Angkor Wat Travelers Recommend

The towering spires of the Angkor Wat temple complex, epicenter of the medieval Khmer empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are southeast Asia’s most spectacular historical sight. Yet Khmer remains extend beyond Angkor Wat. With one day in the Angkor area, you can bag the big three: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm. Here’s how.

Morning: Angkor Sunrise

Beat the lines by arranging your 1-day pass for the Angkor Archaeological Park in advance. (Most tours exclude entrance fees as passes cover multiple sites and can span one day, three days, or seven days.) Then savor one of the all-time great sights of the Angkor area: sunrise over Angkor Wat. Once you’ve captured your shots, enjoy an early breakfast near the site, then head to Ta Prohm, known as the Tomb Raider temple, soon after opening to beat the crowds. The spectacle of vast tree roots slowly consuming the cloisters of this 12th-century monastery makes for a real Indiana Jones moment.

Afternoon: A Tale of Two Angkors

Next on your agenda should be Angkor Thom (Great City), a majestic city spanning 4 square miles (10 square kilometers). Whether you’re traveling by tuk-tuk, bicycle, on the back of a motorbike, or in the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle, look for a tour that includes, at a minimum, Bayon Temple, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper King. Return to Angkor Wat to explore the temple complex in more detail. A good guide can help interpret the bas-relief sculptures, explain how the site represents Hindu cosmology, and outline how King Suryavarman II built it.

Night: Sunset and Social Conscience

With only a day in Angkor, it’s worth taking in the views at sunset as well as sunrise. Hike up Phnom Bakheng hill to the temple that bears its name and savor sweeping vistas across Angkor Wat—or watch the sunset from atop Pre Rup temple. Head into Siem Reap for dinner at one of the city’s socially conscious restaurants. Marum is part of the TREE Alliance, which helps train young and underprivileged Cambodians for careers in hospitality. Wrap up the night with two classic Siem Reap experiences: a pedicure from “doctor fish,” which nibble away dry skin, and a trawl through riotous Pub Street.

The ruins of the medieval Khmer empire stretch well beyond the Angkor Wat temple complex. With two days in the Angkor area, you can enjoy a magical sunrise and sunset, bag the “big three” (Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm), tour atmospheric ruins still covered in jungle, and even see a dance performance. Read on to find out how.

Day 1: Jungle Sights

Day: With two days in the Angkor area, spend your first day playing Indiana Jones among overgrown ruins before you head to the more manicured big three. One great option is Beng Mealea, a tumbled 12th-century temple complex on an enormous scale, still covered in tropical jungle. Pair this with highlights of Koh Ker, the 10th-century capital of the Khmer empire, which once spanned around 14 square miles (36 square kilometers). Alternatively, spend the day at Phnom Kulen National Park, where waterfalls and sacred Buddhist sites meld with Angkorian temples and carvings for a quintessentially Cambodian experience.

Night: With a history dating back to the Angkor era, Khmer classical dance is the perfect way to prepare yourself for the majesty of Angkor Wat. The delicate Apsara (nymph) dance, created by Cambodian royalty during the 20th century, is tailor-made for dinner theater.

Day 2: The Big Three

Morning: Start the day bright and early by watching the sun rise behind the soaring turrets of the Angkor Wat temple complex. Once you’ve captured the shots you need, leave Angkor Wat to the masses for now and beat the crowds to Ta Prohm, often called the Tomb Raider temple.

Afternoon: Check off the third of the big three, Angkor Thom, the spectacular capital city that centers on the Bayon Temple, known as the Temple of a Thousand Faces. Return to Angkor Wat later in the day, once the crowds have thinned, and walk through the vast complex with a guide.

Night: Soak in the scale of the Angkor kingdom as you watch the sunset from the temple atop Phnom Bakheng. Then enjoy dinner in Siem Reap at a restaurant that helps train underprivileged youth; Marum is a good choice. Wrap up with a fish pedicure and a stroll down raucous Pub Street.

The remains of the medieval Khmer empire cover hundreds of square miles, meaning there’s much more to the Angkor area than the Angkor Wat temple complex alone. With three days to explore Angkor, you can bag the “big three” temples, savor sunrise and sunset, hike Phnom Kulen National Park, and see less-visited Beng Mealea and Koh Ker. Here’s how.

Day 1: Jungle Waterfalls and Ruins

Spend your first day exploring Phnom Kulen National Park, a site of Buddhist pilgrimage today and a focal point for Hindu worship during the Khmer empire. Splash in a waterfall; admire Angkor-era riverbed carvings; soak up the atmosphere at 9th-century ruined temples; and, when conditions permit, visit the vast stone animals at Elephant Pond (Sra Damrei). Opt for an air-conditioned vehicle over a tuk-tuk when it comes to transport. Back in Siem Reap, soothe tired feet with a “doctor fish” pedicure, then choose between a street-food feast and one of several restaurants that help prepare young Cambodians from disadvantaged backgrounds for hospitality careers. Marum is well-regarded.

Day 2: Ancient Angkor

The Khmer empire spanned five centuries, so start the day by exploring one of its earlier—and less-visited—incarnations, still covered in jungle. Koh Ker, the 10th-century capital city, covered around 14 square miles (36 square kilometers) at its peak, so opt for both a driver and a guide. On your way back toward Siem Reap, stop at the 12th-century temple Beng Mealea. With trees, vines, and local wildlife clambering over its tumbled stones, it’s one of the Angkor area’s most atmospheric temples. Over dinner, take in a performance of delicate and timeless Apsara (nymph) dance, created for a Khmer princess in the middle of the 20th century.

Day 3: The Big Three

Spend your last day in the Angkor area soaking up the big three: Ta Prohm, Angkor Wat, and Angkor Thom. Start the day with a spectacular sunrise at the Angkor Wat temple complex, then head to Ta Prohm (the so-called Tomb Raider temple) as soon as it opens to beat the crowds. Next, explore Angkor Thom, the last great capital of the medieval Khmer kings and home to the Bayon Temple with its hundreds of serene faces. Once the crowds have thinned a little, return to Angkor Wat and learn about the religion that underpins its sacred architecture. If the sky looks promising, scale Phnom Bakheng for an epic sunset from an ancient temple. Back in Siem Reap, wrap up your stay in style with dinner at Wat Damnak, among the nation’s top fine-dining restaurants.

Dating back to the ninth century, the palaces and temples of Angkor Archeological Park served as capitals of the ancient Khmer empire for six centuries. Angkor Wat may be the most famous temple complex of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it’s certainly not the only one. Here are a few other temples you shouldn’t miss.

Angkor Wat Angkor Wat, located just north of Siem Reap, is one of the largest Khmer ruins in the region and the most recognizable landmark in Cambodia. Built by King Suryavarman II in the early 1100s, this Hindu temple was dedicated to Vishnu. Most visitors choose to come here either at sunrise or sunset when the light is at its most atmospheric.

Bayon This popular temple is known for the 216 enigmatic stone faces—believed to represent compassion—that are carved into its stone towers. Constructed during the late-12th and early-13th centuries, the small complex once served as the official state Buddhist temple for King Jayavarman VII.

Ta Prohm One of the best-known standalone temples of Angkor, Ta Prohm has been overtaken by strangler figs since it was abandoned centuries ago. The strange combination of man-made architecture and nature have made it one of the most popular stops in the park, especially since its appearance in the 2001 film Tomb Raider.

Ta Som This temple, also overtaken by roots, offers a quieter alternative to often busy Ta Prohm. The entrance alone, through a tree-encased doorway, is worth the visit. Don’t be surprised if you have this off-the-beaten-path temple mostly to yourself.

Banteay Srei Situated about 24 miles (38 kilometers) northeast of Siem Reap, Banteay Srei is a favorite among temple buffs for its fine collection of intricate stone carvings picked out of rose-pink sandstone. In fact, it was called “a jewel of Khmer art” by the archaeologists who uncovered it. Visit on your own or as part of a multi-day tour of the area’s many temples.