Angkor Wat Tips: How to Plan Your Temple Days

Angkor was the reason we went to Cambodia, and it still exceeded our expectations.

On our 2023 honeymoon, we spent one day on a group sunrise tour of the famous temples and a second day exploring quieter ones by tuk-tuk.

Here’s what we learned, and what we’d tell anyone planning their own visit.

1. Buy Your Angkor Pass Online the Day Before

Our sunrise tour picked us up just after 4:00 am, then stopped at the Angkor ticket center because several people on the bus hadn’t bought passes in advance. We waited about 20 minutes. The only upside was a tiny café selling coffee before dawn.

Our advice: Buy your pass online through the official Angkor Enterprise website the day before your first temple visit. Passes come in one-day, three-day, and seven-day options. We chose three days because one didn’t seem like enough, and we were glad we did.

2. Visit the Angkor National Museum First

We took a walking tour on our first day in Siem Reap, and our guide suggested we visit the Angkor National Museum before seeing the temples. It was one of the best tips we got.

The audio guide explained the Khmer Empire, the Hindu and Buddhist symbols carved everywhere, and why many temples switched between the two religions as different rulers took power.

It also explained something we’d see over and over: statues with missing heads, mostly chiseled off by looters and sold.

Our advice: Go the afternoon before your first temple day and rent the audio guide. You’ll recognize what you’re looking at instead of just seeing carvings. Note that you can’t bring water bottles inside, so finish yours before you enter. We had to chug ours.

3. At Sunrise, Skip the Crowded Pond

In the dark, our guide, Pi, led us down a path by flashlight to the bridge in front of Angkor Wat. There are two ponds on either side where you can photograph the temple’s reflection. One has no fence, so most of the crowd goes there.

Pi told us the view from the other pond is just as beautiful, with far fewer people. He was right. We stood close to the fence so it wouldn’t block our shots, and it doubled as a steady rest for Justin’s camera during long exposures.

Our advice: Ask your guide about the quieter pond and be in place well before official sunrise. Our best light came in the half hour before the sun came up. Once it rose, the light turned harsh. Bring a small flashlight and shoes you can walk in on a dark, uneven path.

4. Let a Guide Handle Your First Day

Our sunrise tour continued to Ta Prohm, the temple with trees growing through it, then to Angkor Thom and the Bayon, famous for its giant stone faces. Pi knew the history behind every carving and every photo spot, and he offered to take pictures for us.

Our advice: For your first day, a guided tour of Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, and the Bayon gives you context you’d miss on your own. Save independent exploring for day two.

5. Go Beyond the Big Three

On our second day, our hotel arranged a tuk-tuk driver for the Grand Circuit.

We visited Preah Khan, a huge temple with fallen blocks scattered through its corridors; Neak Pean, a peaceful island temple reached by a long walkway, where we saw almost no one; Ta Som, with a tree growing out of its eastern gate; East Mebon, our favorite, with elephant sculptures that still have their heads; and Pre Rup, which has sweeping jungle views.

Our advice: If you have more than one day, add the Grand Circuit. It’s quieter, more varied, and gave us some of our favorite moments at Angkor.

6. Climb Early, Before the Heat

We left at 7:00 a.m. and saved Pre Rup for last. That was a mistake. Its steps are very steep and uneven, and some were taller than knee height. By then it was hot and humid, and the climb was rough.

Our advice: Start early and do the steepest climbs first. Carry water, and plan to be back at your hotel by midday.

7. Compare Art Prices Before You Buy

We browsed Angkor Wat paintings at Siem Reap’s night market but didn’t find one we loved, and some canvases had dirt or marks. The next day, at a local shop near Ta Som, we found a painting we both loved for a lot less than similar sizes at the market.

Our advice: Browse the markets first so you know the going rate, inspect the canvas closely, and keep an eye out at shops near the temples. Plan how you’ll get it home. Ours fit in our large suitcase, but only at an angle.

Planning Your Own Trip to Cambodia?

Angkor rewards travelers who plan ahead: the right pass, the right guide, and the right time of day. WanderLux Travel can help you build a Siem Reap itinerary that makes the most of every temple day.