For as long as we could remember we have wanted to visit the Temples in Siam Reap, Cambodia. So when it came to planning our first round the world trip visiting the Temples of Angkor was number one on the list. We had gone ahead and planned a two-day tour of exploring Cambodia’s most memorable attractions.
Exploring The Temples of Angkor Wat
Interesting facts about the temples
– The site receives more than 2 million visitors annually.
– 5 million tons of sandstone was used to build Angkor Wat.
– Angkor extends over 400 square kilometers and consists of more than 1000 temples!
Day 1. Angkor Wat
We couldn’t be more excited to see the beautiful temples at Angkor, we planned to spend the next two days exploring and soaking up as much culture as we could. First up was Angkor Wat we spent the whole afternoon wandering and its surrounding temples. If you’re looking to enjoy the finest views of Angkor Wat the best time to visit is in the morning and watch the sunrise. I have heard the sunrise is only good twice a year.
Angkor Wat means ‘City of Temples’ in Khmer and is the largest religious temple in the world. It was originally constructed as a Hindu temple of god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire.
Angkor Thom
Bayon
Bayon was built in the late 12th century as the official state temple of the Buddhist king Jayavarman. This temple was my favorite I loved the distinctive features of the smiling stone faces.
It was so surreal to visit these beautiful temples and the history behind them. It’s crazy to think there are still hidden temples waiting to be found around the city of Angkor.
Day 2. Visiting the famous Ta Prohm
This time we decided to head out to the temples in the morning so we could beat the heat of the day. Learning very quickly in summer there is no peak heat of the day it was extremely hot no matter what time of the day we visited.
Most of our morning consisted of more temple exploring and adventuring. We visited the Banteay Srei (the jewel of Khmer Art) and the Banteay Samré (named after the ancient people of Indochina) and then finally arriving at the amazing Ta Prohm.
The Angkor Temple Ta Prohm is known for its large vines that cover the ruins making it feel like a beautiful hidden jungle and easily recognized as the set from the movie Tomb Raider.
After a long morning of exploring the temples, we decided to head back into Siem Reap for a late lunch. We then spent the afternoon wandering and exploring the streets and markets and eating from the beautiful Cambodian food carts.
Helpful Tips and Tricks when visiting the Temples of Angkor!
If you want the full tuk tuk experience to the temples I recommend you get one from the airport to your hotel when you arrive. The drivers will often ask you if you would like a tour guide to and from the temples as soon as you get there. We used a taxi but would have much rather taken a tuk-tuk however the taxi did have its pros like after a long day of exploring arriving back to a car with air conditioning and cold bottles of water were bliss.
Overall I do think a two-day tour of the temples is enough sightseeing and exploring. We certainly saw all the highlights in the two days we were there. By the end of the day, we were exhausted and ready to unwind and relax. Siem Reap is a really beautiful city. The nightlife, markets and restaurants were also incredible. Siem Reap seemed cheaper, less touristy and we felt that we were able to experience good authentic Cambodian food.
Out of all the Temples, we visited Ta Prohm would have to be the busiest temple in my experience. If you plan on visiting Ta Prohm keep in mind you might have to wait in line to take photos at certain spots in the temple. There also seemed to be more local hustlers here as well.
Where to buy passes for Angkor Wat & surrounding temples
Currently, there is no system in place that allows you to purchase tickets online. You can purchase an Angkor pass at the Angkor Ticket Centre in town. Tour guides will generally bring you here before entering the temple entrance. See below for ticket prices.
One day: $20USD – Three days (can be non-consecutive): $40USD – One week: $60USD
Please Note: Cambodia does have its own currency but most things are priced in US dollars. The ATM’s also dispense US dollars.
You might also enjoy:
