We're thinking of hiring a local guide on a visit to the Angkor temples complex. Your rec with contact details would be greatly appreciated. By the way, we want to bike a bit around the heritage area, will this be possible?

Thanks

Biking - dry season yes but wet season no. You must factor in the risk of having your rental or borrowed bike stolen while you are exploring the ruins as well.

Hi scomars - go here:
http://www.fodors.com/search/results...h=angkor+guide

Search for Ponheary in here:
http://www.fodors.com/search/results...2F2009&author=

and, most definately, go here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...t-bicycles.cfm

John Teng was our guide in Ankor Wat. For more info go to my trip report on SE Asia posted in Feb. 2008. Sorry that I cannot give you his address without making you search but, I am not at home to look it up.

it might be nice to bike a bit but not as your primary way of getting around....

remember it is very hot and humid there most of the time...

I used to nay-say cycling at the temples, but since then I've done it a bunch, sometimes alone, sometimes with other visitors in varying states of fitness, children and the elderly included. It's incredibly do-able and affords an experience of the temples you absolutely cannot get any other way.

I'm allowed to change my opinion, right?

I say do it. If you're not fit or sensitive to heat, then hire a van to take you out there with your bikes and cut you loose. Ride back to town in the AC if you must, but by all means bike through the temple complex some morning. Even in the rainy season it rarely comes in the morning hours.

Re: stealing bikes, it doesn't happen very often; there are tourist police all over the place and you can easily give one of the scarf hawkers a buck to keep an eye on them. They are very happy to oblige.

I find the bikes for rent around town are mostly crap, so I have a collection of bikes I've hand picked over the last several months, exceedingly road-worthy and am happy to rent them to Fodors friends. Give me a shout.

girlseesword AT yahoo DOT com

Now she's in the bike-rental business, as well. lol. Is there ANYTHING this remarkable woman cannot do?

Thanks all for your help. As mentioned earlier, we just hope to bike a bit, around 2-3 hrs in the morning or afternoon. It sounds we should do that in the morning to avoid the heat.

Stolen bikes? It sounds incredible!