Did you already know that the Angkor temple complex in Cambodia tops Lonely Planet's Ultimate Destinations list? Many people visit Cambodia for this alone and we can well understand that! The Angkor temple complex is very impressive and large. There are said to be more than a thousand temples, shrines and tombs in this area. It is therefore useful to prepare well in order to fully enjoy this special place. We have gathered the best tips and information for you. Whether it's cost or which temples are the most impressive -we share it all!
Did you know that Angkor Wat is actually a misnomer for the temple complex? In fact, Angkor Wat is the name of only one temple of this immense complex.
General information on Cambodia
Are you planning your trip to Cambodia? Then check out our tips for the best travel period, daily budget and climate. You can find all the information you need about Cambodia here.
The history of the Angkor temple complex
Let's start at the beginning: what makes the Angkor temple complex so special? Angkor was once the capital of the Khmer kingdom, full of impressive structures designed to honour both its rulers and their faith. That goal certainly seems to have been achieved, as even after hundreds of years, the buildings are still hugely impressive.
For centuries, the city of Angkor was the hub of the powerful Khmer Empire, which dominated large parts of Southeast Asia from around the year 800 to 1432. At its peak, as many as 1 million people lived in Angkor, while London at the time was no more than a small village with a few tens of thousands of inhabitants. After repeated attacks by the Ayutthaya kingdom (present-day Thailand) in the 15th century, the Khmer king decided to leave Angkor and move his court to Phnom Penh. This led to Angkor's decline, and the city was slowly taken over by the jungle.
The rediscovery of Angkor did not take place until around 1900, when a French explorer discovered the ruins. Restoration of the complex was then started during the French colonial period. However, this work was interrupted during the Khmer Rouge period. From the 1990s, Angkor became an important symbol of Cambodia, and today the temple complex attracts some 2.5 million visitors a year.
The Angkor Wat temple
But why the name Angkor Wat anyway? We explained it briefly above but are happy to give you some more information. The Angkor Wat temple is the largest religious monument in the world, which is why this name is widely used for the entire temple complex. The temple has a total of five towers, with the middle one being the tallest. These towers resemble lotus buds and are known for their symmetrical layout. Many people find this the most impressive temple of the entire complex, especially considering that this structure was built centuries ago.
Explore the Angkor temple complex in two days
The Angkor temple complex is very big. Therefore, we recommend you spread your visit to Angkor over at least two days. Longer is also possible, but we think you will have had your dose of temples after two days. Of course, if you have less time, you can also see the main temples in one day.
Day 1: Go on a cycling tour
We can recommend taking a cycling tour and the second day a tuktuk/Remork-Moto. A day tour by bike starts from 40 euro p.p. and is a truly amazing way to visit the complex. You feel like a real explorer through the jungle and visit places and temples where nobody else is. This is a very nice first introduction to the complex as it gives you a good overview of the size and diversity of the temples.
Good to know is that the complex is about 7 km away from the centre of Siem Reap, so you will travel quite a few kilometres. Chances are that the tour will take you past the ticket office first, so you don't need to buy your tickets online first. You can check this in the description of the specific tour.
Day 2: Return with your own driver
The next day, you can then return by tuktuk/Remork-Moto to revisit the remaining temples or your favourite temples. It's best to arrange a driver for the whole day through your hotel as they are known to have reliable and good drivers. Would you rather arrange it in advance? Then check out Getyourguide! You can book complete tours, view reviews and book everything in advance here.
Tip: Another little tip for booking guides in Cambodia: be sure to contact them to work out the exact itinerary. In our experience, they are super flexible, even during the day trip itself. So you can go off the sights you want.
Overview of the different temples
On the Angkor official website and the Lonely Planet website you will find overviews of the main temples. Our favourite structures are Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm.
About Angkor Wat we need say little. There is a reason why the entire complex is often referred to by the name of this main temple (and tomb). Not only is the temple huge and impressive, but the surrounding garden is also beautiful.
Bayon is also known as the faces temple. It is a good example of the enormous level of detail in temples, as it incorporates no less than 11,000 figures, including 216 times the immense smiling face of Buddhist being Avalokiteshvara. Another fun fact: while most temples in Angkor are dedicated to Hinduism, this temple reflects Cambodia's historical transition to Buddhism.
The temple Ta Prohm makes you feel like you've stepped into a movie of sorts. This is not surprising, as the temple literally appears in the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. What makes this temple so iconic is the huge tree that is completely fused with the stones.
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Angkor Temple complex opening hours and prices
Visiting Angkor is certainly not free. Indeed, it is probably pricier than what you would expect from a country like Cambodia. There are tickets for 1, 3 or 7 days. To give you a bit of a clear picture, we have elaborated further in the column below:
| Tickets | Cost per person |
|---|---|
| Entrance ticket (1 day) | $37 |
| Entrance ticket (3 days) | $62 |
| Sunrise surcharge | +$5 |
| Guide per day | $15 per day |
We recommend taking a 3-day ticket. The beauty of this ticket is that it is valid for 10 days, so you don't have to use it on consecutive days. Do you choose to stay longer in Siem Reap? Then you can easily schedule a day of rest in between.
In addition, with the multi-day ticket, you can also choose not to spend the whole days in the park, but only early in the morning when it is a bit less hot, for example.
Tip: Make sure you wear the ‘right’ clothes. Bare knees and shoulders are not appreciated at temples. You are then likely to be banned from entering, although this is reportedly not very actively enforced.
Opening hours
The park is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00, but some temples are accessible as early as 5:00, so you can catch the sunrise. Angkor Wat in particular is known for this. Therefore, prepare well for a large crowd because you will not be the only one with this excellent idea. In addition, keep in mind that after 15:00 no one is allowed in.
We personally recommend going as early in the morning as possible. You don't have to get out of bed extremely early for it, but since there is no shade in the park, it can be just too hot after 11:00 am.
Additional tips for your visit to the Angkor temples
Just a few more tips so you are prepared for your trip!
- Adhere to dress code: We can't really repeat this often enough but make sure you dress respectfully. For women, this means covered shoulders and trousers or skirts over the knees.
- Make clear arrangements with your tuktuk driver: Discuss in advance which temples you want to visit and in what order. Agree on the price so everyone knows what to expect and there are no surprises. Want to have a tuk-tuk tour already arranged at home? Then check out Getyourguide!
- Pay attention to your driver: This may sound a bit weird, but when you leave in the morning and want to return in the afternoon, it's quite handy to know who your driver is!
- Do not buy anything from children: We fully understand that this is sometimes quite difficult, but don't buy anything from the children around the temples. You help them by not buying anything so they can go to school instead of working.
- Make a daily plan/route: Avoid the crowds by flipping the standard itineraries. For instance, start with the sunrise at Angkor Wat (don't go inside) and head to Ta Prohm right after, so you're there before the official opening time. After Ta Prohm, you can visit Bayon. It is already a bit busier there, but still fairly quiet. Next, you can go back to Angkor Wat. It's always busy there, but by saving it for later in the day, you can avoid some of the crowds.
We hope these tips help you plan your trip to Cambodia. Do you still have questions about the Angkor temple complex or specifically Angkor Wat? Then please Countingborders or send us a message at any time via Instagram.
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