Angkor Archaeological Site 🗿 Siem Reap, Cambodia
The Angkor Archaeological site in Siem Reap, Cambodia is a captivating destination for history enthusiasts and travelers seeking a cultural immersion. This UNESCO World Heritage location, featuring iconic temples such as Angkor Wat and Bayon, offers a mesmerising glimpse into the grandeur of the Khmer Empire.
A 3-day itinerary allows visitors to truly appreciate the intricate architecture, rich history, and scenic landscapes, ensuring an unforgettable experience in one of the world’s most awe-inspiring ancient wonders. Plan your trip, explore hidden gems, learn the fascinating stories, and make the most of your Siem Reap adventure.
Highlights
- Getting to Siem Reap
- Planning Your Visit
- Day 1: Essential Short Circuit
- Day 2: Expanded Longer Circuit
- Day 3: Temples ‘Not to Miss’
- The Mane Colonial Classic Hotel
- What to See & Do in Siem Reap
- Where to Eat in Siem Reap
- From Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
- All Hotel Options in Siem Reap
- Angkor International Airport
- Siem Reap City to the Airport
- A Complete Cambodia Itinerary
Planning Your Visit
Planning your visit to the Angkor Archaeological site is key to making the most of this awe-inspiring destination. With its sprawling grounds, iconic temples, and rich history, having a well-thought-out itinerary will ensure you don’t miss any of its hidden gems or breathtaking spots.
From choosing the right pass to timing your visits for the best light and least crowds, proper preparation will make your journey through Angkor’s ancient wonders an unforgettable experience.
Angkor Visiting Pass Options
There are three main pass options for visiting the Archaeological site in Siem Reap:
- 1-Day Pass: Costs $37 and is valid for one day.
- 3-Day Pass: Costs $62 and is valid for any three days within a 10-day period
- 7-Day Pass: Costs $72 and is valid for any seven days within a 30-day period.
You can purchase these passes at the official ticket center, located about 4 km north of Siem Reap town, or online in advance.
The passes are also valid for other nearby sites like Phnom Krom, Wat Athvea, Kbal Spean, Beng Mealea, and the Roluos Group.
Which pass to choose?
If you have the time, the 3-day Pass is generally the best option. It allows you to explore the small circuit (main temples like Angkor Wat, Bayon) on one day, the grand circuit (temples like Preah Khan, Ta Prohm) on another day, and venture to more distant temples on the third day.
This way, you can fully appreciate the vastness and diversity of the site without feeling rushed.
To avoid temple-fatigue, it’s important to limit your visits to a set number of hours (depending on your tolerance), or even take a full day off if you have the time.
Our Plan
Since we had planned to stay in Siem Reap for 6 nights, we took a leisurely walk to the official ticket office and bought a 3-day pass. The pass can be used on non-consecutive days, and cost us $62 per person.
To avoid making a trip to the ticket office You can also go to the Angkor Enterprise website and buy your pass online (for the same price). You then get a digital pass on your phone that you can use instead of a physical ticket.
Cham’s Map (click map to enlarge)
Distances shown on the maps are deceptive. This is a huge complex and – even with rickshaw hops between temples – you’ll end up doing a lot of walking, often in the heat.
The Angkor Archipelago
Strictly speaking, an Archipelago is a group of islands. However, it’s very practical to describe the temples of the Angkor Archaeological site in this way, since they form individual oases within a huge 400-square kilometre area.
Also many of the temples are (or have been) surrounded by moats lakes, or other large bodies of water.
Ta Prohm Temple, Siem Reap
Day 1: Essential Short Circuit
On our first day we did the short circuit. This included visiting the Angkor Wat and the Angkor Thom temple complexes (see map).
These are the essential and most popular/busy temple sites. If you are short on time and have purchased the 1-day pass, then these are the places you should visit.
Angkor Wat was built in the early 12th century. It was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu before gradually transforming into a Buddhist temple. At approximately 400 acres, it is the largest religious monument in the world.
We initially hired a tuk tuk driver (‘Cham‘) from the area just outside the main ticket office. We had walked to the ticket office, but now preferred a ride back to our hotel.
We then arranged with Cham to pick us up the following morning in order to visit the main temple complexes: Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.
The next morning he picked us up from our hotel and dropped us off at Angkor Wat. After we’d visited Angkor Wat, he then drove us to Angkor Thom South Gate and later met us at the East (Victory) gate to take us back to our hotel. We paid Cham $15 (He had only asked for $12).
Angkor Thom, meaning “Great City,” was the last and most enduring capital of the Khmer Empire. This ancient city spans 9 square kilometers and is surrounded by a massive wall and a wide moat. At the heart of Angkor Thom lies the Bayon temple, famous for its serene, smiling stone faces.
It takes around 15-25 mins to get to Angkor Wat, depending on your starting location.
Rainbow Bridge – Entrance to Angkor Wat (7:30 am)
If you choose an early morning start, be aware that in January it’s cold sitting in a moving tuk-tuk in the early morning. Even though it’ll be hot later in the day, you might want to take a pullover for the ride.
In Angkor Thom we visited the Bayon temple, dating from the 12th-century and famed for 200 large smiling faces carved into its stone walls.
We carried on to the imposing remains of the 11th-century pyramid-style Baphuon temple, with steep stairs to a panoramic terrace. From there we followed the Terrace of the Elephants to the Victory gate
This whole tour took around 3.5 hours starting at 7 am until 10:30 am. This was enough temples for us for 1 day without getting too jaded. It also avoided the midday heat and got us back to the hotel pool for some cooling off.
Day 2: Expanded Longer Circuit
After visiting Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, we took a one-day break from the temples. We resumed the following day, starting a little later at 8 am.
This time we visited the temples north of Angkor Thom, which take another 10 minutes or so to reach by tuk tuk.
Prasat Toni Singuot is a lesser-known temple ruin located just north of the North Gate of Angkor Thom. The temple was originally part of a hospital complex. Today, you can see the remains of a single, nearly split temple tower, which served as the worship hall of the hospital.
Despite its modest size and state of ruin, Prasat Tonle Singuot offers a glimpse into the healthcare infrastructure of the Khmer Empire.
The advantages of this longer circuit are that there are fewer tourists and spacious, greener settings, with plenty of lakes.
This time we concentrated on 4 temples stretching from the North-West to to North-East of the Archaeological site
Preah Khan, meaning “Royal Sword,” is located northeast of Angkor Thom. The temple commemorates the king’s victory over the invading Cham armies in 1191 AD. The temple complex spans 56 hectares and features a maze of vaulted corridors, fine carvings, and lichen-clad stonework.
Like Ta Prohm, Preah Khan has been left largely unrestored, with trees and vegetation growing among the ruins. It served not only as a religious site but also as a center for a substantial organization, housing nearly 100,000 officials and servants.
Be aware, in some of the temple complexes there are notices warning that you are not allowed to use drones or 360 cameras 🤫
We finished our tour after 3 hours or so, having visited 4 temples. Again, this was enough for us for one day.
Neak Poan is a unique temple located on an artificial island in the Jayatataka Baray – a large reservoir. This temple was originally designed for medical purposes, with the belief that bathing in its pools could cure diseases. The temple’s name, which means “entwined serpents,” refers to the stone serpents that encircle its central sanctuary.
Neak Poan features a central pond surrounded by four smaller ponds, symbolizing the four elements: Water, Earth, Fire, and Wind.
We hired the same tuk-tuk driver as for our first day (nice guy called Cham). For this longer roundtrip, we paid him $20.
East Mebon originally stood on an artificial island at the center of the now-dry East Baray reservoir. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and honors the king’s parents.
Architecturally, East Mebon features two enclosing walls and three tiers, with a central tower surrounded by four smaller towers. Notable sculptures include two-meter-high stone elephants at the corners of the first and second tiers, and intricate carvings depicting Hindu deities.
Day 3: Temples ‘Not to Miss’
By our 3rd day of temple visits, we’d found that 3 to 4 hours a day was enough time to spend wandering in and around temples.
In our case, this amount of time allowed us to comfortably walk around 3 to 4 temples, as well as to get to, from and between the temples by tuk-tuk.
Banteay Same is about 400 meters east of the East Baray reservoir. The temple is named after the Samré, an ancient people of Indochina. It features a central tower connected to a mandapa (an entrance hall) and is surrounded by two concentric gallery enclosures.
Notable for its intricate carvings, Banteay Samré includes depictions of Hindu deities, celestial dancers, and mythical creatures.
Pre Rup is a Hindu temple mountain constructed from brick, laterite, and sandstone, and was dedicated in 962. The temple’s name, which means “turn the body,” reflects the belief that it was used for funerary rituals.
Architecturally, Pre Rup features a quincunx of towers rising from a pyramid base, symbolizing Mount Meru, the sacred mountain in Hindu mythology. The temple’s reddish tone, especially striking at sunrise and sunset, adds to its visual appeal. It is aligned on a north-south axis with the East Mebon temple.
Some temples require more effort than others, depending on their size and height. The steps going up are steep and – even with handrails – can be quite daunting if you’re not keen on heights
To give you an idea on the distances we were walking with this 3-day schedule, it was around 10 kms per trip – just about enough to burn off the good breakfasts we were consuming at the Mane Colonial hotel.
Ta Prohm was originally named Rajavihara, meaning “Royal Monastery”. The temple was dedicated to the king’s mother and served as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university. What makes Ta Prohm unique is its picturesque state of ruin, with trees and roots intertwined with the stone structures, creating a striking blend of nature and architecture.
This feature has made it one of the most popular temples in the Angkor region, often referred to as the “Tomb Raider Temple” due to its appearance in the “Lara Croft” movie.
Siem Reap Angkor International Airport
Getting to and from Siem Reap is now easier than ever.
Located around 35 kms east of the city, Siem Reap International is a shining example of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Sponsored by enterprising Chinese companies, the airport was opened in 2023, offering direct flights from many countries, and providing a huge boost to Cambodia’s tourist industry.
A taxi fare from Siem Reap costs around $30 to $35, and takes around 45 minutes.
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