Hello,

We are planning a trip to Siem Reap, but we could use some help in planning it.
We will be arriving in Siem Reap at October 4th around 1 pm. We have the afternoon available, 2 full days and a part of October 7th, we'll be departing around 6 pm.

We would like to see the Tonle Sap Lake too, Kampong Pluk maybe? Any suggestions for which temples to visit on which day? Photografic tips? Sunset - sunrise tips (not too crowded places)

And second: should we book a tuk-tuk driver in advance or just book one on arrival?

We appriciate the help.

Greetings,
Ilse

Start by buying a good guide to the temples. I recommend Dawn Rooney's book, Angkor. She gives info on dozens of teh temples, and tells you which are considered major and minor temples. It sounds like you don't plan to have a guide, so you'll certainly need an excellent book on the temples.

You can get a vehicle and driver once you get to Siem Reap. Any hotel or guesthouse can set you up with one. Consider whether you want a tuk-tuk or a car. It's very hot, and I really appreciated the air conditioning in the car between temples. WHile the "Grand circuit" is close to town and the temples are closer together, there are many temples far enough awy that you;ll likely want a car to get there rather than a tuk-tuk (Banteay Srei, for instance).

You might contact Ponheary at [email protected]. She and her brother are excellent guides and can provide whatever assistaance you seek.

We planed to take only a driver and we do have a guide book. Do you think it's better to take a guide as well?

i like having the guide....most drivers will not speak any english..

the guide points you to the most important places so no time is wasted and shows you the best photo ops...

they know where the crowds will be and how to avoid them...

reading a book as you go along is difficult if for no other reason that the footing is often not that great....and in that heat its no fun standing outside reading and then looking around...

I agree with Bob. A guide does several things. A guide allows you to see without beng bound to a guidebook. Also, a good guide will take you to the temples when they are least crowded. This is no small thing. There are more and more people. Bob is right, a driver does not generally speak English. The cost of a guide plus driver is not a whole lot more than a driver alone.

I'm someone who opted not to have a guide. I'd been reading about Angkor for years and felt well-prepared. We also took along Dawn Rooney's book. Our driver spoke anough English that we could tell him which temple we wanted to go to next and we could instruct him to drop us off at one entrance and pick us up at another.

It really depends on what you want from your visit to Angkor.

If we do take a guide, do you need then a driver and a car? Or is a tuk-tuk also possible?

The temples are far enough out of town and sufficiently spaced, so a car is preferable over a tuk tuk. The TT's lose their quaintness quickly.

I doubt that two of you and a guide and a driver could fit in a tuk-tuk.