profitable sector, but is still done by the vast poor rural population, who are the underdogs regarding the annual provincial revenue. 

Where to Visit

Reflection photo shooting in front of Angkor Wat Temple

The most recognizable of the temples, Angkor Wat, literally Capital Temple, was built by King Suryavarman II during early 12th century.

Tourist can enjoying the Elephant Rides across the ancient city Angkor Wat temple, Bayon Temple or at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, especially tourist can ride the elephant up to the hill for sunset on the Phnom Bakeng mountain.

Unique new addition landscape from the eyes-bird view the beautiful area of Angkor Wat city by Balloon Rides on the fresh air and cozy service.

It's not the rest time for tourist Siem Reap has a lot of place to go and visit like Aki Ras Landmine Museum, Angkor National Museum, Cambodia Cultural Village, Countryside tours, Butterfly Garden.

Sieam Reap is an excellent place to buy Cambodia souvenirs, handicrafts, textiles and art. In the laorst few of years there has been a small boom of new shops, galleries and boutiques, offering a more varied selection of quality handicrafts and silk as well as original artistic creations- paintings, prints, carvings and such. 

Where to Eat
 There is no shortage of restaurants in Siem Reap. They have been opening steadily over the past couple of years. Siem Reap offers an excellent variety of restaurants. Shinta Mani and Hotel Grand D'Angkor lead the fine dining category though there are several places offering excellent cuisine in a stylish, refined atmosphere. There are also plenty of moderately priced Cambodian and international restaurants. Almost every restaurant offers Cambodian food, Thai food, Chinese food, Indian food, European food, Japanese food, Korean food, Vietnamese food, etc..!  

Where to Stay
 Siem Reap has an ever-growing number of hotel and guesthouse rooms, and a variety that is wide enough to satisfy all tastes and requirements. Though staying right in the middle of town is a bit more convenient to the Old Market and Sivatha road area, the town is relatively small making any location almost equally convenient as any other.

There are now several four and five-star hotels in town, especially along the airport road. Less expensive mid-range rooms with a/c, cable TV, and hot water are available in a variety of styles and look and begin at about $15 or $20 but average $25 - $60. More expensive usually means newer, more stylish rooms, and more hotel services. Budget guesthouses, usually family-run, cost $2-$10 a night. Dozens of budget places are scattered across town, with a concentration in the Wat Bo and Taphul Village areas. Almost all guesthouses and hotels can arrange anything a tourist might need including tours, transport and information.