How to Get Around Siem Reap - Guide to Exploring Siem Reap using Public and Private Transport Links

As one of Cambodia's historical precincts, Siem Reap attracts tourists from around the globe. Home to iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Angkor Wat, Siem Reap is arguably the country's most popular tourist destination apart from Phnom Penh. Whether travellers are heading to the area to explore its most iconic cultural highlights or to simply enjoy a stay in the pastoral Cambodian countryside, here are the best ways to get around during a getaway to Siem Reap.

Hop on a Remork

Considered the most efficient way to travel around Siem Reap, Remork is the Cambodian term for three-wheelers or tuk-tuks. A Remork-moto has the capacity to accommodate four passengers, and hopping on a Remork is an easy way to get from one heritage hotspot to another. Although the Remork is compared to tuk-tuks found elsewhere in Asia, the vehicle is actually a small trailer that's drawn by a motorbike. Remorks in Siem Reap are metered so the fares are calculated according to the distance travelled or the time consumed during the journey. Most couples and solo travellers also rely on Remorks to get from the city's airport to their suite at FCC Angkor Siem Reap or any of the other Angkor Wat hotels even if the journey takes longer than a taxi ride. In fact, most local resorts will have their own fleet of Remorks with English-speaking drivers on standby for the use of guests.

Cycling Around

Cycling in Siem Reap | Image via Wikimedia Commons

Backpackers and tourists on a budget will find that cycling around the city on a rental bike is one of the least costly options available to sightseers. With daily rental fees rarely exceeding a US dollar, the best bike rental shops in Siem Reap can be easily found near Wat Bo Road and the Old Market. Rentals also include a safety lock and helmet while mountain bikes will set one back at least USD 10 per day. Some resorts and hotels also have free bicycles for the use of their guests while organisations such as The White Bicycles also provide affordable bikes to hospitality hubs around Siem Reap. The initiative raises funds for local children and clean water programmes in the area so using The White Bicycles can also be a great way to give back to the local community.

Rely on Motos

Motorbike taxis are also ubiquitous in Siem Reap where they are often parked around popular restaurants, major landmarks and hotels. Although the transfers are generally affordable, the drivers are not fluent in English so carrying a written address will help foreigners use Motos to visit the Tonle Sap Lake, Angkor Archaeological Park and other points of interest. Since Motos are unmetered, it's also crucial to negotiate a fare for the ride before embarking on the journey.

Taxi Services

Taxi services in Siem Reap are similarly unregulated and are not metered, so the cost of a transfer really is up to the driver or the passenger's haggling skills. Most taxi drivers use their private vehicles to ferry passengers and as such, it can be one of the most precarious means of transport in Siem Reap. With no fixed rates, it's important for tourists to be aware of the dubious nature of taxi drivers who often quote inflated rates to foreigners.

Motorbike Rentals

While renting a motorbike in the region was illegal for foreign nationals until very recently, it can be a great way to explore Siem Reap for those with a motorbike license. Although the number of bike rental shops is limited, those who possess an international driving license can have their pick of both conventional bikes and "green E-bikes". Using electricity instead of fuel, e-bikes are ideal for environmentally conscious travellers.