Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat in Cambodia
This ancient city in Cambodia was the center of the Khmer empire that once ruled most of Southeast Asia. This empire went extinct, but not before building amazing temples and buildings that were reclaimed by the jungle for hundreds of years. Though this place is packed with tourists, it’s still breathtaking to see. The most popular temples are Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Phrom, and Angkor Thom. I would recommend getting a multi-day pass so you can visit some of the outer temples where there are less crowds. The closest major city and launching pad for tours here is Siem Reap.

Cambodia Travel Resources

How to Find a Cheap Flight
Buying a Travel Backpack
Finding Cheap Accommodation
Buying Travel Insurance
Off the Tourist Trail in Southeast Asia

Costs in Angkor Wat

  • Hostel Prices: Rooms will range from $2-$6 USD per night for fan and cold shower rooms.
  • Budget Hotel Prices: Hotels with air-con, hot water, and T.V. will cost around $15 USD per night. A place with a pool might cost around $20 USD per night.
  • Average Cost of Food: There are tons of options for great food in Angkor Wat. You will be able to eat a nice meal in a restaurant for less than $10 USD and easily find restaurant meals in the $5-$7 price range as well. Around the temples, you will find little stands with cheap meals for about $2-3 USD.
  • Transportation Costs: Tuks tuks and hired drivers can be common in Angkor Wat. You can hire a car and driver, who will act as a tour guide, for $20 USD per day.

Things to Do in Angkor Wat

  • Angkor Wat – This temple was built by Suryavarman and is considered the biggest Asian pyramid. It is 65m high and divided in several layers. The central part has on the four corners four towers in the shape of a lotus flower. This temple is the largest and most breathtaking temple of the whole complex. The central temple complex is an 800 meters long bas-reliefs, includes the Battle of Kurukshetra, the Army of Suryavarman II, Heaven and Hell, Churning of the Ocean of Milk, Elephant Gate, Vishnu Conquers the Demons, Khrisna and the demon King, Battle of the Gods and the Demons and the Battle of Lanka.
  • The Bayon – Built by Jayavarman VII the temple stands in the center of Angkor Thom. With its 54 towers and 216 faces of Avalokiteshvara, this temple looks best in the morning just after sunrise or at the end of the afternoon as the sun shines on the faces. Its magic is does not appear from a distance, it looks more like a pile of stones. But coming close to the temple the faces start to appear and reveal its magic on you. The temple was built on 3 levels:the first 2 are rectangular, while the 3rd is circular. The Bayon has over 1.3 Km of bas-reliefs corresponding to more than 11.000 figures.
  • Ta Prohm – Still covered by the jungle this place is exactly as they found it. The Ta Prohm is not only a possibility to imagine how the whole temple complex looked like when re-discovered in XIX century. The trees swallowed the temple and nature takes back its space, and it has been left like this.
  • Elephant Terrace – A 350 m long terrace of elephants. It was used as a giant viewing stand during public ceremonies, royal ceremonies and so on. Many lions decorate this enormous path. Now it’s surrounded by the green and very relaxing, but try and close your eyes, imagine thousands of peoples on it, then the army, the king,the music, the dance.
  • Banteay Srei - This temple is located about 20 kilometers north of Angkor. The name means “Citadel of the Women” or “Citadel of Beauty.” The name refers to the size and delicacy of the decoration in the complex. This temple is unlike the major sites at Angkor in that it was not a royal temple. There is exquisite decorative carving in pink sandstone, and the miniature proportions are a major highlight of Banteay Srei. There is a collection of mythological narratives in the carvings all over the temple complex, especially in the lintels, and they are among the finest in all Khmer art.
  • East Mebon – A huge baray surrounded this temple complex during its prime. The water is now completely dried up, but it did serve as the regular water supply for the city, and was 7.5 kilometers long and 1830 meters wide. Because it was surrounded by water and was like an island, there was no need for enclosures and moats that became customary for temples in Angkor. The laterite base of the temple is 126 by 121 meters and the outer enclosure is 108 by 104 meters. East Mebon has five towers, and climbing the central platform to the towers and checking out the stonework, especially of the lintels, is usually the highlight of the trip.
  • Preah Khan – Preah Khan is one of the largest sites in the Angkor temple complex. Not only was this site an important temple, but it also appears to have been a large Buddhist university with over one thousand teachers. It was also a decent sized city. The atmosphere here is similar to Ta Prohm but a on a larger scale. It has remained largely unrestored, as evidenced by the many trees growing around the ruins and mossy stones left laying everywhere. Preah Khan has an eery feeling to it, especially on the sides when the sun shines through the trees casting shadows on the thousand year old stones. The site was a previous palace of Yasovarman II and Tribhuvanadityavarman, and historians believe a famous battle was fought on this site.
  • Pre Rup – About 500 meters south of the East Baray lies Pre Rup, built by Rajendravarman as his capital after re-establishing Angkor after taking over as king. The appearance may seem similar to East Mebon, but Pre Rup is a temple-mountain, unlike the other temple complex. Pre Rup was at the center of a city, none of which still exists. You can climb the steep steps up to the three tiers of the pyramid. It’s a steep climb, and it’s not for the faint of heart.
  • Lolei – Sitting atop what was once an island at the center of Jayatataka Baray, Lolei is a reservoir that measures 3,800 meters by 800 meters. Today it is used for a rice cultivation area, as the reservoir has been drained. The island is also host to an active temple.
  • Preah Ko (Sacred Bull) – This is the first temple to be built in the ancient city of Hariharalaya. It resides about 15 kilometers south-east of the main temples at Angkor. Today, there are six small brick towers that sit atop a sandstone base. The ruins are beautiful and interesting to explore.
  • Chau Say Tevoda – Pre-dating Angkor Thom, this Hindu temple was built in the middle of the 12th century. It has recently undergone a major ‘makeover’, funded by the chinese government—missing blocks have been replaced, walls were consolidated, and the entire area, including carvings, were cleaned up. It is beautiful temple.
  • Srah Srang – Commonly known as ‘The Royal Baths’, this spot was once a major bathing spot for every living thing, elephants aside, in the area. Today it is the most popular spot for local children to swim. It is a particularly beautiful spot and an interesting place to hang out.
  • Ta Som – This temple has the same style, structure, and founder as the Ta Phrom. It is almost like its’ little brother site. The major feature that sets it apart, however, is a huge tree that grows atop the eastern Gopura. It is slowly destroying the building, but it makes for amazing photo opportunities.

Budget Tips for Angkor Wat

  • Angkor Wat Permit: Everyone needs a permit to enter the Angkor Temples unless you are Cambodian or related to a Cambodian. 1 day is $20, 3 day is $40, and 7 day is $60.
  • Rent a Tuk Tuk: It is best to rent a Tuk Tuk for an entire day to get around. It lets you see more places in a day and gives you a driver who knows the area. Getting a driver in Siem Reap is cheaper than renting one inside the park.