Exploring Temples in Angkor – Siem Reap, Cambodia

Cambodia Temples

The main reason we wanted to visit Cambodia was to see the renowned Angkor Wat and many of its other temples. We definitely saw Angkor Wat, so check that off the bucket list, but there are literally thousands of temples to check out in Angkor, Siem Reap. Thankfully, many temples are in close proximity to each other and we had a wonderful and knowledgeable guide that took us around. So even when we were there for only a weekend, we still saw several other amazing structures. Here are the temples and sites we explored during our visit.

Angkor Wat

There’s no doubt that Angkor Wat is the biggest attraction, literally and figuratively, out of all the temples in Cambodia. It’s actually the largest religious monument in the world! The temple is enclosed by a wall measuring 2.2 miles long and surrounded by a moat.

Inside the wall is a long path that goes straight to the temple. Off the path, on each side are lily ponds for the famous picturesque reflection of Angkor Wat. We went early at 5 am to catch the sunrise and it was absolutely breathtaking! There were also loads of tourists also trying to take the same shot (something to expect during your visit), but after an hour the crowds mostly emptied and left us to explore the temple mostly to ourselves.

giphy

Bayon Temple

Known simply as “The Bayon,” this temple is well-recognized for having massive carved, smiling faces on top of its towers. There are stairs within the temple that will take you to the top level and let you come face-to-face with these giant stone faces. You can also climb one of the outer towers to really get a great semi-aerial view of the temple and its surroundings.

East Mebon

This temple used to be entirely surrounded by water and could only be accessible by boat. It stands on top of an island in what was once a baray (artificial body of water) that was used for irrigation. You can find many well-preserved, fine-detailed sculptures of elephants, lions, and mythical creatures and figures. The top also provides a great vantage point to see the temple layout and a perfect view to watch the sunset.

Ta Nei

Off the beaten path, Ta Nai is a semi-ruined temple hidden in the tall trees of the jungles. Because of its isolated nature, very few tourists are seen venturing here, so it’s very peaceful and you can explore without being interrupted. The inner part of the temple has largely collapsed with some parts being supported by wood planks. Still, there are still plenty of carvings with intricate details to see and is worth the visit, especially if you want to get away from the crowds.

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm is distinctly recognized for its large trees and roots growing within the temple. You can see the long thick roots slowly morphing and engulfing parts of the temple over hundreds of years of growth. The temple is also famous for being the location for the film “Lana Croft: Tomb Raider,” but despite its Hollywood exposure, it still feels very hidden and secluded with the trees covering the ruins.

Angkor Thom South Gate

There are five gates that gave access to Angkor Thom (which means “The Great City”). The south gate is distinguishable from the others for having stone statues on both sides of the road leading up to the gate.

Angkor Thom East (Death) Gate

You can climb up from the side to get a closer look at the gate and walk along the wall that surrounds the city.

There are also other smaller or lesser known temples and structures all over Angkor. Many of them are in ruins but can still be explored at your own leisure.

If you need some tips for getting around, you can read our article for different methods to see the temples and check out our video below. Let us know what your favorite temples were and where else you would recommend.

Share

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Tips for a Quick Visit

Siem Reap, Cambodia is home to many spectacular temples and attractions that would take at least several days to visit them all. But you only have one or two days for your visit, where do you go and how would you get there? Fortunately, even for the shortest of trips, you can still get a full experience of what the city has to offer and we can offer a few tips to guide you.

How to get there

The quickest way to get to Siem Reap is by plane, but if you’re staying in cities like Phnom Penh, Battambang or even Pursat (where we were placed for our volunteering), the most economical method is by bus. A one-way ticket from those cities is about $7 per person and can take 3-7 hours, depending on your location. Giant Ibis is a well-known bus company with its fleet offering WiFi, air-conditioning, outlets for charging your devices, even overnight bus rides, and great customer service. You can also take a private bus or taxi rides, but they may run you a little more money.

Getting around the city

The most economical and fun way to get around is by tuk-tuk, which is an auto rickshaw. For 3-4 people, you can get a tuk-tuk to take you throughout Siem Reap and visit the temples for $15-20 for an entire day (but I suggest giving a really nice tip if they take care of you since many drivers barely make enough to support their families). We had a really great driver named Kent that picked us up from our hotel, drove us to various temples while giving us their historical context, helped us arrange bus rides and dropped us off at several other destinations. If you have a higher budget, you can opt for something more comfortable like a private taxi or bus.

Buying your Angkor Wat pass

In order to get into the temples, you first need to obtain an Angkor Wat pass. You can purchase one-day pass for $20, 3-day pass for $40 and 1-week pass for $60, and you will have your picture taken for the pass. For 3-day and 1-week passes, you can visit the temples on separate days within one week and one month periods, respectively. If you buy your 1-day pass at 5:00 pm, you can visit the temples in the same evening to catch a sunset, and you will still be able to use it for the entire next day until 5:00 pm. Make sure you keep it with you and dry at all times. If you lose the pass or your photo becomes unrecognizable, you will have to purchase a new one.

Where to go

The most visited attraction is Angkor Wat, one of the largest religious structures in the world. While you can visit the temple anytime, it is famously photographed during sunrises with the lotus ponds reflecting the structure and sky. Here’s my short timelapse of the spectacular sunrise we saw: Angkor Wat Sunrise. The other temples we were able to visit were East Mebon, Bayon, Ta Nei and Ta Prohm. Many of the temples are within a very close proximity to each other, and you can easily visit up to 6-8 temples in a full day. Check out our full video of our visit:

After a long day visiting temples, you can head over to Pub Street, a destination with a wide array of nightlife activities. There are many restaurants with local and western menus at reasonable prices. You can also hit up many bars, enjoy the live entertainment and party on late into the night. If you’re wanting to unwind and relax, you can get a full body massage for 1-hour starting at $8 or try a fish pedicure. There are also a variety of food and juice stands, and markets to buy clothes, crafts and other souvenirs.

Other Tips

All vendors will accept the US dollar, but bring mostly $1 and $5 bills, as local vendors may not have enough change for larger bills.

Siem Reap is generally hot all year round (reached 40°C, or 104°F when we were there) and very humid, so bring thin and light colored clothing. Traditionally, you should have clothing that covers the shoulders and the knees when visiting the temples. I brought along Columbia Convertible Pants, which had many pockets for security, is made with very light fabric, and unzips at the knees to turn into shorts. You can also purchase elephant pants for a couple dollars, which are very light, flowy and will keep you cool

It’s important to stay hydrated in the intense heat. Vendors are plentiful that sell water bottles and soft drinks from 50 cents to $1. There are also many juice standings selling ice cold smoothies for $1, but be careful of smoothies not using filtered or bottled water, which can easily give you diseases or viruses.

Carry plenty of sunscreen and bug spray. Always protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays by reapplying sunscreen, including your head if you’re not wearing a hat. Bugs can also be very vicious and unforgiving, so apply at least one good layer for defense.

While vendor food and drinks may look delicious, there is always a risk of contracting viruses or diseases from poor hygienic practices or water sources. Everyone in my volunteer group got sick from eating or drinking food there, including me and another member contracting viruses that gave us fevers reaching 104°F.

 

Hope you enjoy the tips that we laid out based on our personal experiences. Leave a comment with some other tips that would be helpful when venturing to Siem Reap!

 

Share

A Weekend in Siem Reap, Cambodia (Video)

Check out our video during a weekend in Siem Reap. Although we were only there for about a day and a half, we were able to see quite a number of things. With the help of our tuk tuk driver, we visited several temples including (shown in order in the video) East Mebon, Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple, Ta Nei and Ta Prohm. There was also the tourist hotspot, Pub Street, where there are many restaurants, bars, juice/food stands and markets for souvenirs. And we even made a cute furry friend during breakfast!

Hope you enjoy! Comment below on what you are wanting to see in Siem Reap!

Share