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Discover magical Siem Reap

Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market. In the city, there are traditional Apsara dance performances, craft shops, silk farms, rice-paddy countryside, fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near the Tonle Sap Lake.

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» Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity

Recognized as the first nature preservation in Cambodia, Angkor Center for Conservation of Biodiversity is known for its wildlife rescue, animal rehabilitation and endangered species breeding. Visitors to ACCB can tour the grounds under the direction of expert guides who are well informed about the unique challenges facing the protection of Cambodia's wildlife. From the pileated gibbons to silvered langur, ACCB is home to animals found in few other places on earth …

» Kbal Spean (River of a Thousand Lingas)

While the decaying structures and overgrown temples of Angkor Wat remain among the most popular destinations in Siem Reap, the rare collection of stone carvings along the Stung Kbal Spean River, often referred to as 'Valley of 1000 Lingas,' continues to bring art and archaeology lovers outside the city and beyond Angkor. The impressive carvings that line the 125-kilometer riverbed pay homage to the Hindu god Shiva. During the 11th and 12th centuries …

» Kompong Phluk

While houses on stilts can be quite common in Cambodia (you'll often see people relaxing in hammocks strung underneath the houses, homes on stilts in a lake�well, that's a bit more unusual. Kompong Phluk is a set of villages that are located on the floodplain of the Tonle Sap Lake, about 10 miles (16 km) from Siem Reap. The community, which consists of about 3,000 villagers, mostly live in stilted homes and depend on fishing and tourism for their livelihood …

» Old Market (Phsar Chas)

There's a reason why most businesses in Siem Reap give their addresses in relation to Psar Chas-better known as the Old Market. Its well-stocked stalls selling Buddhist treasures, hilariously misspelled t-shirts, jewelry and other souvenirs are a must-stop destination for travelers visiting this ancient city. Friendly sellers used to foreign visitors make it easy to haggle for the best deal at this market in the heart of Siem Reap …

» Pub Street

Travelers looking for cold beers and cheap food almost always find themselves in the throes of chaotic Pub Street. Local taverns, unique vendors, musicians and traditional dancers line this paved pass, giving Siem Reap's entertainment Mecca a true party vibe. Pedestrian-only streets mean it's easy to wander between stalls selling traditional crafts, ice-cold beers and spicy hot soups. Food here is as popular with locals as it is with travelers …

» Tonl� Sap

This great lake in the heart of Cambodia is not only the largest body of fresh water in Southeast Asia, it's also a UNESCO-designated biosphere, due to its truly remarkable natural features. The flow of water in Tonl� Sap changes direction twice during the course of the year, and the lake expands and contracts with the seasons. From November to May-the country's dry season, the lake empties into the Mekong River …

» Wat Bo

One of Siem Reap's oldest temples, Wat Bo is known for its collection of well-preserved wall paintings from the late 19th century. Though Wat Bo is a Buddhist temple, these paintings depict the Reamker, which is Cambodia's interpretation of the Ramayana-an epic Hindu story about the love between Rama and Shita, the strongest man and the most beautiful women of all time. There is also an impressive collection of Buddha statues …