Angkor Wat Travel Guide

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve dreamed of visiting the temples of Angkor, especially the iconic Angkor Wat. I finally fulfilled my travel dream, and it was truly one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been to.

In this article, I’d like to share my travel experience and tips to plan an amazing trip to the temples of Angkor.

Angkor Wat Cambodia

This article includes the following section:

  • Things to know before visiting
  • Ticket guide
  • Best places to stay 
  • How to get to Angkor Wat from Siem Reap
  • Getting around the temples of Angkor
  • Opening hours and map
  • Best time to visit
  • Independent visit or a tour? 
  • Best way to visit Angkor Wat in one day
  • Best temples to visit
  • How to watch sunset and sunrise
  • What to eat
  • Packing tips

Things to know before visiting Angkor Wat

Money: Cambodians mainly use USD, so don’t forget to exchange first in your home country.

SIM: Book your SIM card in advance and receive it when you arrive to travel easier. 

Plan where you want to go

It would be best to plan which temples you don’t want to miss. Popular temples are Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider Temple), Preah Khan, and Banteay Srei (further away from the city).

Clothes: Dress politely to visit Angkor Archaeological Park. Do not wear skirts, pants and sleeveless shirts. The guards will not allow you to enter if the clothes are not suitable.

Be prepared for weather changes.

It’s fine if you are in Siem Reap during the dry season. However, in the rainy season, sudden rains will make you unprepared. If you go at this time, you should have raincoats and umbrellas ready.

Rest when needed

Find a comfortable spot to read a book or sit back and enjoy it if you’re tired. Many temples have stalls selling coconut water, soft drinks, and beer, so drink water, have a snack, and take a break. 

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Ticket price for Angkor Wat

Tickets for Angkor can be bought for 1, 3, or 7 days, so you should consider what you intend to see before buying your ticket.

  • One day: $37. Tickets are valid from the time of purchase
  • Three days: $62. Tickets are valid for ten days after the date of purchase, and you can use the ticket to visit any of Angkor Archaeological Park for 3 days within 10 days.
  • Seven days: $72. Tickets are valid for one month after the date of purchase, allowing you to visit any of the Angkor complexes for seven days within one month.

If you don’t have much time, a 1-day ticket is enough. If you love exploring and have more time, buy a 3-day ticket.

Alternatively, you can also book a 1-day tour to visit Angkor. This tour includes an on-site shuttle, admission to Angkor, drinks, cold towels, and a guide.

Notes:

  • Angkor Wat tickets are valid from the day you purchase the ticket unless you buy it after 5 pm, in which case the ticket is valid starting the next day.
  • You can visit the Angkor Archaeological Park any day of the week after 5:30 pm free of charge. No ticket is required.
  • Keep the ticket to the temple: Admission tickets are used at the main entrance of the temple. There will also be checkers at some large temples inside. So be careful to keep your tickets. If you lose it, you have to buy a new ticket when you go there.
Siem Reap Cambodia

How to buy tickets for Angkor Wat

The office is next to the Angkor Panorama Museum and opposite the Asian Traditional Museum.

When buying tickets, don’t forget to bring cash and your passport. Go to the window and purchase. The seller will then take a picture of you and issue a ticket for you.

The guard will check the ticket in some temples, so you should always bring your ticket with you.

  • Address: Angkor Enterprise, Street 60, Siem Reap, Cambodia.
  • Opening hours: from 5 am to 5:30 pm.

Best places to stay in Siem Reap

After an exhausting day of sightseeing, there’s nothing better than resting and soaking in the water.

You should book a hotel with a swimming pool to make your trip the most relaxing.

Booking in advance will be better for you because Siem Reap is Cambodia’s most popular tourist destination, so good hotels here are often out of the room very quickly, especially in the peak season.

How to get to Angkor Wat from Siem Reap

The gateway to the temples is Siem Reap, a tourist hotspot. From Siem Reap, you can hire a tuk-tuk for a day or join a tour to enjoy a hassle-free transfer. 

tuk tuk

How to get around Angkor Wat?

The area of Angkor is huge, and each temple is far from the other. So, don’t walk!

If it’s your first time visiting or you only have one day visiting, taking a tuk-tuk or joining a tour is better. Alternatively, you can rent a bicycle in Siem Reap to explore Angkor.

Opening hours of Angkor temples

All temples except Angkor Wat, Sras Srang, Pre Rup, and Phnom Bakheng are open from 7:30 am – 5:30 pm. These temples below are open earlier than before sunrise or late afternoon sunset.

  • Angkor. Wat: 5:00 am – 5:30 pm
  • Sras Srang: 5:00 am – 5:30 pm
  • Pre Rup: 5:00 am – 7:00 pm
  • Phnom Bakheng: 5:00 am – 7:00 pm

Angkor temples map

Angkor Archaeological Park forms two routes: Small Circuits (17 km loop) and Large Circuits (26 km loop).

  • The main temple in the small circuits: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Keo, Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Prasat Kravan
  • The main temple in the big loop (Large Circuit): Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, Eastern Mebon, Pre Rup
Angkor Wat map

Best time to visit Angkor Wat

An ideal time to visit Angkor Wat is from November to March. At this time, the weather is mild and dry. However, it’s also the peak of the tourist season. 

The weather is hotter and wetter from June to October, and the afternoon rain makes the next morning the best time to explore.

To avoid the heat, you should visit Angkor temples in the early morning or the afternoon (after 3 pm).

Angkor Wat Cambodia sunrise

Should I visit Angkor Wat alone or by tour? 

You probably wonder about this when planning your trip to Angkor temples.

As Angkor Archaeological Park has many prominent temples and each temple has its own story, it is necessary to have a guide to show you around and explain the mysterious stories.

Ta Prohm Temple Cambodia

To have a guide, you can either join a private tuk-tuk tour or sign up for a group tour. Once you have some understanding of the temples, on your 2nd or 3rd day, it’s a good time to explore the temples on your own.

An independent visit is a great way to explore the temples at your own pace, view, and photograph the architecture. You can decide how to much time to spend at each site and when to return to your hotel.

Best temples to visit in Angkor Archaeological Park

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the largest and most important temple in this area. 

Ta Prohm

The unique feature of this temple lies in the branches of trees that have covered the temple for hundreds of years.

In particular, the majestic Ceiba Penrandra embracing the temple with its roots creates an impressive image.

Ta Prohm temple Cambodia

Bayon temple

Bayon is one of the most beautiful temples of Angkor. The temple is designed with 54 towers, and each building is sculpted with Lokesvara face in four directions.

Bayon temple Cambodia

The best way to visit Angkor Wat in one day

Angkor Wat 1-day itinerary

  • Start your day early and depart for Angkor temples at 4 am.
  • Buy the tickets, follow the crowd to the lake in front of Angkor Wat, and enjoy the sunrise.
  • Visit Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm. Get back to your hotel in Siem Reap to relax.
  • At 3 pm, take a tuk-tuk to visit Banteay Kdei and Prasat Kravan
  • Optional: If you’re not tired, then enjoy the beautiful sunset at Phnom Bakheng

If you only have one day for Angkor temples, I recommend joining a tour or renting a private tuk-tuk guide. Don’t push yourself too much! 

Bayon temple Cambodia

How to watch sunrise and sunset in Angkor

Sunrise

To watch the sunrise in Angkor, you can sign up for the Angkor sunrise tour. As the tour starts at 4 am, you’ll need to get up early, come and line up.

It was very crowded on the day I visited. 

Angkor Wat Siem Reap Cambodia

Sunset

You should be at Bakheng hill or an appropriate place at 5 pm to watch the sunset. And note that the number of people watching the sunset is also very large.

Best places to watch the sunset in Angkor temples

  • Phnom Bakheng
  • Pre Rup
  • Sras Srang
  • Angkor Thom Moat
  • Phimeanakas
  • Angkor Wat Moat
  • West Mebon

With a 3-day or 7-day admission ticket, it’s easy to arrange a time to watch the sunrise and admire the sunset at Angkor.

However, with a 1-day ticket, you should pick either one of them because staying up to watch both sunrise and sunset can be very tiring and exhausting.

Where to eat in Angkor temples

There are many eateries around the major temples, especially Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.

The street vendors mainly sell drinks, fruits, noodles, and skewers. With about 5-7 dollars, you can have a full meal at the restaurant.

Ta Prohm temple Cambodia

What to pack for Angkor Wat

Here is the list of essential items you should bring

  • Drinking water and snacks
  • Comfortable shoes
  • Sunscreen and sunglasses
  • A hat

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *