ANGKOR WAT TEMPLES GUIDE – THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

Our first trip to Thailand in 2000 was with an American traveler. He told us about a “mystical temple” in Cambodia and how he spent days in solitude. That temple was Angkor Wat.

The days of mystery and solitude are gone from Angkor Wat. Today, thousands of people will share Angkor Wat with them. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit it. Angkor Wat remains a stunning old city that attracts people for a reason. It is amazing.

How to Visit Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat, a vast ancient city of the Khmer Empire, has hundreds and thousands of temples covering 500 acres.

Angkor Wat, located just 6km (3.75 miles) from Siem Reap, is Cambodia’s number one tourist attraction.

It is now a popular attraction after being abandoned and taken from its treasures. Angkor Wat is visited by 2.6 million people each year.

It is difficult to escape the crowds at Angkor, so we recommend spending a few days there to reduce the chaos and allow you to explore the temples.

We will give you some tips and tricks to help plan your trip.

Best Way To Visit Angkor Wat Temples

Click the map to access your interactive travel guide for the Angkor Wat Temples

A private driver is the best way to visit Angkor Wat.

A private tuk-tuk was hired for $25 per day, much cheaper than joining a tour. Thanks to a private driver, we could choose where and what we wanted.

We were also able to keep one step ahead of everyone else.

A private driver can be hired in an air-conditioned vehicle for $60 daily.

Hot air balloons and tour buses can also take off from Angkor Wat.

Best Angkor Wat Tours

Angkor Wat Day Tour with Balloon Ride, Khmer Lunch – The best way to appreciate the vastness of Angkor Wat’s beauty is from above. This Angkor Wat day tour includes lunch, a tour through the ancient city, and a hot air balloon ride.

Angkor Wat Vintage Jeep Tour: Take a Jeep tour in an M151 “MUTT” ex-US Army Jeep. As you tour these ancient temples, you will feel you are back in time with your English-speaking driver and guide.

Private Driver in Air-Conditioned Car –Visit Angkor Wat Style with a private English-speaking driver in an air-conditioned car. Includes the most famous temples of Angkor Wat and sunset at Phnom Bakheng

Temples Of Angkor Wat

There are over a thousand temples at Angkor Wat, and each person has a favorite. It would help if you visited some of the most famous temples in Angkor Wat.

Sunset at Phnom Bakheng

Our favorite experience at Angkor Wat was seeing the sunset from Phnom Bakheng, Bakheng Hill. This was our first glimpse of Angkor, as we were there to see the evening the night before our planned tour.

It is a bit like Grand Central Station on Bakheng Hill. But it is well worth the effort. To enjoy the sunset over the temples, arrive early.

This makes for some fantastic photo opportunities. The hot air balloons rise once the sun sets.

Sunset is limited to 300 people, so arrive early to ensure your spot!

• Avoid the crowds. If you want to avoid being surrounded by 300 people at sunset, you can visit this spot for sunrise. The complex is above you, so you can get a mystical view as the morning fog fades.

Reflection Pools at Angkor Wat Temple At Sunrise

Although sunrise is a busy time to take pictures of Angkor Wat at sunrise, it’s worth getting up early to view the reflections of temples in the pond.

The main Angkor Wat Temple is directly in front of the Reflection pond. To save your spot, you will need to arrive early. Once you find it, don’t move!

It would help if you did not move from the water’s edge or if someone walked in front of your feet. Photographs are a dog-eat-dog world. If you leave an empty spot, someone will take your place.

The gates open at 5:00 AM. You should arrive at 4:00 AM to be the first in line.

Avoid Crowds at Angkor Wat

Bakheng Hill is a great place to see the sunrise if you want to avoid the crowds and can’t fight for it.

If you don’t care about sunrise, we recommend going to Angkor Wat via the other gate. This will allow you to see as many temples and the surrounding area as possible without the crowds huddled around the moat.

You will want to book more than one day in Angkor. This is because you want to save time taking that perfect sunrise photo. If you’re like Dave and like that perfect shot on a postcard, then this is the place for you.

You can visit many temples on the second or third day.

Our second day saw us skip sunrise at Angkor Wat’s reflection pool and drive as far as we could. Before the tourists arrived, we visited many of the most important temples in Angkor Wat.

We jumped in the tuk-tuk whenever we saw a bus heading our way and drove on to the next tour bus!

Go up to the Top of Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the largest religious structure in the world. It dated back to 900 AD and was built by King Suryavarman I between 1110 – 1150.

It is a stunning sight for a structure built in the 12th Century.

The most iconic image of Khmer city is Angkor Wat. The five towers that make up the central part of it rise to 66m above its base, which is 1.6km long.

Although the climb is steep and scary, it’s well worth it. The crowds were lower when we climbed the tower towards the end of our day.

The queue was extended in the morning but dwindled by the afternoon.

Ta Prohm

Ta Prom temple is one of the most well-known sites in Angkor Wat. It was featured in Tomb Raider.

As Mother Nature overtook the temple complex, we witnessed Mother Nature’s power firsthand.

It can be left in its original condition, with vines and roots growing. This will cause the solid rock to crumble as trees rise from its roof.

Angkor Thom

Angkor Tom was the most striking temple we saw at Angkor.

The causeway to the temple is lined with two rows of massive statues representing 54 Gods, 54 Demons, and two more of their imposing counterparts.

This image I saw years ago on a travel show captured my interest. I couldn’t believe I was right there in the middle of it all.

The temple was heavily looted over the years, and the heads of the statues were stolen or missing. However, significant efforts have been made to restore the temple, and some of its Gods and Demons remain intact.

Bayan Temple

Bayan Temple will be restored by 2022. It is one of the most magnificent temples in the complex.

Its 54 stone temples, which contain 216 faces Avalokiteshvara, make it remarkable. (The Bodhisattva, enlightened being of compassion.)

Ta Som

Ta Som, another impressive Khmer temple, was built by King Jayavarman VI in the 12th Century.

It is similar to Ta Phrom in that it has become overgrown with trees, and it feels like Mother Nature has taken it down by a giant Banyan tree.

Preah Khan

Preah Khan is one the most important temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park.

It’s a linear temple complex, and I will never forget having fun going in and out of the corridors.

It has the same feeling as Ta Prohm: it is like the jungle taking control.

Banteay Samre

Our main goal was to avoid crowds and stay aware of the situation. Our driver offered to take us off the beaten track. A visit to Banteay Samre allowed us to explore its moat and tiered walkways and escape crowds.

It is known for its large doors and windows.

Banteay Srei

Banteay Samre, also known as the Citadel of Women, is located further away. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Banteay Samre is well-known for its exquisite stone carvings, intricate floral motifs, and wall carvings.

It’s worth getting out of the main building to see this pink limestone temple, Angkor’s art gallery.

To explore Angkor Wat, we hired a private tuk-tuk. This was a great place to explore and allowed us to travel. Banteay Sri can be found 20 kilometers from Angkor Temple.