ANGKOR CONSERVATION OVERVIEW

Overview: If you want to experience truly magnificent places in the world, visit the Angkor Wat temples, the glorious legacy of the Khmer Empire. All visitors are thankful for this legacy and leave Angkor Wat changed.

I will say this as a strong note: the temples – entering and navigating in and through them – do present challenges due to steps (large, small, broken, etc.) and uneven and sometimes jagged ground for people in wheelchairs. However, just being in front of these temples, wheeling around the perimeter, is something to behold. You’ll be inspired by these magnificant, reverent temples. Pictures don't do justice. You also must see and mingle with the locals around the temples to get the experience of a lifetime.

Also, a mob of Cambodian vendors buzz around the grounds of Angkor Wat, selling anything books and knick knack souveniers to their services as "tour guides." Surprisingly, the Cambodians who want to be your tour guide speak English better than in most Asian countries. They also speak many other languages. The reason is that tourism is Siem Reap/Angkor's primary revenue generator. You can hire a few of them to help you into and through these temples. The men are happy to get work and help you around, as they did with me.

The Angkor temples are located a few miles north of downtown Siem Reap. I'd suggest riding in a tuk-tuk to take in the entire experience of getting there, having the wind or breeze against your face, watching people on the sidewalks and having street vendors stare at you, taking in the smells (which, by the way, is not bad) and everything you can while on your way to the temples. The temples can not be seen in one day. Angkor Wat alone will take half a day. Plan on at least 3 to 4 days.

Passport: You will need your passport for admittance to the temple grounds. The officials will take a picture of you, place your picture in a three day pass and you need to remember to bring that pass.

Costs:
1. Cost to enter the temples grounds is about $40 for three days access. You get a badge.
2. I would suggest getting a few of the Cambodian guys to help you maneuver around the temples. They are amazing. Cost for manual labor help and even a real tour guide experience from the Cambodian men is up to you. But, I paid $20 each, which is an amount equivalent to two or three months pay to them.

Getting There: To get the the Angkor Conservation compound, which is only about 10 minutes north of the Old Market and Old French Quarter and about 15 minutes from the Freedom Hotel (on National Road/Highway 6 (east), arrange for a van through your hotel or take one of the tri-ped tuk-tuks.