Visiting Angkor - Itineraries

“There is only one best way to view Angkor ‐ without unnecessary stress and with some benefit ‐ and that is to allow at least a week, and to visit within reason two or three temples per day maximum. If this period of time is insufficient to penetrate to all the secrets of the very particular architecture and the dense ornamentation ‐ which require a certain adaptation in order to fully appreciate their value ‐ it is instead permitted to at least taste their charms, to assimilate the rudiments of Khmer Art, and to leave with a desire to study them in more depth.” (GLAIZE, p. V.)

Not much has changed since Maurice Glaize, Angkor Conservator in the 1940s, has written this; only roads and transport have become faster and give us the chance to take a glance and some photographs from minor sites along the route.

Take your time!

The secrets of Angkor will only be unveiled if you learn about the history.

• For what reason and what use was this site constructed?
• What has happened in this place?

Take three days to get an overview, to get introduced, Then you should have at least four days more to visit other sites, or your favourites temples again and again.

Start early; Angkor is not a place to have comfortable holidays.

Early morning is generally the best time, start at 7 am, or even sooner.

The locals take a noon break from 11 am to 2 pm, for good reasons, it will be hot!

Visiting Angkor can be strenuous. Don't try to take on too much. Have rests, and drink plenty of water; you need 2‐3 litres of water per day.

Ask your driver for toilets.

Dress and equipment

Wear light and airy clothes. To show respect in the temples, shoulders and knees should be covered. Have headgear and an umbrella. Shoes should be comfortable and secure. At the end of the rainy seasons ways can be under water, so have trekking sandals if possible. If you are sensible, have sun protection cream and mosquito spray.

Take enough water with you. In Angkor water is often of low quality and overpriced.

Transportation

Angkor Wat, the nearest temple, is more than 5 km north of Siem Reap. Various means of transport are available from bicycles to air conditioned vehicles.

• Taxis with A/C
  - Camry car (3 seats) $ 20‐25,
  - Van (12-15 seats) $ 25‐30.
• Khmer tuk-tuk, $ 10‐15
  The so called tuk-tuks are very popular. But they are not what you may know from Thailand: the trailer is without breaks. Don't drive fast!
• Motorbike taxis, “moto doup”, $ 7‐10
• Electric bicycles, $ 4
• Bicycles, $ 1.5‐4

Mr Thim
Experienced and well recommended taxi driver - speaking English.
Camry car, Van, or Tuk-Tuk.
Phone:
012 903 798 - 092 795 920

Angkor entrance ticket

• 1 day $ 20.00
• 3 consecutive days or any 3 days in a week $ 40.00
• 7 consecutive days or any 7 days within 30 days $ 60.00

Children under 12 years are free.

Begging

People begging in Angkor are not poor at all!

Inside the East Mebon temple I watched some happy children, mostly girls, begging or trying to sell trinkets. They received three dollars. When the tourists had gone, a policeman took all the money.

Visitors directions

• Do not purchase ancient artefacts, including glass and stone beads, pottery, stone tools and metal objects.
• Dispose of your rubbish appropriately and keep heritage sites clean.
• Respect the temples: they are active religious monuments and world heritage treasures.
• Tradition demands to take off your heat in front a Buddha or Vishnu statue and near a stupa.
• Statues, reliefs or stupas are never touched.
• Candle light dining or visiting commercial performances inside a temple's enclosure show a complete lack of respect.
• Conserve water in Siem Reap as the water level is dropping which may make the monuments unstable.
• Try to use environment friendly transport: such as bicycles, electric bikes or horse‐drawn carts in the park.

Courtesy of HeritageWatch, modified.

Itineraries

The first three days cover the essential sights of Angkor; this provides an introduction to enable better understanding of the temples. The key monuments and additional highlights are visited in a chronological order.

First day

In the morning Prasat Bakong - Preah Ko - Lolei .

Second day

Sunrise at Angkor Wat .

Phnom Bakheng , Baksei Chamkrong, East Mebon (if not visited on the first day) and Ta Keo . In the afternoon Angkor Wat (28 km).

Third day

Neak Pean and Preah Khan. North Gate of Angkor Thom , Terrace of the Leper King , Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Elephants, Baphuon, Bayon, and Ta Prohm (33 km).

From the fourth day on

You will have your own ideas to visit more temples or to re-visit your favourites. Make your second visit at Angkor Wat in the morning (entering at the East).

Or you make trips to the nearby sites Beng Meala, Koh Ker, Phnom Krom, or Phnom Bok.

Angkor Map

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