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Welcome to Siem Reap
When most people think of Siem Reap, they think of the Angkor Wat temple complex. While the majestic temples are undoubtedly a highlight of any trip to Cambodia, Siem Reap has much more to offer to those who are willing to spend a little more time and explore beyond the temples.
Siem Reap has undergone a staggering renaissance in the last few years, mainly due to the arrival of tourists using the
town as a base for visiting the temples. Despite this recent boom in tourism, however, the Siem Reap province itself,
located on the shores of the Tonle Sap Lake, remains one of the poorest in the country.
Siem Reap town is a cluster of small villages along the Siem Reap River. These villages were originally developed around Buddhist wats evenly spaced along the river from Wat Preah En Kau Sei in the north to Wat Phnom Krom in the south.
Whether you’re a culture vulture, a shopping fanatic or a nature enthusiast, the initiatives listed in the following pages will give
you a richer experience and better understanding of the country and its people.
Angkor Center for Conservation of Biodiversity
A not-for-profit widlife rescue and nature conservation centre, the Angkor Center for Conservation Biodiversity rehabilitates confiscated wildlife, educates the local community and offers guided tours of the Center, village-based sustainable tours and a bee keeping program as an alternative to poaching.
Sam Veasna Center for Wildlife Conservation
Sam Veasna Center for Wildlife Conservation Center is engaged in raising awareness of Cambodia's rich wildlife heritage and facilitating activities that promote wildlife conservation. Established in 2003, it is committed to attaining long-term environmental, socio-cultural and economic sustainability. It specializes in arranging birding tours to remote areas of Cambodia to see rare birds.
Butterflies Garden Restaurant
Set in a tropical garden with over 1,000 butterflies, the aptly named Butterflies Garden Restaurant offers an oasis not only for customers but also to the community. It provides disadvantaged youth with restaurant training and former street children and communities living with HIV/AIDS with income-generating opportunities.
Samatoa
Created in 2004, Samatoa Cooperative is a community group that specialises in producing silk apparel. Our desire from the start has been to re-introduce the unique quality of natural Cambodian silk using the knowledge of skilled weavers and tailors. Samatoa offers a wide range of quality products made from natural Cambodian silk. We offer tailored, ‘made to measure’ silk clothes in 24 hours.
Osmose
Osmose's pilot conservation and development project in the Prek Toal area of Tonle Sap Lake links the preservation of endangered waterbird colonies to the sustainable development of local communities. The project is beneficial to over 100 families, providing alternative employment to former bird collectors through conservation, education and ecotourism.
Singing Tree Cafe
In the growing hustle and bustle of downtown Siem Reap, the Singing Tree Café provides a welcome and memorable experience – a large and serene garden café where you can relax, surf the Internet for free or read while we serve you a delicious selection of light, wholesome and nutritious meals.