lechua photography

The vast temple complex of Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South East Asia. It is a pride and treasure of Cambodia and is an immensely popular attraction for tourists from all over the world visiting Siem Reap.

Exploring all the temples within the Angkor Archaeological Park could take a week or so. Below are a few suggested itineraries and not-to-be-missed temples for those who have less time to spare.

Typical 1-day itinerary of the small circuit:   

 1) Angkor Wat (sunrise)

 2) Angkor Thom – Bayon, Terrace of the Elephants

 3) Ta Prohm

 4) Phnom Bakheng (sunset)

With more days to spare, explore beyond the small circuit listed above:

  Roluos Group -  Preah Ko, Bakong, Lolei

  Kbal Spean - the River of 1000 Lingas

  Banteay Srei

Of course depending on each individual’s travel plan, the visit to the temples could be shuffled about to maximise the time available.

Entry Pass

One-day pass = USD20; Three-day pass = USD40; Seven-day pass = USD60

The three-day pass can be either three consecutive days or any three days within a week – this would have to be specified when purchasing the ticket. Should you purchase a ticket after 5pm, the ticket could include a free sunset in for the day of purchase and the actual 3 days could start from the following day.

Note: the pass does not cover visits to Beng Melea, Phnom Kulen or Koh Ker - these require additional cost at the sites itself.

Opening hours: 5.30am – 6.30pm

Getting Around

On the map, the temples may not look that far away from each other; do not underestimate the distance between the temples. For instance Angkor Thom is 1.7km from Angkor Wat. If not going as part of a tour, it is advisable and common to rent a tuk tuk for a day (USD15) for getting from one temple to the next for the small circuit of temples. For visiting the Roluos Group Temples (16km from Siem Reap) and beyond, it is recommended to go with a local tour guide by car, as it is a fair bit of distance to go on a bumpy and dusty tuk-tuk ride.

We managed to find a full-day tour to the outlying temples offered by Villa Siem Reap at USD30 per person. You may join others on the tour but the tours are kept to a maximum of 8 pax. We were fortunate to have a passionate and patient local guide (not rushing us while we were taking photos).

Best Time to Visit

It is highly recommended to visit during the dry season ranging from November to April. The beginning of the dry season is cooler while it gets hotter towards April. Although you may get clearer skies in March or April especially for sunrise and sunset views, it can be uncomfortably hot during April. Few may prefer having a different experience in the wet season when there are fewer tourists and roads become canals, but this would also mean travel over land would be slower and muddy.