Angkor Wat Travel Answers

Option 1 - Too light - the Landmine museum is tiny and even if you are taking your time, it's hard to spend more than 30 or 40 minutes there. We found it interesting, but others might not. Only doing Angkor Wat at sunset seems to be a bit silly. Option 2 is too busy and you won't get a chance to really enjoy any of the temples. If you do a combination of the two, you will find your time more well spent. I can't remember exactly, but we did Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, the Bayon, the Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Elephants,and a bit more one one day. The second day Ta Prohm,and about 4 other temples (I'll have to look up which ones). That being said, we did a total of three days at the temple complexes near Siem Reap, and spend two days further afield. If you have a quick look at the short video I posted on our visit, you should be able to get a sense of how we put things together. Temple names are shown: "The Temples at Angkor" - Angkor Wat Video by GrumpyDiver There were enough places around the temples to eat, so we ate on the road.

Agree with Grumpy about the schedule. I would start going to the various sites when you arrive on day 1, and see the main ones first. Then see whatever you can on the next day. If the fee hasn't changed since I went there a few years ago, you'll need a 3-day pass. Unless you really want to cramp everything in a day for a 1-day pass. How much you can see really depends on how much interests you have with the art and history. Some people got templed out on day 1. Some people took it easy and went back to town in the afternoon as the weather is very hot during day time. For me, I spent my entire 3 days admiring most of the major sites. Your driver will know where to take you for sunset and sunrise. They have a set route and you just have to hop on the vehicle and not to worry which site to go next.

Angkor Wat is the one people generally go to for the sunrise, judging by the number that were there last time I was.

You seem to have only 2 full days - and it is very rush. Have you got your accommodation and transportation sorted? Given that time is the constraint, might be worthwhile arranging your transportation in advance. 1) 2 looks better but it is too packed - you might want to reshuffle. 2) I have been to the land mine museum few years back (do not think there should be much changes), but given the lack of time, I think this is not the top attraction. You might want to skip this due to traveling time involved. 3) For Angkor Wat, recommend early in the morning to view sunrise. For sunset, Phom Bakheng is very very beautiful. Have a look at my travel pages for my previous itenary, you can mix and match accordingly. 4) That is too ambitious. Unless you have pre-arranged transportation that would bring you around immediately. 5) Better to pre-pack lunch to save time as from the temples going back to hotel might be a distance. I booked a package with transportation and packed lunch inclusive.

The Angkor experience is really a 3 day thing, so you are cutting it very short, hence plan 2 is better but you cant do all those temples on that short a time. My list of key attreactions is as follows General stuff Get or plan in advance a guide- it makes it much more worth while and you see the thingsd more efficiently, especially as you are tight on time. A good way to see the temples is to get up early and go while it is still cool, come back to town for lunch and a rest in the heat of the day, then head out again in the afternoon and find a good place to watch the sunset before heading back for drinks. If you really want to pack in the temples and have the stamina you can easily go all day and there are plenty of little places to grab lunch en route. Angkor Wat The largest temple at Angkor needs at least 2 hours. Built between 1113 & 1150 is the worlds largest religious monument at 1.5km by 1.3km. Surrounded by a huge moat symbolising the mythical seas surrounding earthand built in multi levels symbolising the earth in levels up to the 5 mythical peaks of Mt Meru. In all, the temple represents the mythical Hindu universe. Built originally as a Hindu temple to Vishnu, it was later converted to a Buddhist temple. You can still climb up to the top levels , although it is a very steep set of steps at 60o hard to go up, harder to come down. They are likely to close the top level in the future to tourists. Many people gather on the steps each evening to watch the sun set. Great photo opportunity is in front of the pond with the reflection of the temple in the pond and you in front, especially at dusk Angkor Thom A huge Khmer city built in the 12th century over 9Km2 needs at least 3 hours. Originally housing over 1 million people this is a huge enclosure with many temple ruins and a palace dotted over the area. Do this one morning so you don’t get too hot and take your time. Ta Prohm A temple ruin over run with forest and the location and inspiration for many of the scenes in the Tomb Raider movie. This is a small but visually spectacular temple ruin built in late 12th – early 13th century and will take about 1 hour to see. Kbal Spean and Banteay Srei This is a trip which takes from about 9.00am to 2.00 ish as the drive is about an hour and a half from Siem Reap then a 30 minute walk up a gentle mountain path to the Kbal Spean waterfall. This is an 11th century carved river bed with many lingus or the phallic representation of Shiva along with many other carvings. Some have been chipped out of the rock by vandals to sell. Also a nice break if you are feeling a bit templed out Bantey Srei is an intricately carved temple in good condition you visit on the way back. Built in the 10th century it is very beautiful and detailed even after being in the open weather for 1000 years. Trip to the floating village If you want a break from temples, one afternoon a trip to the floating village is OK. There are floating schools, houses, even a floating basketball court. About 10 kms from Siem Reap, the guide will stop at a village on the way for a quick look, then on to the floating village, pay10 for the boat and it takes you out past the village onto the lake where you can watch the sun set from a café platform. This is not a ‘must see’ but interesting

Hmmm, I wonder why I think Option 2 is better. Actually there is plenty of time to do those things on those days if you have a dedicated guide and tuk tuk driver, and you are not too tired from jetlag on arrival. We ate lunch in the Khmer Village Restaurant (in the temple area) the first day and at the Banteay Srei market on the second day. However, to really see the Angkor Temple Complex, Siem Reap, Tonle Sap and outlying temples like Beng Mealea and Koh Ker, you need seven days.

You have 3 tickets option. 1. 1 day ticket USD20 2. 3 days ticket USD40 and 3. 7 days ticket..i dont know. If you havent made flight bookings, 4 days is nice to be there. but if its made. then just get 3 days ticket. It saves time. Be prepared to take a photo for your pass! 1) Itinerary 2 sounds too packed. There are too many temples outside the inner circle. I dont remember where i got it, but there is a map of the area with suggested time to travelling time etc. Very good, used it extensively for my 3 days pass. I think it was at the airport or when you buy the pass. 2) With your limited time. Not worth it. If you want to know the history, when you having your lunch. Ask your driver to sit with you and coax him about it. My driver told us the story of how his 2 brothers were fighting for opposing sides and had to shoot each other...in front of him. That made more impact that a landmine museum (we got into his cab at the airport and he offered to be our driver for Angkor. USD 20 for 4 days which was reasonable. Extra USD5 for trip to Banteay Srei) 3) Sunrise - Angkor Wat. But you might not be lucky. When i was there, both days that we woke up very early for the sunrise, it rained. Dang it. Sunset - Phnom Bakheng near Angkor Thom. Its situated on top of a hill. You have 2 options to get up there. 1. By elephants 2. Walking. We thought it will be a short walk (the driver said so!) it turned out to be around 40 minutes hike up the hill. So get there early! Since your visit is short, might as well get on the elephant. 2 in 1 experience. When you reach the temple, there will be a lot of people sitting and waiting for the sunset. While waiting, you have 360 degree view of Angkor Wat area. Once the sun set, temple guide will ask everyone to leave. Bring a torchlight to guide your path down the hill. It can get pretty dark with all the folliage. We actually did this on our first day there. 4) You can. Buy 3 days ticket. You cannot buy two 1 day tickets at a time. For Day 1: i suggest you head for the outer Banteay Srei and Ta Prohm once you get your ticket. That means heading out from the inner circle. Head over to Angkor Thom, then to Phnom Bakheng for sunset. I suggest you make your way to the main Angkor Wat after the sunrise on Day 2. and Bayon then too. Usually, just tell your driver which temples you really want to go and specify time..like for sunset and then he can suggest the other temples you can visit in between. 5) Eat at Angkor grounds. Cheap and tasty. Tip: If you are the first customer at a souvenir shop. You can get better discount. First sale is considered their good luck sale for the rest of the day.

thank you so much for all the replies! I decided to do a 4 day trip (which technically is only 3 days, since we'll be leaving Siam Reap very early on the 4th day). Can't wait!

I was able to get my taxi driver to take me around for25 per day. This included picking up tickets to visit the temples, transport to the temples and back to the hotel for lunch or to get out of the sun for the hot hours, return to the temple, and sunset. Depending on the time of year, you may or may not need a midday break. See my Cambodian page for more information.

Quote: "Your driver will know where to take you for sunset and sunrise. They have a set route and you just have to hop on the vehicle and not to worry which site to go next." Yep, they all follow set routes, and you can sit in the traffic jam at Angkor Thom's South Gate with all the rest of the coaches, taxis, tuk-tuks... it all depends what you want - to get off the beaten track and see some of the temples without crowds you REALLY need a GOOD guide. I went for a cycle through Angkor yesterday, and it was a scrum, and the view from Phnom Bakheng is marvellous, as long as you don't mind sharing with 1-2000 others. Go to Bakong instead.

I agree with Ray. We were a group of 13 and packed a lot of temples with a professional guide in one day. We did similar on our own 4 years ago. It is easy to get templed out on your own, much more interesting if you have a guide. Your guide will have a schedule and know the best way to maximize your time. We visited as follows:] Day 1 (arrival at 3:00pm) Sunset (rip off - a nice climb but you really never get to see a sunset. Too dangerous and you are ushered off before the sun actually sets. Watched an Aspara dance show and went to night market. Day 2 (began at 9:00am) Ta Phrom, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Terrace of the Elephants, and several others. Bantay Srei and then Ended up at Angkor Wat. Back to hotel and had a nice dinner and then stroll around night market. Day 3 Tonle Sap lake and then Beng Mealea. Returned to Angkor complex, putz'd arond some more temples and then returned to hotel for a nice cooling off swim in pool, meal and night market. Point is, you can see A LOT in one day. Your guide will know and will best explain. Best to hire an Air conditioned car rather than a tuk tuk. Temple hopping can become very hot and dusty. Homer