Calling Kathie and others- Help on guide dilemma for Siem Reap!
May 24th, 2007, 08:48 AM
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Calling Kathie and others- Help on guide dilemma for Siem Reap!
I want to start out by saying that I've read multiple Fodor's posts on the subject of guides for the temples of Siem Reap. Unfortunately, I still can't figure out what to do. I apologize in advance for the many questions to follow (we're trying to settle on a final itinerary with our travel agent).
My husband and I will have three and a half days in Siem Reap. Our travel agent suggests that we pre-arrange a guide for at least part of the time. I am not sure whether we should let the agent pre-arrange a guide or if we should just contact the agent's "ground handlers" in Siem Reap upon our arrival, or of we should try to hire a guide on our own (like Dara, etc.).
My husband and I love to explore on our own, but we also like the guided experience.
I'm thinking that we should pre-arrange the guide for the first day and for the second day to see Tonle Sap and keep the last day and a half open for independent exploring. If we do keep the last day and a half open, will it be easy to get to the temples or villages that we want to see (or should we arrange a driver for the last day but no guide)? Also, if we want to visit a village and school, could we do that on our own, without a guide? Also, how do we ensure that our guide will take us to places in the "reverse" direction (as some of you describe) to avoid the busloads of other tourists? Can we only ensure this by booking a guide like Dara or Ponheary or can we trust the guide that our agent pre-arranges?
Finally, can anyone suggest a temple/school/village itinerary (including best times to see the sights) for three and a half days? Besides Angkor Wat, I don't know what the other "not to be missed" sights are and would especially love some "not to be missed" sights/temples/experiences that might be less touristy. Some of you describe being the only ones at a particular temple. I would love to have the same experience with my husband, but I don't know if it's based on the time of day that we visit or the location/temple itself. Many thanks in advance!
My husband and I will have three and a half days in Siem Reap. Our travel agent suggests that we pre-arrange a guide for at least part of the time. I am not sure whether we should let the agent pre-arrange a guide or if we should just contact the agent's "ground handlers" in Siem Reap upon our arrival, or of we should try to hire a guide on our own (like Dara, etc.).
My husband and I love to explore on our own, but we also like the guided experience.
I'm thinking that we should pre-arrange the guide for the first day and for the second day to see Tonle Sap and keep the last day and a half open for independent exploring. If we do keep the last day and a half open, will it be easy to get to the temples or villages that we want to see (or should we arrange a driver for the last day but no guide)? Also, if we want to visit a village and school, could we do that on our own, without a guide? Also, how do we ensure that our guide will take us to places in the "reverse" direction (as some of you describe) to avoid the busloads of other tourists? Can we only ensure this by booking a guide like Dara or Ponheary or can we trust the guide that our agent pre-arranges?
Finally, can anyone suggest a temple/school/village itinerary (including best times to see the sights) for three and a half days? Besides Angkor Wat, I don't know what the other "not to be missed" sights are and would especially love some "not to be missed" sights/temples/experiences that might be less touristy. Some of you describe being the only ones at a particular temple. I would love to have the same experience with my husband, but I don't know if it's based on the time of day that we visit or the location/temple itself. Many thanks in advance!
May 24th, 2007, 09:08 AM
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basically the temples and the lake are 'it' for the area....you will have plenty to do in these places during your short stay...
the artisians workshops are interesting in town as are their workshops outside of town...
you will need a driver for the entire time imo.....they mostly speak little or no english...
remember it is more hot and humid there than in thailand....the a/c car is a savior...i would have my hotel arrange the driver/guide as they know them best...contact the hotel directly.
a guide will make quick work of getting around and showing you the best places and the best angles...he/she will also pick the best place to go to at what time, thus avoiding any crowds...we did not find crowds to be a problem at all....
i have not heard of any school visits other than with ponheavy....there may be some however.....i believe this is all by pre-arrangement...you can't just walk up to a school and say, "here we are with gifts..."...you would not do that in nyc??
the artisians workshops are interesting in town as are their workshops outside of town...
you will need a driver for the entire time imo.....they mostly speak little or no english...
remember it is more hot and humid there than in thailand....the a/c car is a savior...i would have my hotel arrange the driver/guide as they know them best...contact the hotel directly.
a guide will make quick work of getting around and showing you the best places and the best angles...he/she will also pick the best place to go to at what time, thus avoiding any crowds...we did not find crowds to be a problem at all....
i have not heard of any school visits other than with ponheavy....there may be some however.....i believe this is all by pre-arrangement...you can't just walk up to a school and say, "here we are with gifts..."...you would not do that in nyc??
May 24th, 2007, 01:34 PM
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If you get a guide for the first day rember that the Banteay Srei temple is the furthest away, so you would want a driver to get there. The other temple complexes are closer to Siem Reap if you are considering hiring bicycles for a day to tour the temples.
May 24th, 2007, 01:52 PM
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You need a driver every day. Drivers are easily arranged on the spot in Siem Reap. You hotel can recommend one.
Many temples, not just Banteay Srei are quite a distance, such as all of the Roulous group. Even the "large circuit" and the "small circuit" cover enough ground at it's SO hot, I just can't imagine renting bicycles unless you are well aclimated to 90+ degree weather with equal humidity.
Any driver or guide can help you avoid the worst of the crowds. Some places are crowded nearly all of the time (Bayon, Banteay Srei), others have few crowds much of the time. I'm afraid it's not so easy as "going in the reverse direction." Just tell your driver/guide what you want. Communicate clearly, ask questions as needed.
Given what you've said, your idea of getting a guide for the first two days. If it were me, I'd hire my own guide, and if you hire Dara or Ponheary, they can arrange to take you to a school and make a donation. I would NOT try to visit a school or make a donation with just "any" driver.
Get yourself a good guidebook, I recommend Dawn Rooney's book, Angkor, to prepare for your trip, and mark any of the temples that especially interest you. Dawn Rooney has recommended itineraries. Note that there are many so-called minor temples where you can be the only visitors. Let your driver know what you want.
Many temples, not just Banteay Srei are quite a distance, such as all of the Roulous group. Even the "large circuit" and the "small circuit" cover enough ground at it's SO hot, I just can't imagine renting bicycles unless you are well aclimated to 90+ degree weather with equal humidity.
Any driver or guide can help you avoid the worst of the crowds. Some places are crowded nearly all of the time (Bayon, Banteay Srei), others have few crowds much of the time. I'm afraid it's not so easy as "going in the reverse direction." Just tell your driver/guide what you want. Communicate clearly, ask questions as needed.
Given what you've said, your idea of getting a guide for the first two days. If it were me, I'd hire my own guide, and if you hire Dara or Ponheary, they can arrange to take you to a school and make a donation. I would NOT try to visit a school or make a donation with just "any" driver.
Get yourself a good guidebook, I recommend Dawn Rooney's book, Angkor, to prepare for your trip, and mark any of the temples that especially interest you. Dawn Rooney has recommended itineraries. Note that there are many so-called minor temples where you can be the only visitors. Let your driver know what you want.
May 24th, 2007, 04:44 PM
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We had three days in SR and used one of Ponheary's guides, Bunto, who was fine, but Ponheary would be my first choice. The driver called himself "Richie" - he was fabulous.
Agree that a driver is mandatory. You can get along without a guide, but ours tailored the trip to our interests - meeting local kids, stopping on the road to see families making palm sugar candy, etc.
We did not have a driver the last day. By then we knew our way around and it was very easy to travel by tuk tuk. Also did my shopping (for silk and antiques) on my own with no problems. Just remember to take your hotel's business card with you.
Never felt rushed and did get alone time at several temples. The only temple that was too crowded for my taste was Bantay Srei. Stopped at lesser-known deserted temples - can't remember the names.
Started at 7am (or before) each day which was easy because of time difference.
The school visit was one of the highlights of our entire trip. We arranged ours with Ponheary, but have friends who set theirs up through their hotels - the Hotel de la Paix and the Shinta Mani.
Check out the SR portion of my trip report.
http://tinyurl.com/32jm4q
Day 1 -
Arrive late p.m., long walk, dinner and shopping in town
Day 2 -
- School visit for breakfast
Bantay Srei,
- Rice paddies, water buffaloes, palm sugar candy
- Long lunch break w/ swim,
- Ta Phrom, Bayon, monkey visit, sunset at touristy temple (give that a pass)
- Dinner in town
Day 3 -
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- Killing fields memorial at monestary
- Tonle Sap boat tour
- Afternoon off for shopping (silk farm) and swimming.
Day 4 - Returned to Angkor Wat for sunrise, then walk in the park, final market visit and left on 1pm plane.
Agree that a driver is mandatory. You can get along without a guide, but ours tailored the trip to our interests - meeting local kids, stopping on the road to see families making palm sugar candy, etc.
We did not have a driver the last day. By then we knew our way around and it was very easy to travel by tuk tuk. Also did my shopping (for silk and antiques) on my own with no problems. Just remember to take your hotel's business card with you.
Never felt rushed and did get alone time at several temples. The only temple that was too crowded for my taste was Bantay Srei. Stopped at lesser-known deserted temples - can't remember the names.
Started at 7am (or before) each day which was easy because of time difference.
The school visit was one of the highlights of our entire trip. We arranged ours with Ponheary, but have friends who set theirs up through their hotels - the Hotel de la Paix and the Shinta Mani.
Check out the SR portion of my trip report.
http://tinyurl.com/32jm4q
Day 1 -
Arrive late p.m., long walk, dinner and shopping in town
Day 2 -
- School visit for breakfast
Bantay Srei,
- Rice paddies, water buffaloes, palm sugar candy
- Long lunch break w/ swim,
- Ta Phrom, Bayon, monkey visit, sunset at touristy temple (give that a pass)
- Dinner in town
Day 3 -
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- Killing fields memorial at monestary
- Tonle Sap boat tour
- Afternoon off for shopping (silk farm) and swimming.
Day 4 - Returned to Angkor Wat for sunrise, then walk in the park, final market visit and left on 1pm plane.
May 24th, 2007, 07:03 PM
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You can pre-arrange a guide or just get one there. Our hotel knew of plenty of guides to contact.
Our guide was a little insistent on going to certain temples in a certain order. We had to be relatively assertive about our desire to see a few that he didn't want to take us to. Wasn't bad, though.
You do need a mode of transportation. A driver or tuk-tuk will do if you don't have a guide.
Our guide was a little insistent on going to certain temples in a certain order. We had to be relatively assertive about our desire to see a few that he didn't want to take us to. Wasn't bad, though.
You do need a mode of transportation. A driver or tuk-tuk will do if you don't have a guide.
May 24th, 2007, 10:27 PM
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I'd take a tuk tuk over an a/c cab anyday, most people do it either that way or go by motorcycle rather than be cocooned from the outside world. If you're used to riding a bicycle then that's fun too but because of the heat most people stick to riding between the closer temples.
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