10-step guide to Siem Reap

Angkor Wat is great, but there's so much more to Siem Reap. Take off those temple-tinted specs.

You can't visit Siem Reap and not see Angkor Wat. But nor should you neglect the other parts of town, which do so much to add to the charm and allure of this historical area.

From jungle adventures to vibrant culture to legendary nightlife, here are 10 of Siem Reap's essential experiences, besides the famous temple. 

1. Visit the Angkor temples

Doubtless, one of the world's greatest monuments.

The temples are what everyone's here for, and Angkor doesn't disappoint. Whether you're a hardcore shutterbug or just want to see the temples at their best, a photography tour will make sure you don't miss the hidden highlights.

The best time for photos is sunrise -- go in April to see the sun crest the horizon immediately behind the main shrine's dome and to maximize your chances of a haze-free day.

Or, if you don't mind sweating, rent a White Bicycle at any of the stands in town (your US$2 daily rental fee helps support local NGOs) and spend the day seeing the main temple circuit -- Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm -- at your own pace.

Either option gives you plenty of time to see the big three, any smaller temples that catch your eye, and still make it to Phnom Bakeng for the best sunset views.

Go early to snag a spot, and be sure to make it up before access to the temple-top viewing area closes at 5:30 p.m. Grab a pâté sandwich from any of the roadside vendors and picnic while you wait for the evening show.

2. Visit the other temples

Angkor -- perfect to find your inner Indiana.

Siem Reap has more than just Angkor Wat when it comes to temples. If you fancy yourself as a Cambodian Indiana Jones, visit Beng Mealea, where you can see what the temples would look like if left to nature.

Full-day tours typically combine with a trip to Koh Ker, an ancient capital city, or stop at Banteay Srey 2, a rarely visited temple and working monastery where you can hear monks chanting.

If you're after a taste of the “real” Cambodia, sign up for a tour of the Tonle Sap fishing villages, where you can see traditional stilt architecture, floating rice paddies and talk to local fishermen who might invite you home for a very freshly caught lunch.

It's worth the extra time to venture farther afield -- the nearest village, Chong Khneas, is swamped with tourists and feels like a human zoo. To make it a full day, choose a tour that also visits the bird sanctuary or any of several nearby NGO projects. 

3. Hire a tuk-tuk tour guide

 Smash! Bash! Kapow! Hopefully not the sounds of your maiden trip.

Even tuk-tuk fans will quickly understand why every market stall offers T-shirts emblazoned with: “No tuk-tuk. Not today. Not tomorrow,” but don't let the aggressive hawkers intimidate you into missing out on a quintessentially Cambodian ride.

Tuk-tuks are the local taxis, and the easiest way to get around Siem Reap. You can get anywhere in the main city for US$2, while good negotiators should be able to talk drivers down to a dollar. Tip the driver well and you'll have a friend for life, plus an eager tour guide who will show you the best of Siem Reap. Bonus points if you can find the “VIP Batman” tuk-tuk.

Within the city:

You can find a tuk-tuk for quick trips in Siem Reap anywhere. Be sure to negotiate a price up front, most trips within the city are US$1-3.

4. Eat bugs at the Old Market 

You get fed, the streets get de-bugged.

At Phsar Chas, the Old Market, you can get a feel for a real Cambodian market. 

Baskets of spices, multicolored arrays of fresh produce, crispy fried tarantulas and meats from octopus to chicken feet create a bizarre foodie circus. 

If you're looking for something a little tamer, there are hawkers selling fried banana kebabs, roasted corn on the cob, or banana-chocolate pancakes (the vendor at the corner closest to Warehouse has a loyal following).

If you're too busy temple-touring during the day, you can still get the market experience at the Angkor Night Market.

Old Market Area; 5 a.m.–6 p.m.

5. Get a fishy foot massage

After a long day of temple-trekking, give your worn-out feet a little TLC to prepare for the next day's adventures.

Spas offering reflexology, massages and more can be found at any hotel,but the independent Frangipani also gets consistently high marks and Spa Indochine's traditional treatments are freshly prepared with local ingredients each day.

If you're not looking to splurge, the area around Pub Street is lined with dozens of shops. A half-hour reflexology treatment runs about US$5, or try a “fish massage” -- tiny fish will nibble dead skin from your toes. The going rate is US$1 for 15 minutes or US$3 for 20 minutes and a can of Angkor.

6. People-watch on Pub Street

Want a pub? This is where to go.

Pub Street is Siem Reap's party hub, so grab a drink (or a scoop of Siem Reap's best ice cream at Blue Pumpkin) and soak it all up.

Start your evening at Red Piano, on the corner. The French cuisine is good, but it's best known as Angelina Jolie's haunt while filming "Tomb Raider."

Try her favorite cocktail -- Cointreau, lime and tonic -- now named for the movie, and if you're the lucky 10th buyer, it's on the house.

Continue down the road to find a spot for dinner. All the restaurants offer reasonably priced Western and local food, but Soup Dragon's eponymous fare always brings a crowd, and just two doors down is "Angkor What?" bar.

Inscriptions on the walls and tables attest to this old favorite's popularity, and it's always one of the last to close.

If you're not quite digging the backpacker vibe, duck down a small side street in search of Miss Wong, a classy cocktail bar that will transport you back to 1930s Shanghai and a good refuge from the madness one street over.

7. Watch a traditional Apsara dance

The elegance of history, today.

If your taste in nightlife is a little more highbrow than Pub Street's manic antics, get a look at more traditional Cambodian culture with a Khmer dance show named for the “heavenly dancers” adorning the Angkor temples.

Most tourists opt for a dinner and performance combo offered at any of a number of local hotels and restaurants, but get a recommendation as cost and quality vary widely.

8. Give back

Responsible tourism is a Siem Reap buzzword, and the many NGOs who have set up shop make getting involved easy.

The tastiest way to help local kids.

Get in touch with the folks at ConCERT Cambodia, who can connect you with any of Siem Reap's organizations and help you choose an activity that fits with your interests and schedule.

Even if you don't volunteer, don't miss out on the easiest (and tastiest) way to support local kids: dinner at one of Siem Reap's teaching restaurants. Your taste buds will thank you, too -- the food is some of the best authentic Khmer you'll find.

 

 9. Take on a Khmer cooking class

 If you're hooked on Cambodia's delicious curries, take in a traditional cooking class and you'll be able to satisfy your cravings after leaving Siem Reap. 

 

Khmer chef instructors will guide you through local markets and identify all the mysterious ingredients you'll need to create your culinary masterpiece.

 

10. Find the perfect souvenirs

Clearly, some of the souvenirs on sale are tacky and irrelevant. But in a country admired for its traditional handicrafts it's definitely worth a splurge (by Cambodian standards, anyway) on a one-of-a-kind souvenir.) 

(www.cnngo.com)