Angkor Wat Holiday Ideas for Kids
Children Can Enjoy a Siem Reap Vacation Just as Much as Parents
Mar 8, 2009
Besides the usual options of swimming at the hotel (check when booking if there is a child minding service) and ice cream and other treats at the many restaurants in town, try some of these fun ideas when traveling with children in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Angkor Wat Balloon Ride
Opposite the main Angkor Wat temple complex and just inside the airport side boundary to the archeological park is a large tethered hot air balloon. Although rides to see the temples from 200 meters in the air last just 10 minutes, the buzz will keep the kids talking for hours. Cost is 15 USD for adults and 7.50 USD for children. The safety record is so far unblemished and the rope mesh around the outside of the large platform might be the bane of photographers, but is heaven sent for parents.
Meet the Last Elephants of Angkor
Compagnie des Eléphants d'Angkor is a conservation-based organization with more than 20 rescued elephants in its care. Hotels in Siem Reap can organize trips with these magnificent creatures and their mahouts around the Angkor temple complex, or spend a morning or a day with them learning how to be a mahout, or elephant keeper. The kids will love helping to wash and feed these great beasts.
Horse Riding in the Cambodian Countryside
Happy Ranch in Siem Reap is currently the only horse riding establishment near town, but visitors routinely rave about the standards of this place, and the quality of the horses. Happy Ranch specializes in trips through the countryside, opening up whole new views of the area around Angkor which will delight parents and children alike. Guides are available for totally inexperienced riders, although available mounts range from very docile and perfect for kids to suitable for experienced riders. A day trip with Happy Ranch is frequently described by happy customers as the best travel experience of the trip – after, of course, the magnificent temples.
Helicopter Rides Over the Temples
Only for the well-heeled, at around 250 USD for 15 minutes, but an unforgettable experience just the same. Both long-running Australian-managed charter company Helicopters Cambodia and the Sokha group which owns the ticketing rights to the temples offer charters.
Swimming at Phnom Kulen
This is the perfect way to combine culture and fun for kids. Phnom Kulen is the sacred mountain and birthplace of the Angkor civilization. At the base of the mountain, especially in wet season, a waterfall thunders into a refreshing pool which local Khmers use as a swimming hole. Stroller access along the walking path to access the falls may be difficult, but the waters themselves are relatively safe and kids will have the opportunity to play with local kids.
Silk from Beginning to End
Kids may not enjoy shopping for silk, but they will probably enjoy learning about how it is made. Puok Silk Farm just outside the town offers tours that takes visitors from meeting the silk worms right through to putting the final product on the loom (and there is a gift shop for the adults).
Khmer Cooking Classes
There are a few options for kids and parents to learn some classic Khmer cookery skills in Siem Reap including Le Tigre de Papier in the heart of the town. Although this is probably one for the older kids, the guided trip around the market followed by a half to three-day course learning dishes including the famous steamed curry Amok allows a chance to discover more about the culture and the food of Cambodia in a very hands-on way. An extra plus for children is that, unlike Thai food, Khmer food is very light on chili.
