Siem Reap - Angkor Wat

[Jade13]

Someone asked about this on a separate thread. We are going to Siem Reap on our own but the Azamara itinerary is very good (but very overpriced). It is posted below. This is a 2 night itinerary from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh to Siem Reap to Bangkok.

We are doing this in one night and meeting the ship in Bangkok where it is scheduled to dock the next night at 4:00pm for two nights.

Flights (Bangkok Airways) with taxes came to something like $75.00 for one flight and $150.00 for the second one to Bangkok. We booked a hotel that includes airport pick-up and who can send a driver for the day for something like $20.00 (air conditioned Sedan) and entrance for 3 days to temples is $40.00. A dinner show and dinner is $22.00 and tuk tuk to take us there and back is about $5.00 US. We have a driver picking us up at the Bangkok airport to take us to the ship.

Azamara's Ship tour ($1,595.00pp double occupancy)



Essence of Cambodia Overland - 3 Day 2 Nights - Double Occupancy - KO08

Day One
Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
Disembark the ship in port and board motor coaches for the scenic 4 hour drive to Phnom Penh.
During the drive you will pass through numerous rice and sugar palm plantations which so typically distinguish rural Cambodia. Phnom Penh, a vibrant and bustling capital city where cycles still share the streets with motorbikes and cars and a culture of sidewalk cafes, is thriving as one of Asia's most exotic capital cities. The city is conveniently located on the banks where three rivers - the Mekong, the Tonle Sap and the Bassac - converge, a location known to Cambodians as Chatomuk, or four faces.
The French influence can be felt today in the city, a legacy of a 90 year period that saw the construction of many lovely colonial era residences for French administrators. However, Phnom Penh's era of modern development and planning took place after independence in 1953, with the addition of tree lined avenues, gardens with fountains and several distinctive monuments reflecting the city's new found sense of freedom.
Upon arrival you will meet and transfer directly to a hotel in Phnom Penh for lunch. After lunch visit the restored National Museum represents the finest of Phnom Penh's architecture. On display inside is a selection of more than 5,000 works of art, ranging from the 6th to the 13th Century. Treasures include sculptures, 19th century dance costumes, royal barges and palanquins. Visitors can rest by the peaceful, palm-shaded central courtyard and lotus ponds and contemplate the civilization of one of Asia's richest cultures.
Continue to the Royal Palace. Built in 1866 by King Norodom, the Royal Palace is now home to King Sihamoni. Some of the buildings inside the palace walls are closed to the public except on special occasions. Within the palace compound are the coronation hall; the entrance, which houses an open-air theatre for the Royal Dance Troupe, and a balcony for royal appearances; an open-air pavilion often used for entertaining and viewing of the King's movies; and the King's private residence, which houses a collection of Cambodian artwork from artists around the world, and his office, where he actively pursues Royal duties. Outside the southeast wall of the palace is the house of the white elephant traditionally used for special regal occasions including royal births, deaths or weddings.
Continue your walk to the Silver palace, located within the Royal Palace compound, and so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5,000 silver tiles. On display inside are hundreds of Royal gifts received by the Royal family over the years. Among the Treasures are a solid gold Buddha encrusted with 9,584 diamonds and weighing 90 kilos and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. The compound also houses Wat Phnom Mondap, containing Buddha's footprint. The walls surrounding the compound - the oldest part of the palace - are covered with frescos depicting episodes from the Khmer version of Ramayana, the Reamker.
You will take an afternoon flight to Siem Reap where you will be transferred to Le Meridien Hotel. Dinner is at your hotel.

Day Two
Siem Reap
After breakfast, you will continue your exploration of the Angkor Temples at Ta Prohm, the temple that has been left largely in it's natural state since its "re-discovery" by French explorers.
Surrounded by jungle, its labyrinth of stone hallways is overgrown with the roots and limbs of massive banyan trees, which envelop the stone like tentacles. It is one of the largest temples at Angkor, dedicated in 1186. Then continue this morning to Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world, with a volume of stone equaling that of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt. It is unlike all the other Khmer temples in that it faces west, and is inspired by 12th Century Hinduism. Its symmetrical towers are stylized on the modern Cambodian flag. Conceived by Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat took an estimated 30 years to build. It is generally believed to have been a funeral temple for the king. It has been occupied continuously by Buddhist monks and is well preserved. Intricate bas reliefs surround Angkor Wat on four sides. Each tells a story. The most celebrated of these is the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, which is located on the east wing. In it the Naga serpent, is twisted by demons and gods to spurt out the elixir of life. Return to your hotel for lunch.
This afternoon you will head out to the ancient walled city of Angkor Thom, literally "Great city". Built in the 12th Century by Jayavarman VII, Angkor Thom contains the famous Bayon Temple with its enormous mysterious faces and the Elephant and Leper King Terraces. Return for dinner to freshen up before going to a Local restaurant for a Buffet Dinner and Performance of Traditional Cambodian Dance and Music.
Day Three
Siem Reap to Port in Bangkok
After your flight from Siem Reap, you will visit the Grand Palace, Bangkok's major landmark, situated on the Chao Phraya River, once the Royal Resident of the King of Siam. Within the compound is Wat Phra Kaeo, the chapel of the Emerald Buddha, which housed undoubtedly the world most precious image of the Lord Buddha.
Boxed Lunch included
After the visit, depart Bangkok for Klong Toey port.
Note: Guests must be able to walk approximately 4-5 mile over uneven, cobblestone and sandy surfaces, with 200 to 250 steps. Comfortable shoes and clothing recommended.

[greatam]

I disagree with you. This is not a very good itinerary, especially for the money. You are only getting a tour through the museum (which is rather "globbed" together) and the palace, which is good. Those tours are $20.00pp in PP with a VERY experienced tour guide. All the tuk-tuk drivers will take you for $5.00 with no guide.

And I am sure the amount of beggars in front of the palace will SHOCK most on such a tour. This is exactly where the majority of PP beggars hang out and once they see a tour bus, it will be surrounded. Smart money has the tuk-tuk driver drop you off on the riverside a block away. You and the guide WALK to the palace and ignore the beggars. The beggars in PP are the most insistent beggars I have ever seen.

The second day-most people on these tours are at least 50, with many much older. It is just too much climbing, walking for quite a few (most). IMHO,go to the Angkor temple first, THEN if you have time and feel like it, go to the other temples. Three teimples in one day is about one temple too much for most people, not counting the age/mobility/fatigue issue. And you miss the sunrise which is a MUST DO if the weather is clear.

Another cruiseline SPECTACULAR-ie poorly planned trip. Sure sounds nice in the brochure, but from one that has spent many many months in Cambodia over the last 3 years, the tour is just too much. Just like the cruiseline MP trips-WAAAAY too much stuff crammed into too little time. It would have been much better to fly the first day to Siem Reap, visit one temple (probably Angkor Thom) at sunset, then go to bed and rest up for the following day. While Phnom Penh is one of my two favorite places in the world, it is NOT for the cruise tourist on a quickie day trip. It truly is the Wild West-not tame, not pretty and the poverty is glaring.

[Jade13]

Originally Posted by greatam

I disagree with you. This is not a very good itinerary, especially for the money. You are only getting a tour through the museum (which is rather "globbed" together) and the palace, which is good. Those tours are $20.00pp in PP with a VERY experienced tour guide. All the tuk-tuk drivers will take you for $5.00 with no guide. It would have been much better to fly the first day to Siem Reap, visit one temple (probably Angkor Thom) at sunset, then go to bed and rest up for the following day. While Phnom Penh is one of my two favorite places in the world, it is NOT for the cruise tourist on a quickie day trip. It truly is the Wild West-not tame, not pretty and the poverty is glaring.

Which is what we are doing as far as flying to Siem Reap the first day. Plus, I don't think the cruise tour will have time to go to lunch, palace and museum before their afternoon flight to Siem Reap. Last time I checked the only afternoon flight was at 3:00pm and they aren't scheduled to depart the ship until 8:00am with a 3 hour drive to Phnom Penh.

Btw, I would love to see the Palace but our flight is at 12:25pm or so. How close is it to the airport? We hope to be off the ship as soon as it clears at 6:00am. Any idea or suggestion of a driver we can prearrange to drive us to the airport who will take cash that day? If they don't show up we would have to find a driver on the spot anyway. My concern is that this is 6:00am on a Sunday morning. We have 4 persons.

[Jade13]

Originally Posted by Jade13

Which is what we are doing as far as flying to Siem Reap the first day. Plus, I don't think the cruise tour will have time to go to lunch, palace and museum before their afternoon flight to Siem Reap. Last time I checked the only afternoon flight was at 3:00pm and they aren't scheduled to depart the ship until 8:00am with a 3 hour drive to Phnom Penh.

Btw, I would love to see the Palace but our flight is at 12:25pm or so. How close is it to the airport? We hope to be off the ship as soon as it clears at 6:00am. Any idea or suggestion of a driver we can prearrange to drive us to the airport who will take cash that day? If they don't show up we would have to find a driver on the spot anyway. My concern is that this is 6:00am on a Sunday morning. We have 4 persons.

Our 1225pm to Siem Reap has been canceled.

"Please accept our apology for inconvenience caused by the cancellation of flight PG 998H 14FEB S PNHREP WK2 1225 1320.
Then we protect a new flight to fly with VN9853Y 14FEB S PNHREP KK2 1200 1250 which operated by CAMBODIA ANGKOR AIR."

I am asking about a later flight because I believe this is now cutting it too close if it takes 3-4 hours to drive to PNH. I thought there was a 3:00pm flight, and I'm guessing it would be the one that the ship excursion would be on. At the moment the itasoftware is not showing any flights from PNH to REP on Feb 14, so I can't see the later options.


Should we take the 12:00pm or look for something later? If we couldn't get off the ship until 7:00am we would be cutting it too close as I was told airport check-in is 1 hour 15 minutes prior to the flight and check-in can only be done at the airport.

[greatam]

Originally Posted by Jade13

Our 1225pm to Siem Reap has been canceled.

"Please accept our apology for inconvenience caused by the cancellation of flight PG 998H 14FEB S PNHREP WK2 1225 1320.
Then we protect a new flight to fly with VN9853Y 14FEB S PNHREP KK2 1200 1250 which operated by CAMBODIA ANGKOR AIR."

I am asking about a later flight because I believe this is now cutting it too close if it takes 3-4 hours to drive to PNH. I thought there was a 3:00pm flight, and I'm guessing it would be the one that the ship excursion would be on. At the moment the itasoftware is not showing any flights from PNH to REP on Feb 14, so I can't see the later options.


Should we take the 12:00pm or look for something later? If we couldn't get off the ship until 7:00am we would be cutting it too close as I was told airport check-in is 1 hour 15 minutes prior to the flight and check-in can only be done at the airport.

I did warn you about this possibility after Cambodia Angkor Air opened in late July. The airline is partly owned by the Cambodian government and they are going to do everything they can to keep domestic flights only on the Cambodian airline. It appears that almost all intra Cambodian flights have been taken away from Bangkok Airways and transferred to Vietnam Airlines/Cambodian Angkor Air.

There are flights at noon (too early), 2PM (SOLD OUT for the cheapest) and 4PM. Better book ASAP or you may not get your preferred flight. Darn sight cheaper than Bangkok Airways-$30 plus for the cheapest seats. $128.00 TOTAL for two adults on Feb. 14. Bookable right now on Vietnam Airlines website. Use the link from this page to get to the flights. Good luck. http://www.cambodiaangkorair.com/default.aspx?tabid=98

[Jade13]

Originally Posted by greatam

I did warn you about this possibility after Cambodia Angkor Air opened in late July. The airline is partly owned by the Cambodian government and they are going to do everything they can to keep domestic flights only on the Cambodian airline. It appears that almost all intra Cambodian flights have been taken away from Bangkok Airways and transferred to Vietnam Airlines/Cambodian Angkor Air.

There are flights at noon (too early), 2PM (SOLD OUT for the cheapest) and 4PM. Better book ASAP or you may not get your preferred flight. Darn sight cheaper than Bangkok Airways-$30 plus for the cheapest seats. $128.00 TOTAL for two adults on Feb. 14. Bookable right now on Vietnam Airlines website. Use the link from this page to get to the flights. Good luck. http://www.cambodiaangkorair.com/default.aspx?tabid=98

Thank you for the quick response. Is the 2:00pm on Cambodia Air? I will see if Bangkok Air will just switch the flights. We have already paid. What is the flight number etc?

Thanks again.

[Jade13]

Originally Posted by Jade13

Thank you for the quick response. Is the 2:00pm on Cambodia Air? I will see if Bangkok Air will just switch the flights. We have already paid. What is the flight number etc?

Thanks again.

I see it is VN9855 at 2:00pm on February 14. I have requested that Bangkok Airways switch us. They already asked if we wanted the 12:00pm. We paid approx $10.00pp more.

[Benita]

Just be careful about the flights. We just returned from a land trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. Vietnam Air cancelled our flight (with no notification in advance) and put us on one two hours later from Hanoi to Siem Reap. Our flight from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh was changed as well. Make sure you leave lots of time before you have to be back on board a ship. For us, it was a land trip, so arriving late to a hotel was acceptable, but a ship won't wait.

[Jade13]

Originally Posted by Benita

Just be careful about the flights. We just returned from a land trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. Vietnam Air cancelled our flight (with no notification in advance) and put us on one two hours later from Hanoi to Siem Reap. Our flight from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh was changed as well. Make sure you leave lots of time before you have to be back on board a ship. For us, it was a land trip, so arriving late to a hotel was acceptable, but a ship won't wait.

Our ship won't depart Bangkok until 3 DAYS later, plus we will be a day ahead of the ships excursion to REP. This would be Cambodia Air and Bangkok Airways.

Were you with a tour company, and if so, which one?

[Jade13]

Anyone know of a tour guide from Shihanoukville? We need a driver to Phnom Penh.

[Benita]

Originally Posted by Jade13

Our ship won't depart Bangkok until 3 DAYS later, plus we will be a day ahead of the ships excursion to REP. This would be Cambodia Air and Bangkok Airways.

Were you with a tour company, and if so, which one?

We were with Vantage Travel - you can find our itinerary on their website - www.vantagetravel.com if you are looking for ideas, although your itinerary looks the same as ours for the time in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. The local company that Vantage used in Cambodia which supplied the local guides and buses was called Lolei Travel - perhaps you can find a driver through them.

[greatam]

Originally Posted by Benita

Just be careful about the flights. We just returned from a land trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. Vietnam Air cancelled our flight (with no notification in advance) and put us on one two hours later from Hanoi to Siem Reap. Our flight from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh was changed as well. Make sure you leave lots of time before you have to be back on board a ship. For us, it was a land trip, so arriving late to a hotel was acceptable, but a ship won't wait.

There are many, many changes going on in Cambodia with air transport right now. The Cambodian government refused to renew Bangkok Airways operating rights for intra-Cambodian travel. The Cambodian government formed a new airline in partnership with Vietnam Airlines and the new airline, Cambodia Angkor Air opened for business the last week in July. The flights are being flown on Vietnam Airlines planes, with Vietnam Airlines pilots. But the shake up in schedules is continuing. One good thing did come out with the new airline-there is now a nonstop flight from SGN to both PP and REP. The REP flight was badly needed for the tourist trade.

If the new airline is even 3/4 as good as Vietnam Airlines, it will be better than any US carrier. Vietnam Airlines generally has stellar service, free meals and drinks, and well maintained planes.

[Jade13]

Originally Posted by Benita

We were with Vantage Travel - you can find our itinerary on their website - www.vantagetravel.com if you are looking for ideas, although your itinerary looks the same as ours for the time in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
.

That is the ship tour. Not what we are doing exactly. Thanks. I will look up Lolei Travel.

[Jade13]

Originally Posted by greatam

If the new airline is even 3/4 as good as Vietnam Airlines, it will be better than any US carrier. Vietnam Airlines generally has stellar service, free meals and drinks, and well maintained planes.

Good to know.

[Jade13]

Originally Posted by greatam

There are many, many changes going on in Cambodia with air transport right now. The Cambodian government refused to renew Bangkok Airways operating rights for intra-Cambodian travel. The Cambodian government formed a new airline in partnership with Vietnam Airlines and the new airline, Cambodia Angkor Air opened for business the last week in July. The flights are being flown on Vietnam Airlines planes, with Vietnam Airlines pilots. But the shake up in schedules is continuing. One good thing did come out with the new airline-there is now a nonstop flight from SGN to both PP and REP. The REP flight was badly needed for the tourist trade.

If the new airline is even 3/4 as good as Vietnam Airlines, it will be better than any US carrier. Vietnam Airlines generally has stellar service, free meals and drinks, and well maintained planes.

Greatam, I hope it was OK to quote you on the Cruise Air board? I guess you didn't see this post. Some frequent flyers are telling me to stay away from Cambodia Air and it sounds like Bangkok Airways as well.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...1#post21829904

[greatam]

Originally Posted by Jade13

Greatam, I hope it was OK to quote you on the Cruise Air board? I guess you didn't see this post. Some frequent flyers are telling me to stay away from Cambodia Air and it sounds like Bangkok Airways as well.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...1#post21829904

I no longer post or read that board. So please do not quote anything I say.

Cambodia Angkor Air started business the last week in July. Certainly not a lot of time to even have an IATA inspection or major safety problems. As I posted previously, they are a partnership between Vietnam Airlines and the Cambodian government. And Vietnam Airlines is a one of the few Asian airlines that Cathay Pacific is partners with. Bangkok Airways lost it's operating rights within Cambodia BECAUSE the corrupt Cambodian government got a better offer-their own airline. Siem Reap airways had some safety issues. But there have been no problems with Bangkok Airways.

In fact, this was posted in the Bangkok newspaper a month ago:

"The website bangkokpost.com quoted an aviation analyst as saying that Cambodia’s decision not to extend the agreement for Bangkok Airways to operate on the Phnom Penh- Siem Reap route when it expires October 25, 2009, seems to have been made with a view to boosting Cambodia Angkor Air, the new national airline of Cambodia, which was launched on July 28, 2009, to push tourism in the country."

And from the PP Post:

"The Phnom Penh Post quoted Mao Havannal, secretary of state at Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), as saying that the decision was made to give a boost to Cambodia Angkor Air as well as promote tourism in Cambodia. The country is aiming at attracting up to 3 million tourists a year by 2010."

[Benita]

Our flights were all on Vietnam Air. We flew Saigon to Danang, Hue to Hanoi, Hanoi to Siem Reap, and Phnom Penh to Saigon all on Vietnam Air. Except for the cancelled flight to Siem Reap, all the flights left on time and were on new planes.

[Jade13]

Originally Posted by Benita

Our flights were all on Vietnam Air. We flew Saigon to Danang, Hue to Hanoi, Hanoi to Siem Reap, and Phnom Penh to Saigon all on Vietnam Air. Except for the cancelled flight to Siem Reap, all the flights left on time and were on new planes.

Great, thanks.

[Jade13]

Originally Posted by greatam

I no longer post or read that board. So please do not quote anything I say.
"

Sorry about that. I thought you were a frequent poster over there.

Maybe that explains why you never offered me advice when I was trying to finalize my international plans to Bejing/out of Singapore. In the end I took the cheapest flights (not really cheap) on an Asian airline with good record that was not a consolidator flight. We also didn't have the time to fly to Bejing roundtrip from Hong Kong in order to leave luggage, so have an expensive one way flight Bejing to Hong Kong. I hope the Great Wall is worth it.

[Jade13]

Originally Posted by Jade13

Anyone know of a tour guide from Shihanoukville? We need a driver to Phnom Penh.

I have this quote from a tour company recommended by the guide we are using in Vietnam. Initially I was just going to grab a taxi at the port, but its a Sunday at 6:00am, we now have a group of 4, and because of flight changes time to go to the Palace in Phnom Penh, but only if we have a recommended driver who we don't have to worry taking off with our bags. Still, I think $240.00 US for the mini-van sounds high ($60.00 per person which includes the $15.00pp permit to go into the port), even though the driver has to go round trip one way or the other.

There are also additional costs for the "Palace Tour" at $21.00pp They only have Sedans and than a 10 seat or 12 seat mini-van, both are the same cost. I had imagined a flat cost for the driver/van, not pp and than walking around the Palace for about 1-2 hours on our own before going to the airport although I don't really have a problem with the $21.00pp. The museum closes at 11:30am and reopens in the afternoon (there is no way the ships shorex is doing this 4 hour drive, going to a hotel for lunch, museum and palace and afternoon flight to Siem Reap, no way).

They will take cash that day.

Thoughts?


"Greeting from World Express Tours, Phnom Penh - CAMBODIA !

We can arrange a private van to pick you up from Sihanouk Ville Port. A drive from Sihanouk Ville to Phnom Penh take 4 hours at most. You will have time to visit Royal Palace or National Museum in Phnom Penh before being dropped at the airport.

Please check our offers as below:

1. Sihanouk Ville - Phnom Penh Tranfer = USD 60.00 per person (for a group of 4 pax only)
Package includes:
+ Admission fee at Sihanouk Ville Port
+ Private AC 12-seat van (with fuel and driver, but no guide)

2. Royal Palace Optional Tour = USD 21.00 per person (for a group of 4 pax only)
Package includes:
+ English-speaking guide (in Phnom Penh only)
+ Entrance fee for Royal Palace
+ Extra cost to the same van

3. National Museum Optional Tour = USD 17.00 per person (for a group of 4 pax only)
Package includes:
+ English-speaking guide (in Phnom Penh only)
+ Entrance fee for National Museum
+ Extra cost to the same van

Please be informed that we also have an office in Siem Reap. We can offer you a package tour if you wish.


Should you need further information, please feel free to contact us at any time.

With Regards,
Cheth"