Last updated on February 20th, 2021

Angkor Wat Temple, Cambodia

Angkor Wat Temple, © MasterLu – Fotolia

Visit Angkor Wat Temple

When you visit Angkor Wat, you start from the nearby town of Siem Reap. Angkor Wat is actually just one temple among dozens of ruins of the ancient city of Angkor. About 4 miles from Siem Reap, you cross over the moat to the Angkor Wat Temple with its 5 conical towers. Angkor Wat is the most popular and largest ruin, with tourists starting there each morning to watch the sunrise before continuing on to other sites such as Angkor Thom and Ta Prom. You don’t need to join an organized tour to see the ruins. You can hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day at your hotel or outside Angkor Wat. Fees for the ruins, drivers and guides are all very cheap. Your driver or guide should be wearing a license numbered vest.

Angkor Wat Temple Doorway, Visit Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat Temple Doorway

After touring the Angkor Wat Temple ruins, head north with the crowds toward Angkor Thom or have your tuk-tuk driver visit some of the smaller ruins first to avoid the heaviest crowds. This is when you will really appreciate renting a tuk-tuk to reach the rest of the temples. In less than a mile from Angkor Wat, turn west to Phnom Bakheng. Climb to the top for views of the Angkor Wat Temple at sunset. Also visit Baksei Chamkrong Temple here. Then continue north to the South Gate of the city ruins of Angkor Thom.

Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom, Visit Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Bayon Temple, © Can Stock / rognar

Angkor Thom

The city ruins of Angkor Thom cover a much larger area than the Angkor Wat Temple. The first major attraction to see at Angkor Thom is the Bayon Temple, which is about 1.5 miles north of the South Gate. The Bayon Temple is extremely popular and crowded with tourists. The Bayon Temples has 54 towers of 4 faces each. Elephant rides are sometimes available from the South Gate to Bayon Temple. Near the Bayon Temple is the Baphuon Temple, also on the grounds Angkor Thom.

Baksei Chamkrong Temple, Angkor Thom, Visit Angkor Wat

Baksei Chamkrong Temple, © Can Stock / rognar

North of the Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom are the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. From the Elephant Terrace, head east to exit the city ruins of Angkor Thom at the Victory Gate and make your way to Ta Prohm. Consider making a side trip north first though to visit the Preah Khan Temple. Preah Khan has a very different architecture than other ruins.

Ta Prohm Temple, Angkor Thom

Ta Prohm Temple, © Can Stock / javarman

Ta Prohm Temple

Head east through the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom for 3 miles to reach the Ta Prohm Temple. Silk cotton trees have rooted themselves into the ruins and strangler fig also help create an eerie overgrown atmosphere. The Ta Prohm Temple has been popular for filming movies. Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider were both filmed here. Near to the Ta Prohm Temple is the Banteay Kdei Citadel of Chambers. You can also visit the Temple of Pre Rup, but it’s 3 miles from the Ta Prohm Temple.

Pre Rup Temple, Angkor Wat

Pre Rup Temple, © Can Stock / epixx

With the great distances between ruins, you’ll need to rent a tuk tuk to see all the ruins of Angkor Wat. Your tuk-tuk can reach smaller, less crowded ruins such as Preah Khan, Ta Som, East Baray, Eastern Mabon, Pre Rup, Banteay Kdei and Prasat Kravan. Use the tuk-tuk to create a loop of ruins instead of retracing your steps through Angkor Thom and the Angkor Wat Temple at the end of the day. Consider heading from Angkor Wat to the less popular smaller temples first. The crowds at Bayon and Ta Prom may have thinned if you visit them later in the day, when organized tours may have left.

Visit Angkor Wat – Siem Reap

The town of Siem Reap is a few short miles from the ruins of Angkor Wat, so it’s the access point to the ruins. About 200,000 people live in Siem Reap.  The town is at the north end of Tonle Sap Lake. This area is subject to extensive seasonal flooding.

Seasonal Flooding near Siem Reap, Visit Angkor Wat

Seasonal Flooding near Siem Reap

During the rainy season, high waters on the Mekong River force the Tonle Sap River to reverse its flow. When the river flow reverses, Tonle Sap Lake can become 6 times larger. Tonle Sap Lake has many floating villages and stilt villages, which make it a popular tourist destination after visiting Angkor Wat.

Terrace of the Leper King, Angkor Thom

Terrace of the Leper King, © Can Stock / dndavis

Siem Reap – Things to See and Do

The main reason tourist come to Siem Reap is to visit Angkor Wat, but there are other things to see and do in Siem Reap too:

  • Visit the area surrounding Tonle Sap Lake, where housing in the monsoon season survives on stilts or on floating villages. Try a Tonle Sap Cruise Small-Group Tour.
  • Watch an Apsara dance performance.
  • Arrive in November and attend the Bon Om Touk (Boat Racing Water Festival). Many cities in Cambodia participate in this event that celebrates the end of the rainy season. The flooding of Tonle Sap Lake stops each year at this time and the lake drains back into the Mekong River again.
Banteay Srei, Cambodia

Banteay Srei, © Can Stock / charlieedward

Visit Angkor Wat – Banteay Srei

There are also other sites to visit at some distance from the Angkor Wat Temple. One that has only recently opened up for tourism is Banteay Srei. The ruins of Banteay Srei are 20 miles from Angkor Wat. Until recently, the ruins of Banteay Srei were closed to the public due to the danger of land mines in the area.

Elephant Terrace, Angkor Thom, Visit Angkor Wat

Elephant Terrace, Angkor Thom

Savor the Tastes of Siem Reap

  • fried tarantula or fried crickets
  • Khmer rice cake
  • dragon fruit, durian and purple mangosteen
Angkor Wat Temple & Moat near Siem Reap

Angkor Wat Temple, © Can Stock / racnus

Get to Angkor Wat

Most people get to Angkor Wat by flying in from Bangkok or Phnom Penh. The Siem Reap International Airport (REP) is less than a 10 minute cab ride from Angkor Wat. A number of companies offer Mekong River cruises that include Siem Reap, but most of them start by flying in to Siem Reap. The Mekong River cruise usually starts well south of Siem Reap on the Tonle Sap River closer to Phnom Penh.

From Siem Reap it’s 4 miles to the beginning of the Angkor Wat ruins. At the site, a tuk-tuk can be hired to tour the ruins.

Angkor Wat Temple Ruins, Visit Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat Temple Ruins, © Can Stock / Dikti

Angkor Wat Weather

The monsoon season makes Angkor Wat weather hot, humid and wet from May to October. The dry season lasts from November to April and humidity is slightly lower. April usually has the hottest Angkor Wat weather, with temperatures reaching more than 100 F (40 C).

Siem Reap Weather Graph

Siem Reap Weather Graph

The peak season for visitors is from November to February, when it’s dry, less cloudy and cooler with temperatures around 80 F (27 C). October is another good choice for visiting Angkor Wat, as the rainy season is lessening, the vegetation is green, the moats are full and the crowds are much smaller. Those planning to visit in monsoon season will need more than an umbrella to survive the heat and rain that typically falls each afternoon.

School Children Boating, Tonle Sap Lake

School Children Boating, Tonle Sap Lake

Siem Reap Hotels

  • Templation Hotel
  • Borei Angkor Resort & Spa
  • Sakmut Boutique Hotel

Visit Angkor Wat – Background

The ancient ruins of Angkor are about 4 miles from the town of Siem Reap. The Angkor ruins are among the most extensive in the world, covering an area of 150 square miles. The Angkor Wat Temple is the first ruins you see at Angkor. The name Angkor Wat can refer to the first temple ruin and also to all the ruins, which is a bit confusing. In the 12th century, King Suryavarman II built the Angkor Wat temple at his capital city of Angkor Thom.

Angkor Wat was originally Hindu and transitioned to Buddhist. In more recent times, its profile has been increased by the filming of Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider movies at this location.

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