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Full-Day Preah Vihear & Koh Ker Temple Small Group (Shared Tour)
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Ways to Experience Preah Vihear Temple
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Reviewed 29 June 2012

My daughter and I booked 2-day tour with Narin via email. He fed us with banana and all sorts of chilled drink, include Coffee and Red Bull, all the time. We visite Beng Melea and Koh Kye on the first day, stayed ovnight at Sra Em, and went to Preah Vihear at 5am and Anlong Veng next day.

Sra Em is such a small town that it's best, jail-style guesthouse was lack of hot water and with unstable electricity. In a no-menu, no-English restaurant, we would be starving without Narin's help.

Even though the trip is not cheap, the beauty of Preah Vihear, especially in the early morning, made us totally forgot the money matters. Watching fog move afar and near, it's a wonderfully experience. Anlong Veng is boring town, and Khmer Rouge's site is unexpiring.

The soldiers there always wished tourist would bring some small gifts. Judging from rusty spots of their AK-47, their daily necessaries might be equally unsufficient.

Anyway, Narin is both good diver and tour guide.

Date of experience: June 2012
2  Thank Charles21452
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 13 May 2012

Despite the news about the recent dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, we've decided to go to Preah Vihear on 8th May 2012 . A 3 hours drive from Siem Reap later, we were amazed by the beauty of the temple and the site. We spent the morning there from 8 to 11AM, enjoying alternative fog clouds and strong sun with blue sky: magnifique !
There's still a military pesence but you don't feel any stress about it.

We use the services of Narin (angkornarin@yahoo.com) who's been driving us very safely to the temple. Narin is very experienced about Preah Vihear and has really taken a good care of us. He's an excellent guide.

Date of experience: May 2012
4  Thank MarcT597
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 13 May 2012

I recently achieved a lifetime milestone event thanks to a extraordinary Khmer tour guide named Narin, who enabled me to visit four exceptional Khmer temples well outside Siem Reap, the location of the spectacular Angkor Wat. Many Westerners do not realize the Khmer Empire built large, stone temples throughout a 77 sq. mile region over a period of six centuries. A special jewel amongst these temples is Preah Vihear, which commands a spectacular view on the edge of an 1,800 ft. precipice that overlooks the Cambodian plain. Until recently, this temple has been a battleground between Thailand and Cambodia; however, the International Court of Justice determined it legally belongs to Cambodia. The temple is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit it and you will see why. It took me six years to return to Siem Reap, and I read about Narin in this forum. I contacted him, told him in detail what I wanted to do. He made absolutely everything happen, and offered invaluable advice that resulted in the most enjoyable tour I have ever experienced. Narin managed all logistics, food, drink, and lodging near Preah Vihear. Importantly, he is an expert on Khmer civilization. He is tireless and has an unmatched cheerful disposition, speaks excellent English, and goes above and beyond in ensuring your comfort and safety in all regards. He is always punctual, and as we rolled out of my hotel on a journey (new 4-wheel drive Toyota) at 5:00 a.m., he hands me fresh, warm French baguettes. In sum, he is a man of absolute integrity, and he will do absolutely everything to ensure your vacation investment is completely realized. When I visited Preah Vihear, I stipulated that I wanted my camera on a tripod ready for the morning sun’s gold hour. Narin made that happen. When I take my wife on the next trip to visits these temples, Narin will be our tour guide. He’s outstanding! His email is: angkornarin@yahoo.com

Date of experience: April 2012
1  Thank KWYSWilley
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 13 May 2012

I visited Siem Reap with my sister in April for 3 days.

I have always wanted to visit Preah Vihear but was a little worried because of the ongoing conflict with Thailand. So I asked Narin (angkornarin@yahoo.com) to be our guide during our 3 day visit. He was knowledgeable and friendly. On our first day, we visited Preah Vihear. We took the motorbikes up to Preah Vihear and spent about 3 hours at the temple. Although some parts were in ruins, the temple and its surrounding scenery were spectacular. Narin took us to see the shared border with Thailand, which is now closed, and we had the chance to interact with the soldiers guarding the border. We also tried a local fruit that is found at the temple. He pointed out the different architectural styles at the temple and explained the various carvings, stories etc associated with the temple. It was a safe and fun trip. After Preah Vihear, we visited Koh Ker group of temples and Beng Melea.

The next day Narin's friend took us to visit the Angkor Wat temples and it was fun. Like Narin, he too was knowledgeable and showed us where to take good photos at the different temples. On our last day, we went to Phnom Kulen National Park, which was a last minute addition to our itinerary. Narin gladly changed our planned itinerary to enable us to visit Banteay Srei, Phnom Kulen and a few other Angkor temples before our flight in the late afternoon.

I'm happy that I can fit 2 amazing temples, Preah Vihear and Angkor Wat, into our trip and that Narin was our guide.

Date of experience: April 2012
1  Thank intermagix
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 12 April 2012

The bad thing about traveling solo is that you have no one to split the cost with you. Finding a transport to Preah Vihear Temple for a day trip that is reasonably priced for a solo traveler is like finding a needle in a haystack. Thankfully i manage to find San Park to drive me there at a very reasonable price as compare to the other contacts which i have sourced. You can contact San Park at info@angkor-temple-guides.com

Punctuality is one of the virtue for a Khmer as San Park arrived at 7.00am sharp as promised, to pick me up for the journey to Preah Vihear. San Park speak pretty fluent english as compare to some of the Khmers which i have met in Siem Reap due to his past working experience in the UN as a radio operator. Preah Vihear province is just next to Siem Reap, however the journey there takes you through Oddar Meanchey and takes approximately four and a half hours drive including half an hour break before arriving at the destination.

It is a rather comfortable journey as it is flat road all the way. Along the way, you get to pass through dusty town and small villages which opens you up to another side of Cambodia. The unkempt, the dilapidated state of the houses lining along the crumbly road . Houses were built with either bricks, zinc sheets or wood and to my surprise, wooden houses are the most expensive as it keeps the house cooler under the hot sun. If i didn't note down wrongly a house in a city by the road that measure 11m by 49m can cost US$50,000 whereas a very basic house further away from the street cost US$6000 approximately. We stopped at Anlong Veng district in Oddar Meanchey enroute to Preah Vihear for some food. Khmer Rouge used to occupy the Anlong Veng district and the once mighty villain Pol Pot's grave is also here. The Cambodia government have plans to developed this town as a tourist stopover before heading to Preah Vihear Temple. When you spotted the sight of an army barrack, that implies we are reaching Preah Vihear temple soon. If you are unaware, Preah Vihear Temple is a very delicate area as both Thailand and Cambodia claim ownership to it since way before. It was only during 1962 that the International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia. However just last year, some disputes occur between Thailand and Cambodia at the border resulting to some causalities from both countries. Visitation to the temple is not allowed during periods of tension therefore it is always good to read up the news before venturing to Preah Vihear. Before the ongoing tension in the previous year, anyone can get to cross the border into Thailand without a passport and visit the market there by paying a broker a small amount of sum. There is a registration office at the base of the mountain, which you require to show your passport and fill in your particulars. As of now, you do not need to pay for the entrance however there is a very high possibility that you need to do so when the temple become more touristy. Once your registration is done, you have the option to take a motorbike (US$5) or a 4 wheel drive ($US25) up the Dangrek mountain. The first part of the road up Dangrek mountain is being paved at the moment so it is rather fluid, however you still need the motorbike rider to have good skills to be maneuvering around the gigantic tractors and road rollers which are at work. Once you are past the smoothly paved dirt road, ascending up the mountain becomes quite a challenge as the paved road changed into a small path filled with gravels and rocks ascending at 60 degrees. Do note that a bike ride can be quite exhilarating and not suitable for the people who are afraid of heights however it is worth a try if you are seeking for some adventure.

Preah Vihear Temple stretches 800m on top of a 525m cliff in the Dangrek Mountains. It is still a holy place and the Khmers do make their way here to pray even though some do take a few years to save up in order to make a trip here. The structure of the temple provides an impression that seems like it is build for the Gods in the heaven as every steps lead you up to a higher ground. Magnificent and imposing, overlooking the border of Thailand and Cambodia. The view on the top is worth the exhilarating ride up the mountain.

Preah Vihear Temple is a must to visit, and should you decide to head there, do drop San Park an email at info@angkor-temple-guides.com, a knowledgeable driver/guide who bound to share with you some history of Cambodia.

Cheers.

Date of experience: March 2012
18  Thank Danzelho
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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