10 Essentials Tips to Visit Angkor Stone Temple in Cambodia

Visiting the Angkor Stone Temple in Cambodia is a journey through history, offering a chance to explore one of the world’s most remarkable archaeological sites. As a travel enthusiast with years of experience exploring Southeast Asia, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument globally, and the surrounding temples, all rich in Cambodian culture and architectural marvels.

The Angkor complex is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also a testament to the ingenuity of the ancient Khmer Empire. If you’re planning a visit, it's essential to be well-prepared to fully appreciate the spiritual significance and the intricate stone carvings of these majestic temples.

To get the most out of your visit to the Angkor Archaeological Park, I’ll walk you through the best tips for navigating this massive site, including how to avoid the crowds, the best time of day for temple photography, and how to make the most of your time exploring. With over 1,000 temples spread across 162 square kilometers, a strategic approach will help you experience the spiritual essence and historical grandeur of Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, and other iconic structures. I’ll also share insights into local culture and etiquette, ensuring your visit remains respectful and enriching. By the end of this guide, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to make the most of your Angkor visit.

Visiting Angkor: Brief introduction

The city of Angkor was the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire . This people dominated the territory of Southeast Asia from the 9th to the 15th century, and Angkor Wat was the largest of their legacies.

The ruins we know today are just the tip of the iceberg of what was once the most populated city in the world. And we're not just talking about temples and religious buildings - Angkor was home to a population of between 750,000 and 1 million people ! Apparently, the key to being able to support such a large number of people for so long was the system of water canals. By controlling the water, they were able to irrigate the fields and supply the entire population. But it was also the reason for its decline: when this system deteriorated and stopped working properly, the inhabitants gradually abandoned the city, until they completely forgot about it.

It was not until the 19th and 20th centuries that Europeans discovered this city devoured by the jungle, and restoration work began, which continues to this day.

Do you want to live a unique experience? Enjoy Angkor from a balloon flight. Info and prices.

1. How to get to Angkor?

Siem Reap is the nearest city and the best place to base yourself and visit the temples of Angkor. Located in the northwest of Cambodia, on the shore of Lake Tonle Sap, it is easily accessible in several ways:

Bus : There are many companies and schedules for the route between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (6 hours, €6-10, try to avoid night buses). It is also common to arrive from Bangkok (8-10 hours, €25) or from the 4,000 islands in Laos (10-12 hours, €25). You can book tickets on the website 12go.asia .
Boat : There are fast ferries that travel the Tonle Sap (first the river and then the lake) in about 6 hours and for around €20. You can also connect Siem Reap to Battambang by ferry, although this is not the safest or most comfortable means of transport.
Plane : Siem Reap has an international airport, with flights to several cities in Asia and domestic connections to Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville .

From Siem Reap, the Angkor complex is just 5 km away . Below we tell you how to visit it.

2. Where to stay to visit Angkor?

As one of the most touristic places in the country (and the whole continent), Siem Reap has a good number of hotels with excellent quality-price ratio . You can find everything from small guest-houses run by families to luxury hotels from international chains.

Whatever your budget, you can find interesting options, although it is essential that the room has air conditioning! And if it has a pool, even better 🙂 Some also include airport pick-up.

Here are some recommended hotels in Siem Reap:

Mango Kesararam
The Urban
Angkor Heart Bungalow
Onederz Siem Reap

angkor tips

Top Activities

3. How long does it take to visit the temples of Angkor?

There are two recommended circuits , the short one of about 17 km, and the long one of about 26 km ( here you can see the map ). On the visits we have made, we always opted to do the short one, and we dedicated only one day to it . We think that it is enough to see the most important temples (Angkow Wat, Prohm and Bayon), with other less important ones along the way. So the ideal is to get up early and take advantage of the first hours of the morning 😉 The long circuit covers more ground, but it could also be done in one day (especially if you go by tuk-tuk).

Here we tell you about our experience visiting Angkor Wat by bicycle

These two suggestions are just recommended tours that you can consider to perhaps design a personal tour that better suits your preferences.

If you are interested in the history of Angkor, are passionate about archaeology or simply prefer to enjoy this wonderful place more calmly and over several days, you can opt for the 3-day ticket and divide up the areas each day. Remember that Angkor is huge, 400 km² to be exact!

4. How much does a visit of Angkor cost, types of tickets and where to buy them

The Angkor Pass can only be purchased at the Angkor Ticket Office , located on Highway 60, 4 km from Siem Reap and open daily from 5:00 am to 5:30 pm. Admission can be paid in cash in US dollars or by credit card.

Update 2023: It is now possible to buy tickets for Angkor online 🙂

These are the available passes and their prices:

1-day pass : $37
3-day pass : $62
7-day pass : $72

The 3-day pass is valid for 10 days from the date of purchase, and the 7-day pass is valid for one month, so with these passes you are not necessarily forced to plan your visit on consecutive days.

Tip: If you buy your pass after 5pm, your ticket will be valid until the next day (the complex actually closes at that time so you can enter for free). Take advantage of this advantage and start exploring Angkor while enjoying a beautiful sunset.

5. How to get around the temples of Angkor?

There are options for all tastes and budgets. As we told you before, the complex is huge and walking around it could be exhausting… So we are left with the following ways to visit Angkor:

› Tour Angkor by bike

It will be a real sweat, but it will give you a lot of freedom and save you some money. You can find bikes to rent at most accommodations for around $3-$8 a day and at many rental shops around Siem Reap for even less. Don't forget to download the maps.me app on your phone so you always know where you are.

› Hire a tuk-tuk

If you prefer to go more comfortably and don't want to spend too much... this is your option! You won't have air conditioning, but you'll enjoy the ride without any effort and with a bit of luck your driver will speak some English and give you some useful information about the temples. Prices start at $15-20 (for the tuk-tuk all day), although it will depend on your negotiating skills and the route you want to take. We recommend that you negotiate the day before and that he takes you both at sunset and at sunrise the next day.

› Visit Angkor by private car

If you are looking for comfort and want to avoid the heat, as long as you don't mind paying a little more, there are also minivans and they can be hired with a guide in Spanish or English, like this tour of Angkor with a guide in Spanish .

All options can be booked and negotiated directly in Siem Reap, either in travel agencies, at your accommodation or directly on the street with a driver. Although we recommend that you visit this Facebook group where lots of drivers and guides who speak Spanish are shared.

angkor tips

Tours & Activities

6. Do you need a guide to visit Angkor?

To be honest, it depends on your budget, what you have previously researched and of course your personal interest. Obviously, it is not essential to hire a guide, but if you decide to do so, you will learn the details of each corner from an expert.

7. What to see in Angkor

Our “Top 3” is not surprising, but you cannot miss these three places:

Angkor Wat . Considered the largest religious structure in the world, this temple is without a doubt the most famous and visited place in the entire archaeological park.
Bayon . The more than 200 faces of this temple generate very different feelings among travelers. Their intriguing and mysterious smiles, in the purest Mona Lisa style, leave no one indifferent. It is located in the middle of the enormous walled enclosure of Angkor Thom , which contains other less important temples.
Ta Prohm . We are not sure who has contributed more to making this temple one of the favourites for visitors... Lara Croft or the wild Cambodian jungle? Known worldwide for having appeared in the Hollywood film Tomb Raider, the impressive roots that run through its structure have created a surprising fusion between architecture and nature.

8. Angkor Temple Schedule and Times

There are some schedules you need to keep in mind when planning your visit to Angkor:

The ticket office is open from 05:00 to 17:30. If you buy your ticket after 17:00 you will be able to visit the site for the rest of that day and the whole of the following day.
Phnom Bakheng and Pre Rup Temples : 05:00 to 19:00.
Angkor Wat and Srah Srang Temples : from 05:00 to 17:30.
Other temples : from 07:30 to 17:30.

9. How to visit Angkor?

Considering that we are going to buy the 1-day pass, and taking into account the temple schedules, this would be the ideal plan to visit Angkor :

At 5:00 pm on day 1 (arrive a little earlier) we buy the ticket and go to see the sunset from the Phnom Bakheng temple or from Pre Rup , the rest close at 5:30 pm (better the first one). We can take advantage until 7 pm when the site closes.
At 5:00 am on day 2 (getting up early) we are taking a spot in front of Angkor Wat to watch the sunrise . Remember that the ticket you bought yesterday is valid for the entire day today.
For the rest of the day, visit the other temples, following one of the two circuits. You probably won't feel like staying until sunset, but if you still have energy, go to the temple you didn't visit the day before (Pre Rup in this case) and finish your visit there.

North of the Bayon temple there is an area with restaurants where you can recharge your batteries. They take advantage of the location and the prices are exaggerated, but we haggled a little and ended up paying less than what was on the menu.

10. Other tips for visiting Angkor

Also take note of these other tips, which will surely be of great use to you:

– Tickets are personal (they will take a photo of you to identify you), so you cannot resell them or share the same one with several people (in case you were thinking of cheating).

– Wake up early (very early!) to see the sun rise behind the wonderful temple of Angkor Wat. However, don’t expect to do it alone. If you arrive just in time, you’ll have a hard time finding a front row seat to watch the spectacle.

– Stay hydrated! I feel a bit like a mother saying this… but don’t forget to drink water regularly because your body is going to need it, trust me. And since I’m in the role of a mother, I could feel like a very proud mother if instead of buying plastic bottles you brought your own bottle . On this website you will find all the places where you can refill your reusable bottle for free in Siem Reap.

– Don’t worry if you’ve forgotten to pack some food in your backpack, because in Angkor you can buy small snacks , fruit or even try local dishes at street food stalls. There are also restaurants especially geared towards tourists, but obviously with much higher prices.

– Dress respectfully . Buddhist culture is quite conservative regarding clothing, so avoid wearing shorts or skirts that do not cover the knees and sleeveless shirts.

– Keep in mind that Angkor is very hot and on sunny days it is highly recommended to wear a hat or cap . It is also advisable to include sun protection and mosquito repellent in your bag or backpack , especially during the rainy season.

– We know that it is difficult to remain impassive when a child asks you to buy him a bracelet or a souvenir from Angkor, but please do not contribute to these children continuing to beg on the street and do not give them money under any circumstances. Cambodia is an extremely poor country, if you want to help it is much more effective to donate money to a charity that helps with the education and literacy of these children.

– Remember that you are in a sacred place that is still actively used today. It is important to speak quietly and respectfully. Yelling or making excessive noise that disturbs other visitors and spiritual practitioners is considered rude. Remember also that Buddhist monks are revered and highly respected in Cambodia, which does not mean that you cannot converse with them as long as you follow certain rules. However, women have to be especially careful and cannot stand or sit too close to the monks, much less touch them.

– Angkor is a smoke-free place , so smoking is strictly prohibited. If you are a smoker, take the opportunity to breathe fresh air and give your lungs a break. Needless to say, littering is also prohibited… in fact, if you see litter, do your part and pick it up.

– The avalanche of visitors to the temples of Angkor each year is leaving its mark. Try to minimise the impact of your visit as much as possible and do not touch carvings, lean on the temples, or sit on fragile structures or those that could break. Obviously, do not move anything from where it is (even if it seems like a meaningless stone, if it is there it is for a reason!), and do not even think of leaving your name written on any wall.

– Of course, we strongly recommend that you do not participate in animal abuse and exploitation and never book a tour to visit Angkor on an elephant. We have recently read that this practice no longer exists, but if you are offered it, refuse.

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And finally, just enjoy the amazing place you are in, so that others can do the same in the future. These are our tips and recommendations for visiting Angkor , which we hope will help you plan your trip. If you have been there and want to share your experience, or need any other information, leave us a message.

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