Angkor Wat Things to Do Tips by Etoile2B

If you are planning on visiting Angkor Wat while you are in Siem Reap, and face it, why else would you be here, be sure to come prepared. In order to visit the temples you will need to purchase a pass. There are three types of passes to Angkor Wat available: 1 day for $20 US, 3 consecutive days for $40 US or 7 consecutive days for $60 US. You will need to purchase this pass if you are planning to visit any of the temples. They are diligent about checking people’s passes at the major temples and will charge a fine if you are caught without a pass.

You will also need to provide a passport photo for the Angkor pass so make sure you bring one with you to avoid any troubles. The process is simple and takes very little time. The ticket booths are easily accessed on the main road into Angkor. Join the que, pay your fee, hand over your passport photo and your Angkor pass should be read in a matter of minutes. If you forget your passport photo they will take a Polaroid of you on site. Ticket booths are open from 5 am to 6 pm daily.

We visited in the off-season (as if there is an off season here!) so the lines in the morning were a breeze. If you are concerned about lines you can purchase tickets for the following day after 5 pm but the lines at 5 am weren’t bad at all. And if you hire your own driver for the day he will wait for you through the process.

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Website: http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/srtemples.htm

Angkor Wat is the best known of all the temples in Angkor. In fact it is the largest religious building in the world. Angkor Wat, and the surrounding temples, were declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1992. When people think of Angkor, images of Angkor Wat are most often visualized, but many people are not aware of the actual scope of the entire Angkor complex. The park consists of 400 sq. km and hundreds of structures built between the 9th and the 15th centuries. Admission to the temples includes free reign to roam, explore and climb the ancient structures. The structures were built and carved entirely by hand for several kings. And the people who currently reside here are descendants of these ancient peoples.

Although guests are allowed the unique opportunity to climb and explore the magnificent and often crumbling structures, care should be taken. It implore any visitor to these unique temples to exercise care and caution during their time in Angkor, it is the only way to ensure that this amazing edifice will remain for future generations to enjoy. Many of the temples are currently under reconstruction and some of the lesser temples still need to undergo major preservation. And removing any objects from any of the Angkor temples is strictly forbidden. But also, as a visitor to these sacred sites please be respectful, many of these temples are still in use. Much of the ugly behavior we experienced from other tourists were shouting and shoving – especially on the steep and narrow steps to the top of Angkor Wat, which is not only rude but dangerous.

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Website: http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/srtemples.htm

Angkor Thom is one of the most famous temples in the Angkor system, behind Angkor Wat and the Jungle Temple. Also known as the Banyon, this temple is best known for the faces carved into the many facades on the temple. Most visitors choose to spend sunrise and sunset at Angkor Wat, but I highly recommend skipping the crowds and enjoying the sunset at Angkor Thom. The setting sun reflects beautifully off the stony faces of the Banyon and this usually crowded temple is relatively vacant around sunset as most of the tourists flock to nearby Angkor Wat at this time. I believe that it is the best time to see Angkor Thom and we were nearly alone, save for a lone monk and one or two other tourists. Any other time of day this popular temple is overrun with other visitors.

During our exploration we encountered a nun who was attending one of the Buddha statues housed inside the Banyon. She greeted us warmly and offered us each three sticks of burning incense to make and offering to the Buddha. We followed her lead as she blessed us and showed us the proper way to pay our respects. In return for this a small donation is expected but well worth the experience.

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Website: http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/srtemples.htm

After visiting Angkor Wat we continued into Angkor Thom. The major draws of Angkor Thom are The Banyon, The Baphuon, The Terrace of the Elephants & The Terrace of the Leper King but there are other lesser temples in the area where you are less likely to find the hordes of tourists. We had every intention of starting with the Terrace of the Elephants and working back to the Banyon but when we arrived and saw all the people we made a run for the Preah Pithu Group. Not only were we the only visitors in site, these lesser temples are relatively hidden in the jungle providing much needed relief from the blazing heat of the morning sun.

The Preah Pithu Group is made up of five smallish temples of both Hindu and Buddhist origins. They were constructed in the early 12th Century for Suryavaman II. The temples are in need of restoration but are easy to explore. And many of the artifacts and statues belonging to these temples are on the jungle floor giving visitors a chance to examine them up-close and personal. But remember it is illegal to remove artifacts from Angkor so please resist the temptation and leave them in place so other visitors may enjoy them too.

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Directions: Located in Angkor Thom across the road from the Terrace of the Leper King and just above Prasats Suor Prat.
Website: http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/temples/temp-preahpithu.htm

Another loosely visited site in Angkor Thom is Tep Pranam. The main feature here is the 4.5 m high Buddha at the end of the pathway. Originally constructed in the 9th Century during the reign of Yasovarman I, this Buddha has since been reconstructed. A nearby convent houses an order of Buddhist nuns who care for the Buddha and surrounding grounds. During our visit we were the only visitors to the site and a visit here doesn’t take long, allow about ten minutes to see the entire site.

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Directions: Located in Central Angkor Thom
Website: http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/temples/temp-teppra.htm

If you want to see a spectacular sunset in Angkor but want to avoid the hordes of tourists at Angkor Wat head to the bridge just outside the South Gate of Angkor Thom. We found this spot entirely by accident. After we saw the start of sunset over The Banyon Temple our driver started to take us back toward Angkor Wat, thinking that’s what every tourist wants. As we passed through the South Gate we saw the most glorious sunset and asked our driver to stop. There were scant few other tourists there to share in the moment, compared to the masses at Angkor Wat. It was a quiet and peaceful way to enjoy the setting sun in Angkor. I would, most certainly, opt to enjoy the sunset here over any other place we found in Angkor. A moment not to be missed!

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Directions: On the bridge outside the South Gate of Angkor Thom
Website: http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/srtemples.htm

If you want to avoid the crowds teeming around Angkor Wat for the sunrise check out Sras Srang. This active pool provides a peaceful venue to welcome the morning, in fact you’ll be surrounded more by the local area vendors waiting for the tourists to arrive for the day then other tourists. This pool, located directly across from the east entrance of Banteay Kdei, was constructed for Jayavarman VII. It was constructed in the mid 10th century but was remodeled in the late 12th century. The architecture features naga (ancient Angkorian snakes) and lions along the balustrade.

We visited on our second morning in Angkor. It was pitch dark when we arrived so we didn’t know what to expect. The spot had been a recommendation from our new driver, Happy. In the dark some of the local children helped us to find the public toilets, which we never would have found on our own. The children are sweet and helpful, but they will also be trying to sell you everything from breakfast to scarves to books. Don’t make any empty promises to stop them from harassing you as they won’t forget your promises. Just be direct, and remember these children are professionals – they know exactly how to pull on a tourist’s heartstrings to make a sale. But the heavy sale aside, interacting with some of these kids made this morning special. We actually ate breakfast separately because I had made a promise to eat with the cute little girl who helped me to the bathroom and Marc had done the same with a little boy. I got a handmade picture from the little girl after breakfast as she was running off to school.

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Directions: Located directly across from the east entrance of Banteay Kdei
Website: http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/temples/temp-srahsrang.htm

After watching the sunrise over Sras Srang walk on over to Banteay Kdei. The eastern entrance to this temple is just across the street. Construction on this temple started in the mid 12th century and went through to the 13th century for King Jayavarman VII. Multiple vendors can be found in the area next to the pool at Sras Srang so it’s an option for a breakfast or lunch visit. It’s also a lesser temple so it won’t be as overrun with other visitors like Angkor Wat or Ta Prohm, in fact we visited this temple just after sunrise at nearby Sras Srang and only saw two other tourists on our visit. Driving by later in the afternoon there were many more people streaming through.

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Directions: The east entrance to this temple is located directly west of Sras Srang.
Website: http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/temples/temp-bankdei.htm

One of the most popular temples in Angkor is Ta Prohm, also known as the Jungle Temple. Ta Prohm was built for Jayvarman VII in the mid 12th to early 13th centuries. Its modern-day fame spread by it’s inclusion the recent “Tomb Raider” movies starring Angelina Jolie, because of which this temple is always high on any tourist list and is therefore crowded most of the day. I highly recommend visiting this site first thing in the morning if you’re looking to avoid the crowds. Since most people visit legendary Angkor Wat for sunrise Ta Prohm is generally quiet then. Our second day in Angkor we visited Ta Prohm second, after sunrise at Sras Srang and a quick trip to Banteay Kdei, allowing us to explore this breathtaking site in relative calm.

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Directions: West of Banteay Kdei on the Small Tour Circuit
Website: http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/temples/temp-taprohm.htm

Perhaps one of my favorite temples that we visited in Angkor was Ta Keo. I think it was more of the whole experience we had while visiting this temple that made it so special. We arrived here on our second morning after a visit to Ta Prohm and we were the only visitors to the temple when we arrived. Ta Keo features an extremely steep set of stairs you must climb to reach the top of the temples. Fortunately, this temple is not as popular as the famous Angkor Wat, so although the steps here are as precipitous you’re not competing with the hordes to scale them so it’s a seemingly less dangerous climb. Construction on Ta Keo was begun in the late 10th century and completed in the 11th century for Jayavarman V. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. Ta Keo means Mountain with Golden Peaks.

During our visit we climbed to the top of the temple and started to explore. The upper level of Ta Keo provides great views of the surrounding jungle and gives a nice birds-eye view the temple. Here we encountered a small group of temple children who apparently care for, and live in and around this temple. These children weren’t selling anything and were more interested in playing with the other children in the temple than wacky tourists like us. Later into our visit we were joined by more guests, some being a group of saffron robed monks who acted more like teenaged tourists than introspective men of the cloth. They were as fascinated with us (and the other tourists) as we were of them.

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Directions: Past the Victory (East) Gate of Angkor Thom on the Small Tour Circuit on the western border of the East Baray.
Website: http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/temples/temp-takeo.htm