Angkor Wat National Park is one of the most talked about places to visit in South East Asia. Ranging over 400 square kilometers this UNESCO World Heritage site is home to a wide variety of ancient temples, water supply systems and vast jungle. With so much to see within the park it can be hard to know where to begin. Char and I had an amazing time and would highly recommend a visit to anybody visiting Cambodia.
Tickets
Firstly you’ll need to purchase a ticket to gain entrance to the park. This can be acquired at the main ticket office (located outside of the park). Char and I had hired bikes for our first day in Siem Reap and managed to easily cycle to the ticket office. Otherwise you can get there via tuk tuk or Grab Taxi!
At the time of writing ticket prices are as follows:
- Single day pass – $37 USD
- 3-day pass – $62 USD
- 7-day pass – $72 USD
We opted for the 3-day pass which allowed us entry into the park on any 3 days within 7 days of purchase. They didn’t even have to be consecutive days!
#TopTip – Make sure you do not lose your ticket. If you are found inside the park without one you could face a hefty fine!
So now we were ready to explore the park we had to decide on the best way to utilise our time. There are two main routes through the park which cover all of the major temples: Small Tour and Grand Tour.
Small Tour
Day 1 on our bikes and we chose to do the Small Tour. Don’t be fooled by the maps. This route is huge and you will need to be fairly fit to cycle either this or the Grand Tour. There are a lot of temples along the Small Tour and it is completely up to you which ones you visit. As we were touring the temples by ourselves we took a guidebook to give us extra information and we had a pretty chilled day.
We visited every temple along this route but the ones I would highly recommend are:
- Banteay Kdei and Srah Srang
- Ta Phrom
- Chau Say Tevoda
- Elephant Terrace
- Leper King Terrace
- Baphuon
- Bayon
Banteay Kdei & Srah Srang
I found Banteay Kdei to be a small but charming temple. What really impressed me about it was the platform and pool that it used to be attached to, Srah Srang. Although they are now separated by a road, they were once connected. The Kings of the era were able to straight across to their man made pool. It really is quite a unique sight and well worth a stop off.
Ta Phrom
Ta Phrom is otherwise known as the Tomb Raider temple, and for very good reason. It looks like something straight out of the film! That or Indiana Jones. The striking thing about this temple is the jungle intertwining itself around the stones, creating the perfect ‘lost to nature’ look. This is easily one of the most popular temples. You will often find a multitude of tour groups inside so be sure to plan your visit at a quieter time if you can.
Chau Say Tevoda
Chau Say Tevoda is another small temple, but is made special by a walkway to the East, lined by stone pillars that leads you down to the Siem Reap River. It offers a little bit of something different and is often fairly quiet compared to the other temples on this circuit.
Elephants Terrace
The Elephants Terrace is a must see. The carvings are incredible and fill the entire wall. To the North, the Leper King Terrace is just as exquisite. Carvings of five-headed nagas adorn the walls. Be sure to take your time here and really admire the multiple unique carvings along both terraces. You will be impressed!
Baphuon
Baphuon was probably my favourite temple on the Small Tour because of the phenomenal view from the top. Until 2011 the Baphuon was still closed for reconstruction, which in total took 50 years to complete. The effort was most definitely worth it. This temple just screams grandeur. Other than the amazing views you will also find the remnants of corridors which give you a distinct Hogwarts vibe, and a giant reclining Buddha carved into one of the walls.
Bayon
The Bayon is one of the most famous temples of Angkor Wat due its numerous faces, and for good reason. This temple is absolutely stunning both up close and from a distance. The only downside is the crowds that it draws. I felt a little claustrophobic trying to fight my way through tour groups at a supposedly quiet time of the day! I would hate to be there when its busy!
Grand Tour
Following our exhausting cycle around the Small Tour we were relieved to be taking the Grand Tour in a tuk tuk! We paid $20 USD between us to be picked up from our hostel and taken to see the sunrise over Angkor Wat, a detour to Banteay Srei and all the main temples on this circuit. Bargain!
The highlights of the Grand Tour for me included:
- Angkor Wat
- Pre Rup
- Banteay Srei
- East Mebon
- Ta Som
- Neak Pean
- Preah Khan
Angkor Wat
I have to admit that waking up at 4.30am was not the easiest thing, but I promise you that the view is worth it. We headed into the very large, iconic temple and went straight towards the left-hand pool as advised by our driver. As the sun came up and illuminated the sky in the most gorgeous of colours, the silhouette of the five towers was reflected almost perfectly in the pool. We had seen some pretty impressive sunrises on our trip but this one was unreal. The pictures speak for themselves.
Following on from the best of the sunrise we were able to explore the temple. Because most people were still milling around the pools we found that we had it pretty much to ourselves. This temple is so large it is worth taking the time to explore properly. Every inch is as unique and grand and impressive as the last!
Pre Rup
Pre Rup was our next stop. Although small, this temple offers its own charm. The view across the surrounding jungle from the top was fantastic. And because most people were still at Angkor Wat we had it pretty much to ourselves.
Banteay Srei
Banteay Srei is not strictly part of the Grand Tour as it is approximately an hour away, but our driver was nice enough to include it in our day for no extra cost! The journey itself was fantastic as we sped past multiple gorgeous rural villages and rice paddies with the wind in our hair. By the time we got to the temple we were already excited. Although small, the temple is beautiful. Intricate carvings and well-placed pools add to its charm. Definitely worth the trip.
East Mebon
East Mebon is another small temple, yet the carvings on the towers are fantastic. The most incredible part of this temple is the fact the elephant statues are nearly life sized! We didn’t quite believe our guide book so we had to take a look ourselves. I can reveal that it was most definitely not lying!
Ta Som
Ta Som is another temple that feels like it has been taken over by the jungle. Some say it is the younger sibling to Ta Phrom. The most impressive sight here is the East Gate which has been nearly completely engulfed by tree roots. A sight you will not soon forget.
Neak Pean
Neak Pean, situated in the Northern Baray, is highly unique. You travel across a board walk over the baray to get to the temple itself, passing multiple trees that reminded Char and I of the march of the Ent from Lord of the Rings. Once you reach the temple you will be met with an array of pools and serpents entwining the tower in the centre. It is thought that this was once used as a place of healing when the temple was in operation.
Once you have completed both the Small and the Grand Tour circuits you may want to revisit your favourites. You can also head to some of the other temples not located within the National Park. These will still require your tickets to enter so keep them handy. However you spend your time at Angkor Wat there are so many options it is easy to tailor your trip to exactly what you want!
Have you visited Angkor Wat National Park yet? Let me know in the comments below!
