Visit to the Temples of Angkor
Located 8 km from the first temples, the charming town of Siem Reap serves as the "base camp" for all travelers wishing to explore the treasures of the Angkor Archaeological Park (UNESCO World Heritage site).
Covering an area of approximately 400 km², partially covered by forests and dotted with villages, this incomparable showcase of art and architecture contains the remarkable remains of the capital of the Khmer Empire, which flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries.
How to access Angkor?
No visit is possible without an Angkor Pass. This precious ticket is available in three versions. It is personal and includes your photo (taken directly at the sales counter).
The passes are sold exclusively at "Angkor Enterprise," Street 60 (next to the Angkor Panorama Museum).
The ticket office is open daily from 5:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Passes issued after 5:00 PM are valid starting the following day.
- 1-day Angkor Pass: $37
- 3-day Angkor Pass: $62
- 7-day Angkor Pass: $72
- Access to the sites is free for children under 12, who must carry a passport at all times to prove their age.
For each pass sold, $2 is donated to the Kantha Bopha Children's Hospital.
The Angkor Pass grants access to all temples within the archaeological park (Angkor Thom, Bayon, Preah Khan, Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, etc.), as well as the temples of the Roluos complex (Preah Ko, Lo Lei, and Bakong), located about 12 km southeast of Angkor, and the temples of Banteay Srey and Banteay Samre, both located north of the park. However, there are specific entrance fees for more distant sites such as Beng Mealea ($5), Phnom Kulen ($20), Koh Ker ($10), and Preah Vihear ($10).
Passes are regularly checked at the entrance to the main temples, so always keep your pass on you.
Please be aware that if you lose your pass, you will need to purchase a new one. Once purchased, no pass is refundable, regardless of the reason.
Opening Hours
The Angkor Archaeological Park is open daily from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Only a few temples, where you can watch the sunrise and/or sunset, have different hours:
- Angkor Wat : 5 :00 AM – 5 :30 PM
- Srah Sang: 5:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Phnom Bakheng: 5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Pre Rup: 5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
How to get there and move around?
Siem Reap is 8 km from the first temples, and sometimes there are several kilometers between each site. Walking is therefore quite an effort and certainly not practical unless you're a marathon runner on a long stay.
To make your visits more convenient, you can choose from various modes of transport: air-conditioned car with a driver, minibus, tuk-tuk, mototaxi, or even a bicycle for the more adventurous and enduring.
Where to start?
Exploring all the ruins of Angkor thoroughly takes a lot of time, so we’ve narrowed it down to the must-see sites.
Unless you're a purist wanting to start with the very first temple ever built, we recommend starting with the magnificent temples around and inside the Angkor Thom enclosure (7-8 km from Siem Reap). These include Angkor Wat, commissioned by King Jayavarman VII and symbolizing the peak of the Khmer Empire during the Angkorian era; Bayon with its numerous towers featuring giant faces; Ta Prohm, famous for its massive trees with sprawling roots; Preah Khan and its "avenue of the giants." If you visit Pre Rup in the late afternoon, you’ll be able to enjoy the sunset from the heights of the temple.
Next, visit more distant sites like the Roluos complex (12 km southeast), where you can admire, among others, Bakong, the first temple-mountain built at the Angkor site in the 9th century. Heading north, you will find Banteay Srey (37 km away), a divine citadel made of pink sandstone, famous for the refinement of its bas-reliefs, or the surprising Kbal Spean (50 km away), with its sacred river bed covered in strange sculptures (lingas). To the east, head to the majestic Beng Mealea (60 km away), overtaken by nature.
Beyond these, even more jewels await. At 90 km north of the Angkor Archaeological Park, you’ll find Koh Ker, with its pyramid-shaped temple-mountain rising 30 meters high. Further still, at 200 km to the north, Preah Vihear (UNESCO World Heritage site) sits atop a rocky plateau on the Thailand border, revealing the splendor and ingenuity of Khmer architecture, with a breathtaking view.
Some Tips
Starting early in the morning will help you maximize your time, avoid the heat, and enjoy better lighting for your photos. At lunchtime, you can either return to your hotel to eat or refresh yourself by the pool if available. However, if you decide to stay within Angkor, you’ll have no trouble satisfying your hunger at one of the many small local restaurants, or you can enjoy the temples with fewer visitors for a more peaceful experience.
Adopt the right attitude
Angkor remains a place of worship, prayer, and meditation for many. It is also a sacred site for Buddhists and home to over 130,000 people living in villages established long ago. To balance respect for the local population, public safety, and visitor satisfaction, a code of conduct has been implemented. These guidelines, which are common-sense measures, should be followed:
A modest dress code is required at sacred sites. Shoulders and knees must be covered (no shorts, miniskirts, tank tops, etc.). If you don’t have appropriate clothing, use a scarf to cover your shoulders and a sarong to cover your knees. If these items are unavailable, head to the market to buy a traditional Khmer scarf (krama).
To preserve the monuments, it is prohibited to touch bas-reliefs and sculptures, sit on or lean against fragile structures, make graffiti, move or steal archaeological pieces. High-heeled shoes, tripods, and umbrellas with blunt ends are also discouraged.
Adopt calm and respectful behavior toward others. Noise and indecency at sacred sites are considered offenses in Cambodian culture.
Monks in orange robes are often subjects of beautiful photos. However, always ask for their permission before photographing them. Additionally, women should never touch monks or their clothing.
For your safety and to protect the ruins, follow the signs and instructions at the sites. Certain areas are off-limits for valid reasons, so avoid taking risks and be careful where you step.
Do not buy anything from children, nor give them candy or money. This may seem harsh, but often they are taken out of school by their families to sell goods or beg. If you wish to support children, consider donating to a recognized local charity or NGO.
The Angkor Archaeological Park is a clean and smoke-free site (including outside the temples). Tobacco and litter are strictly prohibited.
Be aware that looting, destruction of any kind, and nudity (exposing breasts and genitalia) are serious crimes punishable by law.
Finally, we recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes rather than flip-flops and equipping yourself with a hat/cap, sunglasses, a small towel, and, most importantly, extra memory cards or rolls of film to capture plenty of memories. And don’t forget to stay hydrated. Most tuk-tuks carry coolers with small water bottles; otherwise, stock up with drinks or purchase from the vendors present on-site.
