Angkor Temples

The entrance fees are quite high. One day pass costs USD 20, 3 days costs USD 40 and one week is USD 60. Some people seem to find this excessive, but do consider the high cost to preserve and restore these temples (and compare it to prices for similar attractions in your own country).

You can hire a guide (French or English speaking) for about USD 20 per day. That's what we did for the first day : we visited Bayon while our guide explaining the Cambodian history in length...It was a good start to get familliar with the background of the Khmer art.

However, from the second day onwards, we decided to get around by ourselves at our own pace and being guided by our drivers.

Try to visit the temples early in the morning: it's less crowded and the wheather is cooler

Note : While many temples at the outlying areas were once occupied by Khmer Rouge, it has become quite safe nowadays to wander around, but it seems that the danger of land mines still remines, so be carefull and ask your guide before going to any remote places.

Getting around

You can walk in by yourself, but the temples are quite spread out and it would take quite some time to cover them by foot. Motos can be hired (with driver) from the guesthouses in Siem Reap for US$6 a day, as well on the streets for US$5 a day. A car cost about 10 USD / day.

Temples to See

There are many temples and you can make your own itinerary, here are a few of our favorites.

Angkor Thom (Late 12th - Early 13th Century, Buddhism)
Angkor Thom - a 3km x 3km walled and moated ancien royal city - was the last capital of the Angkorean empire. It contains some of Angkor's greatest temples such as Bayon. The south gate with its crowning four faces is often the first stop on a tour of the temples.

Angkor Wat (Early 12th Century- Hinduism)
The most vast and best preserved of all the temples of Angkor, this place is visually and architecturally spectacular. Depiste of some renovations, it's possible to climb to the top level of the Temple for a panoramic view, and get lost in atmosphere of the ancien civilisation. Do not hesitate to come back at different time of the day : in the morning for the quiet and the peace, in the after-noon for the brightness of the sun, and just before the sunset...

Bayon (Late 12th Century, Buddism)
If you see only two temples it should be Angkor Wat and this one. There are 3 levels of 200 giant stone faces - a classic of Khmer Art - and you somehow feel that one always has its eyes on you. The exterior wall has well preserved reliefs that depict the battle and success of King Jayavarman VII and the scenes of daily life of that period.. It is a favorite site of many visitors and should not be missed by those passioned by photogragh. The surrounding tall jungle makes it a bit dark and flat for photographs, so try to catch the light in mid-afternoon.

Ta Prohm or Junlge Temple (Middle 12th - Early 13th Century Buddhism)
Ta Prohm seems to be the favorite temple of backpackers, because it has been left untouched by archaeologists except for the clearing of a path for visitors and some structural supports. This is the best place in Angkor to appreciate the beauty and grandeur of nature and the lost ancient civilization, as the massive roots of trees aged centuries reclaiming the land where only the ruins of the ancient temple now stay. If you are into photography, the best time to shoot this place is at high noon, as the surrounding is quite dark.

Banteay Srei (Late 10th Century, Hindu)
This temple has been dubbed by some as the fairy palace or the jewel of Angkor. It is tiny in size, but the attention to detail in the sandalwood carvings on the hard pink sandstone is unsurpassed in any of the other temples. This temple is quite a distance from other templs (26km from Siem Rep, 2h by moto), but definitively worth the journey. The ride through the countryside on the way there is just as much of a treat as the actual temple itself.

On the way back, ask your driver to stop at another temple ( about 30 minutes from Banteay Srei), the place is almost deserted of tourist and promises a pleasant visit.

Note: The trip to the Banteay Srei costs 10 USD by moto or 20 USD by car.

Phnom Bakheng
This is THE SPOT to enjoy the sunset on this ancient kingdom. From the top you set eyes upon Angkor Wat in the distance as well as the surrounding jungle enclosed temples. Do climb to the top of the telecable, even though it's forbidden, and you will see the difference as you get a 360 degree unblocked view over a coutry extreme flat.

Place to Eat

You can get cheap meals at the food stalls around the temples: fried rice for 1 USD and Coke for 50 cents. The most expensive place to eat is in front of Angkor Wat, and the food is no better than any of the other places.

Shopping

A few very helpful books for exploiting the temples are being sold for 2 USD (pirated copies of course).

Children are selling all kinds of souvenirs: traditional style scarf and cotton T-shirt of good quality from Thailand, everything goes for a bit more than 1 USD.

At the Night Market of Siem Reap, you can find copies of Khmer Art, not so much choice though.