Siem Reap | Smiling Albino

Wat’s What at the New Siem Reap International Airport

admin — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 03:43:22 +0000

Wat's What at the New Siem Reap International Airport

17 OCTOBER 2023

Siem Reap, Cambodia’s busiest visitor destination, got itself a brand spanking new international airport this week. Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI), to give it its full title and code, opened on 16 October and has now fully replaced the old airport. Here’s wat - sorry what - we know so far…

Location

Whilst the new airport offers greater comfort and capacity than its predecessor, the location isn’t quite so convenient – it’s located some 50km east of the town and 40km from Angkor Wat. However a new expressway has been built and there is also talk (at the moment, just talk) of a light railway eventually being built.

Obviously we’ll be factoring the additional journey time and cost into our itineraries, and whilst transfers may be longer, the airport’s location does come with a couple of major benefits:

It is just 16km from one of Siem Reap’s most beautiful temples, Beng Mealea. Despite its beauty, this temple rarely makes it onto tourist itineraries as it’s around 70 minutes from the centre of Siem Reap. But now with the airport nearby, it’ll be much easier to visit this hidden gem before departure or on arrival
It is also midway between Siem Reap and Cambodia’s latest UNESCO World Heritage site – the amazing ‘pyramid’ temple of Koh Ker. Another rarely visited landmark due to its distance from Siem Reap, but now an ideal combination with Beng Mealea before departure or on arrival

Facts & Figures

The airport boasts a 3,600-meters runway and is a 4E-rated international airport capable of accommodating long-distance flights and larger aircraft
The airport is forecasted to handle 7 million air passengers per annum from 2024 and up to 12 million passengers annually from 2040
The airport has 48 passenger gates
With the commencement of SAI operations, the old Siem Reap International Airport has been entirely closed
It is expected that the new airport will attract more international airlines to Siem Reap, thus making it more accessible to visitors from more countries

That’s everything we know at the moment – obviously we’ll keep you updated with any new developments regarding the airport and its impact on our operations in Siem Reap.

The post Wat’s What at the New Siem Reap International Airport first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Resurrecting Angkor

admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 23:59:04 +0000

Resurrecting Angkor

march 2022

Imagine the French explorer Henri Mouhout’s awe at his first sight of Angkor in 1860 and his fascination with Angkor Wat, the largest religious building in the world. Mouhout was not the first European to set eyes on the immense and majestic ruins of Angkor, but the first after a long period of time of it being unseen by Western eyes… a fitting contemporary analogy!

We experienced that awe in 2002 when we hosted Smiling Albino’s first guests in Cambodia. Two decades later, we can confidently say NOW is the best time in 20 years to visit Angkor.

“The time to come is now, not next year, not next month, but now. The roadwork in Siem Reap is done and the city looks better than ever. It seems everyone is smiling for the first time in two years. And, there were four people at Angkor sunrise this morning. Four!”

- Christian De Boer, managing director of Jaya House

Cambodia is open again to (vaccinated) visitors and it could not be soon enough for the 140,000 residents of Siem Reap who almost entirely rely on tourism. The suffering and sacrifices made over the last two years have been great, but so also has their determination to build back better! The Cambodian vaccination effort has been massive and 83% of the population are now fully vaccinated, the eighth most vaccinated country in the world.

Our friend and hotelier Christian De Boer pointed out that instead of jostling amongst the crowds to get that perfect sunrise photo at Angkor Wat, you now have some of the world’s most spectacular ancient sacred sites virtually to yourself. For a short period, there will be a magical time to visit Angkor before the crowds return, one of the rare blessings that a pandemic such as COVID-19 has gifted to intrepid early travelers.

And not just Angkor, for those who have visited Siem Reap before the pandemic, you will hardly recognise the town. In the two years the country was closed, new roads and drainage systems were completed and others improved. There are new sidewalks and brightly painted bicycle lanes around town that extend all the way out to the temple sites, and freshly planted trees, grass and flowers now cheer up the previously dusty streets.

Our longtime Smiling Albino Siem Reap guide, Mr Barang, happily says “the town looks great and we now have good roads around the temples, even a beautiful garden in front of Angkor Wat!”

The relatively high-end restaurants that have survived are doing their best to impress and you no longer need reservations weeks or in some cases months in advance. Artists and artisans have had time to hone their skills and expand their collections and wares.

“Cambodia truly has so much more to offer than just Ankgor Wat and that it really can stand alone as a one stop destination.”

- David Steyn, General Manager of Shinta Mani Wild

And not just Angkor and Siem Reap! Cambodia itself has become a destination rather than a three-day temple tour add-on to a Thailand holiday. Besides the ever-improving selection of hotels and restaurants in Siem Reap, the capital, Phnom Penh, has developed into the unsung, somewhat funky cousin to Bangkok and Saigon, with several new five-star hotels opening in the last few years such as the Rosewood. There are new, fabulous island resorts in the clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand, most notably Six Senses, Song Saa, the upcoming Jati Private Island Resort, and world-class eco-resorts in the national parks of Southern Cambodia.

Song Saa Private Island Resort

Shinta mani wild

David Steyn, the General Manager of Shinta Mani Wild , a boldly luxurious and remote adventure and conservation experience in the Cardamoms, gaged the mood of recent guests who he said came away with the realization that Cambodia truly has so much more to offer than just Ankgor and that it really can stand alone as a one stop destination.

battambang

Smiling Albino’s “Slow Boat to Battambang” Adventure

Illustrating this, one of our favorite trips out of Siem Reap is our three-day ‘Slow Boat to Battambang’ which is an adventurous boat trip across the Tonle Sap and up the Sangker River to Battambang. You get to experience the riverside village life at Prek Toal and visit Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater bird colony, the Core Bird Reserve, on the way to explore one of Cambodia’s most charming and historic towns. There really are enough exciting and unique experiences for all types of travelers available in Cambodia now to make a diverse and encompassing two-week holiday.

Imagine yourself as the French explorer Henri Mouhout, exploring a land that has been out of view for a while for most international travelers and enjoying the sights ahead of the inevitable returning crowds. What a truly magical time to travel to such a welcoming and friendly country. The time to visit Cambodia is now, not next year, not next month, but now!

Ready to plan your trip to Cambodia?

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Experience Beyond: Northern Cambodia Helicopter Journey

Product — Mon, 11 May 2020 01:13:45 +0000

See & Explore Cambodia by Helicopter

11 may 2020

Having explored the temples of Angkor from the ground, it’s time to get a bird’s eye perspective of the extent of the temple construction the Angkorians undertook. In the comfort of a privately chartered helicopter we will fly north of Siem Reap town to visit remote temple complexes and take in some breathtaking scenery.

An Exquisite Pink Temple

Our first stop will be the beautiful pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srey, famous for its intricate carvings. At one point during this flight we will be eye-level with the lesser known hilltop temple of Phnom Bok – a truly surreal sight to behold. We will touch down on Phnom Kulen, the birth place and sacred mountain of the Angkorian Empire and what was a conurbation of temples, reservoirs and roads on top of the plateau.

A Trilogy of Mountains

At one point during this flight, we will be eye-level with the lesser-known hilltop temple of Phnom Bok – a truly surreal sight to behold. We will touch down on Phnom Kulen, the birthplace and sacred mountain of the Angkorian Empire and what was a conurbation of temples, reservoirs and roads on top of the plateau.

Lunch will be served picnic-style in the shade of a remote, hidden temple located amidst lush greenery.

The Lost Wonder

In the afternoon we’ll continue by helicopter on a thrilling ride across the landscape. We soar above the temples and land at the Koh Ker complex, a 10th-century, pyramidical sanctuary. Another wonder we pass above is Beng Mealea, which was once at the center of an ancient highway connecting Angkor to its northwestern outposts.

Ready to learn more about experiencing Cambodia?

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The post Experience Beyond: Northern Cambodia Helicopter Journey first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Albino Smiles – March 2014 Edition

smilingalbino — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 13:00:22 +0000

Doing the Impossible

Until a cool and overcast Thursday in Oxfordshire, England, it was considered impossible for an athlete to run a mile in under four minutes. Sportsmen had been trying for decades to break the time barrier and some medical professionals of the day declared it an unreachable milestone.

On May 6th, 1954, the impossible suddenly became possible when Roger Bannister ran a mile in three minutes, 59.4 seconds.

When asked how he had done it, Bannister is alleged to have said that he simply visualized his objective, and had done it repeatedly in his own mind so many times that it was a certainty that his mind and body would be up to the task on race day.

That’s how we operate at Smiling Albino. When we design an itinerary for you, we don’t consider just what is possible, we visualize what the perfect experience should be, and then find ways to make it happen. It’s this careful blend of risk-taking and hard work that allows us turn great trips into unforgettable memories.

Some of our greatest trip moments and experiences have come from exploring imaginative new options in the pursuit of an innovative idea that we just “had” to make happen. Not accepting the ordinary and pushing for perfect execution sometimes results with our guests thinking we have achieved the impossible. On occasion, we have done just that.

Daniel Fraser,
Smiling Albino Adventurer-in-Chief

Adventure Highlights:

Stunning views are always at hand in the Himalayas.

Springtime in Nepal

March – May are one of the best times of year to visit Nepal, as the wet season is a few months away, and the coldest days of winter are already gone. In early spring – March and April – you can also see the flowers in full bloom. It’s a great time to go for a hike, or even a ride on a classic Enfield Motorcycle through the Himalaya’s.

Our hand designed trips range from premiere properties, to tea house stays, all with a stunning backdrops. We can serve up high-intensity rafting, trekking and biking pursuits, introduce you to local characters, amazing venues and everything in between. Whether you are looking for an epic day in the saddle or a comfy chair and a copy of The Ascent of Rum Doodle in hand, we’ve got you covered. What are you doing this spring? We can personalize your travel.

What’s Going On:

Watch the Bangkok Street Food Episode to see some of the Smiling Albino Office team on air!

The Hairy Bikers Asian Adventure Show begins!

Smiling Albino knows Thai street food – and now so do The Hairy Bikers! We were hired to help Si and David with their Bangkok street food episode, and we took them to all of our favourite spots. Watch their show of the BBC Two to get an inside look at the street food scene – or call us and we can arrange a night of scrumptious discovery and dining.

Watch on Youtube! Watch on www.BBC.co.uk

Temples in Bagan!

Bagan’s Archaeological Gems

If you thought Angkor Wat was stunning than you need to get to Bagan! It’s no secret that Myanmar is getting a lot of attention, and the incredible archeological gems of Bagan is simply a must do on any visit there.

Want a quick comparison to something you’re already familiar with? Check out our latest Blog post “Rustic Chic Bagan vs Classic Siem Reap”, talking about the differences between Bagan and Angkor Wat.

Explore Myanmar on a 12 day trip with us. Check it out!

New up and coming must see attraction in Cambodia!

Phare – The Cambodian Circus

In Siem Reap a new up and coming must see attraction is the modern and unique Cambodian Circus. The beginnings of the circus started 20 years ago after the Khmer Rouge regime when a group of young men found healing through the art of dance and performing. View the official Phare Cambodian Circus site.

The show depicts stories from everyday life and beliefs in Cambodia through inspiring dance, contortion and balancing acrobatic acts. There is many other attractions nearby, we can arrange your tour travel. Inquire here.

Phare Ponleu Selpak is now branching out into schools to educate the poor in the area and giving them skills to earn a wage and come out of poverty. Help their project.

Connect With Smiling Albino!

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Contact: Get a hold of us any time.

The post Albino Smiles – March 2014 Edition first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Rustic Chic Bagan vs. Classic Siem Reap

smilingalbino — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 01:00:13 +0000

There are many difficult decisions to make in life: rare vs. well done, white vs. red wine, Coke vs. Pepsi, etc. Travel is no different, and one of the more difficult questions out there when you come to Southeast Asia is whether you should hit the amazing, breathtaking temple complex in Siem Reap, Cambodia, or the amazing, breathtaking temple complex in Bagan, Myanmar.

Angkor Wat – UNESCO World Heritage Site

As with many questions that arise in the middle of a vacation, there is no one answer that fits everyone, but there are a few simple truths that everyone will experience when they arrive at either place. But first, a quick primer:

The temples at Siem Reap, Cambodia – part of the giant Angkor complex – are easily the country’s most visited, most famous, and highest earning tourist attraction – so famous they appear on the national flag! The Angkor ruins have rightly been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are simply one of those things that has to be seen to be believed. The main temple, Angkor Wat, was built in the early 1100s and served as the heart of the Hindu-then-Buddhist Khmer kingdom until its decline in the 1400s. The main temple and hundreds of other temples large and small were subsequently abandoned and then ‘re-discovered’ in the late 1500s. The entire complex now stands as a magnificent monument to the might, ingenuity and sheer artistic badassery of the Khmers. Learn more about what there is to see in Cambodia.

Bagan Temple Landscape

On the other side of Thailand we have Bagan, Myanmar. At its peak, it was the center of the Buddhist Kingdom of Pagan, which was established in the mid 800s, and from the mid 1000s to 1287 (when the Mongols finally sacked it) it was the center of a thriving and powerful empire. Surprisingly, the site has not been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the large number of restorations that have taken place, but don’t let that fool you – there are plenty of ruins here – over 2,200 to be precise – stretching across 100+ sq.km and are a magnificent site any time of year. Much like the ruins of Siem Reap, they simply have to be seen to be believed. See more of what Myanmar has to offer.

But now the big question – which one should you see?

In broad terms, Siem Reap is a much slicker experience. Given a huge economic boost by foreign investment and relentless (and successful) international promotion, the town of Siem Reap is thronged by tourists and offers all of the comforts of a western city, from French pastries to hip bars, to cool music, and shopping. Transport around the town and temples is well-planned and some amazing hotels offer first-rate accommodation.

Inside Bagan Temple Grounds

On the other end of the spectrum is Bagan, which is a much more rustic, challenging place to get around, although what it offers – or rather, doesn’t offer – might be a greater attraction. There are no convenience stores here, no well-paved roads, no western chain restaurants or well-organized international tourism campaigns to bring people in. Decades of repressive rule have left the country much like a child stepping into the sun after a long nap, blinking, yawning, but ready for big adventures. If you enjoy a slower pace and don’t mind occasional unplanned power cuts, internet that’s spotty at the best of times, and infrastructure that’s generously described as “crumbling chic”, then you will probably have a ball in Bagan.

Angkor Wat Window

Both Siem Reap and Bagan can easily be seen as two sides of the same coin – majestic, historic, spiritual, stunning, memorable sites that provide a powerful connection to the past. One is a few decades ahead of the other, but both provide a unique travel experience that should not be missed. So why just choose just one? The only way for you to know which is better is to experience both firsthand! Tell us everything you want to see in Southeast Asia and we’ll make it happen.

We personalize every trip and make what seems impossible, possible! Inquire with us!

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