How To Visit Angkor Thom: Siem Reap Temples Travel Guide

If you’re considering world travel – you should try out Cambodia.

Going to Cambodia, chances are you are most likely to see several temples.

My recommendation is the Northern part of the country- particularly the Siem Reap region.

The Siem Reap region is a popular region in Cambodia.

The Siem Reap region is known for the massive Angkor Wat Temple Complex. The Siem Reap region is one of the most successive capitals of the Khmer empire.

It spanned between the 9th and 15th centuries.

Now a UN world heritage site, the 150-mile square mile complex is its biggest tourist attraction.

The Angkor Wat is an extremely large Buddhist temple complex – built in the early 12th century as a Hindu temple. With over 400 acres of land, the temple is believed to be the largest religious monument in the world.

I was in Siem Reap for just over two weeks in October – during the low season period for them.

Although October is a low season time for them, most areas were still busy and packed. Thus, if you are a traveler that loves quietness, this review is for you. You will certainly find tips on how to make your trip more accommodating and exclusive.

Is Angkor Thom part of Angkor Wat?

As mentioned above, Angkor Wat itself is a Buddhist temple.

Angkor Thom on the other end is the entire temple complex. In fact, Angkor Thom is an ancient abandoned city that dates back to the 12th to 13th century.

The Angkor Thom was a walled ancient city that housed several temples – Bayon being one of them. To the present day, this is amongst the popular temples to visit.

However, in some cases, these terms can be used interchangeably.

In certain cases, Angkor Wat is said to be housed within the Angkor Thom.

So they are referred to as;

• Angkor Wat – the temple
• Angkor Thom – a complete of temples which include Angkor Wat.

Therefore, it comes with no surprise to hear people refer to the entire complex as Angkor Wat. All you need to know is that Angkor Thom is the name for the entire square of temples.

As mentioned above, the Angkor Thom complex is MASSIVE.

The Angkor Wat and Bayon temple alone lay 2 kilometers away from each other.

One would typically need at least a half day for each to fully enjoy the temples. Yet, it will still take days to complete the visit around all the available temples.

Some of them are close to one another.

Whilst the rest of the temples extend to the edge of the square.

And that’s what most people don’t realize until they get here. In fact, during my trip to Siem Reap city, I didn’t even have enough time to see all the temples.

Mind you, I’d done days of visiting the temples.

So, because they are so many temples available, it almost impossible to visit te all on one trip.

However, there’s a solution to this!

The best way to see all the temples in Siem Reap

There are plenty of ways you can choose to visit the different temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park. However, I will share the best way to plan for these visits based on my experience there.

I’ve spoken to several experienced visitors that have agreed to this plan. However, before I dish out the tips and tricks, it is worth knowing the key facts. Different seasons bring different experiences.

Generally, it is advised to visit Angkor Wat between the months of November and March.

October is considered a sem-low to high season. During the months of November to March, you will experience more mild and dry weather.

This also means that there will be less heat and humidity.

However, there is a price to pay.

Good weather means more tourists.

Alternatively, you can opt for the months of June to September. Sure, the scenery is normally more beautiful with lush greenery.

However, it can be difficult to ride from one temple to the other with the frequent storms. Yet, visiting during this time will mean that you are okay with the rainy season.

You want to avoid April as much as possible.

Unless you want to experience frequent heat strokes. Now let’s move to the recommendations on how to visit the Siem Reap temples.

Below are some of the key recommendations;

1: Follow the temple circuits

I mentioned above that visiting all temples on a single trip will be impossible.

So, the most common solution that people use is the circuits.

A temple circuit is simply a visiting route that uses tuk tuk. In this case, you will book a tuk tuk that takes you around several temples in a circuit for the day.

Using the temple circuit, you will be able to see more temples on the way. Plus, you will not have to waste too much time or money trying to explore each temple on different days.

Whilst you may find a driver willing to do so, it is not advised to visit more than one circuit.

This is because the trip may take from sunrise to sunset – leaving you exhausted.

2: Don’t get templed out

As a general rule of thumb, you want to limit your daily temple visits.

Limit your temple visits to 10 temples per day to prevent getting templed out.

In fact, this is not a new concept for any tourist – no matter the type of attraction you are visiting. Remember, Siem Reap is a literal temple haven.

So, if you visit more than 10 temples in a day, you are certainly going to be exhausted.

Not only physically, but mentally as well. In this case, you will start to skip temples as they begin to lose their appeal to you. At the end of the day, you will find yourself ignoring the entire area.

You certainly don’t want to miss out on the gems.

So, to make the most of Siem Reap city, plan your temple visits over at least 4-5 days.

In this case, you want to invest in a multi-day ticket to save more. This leads me onto the multi-day ticket point.

3: Get a multi-day ticket for Angkor Thom

As I’ve already mentioned, there are WAY too many temples to see in a day. It is literally impossible to visit them all in one day.

In fact, you can spend up to 5 hours visiting just one temple.

So, when you are buying your tickets, you will be presented with several options to choose from. A single day pass allows you to visit the temple complex for just a day.

The multi-day pass on the other end allows you to get a  5 or 7-day pass – at a slightly extra cost.

Thus, the only logical solution to seeing most temples is to invest in a multi-day ticket. I would say if you’re in Siem Reap for about a week or two, get the 7-day pass. You can space out the temples – without paying extra.

I personally went for the 7-day pass which I didn’t regret getting.

For me, the best part about this ticket option is that I could plan my visits however I wanted.

I could choose which circuits I wanted to visit on which day.

I could also choose which ones to see at sunrise and which ones to see at sunset.

After a couple of days of visiting, you will realize that this flexibility comes in real handy. There are certain temples that you really want to see at sunrise. For me, the Angkor Wat temple was the one I wanted to see at sunrise.

Angkor Wat is the famous temple that you’ve probably seen in the pictures above, with the 3 main spires or points and the lake in front of it.

The temple’s architecture is a true work of art.

The Angkor Wat temple building is perfectly outlined by the sun rising behind it. You’ll even get to see a beautiful reflection of the entire scene on the perfectly still lake in front of it. There are several massive stone steps along the edge of the lake for you to sit on.

On these stone steps, you can take very scenic photos and videos.

Again, for those who prefer tranquility and quietness, prepare yourself because;

Even during the month of October which is considered low season, at early sunrise, I observed a number of people perched around the stairs – each one taking photos to document their own visit and experience.

Then again,  while in Cambodia, you sort of getting used to busy crowds anyway.

So, don’t worry too much!

4: Bargain with the tuk tuk drivers

Unlike regular city taxis, tuk tuks don’t come with meters or set prices.

So, before you begin your rides, you want to negotiate with the driver. Tuk tuk prices are generally flexible and cheap. So, it is easy to reach a consensus.

Typically, you will pay around $20-30 for the whole day within the center.

The cost increases a little bit when your trip extends to the city edges. Find a tuk tuk driver that larks around your hotel.

My experience with the drivers was positive. They were normally reasonable and quite honest.

I would simply advise you to exercise the same vigilance and intelligence you would anywhere else when traveling.

If a tuk tuk driver looks dodgy, they probably are.

You’ll get to be a good judge of character soon enough. Although you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover,

you can certainly tell a lot by the way someone presents themselves.

Look for a friendly honest-looking driver ideally one that’s happy to have a conversation.Don’t opt for one who is pushy and,

jumps at any chance of asking you to pay them or go with them.

Alternatively, you can ask for assistance from the hotel you are staying at. Your hotel should have connections with a couple of good drivers. Our hotel was just outside the center and they had connections with a few drivers.

We agreed on a price for the day which worked out as about $30-50 depending on the circuit we wanted to do.

 Of course, you’ll pay a bit more if you want them to wake up at sunrise or before sunrise.

In fact, one day the driver had to wake up at about 2-3 AM in time to take us to the ticket office.  AND he drove us right across the complex before sunrise. You’re going to want to allow extra time, time for traffic, tickets, walking, and  faffing

You don’t want to miss the sunrise for the Angkor Wat temple!

If you’ve got a multi-day pass for Angkor Thom, you can decide on several temples to see at sunrise.

However,  keep in mind that;

You will end up paying your tuk tuk driver more for the days where you wake up early.

5: Don’t get too hot

One thing you have to remember is that Cambodia is a warm country.

In reality, with global climate change, it has become a hot country!

Generally, Cambodia has two main seasons – dry and wet(monsoon seasons).  The months of May and June are recorded to be the hottest ones. During the monsoon season, the weather can be wet.

Nevertheless, the monsoon brings significant humidity with it.

You will even experience sticky days!

During the months of July to October, you will notice rainfall but within minimal showers. Whilst I visited Siem Reap in October, I still found my fair share of warmth.

With some visits scheduled around the day, you should expect to feel double the warmth.

Remember you will be walking up and down the steps and streets. Plus, you will have to cover up when visiting the temples.

Combine this with the heat and you will certainly sweat and feel very hot.

In fact, I did experience some heat strokes several times, it’s not a joke.

So, bring enough drinking water with you, and make sure to stay in the shade as much as possible.

The local Siem Reap residents never try to see every temple in a single day because they know they’d get heat stroke.

Additionally, try to wear light clothing fabrics with lighter colors.

This helps to wick sweat easier, promote air circulation, and to reflect the sunlight.

Plus, never forget your sunscreen!

If you do find yourself out of breath and exhausted;

Sit down in the shade and take small sips of water for about 30 minutes.

If you can, bring extra accessories such as a hat and a portable fan, with you.

But, avoid carrying too much so you are not weighed down.

6: Bring enough water

As mentioned above, you have to carry enough water. This point is so important that I decided to create its own section!

Water is vital for walking around in the heat.

Most good tuk tuk drivers that you hire for the day have an icebox at the back.

The icebox is normally filled with bottles of water. But not all of tuk tuks carry iceboxes. Water is sold at most cafes and shops in the temples, but not always.

When it sold, it’s probably expensive – especially within the tourist areas.

So, bring your own water and plan for the day.

You can always bring with you at least two or three hydro flask bottle to keep the water cool for longer.

Alternatively, if you opt to purchase your water as you go or to replenish the bottles make sure you buy safe water.

Never buy water that’s not in sealed bottles as it most likely is tap water. In Cambodia, tap water is not as safe to drink.

Thus, drinking it may leave you at a high risk of getting infections.

Ideally, each person in the group should have about 1-2 bottles of water. With the scorching heat and countless steps to cover, you’ll easily drink both of them during the day.

7: Be careful of the bugs

With warm weather comes an increased number of bugs and crawlies.

Thus, during your temple visits or as you hang out around the complex, you have to be aware of this. However, during my visit there actually weren’t as many bugs as I expected.

But, there were still a few hornets and wasps flying around the temples and above our food. Make sure to wear bug spray to repel mozzy bites because they’re no joke.

You can get seriously ill from them, so make sure to spray up!

Don’t just spray your skin, but also your outer layer of clothes as well.

Ideally, get bug spray that contains ‘DEET’ which is a natural repellant for most bugs.

It won’t keep wasps and hornets away from you though, so simply be extra careful. Luckily, the ones we saw just hovered around a bit and then flew off. 

The one thing that we did notice though, was that the big ones liked hovering near sugary drinks.

8: Bring toilet paper with you!

In most parts of Asia, the toilets they use are squatting style. They are commonly known as Asian style toilets.

Asian style toilets don’t have a seat or a lid. It’s literally a hole in the floor that you squat over.

I thought it was insane at first, but after using it, it does feel more natural and comfortable.

Additionally, most of them are not supplied with toilet paper.

To clean yourself, you have to use a bucket of water with a small scooping tub next to the toilet. You use the scooper to haul in water and pour it over yourself.

In my experience, I avoided this after seeing some white worms wiggling in the water.

I resorted to taking toilet paper EVERYWHERE. Just put your toilet paper in the bag and carry it with you.

9: Get some food on site

Normally, I would suggest taking your own food with you on a trip. This is certainly the case in expensive places like Iceland.

But in Cambodia, the food is super cheap most places you go to. I’d suggest actually just going for lunch at one of the on-site cafes that are at most of the big temples.

You can’t miss the cafe at Angkor Wat.

You will find cafe owners or food vendors is shouting funny sayings as a way to lure in customers. In fact, that’s how one of the cafe owners got our attention and then, handed us menus.

The menus were easy to read, cheap, and had pictures of the food on them!

The actual cafe itself is right on the edge of the temple complex though, so it’s a little walk from the main tourist path.

In addition to the wide availability and affordability,

Easting out is also a great way to explore Cambodian cuisine and gastronomy.

Unlike in western countries, you will find some conventional foods such as sandwiches. However, you will also find an array of local delicacies that you should most certainly try.

9: Other Tips And Tricks

There are more ways you can make the most of your trip to Siem Reap and during your temple visits.

For one, if you are adventurous and love adrenaline, don’t stick to the same old routine. Sure, you may have up to 7 days of visiting the temples.

But, you don’t want the same old tired routine of tuk tuk rides. Instead, you can pick up a different way to experience the visits.

Bike Rides

The one way to do this is through bike rides.

I don’t mean renting bikes throughout your stay. Unless you want to get sick from exhaustion. However, you can switch up tuk tuk rides with bike rides whenever possible.

Depending on your confidence level, you can choose bike rides for sunrise and sunset views. After all, this is a great way to explore nature as well.

But, you must keep two things in mind;

• Know the location
• Consider the distance

It is much easier to ride to temple circuits that are nearby your hotel and center. in fact, most temples around the center have roads that are paved.

Their distances between each other are also perfect for bike touring. Before you choose to ride, make sure you know the routes.

A simple map of the place can help. If you can afford it, you can also ask your hotel to arrange for a guide. Most hotels around Siem Reap city have a bike rental service.

You will pay around $1 to $5 for bike rental in Siem Reap depending on the quality and time used.

Best time of day to see Angkor Wat

Now, of course, ANY temple in Siem Reap that you see at sunrise or sunset will look beautiful.

I would say the ones you want to see at sunset are the ones which have a better view.

Angkor Wat is perfect for sunrise, but, you will also appreciate the views at sunset. 

The view of a sunset is always nicer when viewed from higher up, in my opinion. I visited the Angkor Wat temple at sunrise, and I’d say that was the best one to see at sunrise.

If you want to experience a magical view, the Angkor Wat temple should be the first one you visit.

 After that sunrise visit, you’re probably not going to visit many more temples, because it’s painful. You probably want to schedule the next visit for sunset.

Alternatively, if you want to experience more sunrise views, schedule them for the next day.

Spread out your sunrise views over the next couple of days.

This allows you to fully enjoy the ones you wish to see. Getting up at sunrise at around 3 AM is hard for most of us.

I’m not usually up that early so it was tough!

The interesting thing though is that there is quite a lot of activity at that time of the morning in Siem Reap. Thus, you can always energize yourself with the myriad of activities available.

Best Route For Visiting The Temples

It’s a good idea to have at least a rough plan for visiting the temples. Sure, we’ve sorted out the number of days to visit and the time of day.

But, you want to take it a spot further by having a rough itinerary. On your first day at the Siem Reap temples, I recommend you to visit Angkor Wat.

In this case, this will mean that you should plan the visit for the next sunrise after you arrive in the city. Remember, this is the best time to see it.

Unless you only have a day to explore the temple and are strapped for time.

The reason why the Angkor Wat should be the first on your plan is that it is huge. Thus, tackling it first gives you enough time to explore all the details, climb to the top, discover the writings, and take walks in the forest.

The temple is also filled with art pieces you can appreciate.

After a visit to the Angkor Wat, you can then plan your visits based on your location. Invest in a map or guide book of the temple complex to make it easy to choose how to start and finish.

How to get a whole temple to yourself

When visiting the temples, you’ll notice that they get very busy. For me, after some time, I became a little flustered with tourists smashing into me with their cameras.

Thus, at some point, I wish I had the temple all to myself.

Well, this is actually possible, believe it or not.

Basically, the key is this:

Most people that visit Cambodia to see the temples stay in Siem Reap. This means that the most commonly visited temples in Siem Reap are those located around the center.

People like to start with the temple closest to where they’re staying and work their way out to the more distant ones.

This means that they are MUCH more likely to visit temples closer to Siem Reap at sunrise.

So, if you want to see temples at sunrise with fewer people;

Pick the temples furthest away from Siem Reap and start there. The best person to help you plan for this is your tuk tuk driver.

This is why it is essential to pick one that is friendly, helpful, and flexible.

Similarly, the opposite is true!

If you want to see temples at sunset with fewer people;

Try and pick the ones closest to Siem Reap.

Keep in mind, however;

This isn’t always the case, you may still come across a crowd in some temples. This is especially true during the high season period.

Nevertheless, during the time we visited in October, we managed to get a temple all to ourselves at one point. In this case, the temple was furthest away from the Siem Reap center.

After all, people don’t bother to visit some temples on the outskirts of the circuit.

Now, these are the gems worth exploring if you have the time. Plus, you’ll likely get them to yourself and they’re just as impressive as the others as well!

Nevertheless, your first priority to visit should be Angkor Wat. Visiting the ancient temple, allows you to appreciate the rest even more!

Useful things to read

If you’re thinking of going to Siem Reap you’ll want to read a few of my other posts like:

• What I learned in South East Asia: A complete travel journal and list of tips that I learned when traveling through Asia for 4 months.
• How to be a digital nomad: If you want to make this travel lifestyle a permanent thing and do it all the time, you’ll want to learn about what a digital nomad is, and how to become one.