Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is one of the top destinations for travelers. Whether you’re a fan of ancient history or ancient cultures, Angkor Wat in Cambodia will not disappoint. Exploring the crumbling temples and walking amongst where people from 10 centuries before once lived is a dream come true.

The area where Angkor Wat sits is called the Angkor Archaeological Park. Angkor Wat is actually the name of the main and largest temple in the complex but almost everyone just refers to the entire place as Angkor Wat. This Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat will tell you everything you need to know in 2023 to visit this once in a lifetime destination.

A brief history of Angkor Wat

The main temple, Angkor Wat, took over 28 years to build and was originally built as a Hindu temple under King Suryavarman II. About 27 years after his death, Angkor was attacked and a new king, Jayavarman VII, established a new empire and converted the site into a Buddhist temple. Buddhism is still the main form of worship in Cambodia today.

By the 13th century Angkor Wat fell into ruin, although it was never abandoned. Construction of the temple used mainly sandstone but also wood and other materials. War, earthquakes, and the jungle have contributed to the site’s damage.

In 1992 it was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today, restoration is taking place on many of the temples in the complex to preserve what is still left.

Cambodia Travel Info

In the Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat, you’ll find everything you need to know about traveling to Cambodia. From the different ways of getting to Cambodia to how to get your Cambodian Visa.

Getting there

It’s not too difficult to travel to Angkor Wat, although it might take some time. About 2.5 million tourists visit the site every year so there are plenty of options to get there. Most people fly to either Thailand or Vietnam first since Cambodia does not have any international flights.

Consider tying in a trip to either (or both) of those countries as well if you have the time. Once in either of those countries, you can then fly directly into the Siem Reap Airport. Siem Reap is the main city just outside of the Angkor Archeological Complex.

Another option is to travel by bus from either Thailand or Vietnam. From Bangkok, it’s about a 6 hour bus ride. You can also travel by bus from Phom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, which is also about 6 hours by bus.

If you feel comfortable, you could rent a car and drive from either Bangkok, Thailand or Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, but it will be a more expensive option by the time you factor in gas. It’s much easier to travel by plane or bus.

Cambodian Visa

Most people visiting Cambodia will need a Visa. You can apply online for an e-visa at the official Cambodia Governement site. This is probably the easiest way to get your Visa. You’ll fill out the online application, pay $36, and you’ll get an email with your Visa approval.

Cambodian Tourist Visas are valid for 3 months, meaning you must be arriving within three months of getting your visa. Once in Cambodia you can stay for up to 30 days at a time.

If you’re crossing the border from a neighboring country you will stop at the customs office at the border to get your passport stamped and visa paperwork processed. There are four border crossings and three airports where you can go through customs. If you are arriving at an airport you do have the option of getting a visa upon arrival for $30. You can still get the e-visa even if you are arriving at an airport.

Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat: Navigating Cambodia

The Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat has all the information you need to know to navigate Cambodia.

If this is your first time in Southeast Asia I highly reccomend my article on 9 Things you might not expect when visiting Southeast Asia. Visting Asia for the first time can give you some culture shock and this article tells you all about things you can expect to experience in Southeast Asia, including Angkor Wat.

Currency

The Cambodia currency is the riel, however, they do use the US dollar as well. ATMs are everywhere so you won’t have any issue finding one and it will disperse money in both the riel and the US dollar. You do need to check your money carefully to make sure it isn’t counterfeit. Cambodia has had some issues with that.

Also, if there is ANYTHING wrong with the money you want to pay with, such as having a small tear, really dirty, looking too old, etc…, the store will not accept it. I had that issue while there. Pulled money out of the ATM, went to the store, and they would not accept one of my bills because it had a small tear. It’s kind of irritating but that’s just how it is.

Electricity

Cambodia operates on 230 Voltage. You will need an adapter for small items and a voltage converter for larger items. Thankfully, most hotels will have hair dryers so you only need a small adapter for other items such as your phone. There are different types of plugs in Cambodia: type A, type C, and type G. Your best bet is to geta travel adapter that has all the different plug types. You can find one on Amazon, Walmart, Target, or any other large store.

Language

Cambodians speak the Khmer language but we found almost everyone spoke some English. Many Cambodians speak very good English.

Weather

Cambodia has a tropical climate so expect it to be mostly hot and humid throughout the year. There are better times to visit though where the humidity will be lower than the rest of the year. Between November and February the humidity is much less. It’s still hot but not horrible. From March through September expect it to be very hot and extremely humid. The first time I went to Cambodia I went in April and I thought I was going to suffocate. The humidity was so bad. The rainy season begins in May and lasts until October.

Clothing – What to pack

You will definitely need summer clothing no matter what time of year you visit. Shorts, skirts, lightweight pants are all good items to wear. Avoid jeans. It’s just too hot and sticky for jeans. It’s important to remember that when you visit the temples there will be a strict dress code. You will not be allowed in if you don’t have the correct clothing.

I will say that the strict dress code seems to mostly be for women. Women need to have their knees and shoulders covered. There are inexpensive wraps (around $3) sold all throughout the Archeological Park. Just wear shorts and a shirt and when it’s time to go in, put the wrap on. For men, just dress respectfully.

Best time to visit

If you’re wanting the best time to visit weather wise, that will be November through February. It will still be hot and humid but not as bad as the rest of the year. However, this is also the most crowded. Apparently everyone likes to visit Angkor Wat during the best weather! 🙂 Now, if you’re on a strict budget and want to save money then April through September will be the best time. As long as you can deal with super high humidity and don’t mind exploring the temples in the rain, then this is when you should go.

Tips for Exploring

I’m sounding like a broken record here talking about the heat and humidity but you cannot underestimate it. Make sure you put sunscreen on several times a day. You’ll want to carry water at all times. I don’t think I’ve ever drank more water in my life than when I was in Cambodia.

Luckily, bottles of water are sold everywhere. Don’t drink the tap water. Not even at restaurants. Bottled water only. You can get large bottles for $1. You might want to wear a hat or bring an umbrella to help shield the sun. Also have something to fan yourself throughout the day. It’s really hot.

Make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Something that will allow you to climb up on rocks. If it’s raining, it will be slippery on the stones and walkways.

There will be places in the park that sell food so you won’t have to worry about where to eat. You might want to bring some snacks like granola bars.

If you want to avoid the heat and crowds, try to get up early. The Park opens at 7am so visiting during this time will be much more pleasant.

Safety

Cambodia is a very safe country but you’ll still want to be aware of your surroundings. Make sure you keep track of your items and keep all important items where they can’t be pick pocketed.

Unfortunately there will always be scammers. From someone trying to charge you to park your scooter to someone telling you you owe more money than you really do. There are border scams where the bus driver will tell you that you need to pay an extra $5 (or whatever) to get through customs quickly. Don’t fall for it. Opt to walk through customs and take care of everything yourself. Never pay money to anyone that promises xyz if you pay $$. If it doesn’t feel right trust your gut.

Getting around Angkor Wat

Once you arrive to Siem Reap, you’ll need to find transportation to get around. The Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat gives you the best and most common ways to get around the Angkor Archeological Park.

First thing you should know is the Angkor Archeological Park is huge. It’s not going to be possible to walk. Even bicycling isn’t a good option. Siem Reap is about 5 miles from the Park and some of the temples in the park are miles apart. Other than renting a vehicle, you have four more options.

Taxi

Taxi/Private Driver: You could hire a driver to take you around to all the places you want to see. You won’t have a problem finding a taxi because they hang outside of the hotels all the time. If you don’t see one just walk a little ways and they will find you. You can hire a taxi for the entire day for around $30. What’s nice about this option is that they will know exactly where everything is. Just tell them where you want to go and they’ll take you there.

Tuk-Tuk

Tuk-Tuk: This is pretty much just like hiring a taxi/private driver for the day except it will be a little cheaper. It will cost you around $20 for the day. Same as the taxi, they hang around outside the hotels and they know where everything is. The only downside is that most tuk-tuks will only seat 2-3 people. So, if you have 4 people then the taxi will be the better option.

Scooter

Scooter: Renting a scooter is always our favorite option when we travel. You can rent one for around $6-10 a day and you’ll have the freedom to drive wherever you want and take breaks as often as you want. Don’t confuse the scooter with a motorcycle. A motorcycle will have gears and you’ll need experience to drive one. A scooter is much easier. Push the start button and go. No worry about shifting gears.

Guide

Guide: There are plenty of travel services where you can pay for a guide to take you to the temples and they will even tell you a little bit about each place. This will be the most expensive option but if you really want someone to give you information about the temples then this will be a good choice. This starts at around $15 per person and goes up depending on how many days you choose. A few places you can book this through is Tours by Locals, With Locals, Viator, or Get Your Guide.

Where to stay in Siem Reap

You’ll need a place to stay once you arrive and the Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat will tell you all you need to know about Siem Reap.

The closest town to Angkor Wat is Siem Reap. This is where all the hotels are and where everyone visiting stays. There are almost 500 hotels to choose from from budget to luxury. Here are some examples of what you can get from $10 a night to $240 a night.

Luxury Hotel

An example of a luxury hotel is Jaya House River Park. It’s in a tropical oasis setting and away from the center of town. It’s still close enough to walk to Pub Street (about a 30 minute walk) but you’ll likely want to take a taxi. Rooms are about $240 a night.

Mid-Range Hotel

We stayed at the Royal Crown Hotel and Spa and the location was amazing. It was just a 5 minute walk to Pub Street and the main shopping market. We also had a grocery store right across the street from our hotel. The hotel was around $50 a night but it was a pretty nice hotel.

Budget Hotel

You can get a good no frills budget hotel for about $10 a night at Smiley’s Guesthouse. You still get a private room and bathroom and it’s just a few minutes away from restaurants, bars, and the market. And, it has a pool. Wherever you decide to stay you will definitely want to have a pool.

Pub Street

I’ve mentioned Pub Street several times so I should probably explain what it is. Pub Street is where a lot of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants are. You can pretty much find any type of food here from traditional Khmer food to Italian. Be warned, if you’re looking for somewhere quiet, this is not it. It’s a party atmosphere with lots of competing loud music. But you definitely want to go there at least once!

What to do in Siem Reap

The main attraction to this area is Angkor Wat but there are plenty of other things to do that don’t involve visiting ancient temples. I always love an ancient site but after awhile they do tend to look a lot alike and sometimes you need a break. The Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat gives you a few other options if you’re looking for something else to do in between temple hopping.

Support local artists by attending the Phare Circus show. Artists draw upon their lives and culture to perform a show through dance, music, and acrobats.

Take a small group cooking class with a local in their home cooking traditional Khmer food.

After all that walking around ancient temples all day, head over to the street adjacent to Pub Street for a massage. Get a full body massage or maybe just a foot massage. It’s very affordable at around $10.

Next to Pub Street is a market where you can find food stalls, clothing, and souvenirs. Don’t forget to haggle. It’s expected.

Visiting Angkor Wat

Now that we’ve got all the information about what you need to know about the area out of the way, it’s time to read about visiting the park. The Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat has all that information below from buying your entrance ticket to itineraries for visiting the temples.

Purchasing your entrance ticket

First things first, you will have to buy an entrance ticket to see all the sites. To do this, you’ll need to head over to the official ticket office. Do not buy your entrance ticket anywhere else. The only valid tickets are from the official ticket office.

The ticket office is open from 5am to 5:30pm every day. If you purchase your ticket between 4:45pm to 5:30pm, the ticket will be valid starting the following day. And yes, there are checkpoints throughout the Angkor Archaeological Park and they do check that your ticket is valid. If it’s not, you won’t be allowed in. If you are in the park without a valid ticket you can be fined up to $300. You can purchase the following tickets:

1 day ticket: $37
3 day ticket: $62
7 day ticket: $72

Bring your passport with you. They will also take your photo for the ticket so you can’t share with others. Sometimes they have special deals going on. We went in November 2022 for 5 days. We were planning on buying a 7 day ticket but when we went to purchase our ticket the 3 day ticket purchase included an extra day for free so we just bought that one.

Angkor Wat Hours

The Angkor Archaeological Park is open from 7:30am to 5:30pm, 7 days a week with the exception of the following sites.

*The Angkor Wat Temple and Srassrang Temple opens at 5am for sunrise visits. It closes at 5:30pm
*Phnom Bakheng and Prerup Temple are open from 5am to 7pm for sunrise and sunset visits.

What to see in Angkor Wat

There isn’t a right or wrong way to explore the temples in the Angkor Archeological Park but there are a few ways that are popular with travelers. Many people visit temples based on the circuit they lay on. The big or grand circuit and the small circuit.

Choosing to visit the temples based on the circuit or road they are on makes it more efficient. The only downside to this is that there are certain temples that are more busy than the others and you will want to visit those particular temples first thing in the morning. So if you do chose to see the temples based on the circuit they lay on, then start with the most popular one first.

Itineraries

In this Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat I’ve included a few itineraries to help you navigate your time there. Feel free to disregard any part that doesn’t appeal to you or if you feel like it’s too much to do. Just remember, you probably won’t be coming back so you want to see as much as you can!

1 Day Itinerary

I don’t know many people that would only choose to spend 1 day at Angkor Wat but if for some reason that’s you, well here’s an itinerary just for you. I’ll assume you’re spending at least 2 nights in Siem Reap: arrive one day, visit the park the following day, and then leave the next day. Although you could arrive in the afternoon, spend all day the next day exploring and then leave that evening on a night bus to Phnom Penh Cambodia. There’s also buses to Bangkok Thailand and Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam.

Do I think 1 day is enough time? No, but the Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat has you covered! Here is the 1 day itinerary if that’s all you have time for in your schedule. Make sure you purchase your entrance ticket the day before between 5pm – 5:30pm. You’ll also need to find a driver to pick you up and take you around the Park. You won’t have a problem finding someone hanging outside your hotel so just ask. You can also ask your hotel to arrange for someone to take you.

1 Day Schedule

4:30am: wake up early and head out to Angkor Wat to watch the sunrise. You’ll be standing with several thousand people waiting for that magical moment. You’ll likely see all kinds of colors over several hours.

7:30am: walk into Angkor Wat and explore several levels of this temple. Don’t forget to head to the top level for the views.

9:00am: Head over to Ta Prohm temple (the Tomb Raider Temple). This is my favorite temple and there’s a lot to see here.

10:30am: Next up is Bayon temple. This is the temple with all the faces. There’s several levels here so make sure you go to the top.

11:30am: Time for lunch. There are several places in the Park where you can eat. Your tuk-tuk/taxi driver will know where to take you.

12:30pm: Head over to Tonle Om Gate (Southern Gate) to explore and get some photos. It’s the most photographic of all the gates in the park.

1:00pm: Next up is Banteay Kdei. It has a similar feel to Ta Phrom but it’s still different.

1:45pm: Head over to Pre Rup.

2:45pm: East Mebon is right down the street and has some nice stone carvings of elephants.

3:30pm: Either take a break and do some souvenir shopping in the park or head back to Siem Reap to relax at the hotel.

6:00pm: The last temple on the agenda is Phnom Bakheng. It’s the highest point in the park and you can watch the sunset over Angkor Wat.

7:30pm: Head into Siem Reap to grab some food and a massage. If you’re leaving tonight on a bus make sure you arrive at the station about an hour before departure.

3 Day Itinerary

I would say 3 days should be the absolute minimum for visiting Angkor Wat. The Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat 3 day itinerary will still have you busy trying to fit everything in but at least you will have some down time and will be able to explore each temple a little more.

3 Day Schedule: Day 1

Wake up and head over to the Angkor Wat ticket office after you’ve eaten breakfast. Buying your ticket will probably take around 30 minutes. You’ll need to purchase the 3 Day ticket. The ticket office opens at 5am but you don’t have to get there that early. But remember, the earlier you start the less crowded it will be and the temperatures will be cooler. I would try to get to the ticket office between 6:30 – 7:00am.

7:30am: Explore Ta Prohm Temple first. This is also known as the Tomb Raider Temple. It’s a really large temple with a lot of interesting things to see. Plan to spend 1.5 – 2 hours here.

9:30am: Head over to Bayon Temple next. It will likely be getting busy by now but this is one of the most popular temples in the park so getting it out of the way now is best. Spend about 1 – 1.5 hours here.

11:00am: Go to the Tonle Om Gate (Southern Gate) to explore and get some photos. This is the most photographic gate out of all the gates in the park. Take photos of scooters and cars going through the gate and of the statues lining each side of the river.

11:45: Time to eat some lunch. There are a lot of options in the park so plan to eat here so you can explore more when you’re done.

1:00pm: After lunch, head over to Banteay Kdei. This temple is similar to Ta Phrom with tree roots growing in the temple but the design is different so it’s a good one to explore. Spend about 30-45 minutes here.

1:45pm: The last temple of the day is Prasat Kravan. This is not a large temple but it has some really nice carvings in the stones so it’s a good one to see. Plan to spend about 30 minutes here.

2:30pm: Head back to your hotel and cool off in the pool and relax for a few hours.

6:00pm: Head over to Pub Street for dinner and drinks. Don’t stay out too late because you’re getting up early tomorrow!

3 Day Schedule: Day 2

Today you’re going to leave your hotel no later than 5am to watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat. If you want to make sure you’re one of the first people there and you get a good spot then plan to leave by 4:30am.

5:00am: leave your hotel for Angkor Wat to watch the sunrise. Plan to be here for a few hours.

7:30am: After the sunrise, head into Angkor Wat to explore the largest and most important temple in the park. There are several levels to explore so it will take some time. Spend about 2 hours here.

9:30am: Head back to Siem Reap for breakfast.

10:30am: Head back to Angkor Archeological Park and visit Pre Rup. Plan to spend 1 hour here.

11:30am: Close to Pre Rup is Eastern Mebon. Here you will see elephant statues carved from stone.

12:30pm: Go back to Siem Reap and get some lunch. You can also head over to the market for some shopping if you’d like. Afterwards, go back to your hotel and relax at the pool.

5:30pm: One more temple on the agenda for the day. Head over to Phnom Bakheng. It’s the highest point in the park and you can watch the sunset over Angkor Wat. They only allow 400 people up to the top to watch this so plan to be there between 5:30-6pm to ensure you get to take part.

7:30pm: Leave the park and head over to Pub Street for dinner and drinks. You don’t have to get up early tomorrow so if you want to stay out late then today is the day to do that.

3 Day Schedule: Day 3

It’s your last full day at Angkor Wat. Have some breakfast at your hotel or head into town for breakfast.

10:00am: There are several temples on today’s schedule and while they are all interesting, they aren’t very popular so you shouldn’t have to deal with crowds today. First up is Ta Som. It’s small but a good one to visit.

11:15am: Next is Preah Khan Temple.

12:00pm: Grab some lunch in the Park.

1:00pm: Chau Say Tevoda Temple

1:45pm: Thommanon is right across from Chau Say Tevoda so explore that one.

2:15pm: At this point you might have had enough of the temples. If you still want to see more then you can either go to Ta Keo, Ta Nei, Phimeanakas, or Terrace of the Elephants. Or if you want one more look at Angkor Wat or Ta Prohm before leaving then head over there.

When you’re done, head back to the hotel to cool off in the pool and then get ready for your last night in Siem Reap.

5 Day Itineray

Our Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat really recommends spending 5 days in Angkor Wat/Siem Reap. This gives you plenty of time to explore all the temples and not feel so rushed. Every day will be hot and humid and it will tire you out. The 5 Day Itinerary in the Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat gives you more time at each temple and more time for relaxing at the pool in the afternoons when the heat and humidity are really bad.

5 Day Schedule: Day 1

Wake up and eat breakfast. If your hotel doesn’t offer breakfast then I recommend New Leaf Eatery close to Pub Street. Since you’re here for 5 days, consider renting a scooter. It’s really the best way and most economical way to get around. You can fit 2 people on one scooter and at around $7 a day it’s a good deal.

After breakfast head over to the Angkor Wat ticket office to purchase your entrance ticket. Buying your ticket will take around 30 minutes. You’ll need to decide on purchasing either the 3 Day or 7 Day ticket. Since you’re going to be here for 5 days I recommend the 7 day ticket. It’s only $10 more.

10:00am: Since you took some time to eat breakfast and purchased your entrance ticket, you want to avoid the really popular temples because they will be crowded. Instead, visit some of the lesser known ones. We will plan on visiting temples on the Big Circuit today. Start off with Prasat Kravan Temple. This one is on the Small Circuit but it’s on the way to the Big Circuit so we will include it here. This is not a large temple but the carvings in the stone are really nice so it’s a good place to start. Spend about 30 minutes here.

11:00am: Next is Pre Rup. This temple had some really nice doors and carvings. Plan to spend about 30 minutes here.

11:30am: Eastern Mebon is right down the road from Pre Rup. Here you will see elephant stautes carved from stone. This temple is quite large but easy to explore. Spend about 30-45 minutes here.

12:15pm: Find a place in the park to have some lunch. There are a lot of options so it won’t be hard to find a place.

1:15pm: After lunch you’ll continue on the Big Circuit and head over to Ta Som. It’s not too big or popular but it does have some trees overtaking the buildings so there’s a lot of good photo ops. Spend about 30-45 minutes here.

2:00pm: Head back to Siem Reap to relax and cool off in the pool. With the heat and humidity you will want to do this every afternoon. Trust me!

6:00pm: If you rented a scooter just leave it at the hotel and walk towards Pub Street for dinner and drinks. Consider getting a massage after you’ve eaten dinner. If you do you’re going to sleep really well tonight!

5 Day Schedule: Day 2

Today you’re going to leave your hotel no later than 5am to watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat. If you want to make sure you’re one of the first people there and you get a good spot then plan to leave by 4:30am.

5:00am: leave your hotel for Angkor Wat to watch the sunrise. Plan to be here for a few hours.

7:30am: After the sunrise, head into Angkor Wat to explore the largest and most important temple in the park. It will be less crowded now and since you’re already here, now is the best time. There are several levels to explore so make sure you go all the way to the top for some great views. Spend about 2 hours here.

9:30am: Head back to Siem Reap for breakfast.

11:00am: Head back to Angkor Archeological Park and continue with the Big Circuit by visiting Preah Khan Temple. Plan to spend 45 minutes here.

11:45am: Continue on the Big Circuit path and to the North Gate. Walk around, explore, and take photos.

12:30pm: Go back to Siem Reap and get some lunch. You can also head over to the market for some shopping if you’d like. Afterwards, go back to your hotel and relax at the pool.

5:30pm: Finish out the day with one more temple. Head over to Phnom Bakheng to watch the sunset over Angkor Wat. It’s the highest point in the park. They only allow 400 people up to the top to watch this so plan to be there between 5:30-6pm to ensure you get to take part.

7:30pm: Leave the park and head over to Pub Street for dinner and drinks. You don’t have to get up early tomorrow so if you want to stay out late then do that.

5 Day Schedule: Day 3

7:30am: We’re going to hit some temples on the Small Circuit and start off with Ta Prohm Temple first. This is also known as the Tomb Raider Temple. It’s a really large temple with a lot of interesting things to see. It’s also very popular so coming here first thing in the morning is a must. Plan to spend 1.5 – 2 hours here.

9:30am: Banteay Kdei is close to Ta Phrom so head there next. This temple has been restored and is in good condition so it’s a good one to explore. Spend about 30-45 minutes here.

10:15am: Sras Srang is right across from Banteay Kdei. There isn’t much left of it but it’s worth a walk over to take a look.

10:30am: Next head over to Banteay Prei Temple. This temple is in pretty poor condition so it makes it interesting to see what the other restored temples probably looked like prior to their restoration. It’s fairly small so spend about 30 minutes here.

11:00am: Find a place in the park to eat lunch.

12:00pm: Only two more small temples are on the schedule for today. First is Ta Nei. It’s located in the forest and is a bit harder to get to so it won’t be crowded at all. It has undergone some restoration. If you find it too hard to find then skip it and go on to the next one.

1:00pm: Ta Keo is located on the Big Circuit and is a very large temple. Some restoration has taken place so it’s in good condition. Spend about an hour here.

2:00pm: Head back to Siem Reap to relax and cool off in the pool.

6:00pm: Dinner and drinks on Pub Street.

5 Day Schedule: Day 4

7:30am: You’re going to spend some time today on the Small Circuit. All the temples are pretty close to each other. First temple on the agenda is Bayon Temple. It is one of the most popular temples in the park but if you get here early you’ll avoid the crowds and much of the heat. Spend about 1 – 1.5 hours here.

9:00am: There are several temples very close to Bayon so explore these next. The order doesn’t matter since they are all right next to each other or across from each other. You’ll spend about 2 – 2.5 hours exploring all or as many as you want. They are Baphuon Temple, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, and Prasat Preah Palilay.

11:30am: Time to eat some lunch. There are a lot of options in the park so plan to eat here so you can explore more when you’re done.

12:30pm: After lunch go to the Tonle Om Gate (Southern Gate) to explore and get some photos. This is the most photographic gate out of all the gates in the park. Take photos of scooters and cars going through the gate and of the statues lining each side of the river. And although it’s not a temple you will still need to keep your knees and shoulders covered. I got yelled at for not having mine on!

1:30pm: Head back to the hotel to cool off in the pool. If you wanted to see the Phare Circus Show or take a cooking class with a local, then plan on doing that today.

6:00pm: Get a massage, eat dinner, and have some drinks.

5 Day Schedule: Day 5

9:00am: Have some breakfast before heading back to the park for your last day in Angkor Wat. Start off at the Chau Say Tevoda Temple. It is a very well restored temple in great condition. Spend about 45 minutes here.

9:45am: Right across the street is Thommanon Temple. It’s very similar to Chau Say Tevoda and also in good condition.

10:30am: Nearby are two gates at the west entrance (all other sides only have one gate). Victory Gate and Khmoch Gate, also known as Gate of the Dead. The Khmoch Gate is the only gate that is not on a major road in the park. There are two ways to get to it. You can either walk, about 2 miles one way or if you rented a scooter you can drive there. No tuk-tuk’s or cars can drive the road. It looks like the other gates but this one has more overgrowth and chances are you will have the entire place to yourself.

1145am: It’s time for lunch and you can either grab some lunch in the Park and then visit more temples or head back to Siem Reap for lunch and be done. If you feel like there’s another temple you want to explore more then do that after lunch. Maybe head back to Angkor Wat or Ta Prohm or any other temple you feel needs an extra look. If not, then head to Siem Reap for lunch and then back to the hotel and pool.

3:00pm: Head back to your hotel and cool off in the pool and relax for a few hours. Return your scooter if you rented one.

6:00pm: Head over to Pub Street for dinner and drinks.

Map of Angkor Wat and Siem Reap

In this Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat I’ve included a map below of where the temples are, the Angkor Wat Ticket Office, Pub Street, a few restaurants in Siem Reap that we liked, and the place where we rented a scooter if you choose to do that.

Final Thoughts on the Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is a fascinating place to visit not only for the historical aspect but for it’s beauty as well. There’s something beautiful about nature overtaking these ancient sites and photos do not do it justice. You have to see it in person! If you want more information about some of these temples, read my Top 9 Temples to see at Angkor Wat. If you found this article helpful then please share it!