Do you have an Angkor Wat sunrise on your bucket list? Our Angkor Wat guide gives plenty of information to help you plan the most memorable Angkor Wat experience.
When you think of Angkor Wat images of a long-forgotten civilisation spring to mind. These lofty towers are showered with colour as sunrise and sunset proclaim another day to be added to its already illustrious history.
Angkor Wat is the most recognised temple in the Angkor Archaeological Park, but there are lots more to be seen on a visit to this awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Two that need to be included on everyone’s Angkor Wat guide are Ta Prohm temple, made famous by the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie and Bayon temple with its hauntingly beautiful faces.
It is easy to imagine early explorers gasping in wonder at the sight of these ancient temples. These magnificent structures were hidden and preserved in time by lush vegetation and the thickly entwined roots of the trees that dominate the landscape.
- Where is Angkor Wat
- Angkor Wat Guide – Tour Options
- Buying tickets to Angkor Wat
- Angkor Wat Dress Code
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- Angkor Wat Temple Complex
- Angkor Thom South Gate – Tonle Om Gate
- Bayon Temple
- Ta Prohm
- Banteay Kdei Temple
- How to Get to Angkor Wat
- Is a Visa Needed for Cambodia?
- Last Words on Angkor Wat Guide Cambodia
Where is Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is located outside the city of Siem Reap in the Siem Reap Provence of Cambodia. Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia is 323 kilometres away from Angkor Wat.
Angkor Wat Guide – Tour Options
We recognise that everyone has their preferred style of travel, and we try our best to give examples of each travel alternative.
Our Angkor Wat tour guide provides a selection of options which range from all-inclusive luxury escapades to cheap independent budget travel.
Angkor Wat Fully Inclusive Tours
For those wanting the ultimate in an Asian adventure, why not consider taking an all-inclusive tour and cruise of both Cambodia and Vietnam.
This tour will not only find you marvelling at the grandeur of Angkor Wat but have you enjoying a cruise of the Mekong Delta and visiting a variety of tourist hotspots throughout Vietnam.
A fully inclusive tour of Angkor Wat and beyond allows you to relax knowing that your airfares, transport, meals, and entry fees are included in the price without any hidden extras.
Click here for Angkor Wat fully inclusive tours
Angkor Wat Day Trips
One of the most popular ways to visit Angkor Wat is to take an Angkor Wat day trip. Watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat is breathtaking, a once in a lifetime vision that should not be missed.
Exploring the Angkor Archaeological Park with a local Angkor Wat temple guide is the best way to learn about the history and lifestyle of the ancient Khmer Kings and their people.
Click here for Angkor Wat day trips
Angkor Wat Multi Day Trips
Scattered across a landscape that stretches four hundred square kilometres are countless temples and structures just waiting to be discovered.
A multi day guided tour of Angkor Wat allows you to spend more time to unearth the essence of the Khmer Kingdom with an experienced guide for Angkor Wat.
Click here for Angkor Wat multi day trips
Angkor Wat for the Independent Traveller
Visiting Angkor Wat independently allows you to explore Angkor Wat at your own pace. Hiring a tuk tuk for the day is easy, but just keep in mind that you will not have an Angkor Wat guide to explain the sights. However, we do recommend getting an English-speaking driver to make communication easier.
Click here for an English speaking tuk tuk driver
Before you arrive, you will need to buy a prepaid Angkor Archaeological Park entrance ticket online. This makes entry into Angkor Wat so much easier as it saves time lining up at the onsite ticket office, giving you time to secure your spot for an Angkor Wat sunrise.
If you decide to buy your entry ticket from the onsite ticket counters the ticket prices will be in USD. These ticket counters are outside the Angkor Archaeological Park, and you will need to purchase your ticket before entry.
Click here for Angkor Wat entrance tickets
*TOP TIP
If you are touring Angkor Wat independently, make sure to pick up an Angkor Wat guidebook. They are invaluable for explaining the discovery, history, religion, and restoration projects of this extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Site and can be purchased within the complex.
Buying tickets to Angkor Wat
In the past entering the Angkor Archaeological Park involved long lines at the onsite ticket counters. Although the ticket counter is still in existence, the preferred method is to buy Angkor Wat tickets online.
Once inside the Angkor Archaeological Park, you will find that each temple requires a ticket to be shown before entry. The Angkor Archaeological Park entrance ticket covers all entry fees into the park.
You have the choice of buying a one-day ticket or stretching your time at Angkor Wat with a multi-day ticket. Whichever you choose, make sure to keep your ticket until you leave the park. If you have a multi-day pass you will need your ticket for all days.
If you are purchasing your ticket from the onsite ticket counters the price of the ticket will be in USD. The ticket office is located outside the Angkor Archaeological Park, and you will need to buy a ticket before being allowed entry into the park.
Click here to purchase an entrance ticket
Angkor Wat Dress Code
When planning your trip to Angkor Wat it is important to know that there is a dress code for entry.
Angkor Wat and the other temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park are religious and pilgrimage sites for the Hindu and Buddhist religions.
Dress modestly with your shoulders and knees covered. Keep in mind that tank tops, short skirts or shorts are not acceptable, and you will be turned away if your clothing is too revealing.
Angkor Wat Essentials
When visiting Angkor Wat there are some things to consider before beginning your trip. For much of the day you will be walking and climbing on uneven ground in hot tropical heat. It is important to keep hydrated and wear sunscreen.
Here is a list of things that you should bring for a day out in the Angkor Archaeological Park.
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Water Bottle
- Umbrella (for heat or rain)
- Camera
Sunrise at Angkor Wat
We have had the privilege of visiting Angkor Wat at sunrise on two separate occasions. This is the most spectacular time to visit.
Our First Trip to Angkor Wat
On our first visit we entered the Angkor Wat Temple complex via the moat at the main entrance. We waited in the dark and were rewarded with a morning sky filled with shades of pink and blue.
As time passed the golden glow of the sun silhouetted the ebony shaded towers of Angkor Wat. Reflections of these striking towers and multihued skies were mirrored across tranquil pools to create a visual effect that was simply breathtaking.
Our Second Visit to Angkor Wat
During our second visit we entered from the opposite side. Seeing Angkor Wat loom up at us in the dark was a powerful sight, the eerie silence made the structure feel like it was a living entity, watching our every move.
This time the sun rose to a completely different light. Being overcast the sky was filled with deep blues, proving that Angkor Wat’s mood changes with each new day.
One thing for certain you will not be alone when you visit Angkor Wat. Hundreds of people come to witness the sunrise each day, thankfully there is plenty of Angkor Wat to go around.
Angkor Wat Temple Complex
After sunrise it is time to cross the causeway that marks the entrance to the main temple of Angkor Wat. This impressive temple was built by King Suryavarman II in the 12th Century as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu.
There are three stories to the Angkor Wat temple and as you climb each level the architectural majesty of the complex unfolds before you.
Stone doorways lead to long open-air corridors that display wall carvings of the military parade of Suryavarman II. These images depict the ranks of court life, religious rituals, and battle scenes.
Shaded walkways surround a collection of deep waterless pools which were once used for religious purification. The walls are decorated with beautifully carved Apsara dancers, their movements forever captured in stone.
Under King Jayavarman VII, Angkor Wat was converted to a Buddhist temple, making the complex a site of pilgrimage for both Hindu’s and Buddhists.
Angkor Thom South Gate – Tonle Om Gate
Angkor Thom South Gate is one of the five gates which lead into Angkor Thom, the capital city of the Khmer Empire under King Jayavarman VII.
As you cross over the moat you will find two columns of statues representing the struggle between good and evil. These statues lead to a highly ornate gate flanked by elephants and topped with an impressive tower featuring a four-sided face, reminiscent of the faces seen at Bayon Temple.
Bayon Temple
Bayon is one of the most beautiful temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park. Bayon was built between the 12th and 13th Century as the state temple of King Jayavarman VII and is the symbolic centre of the universe and empire.
Walking toward Bayon you will be mesmerised by the towers of giant faces that look down upon you. Gazing out in each direction, you feel compelled to get nearer and after climbing many levels you are close enough to almost touch these tranquil faces.
Each face radiates a serene beauty, a stark contrast to the bloody battle scenes that line the walls below.
Ta Prohm
Also built by King Jayavarman VII, Ta Prohm temple or the Tomb Raider Temple as it is also known, acquired worldwide fame when it was used as a location for the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie.
This temple conjures up visions of intrepid adventurers slashing their way through the jungle. Imagine the wonder they must have felt when they discover these magnificent ruins.
Mother nature has staked her claim on this vast temple taking back what is hers. Ta Prohm temple is surrounded by thick forest. Ancient trees stretch high into the sky, their stocky roots tangled amidst the temple ruins.
Intricately carved images of life at Ta Prohm peak out between the roots, reminding us of the architectural and cultural sophistication of the Khmer Empire.
Banteay Kdei Temple
Banteay Kdei is another temple constructed by the “Great Builder” King Jayavarman VII. Banteay Kdei Temple is also well shaded by tall trees and is much like Ta Prohm in style.
When you visit you will find that Banteay Kdei is less crowded than the more popular Bayon and Ta Prohm temples.
The temple is divided into a series of maze-like chambers, living up to its name, “The Citadel of Chambers.” As you enter these cool rooms you will find decorative wall carvings of Apsara dancers and a small Buddhist shrine.
How to Get to Angkor Wat
To get to Angkor Wat you will need to travel to Siem Reap, the closest city to Angkor Wat. There are a number of transport options for travel to Siem Reap, they include flights, buses, and taxis.
Flights to Siem Reap
The quickest and easiest way to reach Siem Reap is by air. There are direct flights into Siem Reap from Phnom Penh and other international hubs such as Singapore, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City.
Check below for flights to Siem Reap ⬇️
Buses to Siem Reap
Siem Reap can be reached by bus from Phnom Penh, Bangkok in Thailand, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
- Phnom Penh to Siem Reap bus takes 6 hours.
- Bangkok to Siem Reap bus takes 8.5 hours.
- Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap bus takes 6.5 hours.
Is a Visa Needed for Cambodia?
Check below if you need a visa to visit Cambodia ⬇️
Last Words on Angkor Wat Guide Cambodia
Our Angkor Wat guide has showcased the most popular Angkor Wat attractions. They are renowned for their beauty and continue to be lovingly restored to their former glory.
When you visit you will find many more temples and palaces within the Angkor Archaeological Park. The attractions that we have mentioned can be covered in a day. If you plan to see more, we recommend getting a 3-day pass to ensure you have plenty of time to explore.
Angkor Wat and the Angkor Archaeological Park should be on everyone’s bucket list. It is an incredible architectural achievement built with the labour of the Khmer people and the strength of their elephants.
Have you visited Angkor Wat? What is your favourite temple in the Angkor Archaeological Park? Feel free to comment we would love to hear from you.
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