Battambang or Angkor?

After visiting Angkor, I will head to Phnom Penh via Battambang.

In my original schedule, after 3 days at the temples, I would head to Battambang by boat, in order to take a bus to Phnom Penh in the morning of the following day. So, in Battambang only for a few hours, as a transit destination to Phnom Penh.

Now, I am thinking that I could spend only 2 days at the temples, and use the third day to explore the countryside and villages around Battambang, which I hear are very interesting to visit.

Any suggestion?

3 days at the temples was a bit much for me, but i got to see alot. if you dont want to miss out on any of the Angkor Complex, ask your driver to take you out to some villages/rural areas on the way out to some other temples.

the area around battambang was really nice, though the town is nothing to write home about. i did a half day on a moto out to some villages, Wat Banon, the killing Caves and the Bamboo train.

if i was doing it again, it would be the 2 days at the temples and the one day in Battambang.

either way enjoy your trip.

A few hours in Battambang could well be a pleasure but if you are going it would be better to have the time to spend a day and do the bamboo train trip. It is fun

I agree Battambang is nothing to write home about. To be honest, I am no temple fanatic, but I spent 4 days in Angkor and was not bored at all. Can't imagine spending only 2 days there. Angkor is a world wonder. Battambang isn't.

I don't mean to visit Battambang for the whole day, but rather to take a moped and spend the day hanging around Cambodian villages in the nearbies. This mainly because we have only very few days to spend in Cambodia, and in this way we could see something else than just the temples...

Well, I liked Battambang and the surroundings a lot, just spent two nights there though. But I doubt it'd worth going there for just a few hours. That sounds pretty rushed to me. You could just spend more time around Phnom Penh, if you don't want to take out a whole day from Angkor.

If you're original plan calls for only spending a few hours in Battambang, then I'd either adjust my plan to allow more time in Battambang, or I'd just skip it altogether and go directly from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh.

If you do spend a day in Battambang (pronounced Battambong) do go to Phnom Sampeau and spend a few hours on top of the plateau exploring. It's easy to miss the caves, look for the gateway on your right as you enter the temple. Go down the long long staircase into the caves and keep going. You can make a circle route back up to the top along the cliff face path. It's easy to find the howitzer field artillery gun but try and find the golden buddhas, especially the one in the grotto. The guides won't be much help, they are anxious to get another customer. It would take three hours walking really quickly to see everything.

Two days in Angkor? Depends on the individual, I've been there dozens of times and am still enthralled. I have one suggestion, walk around Angkor Wat's moat after crossing the bridge. It's a beautiful parklike setting and gives you an idea of the scale of the place. You'll be alone except on the weekends. You can jump up on the wall at a few spots and see the difference in elevation between the ground level inside and the outside of the wall.

Also, do Angkor Wat on the second day after visiting the other temples (starting at the smallest). That way the small ones will be more impressive because you won't be comparing them to the really stunning complexes.

i say spend more time at the temples. now's the time, who knows when things are going to start getting roped off, i was really amazed that everyone could just climb all over them while i was there, but i suspect with increased tourism that may change. anyways...take a few more days in siem reap, you MUST visit beng melea. can be done on a day trip (tuk tuk), cimbine with banteay srei and kbal spean and don't pay more than $40. have a blast!

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<hr>walk around Angkor Wat's moat after crossing the bridge<hr></blockquote>
That's one way to spoil it, put it on the web ;)
The only person I see there is a lone European jogger. Is that you k1d?

Unless you're heading to Battambang to see it specifically, it's counter-productive as a transit point from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, as it's in completely the opposite direction... for about $25 you can take a boat straight to Phnom Penh from Siem Reap.

I saw Battambang on my way out of Cambodia back to Thailand. It's a nice place, but not a whole lot to it really. If I were you I wouldn't cut a day out of seeing the temples just for the sake of seeing Battambang... the temples are far more impressive and much more worthy of your time imo. After about 2 hours in Battambang I felt I had seen about all there was to see, but it just depends on what interests you I guess. From what I've heard the surrounding areas are more impressive than the town itself, and if you have the time it would be worth checking out. Still though, I wouldn't give up a day of the Angkor area for it, unless you just really have had your fill after two days. I just wanted to get all 3 days worth of my ticket for paying that much lol...

Er should note that $25 I quoted was the price back in 2001... it may be a bit more now, but shouldn't be by much.

Batambang rocks - the city itself is nothing special but indeed renting a moped and driver to take you around it absolutely brilliant. Make sure to have a face mask - going around on the mopeds is full of "cambodian snow" - i.e. dust. The moped guy or your hotel should be able to recommend a good day trip - but It will, no doubt, include the bamboo train ride.

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<hr>Er should note that $25 I quoted was the price back in 2001... it may be a bit more now, but shouldn't be by much. <hr></blockquote>

Its still the same, rather expensive price.

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<hr>That's one way to spoil it, put it on the web ;)<hr></blockquote>

Ha! I was going to suggest that walk and, Henning, the other one around you-know-where, but I remember you making the same comment last time I mentioned the amazing walk around A* T. A serious detective should be able to work it out.

Seriously, it's not a choice of temples OR villages. The Angkor zone is enormous, and there are still people living within it. Most tourist never get more than 300m away from a road that permits car access. Just grab a map, and have a look around for temples away from the main road. They may be a nice one hour walk, through the countryside. It's a very different experience from the dizzying array of "highlights" that most people see - all of a sudden, after enjoying the light shining through the bamboo leaves and having a face off with a buffalo, you suddenly come to an enormous statue in the jungle. You appreciate it more if you see it mixed in with a bit of ordinary, daily life.

Or just take a book and a picnic lunch, and maybe a friend. Find a nice place, away from the crowds, and chill. I don't know why people find it easy to do that on Ko Pangan or wherever, but hard when they are surrounded by gorgeous old temples and other buildings.

With three days, you could do something different on every day: say, one day for a long walk within the zone, one day going out by car or bike to Kbaal Spean, Beng Malea, or other outlying temples, and the last day doing some of the "big name" sites. Or choose one big name site, like Angkor, and spend a whole half day there. There would be enough variety to keep most people happy. Just forget the list ticking thing.

Forget Battambang for a single day. Lovely town, but it would take a day to get there. I can't understand people dissing Battambang town - a great little place to see an ordinary Cambodian town without too much trouble or discomfort, but not just for a day.