There are dozens of temple ruins in the Siem Reap area. Your temple itinerary depends largely on how much time you have and your level of interest, though some temples are ‘must sees.’ Any itinerary should include the legendary ruins of Angkor Wat and the giant faces of Bayon. These two temple ruins offer the most spectacular and unique examples of Angkorian art and architecture. On the road trip to Bayon, you will also see the South Gate of Angkor Thom and some other minor ruins. As it is within walking distance of Bayon, most itineraries can easily include central Angkor Thom, with its artistically interesting terraces and massive ‘temple-mountains, Baphuon and Phimeanakas. Due to lighting conditions, it is best to visit Angkor Wat in the afternoon, so most itineraries begin in the morning with the Angkor Thom.
As your schedule allows, build the rest of your itinerary around visiting each type of major ruins – temple mountains such as Pre Rup, Ta Keo,Bakong (one of temples in Roluos Group) and West Mebon; flat, sprawling monastic complexes such asTa Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Preah Khan and Ta Som, and unique monuments such as Neak Pean andSrah Srang. The Roluos Group, which comprises the monuments of an early Khmer capital, lies 12 km west of Siem Reap, outside the main temple complex. It is a bit out of the way, but offers some fine examples of early Angkorian art and should be included in two or more than two day itineraries. Of special note is the artistically exquisite but more distant temple, Banteay Srey. On the road trip to Banteay Srey, you will also see Banteay Samre is always quiet and peaceful. Other impressive temples outside the main temple complex are: Beng Mealea located about 70 km from Angkor Wat, which is largely unrestored with trees and thick bush thriving amidst its towers and courtyards’ and many of its stone lying in great heaps, Kbal Spean located more than 50 km from Angkor is not the temple but a river bed covered with sculptures of lingas, the symbol of the God Shiva’s supreme essence (Kbal Spean is about 45 minutes adventure through jungle up to the mountain), Phnom Kulen, the most important historical site which marked the birth of Angkor Civilization, consists of big view of waterfall, reclining Buddha statue, and a river bed covered with sculptures of lingas, the symbol of the God Shiva’s supreme essence, Koh Ker Group located about 150 km from Angkor in the province of Preah Vihear, used to be an ancient capital of Cambodia (AD 928-942). If there is any way of squeezing it into your itinerary, it is well worth it!
Suggested Normal or Relaxing Itineraries
Day 1:
Morning: Angkor Thom (Bayon, Baphuon, Royal Palace, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King), Ta Promh.
Afternoon: Angkor Wat, Sunset on Phnom Bakheng.
1st Day:
Morning: Angkor Thom (South Gate, Bayon, Baphuon, Royal Palace, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King)
Afternoon: Angkor Wat and sunset on Phnom Bakheng
2nd Day ( 2 options ):
1st option
Morning: Ta Prohm, and Banteay Srey
Afternoon: Artisans D’Angkor (Art Carving School) and Floating Village on Tonle Sap Lake at Chong Kneas village or Floating village on Tonle Sap lake at Kampong Pluk village with flooded Mangrove forest.
2nd option
Morning: Thommanon, Chau Say Thevoda, Ta Keo, Ta Nei, Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang (Artificial Lake) and Prasat Kravan.
Afternoon: Pre Rup or Banteay Samre and Banteay Srey
Day 1:
Morning: Angkor Thom (South Gate, Bayon, Baphuon, Royal Palace, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King)
Afternoon: Angkor Wat, Sunset on Phnom Bakheng
Day 2:
Morning: Thommanon, Chau Say Thevoda, Ta Keo, Ta Nei, Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang (Artificial Lake) and Prasat Kravan.
Afternoon: Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon, Pre Rup
Day 3:
Morning: Banteay Srey, Banteay Samre
Afternoon: Roluos Group (Lolei, Preah Ko, Bakong), or Artisans D’Angkor (Art Carving School) and Floating Village on Tonle Sap Lake at Chong Kneas village, or Floating village on Tonle Sap lake at Kampong Pluk village with flooded Mangrove forest.
Day 1:
Morning: Angkor Thom (South Gate, Bayon, Baphuon, Royal Palace, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King)
Afternoon: Angkor Wat, Sunset on Phnom Bakheng
Day 2:
Morning: Thommanon, Chau Say Thevoda, Ta Keo, Ta Nei, Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang (Artificial Lake) and Prasat Kravan.
Afternoon: Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon, Pre Rup
Day 3:
Morning: Roluos Group (Lolei, Preah Ko, Bakong), Beng Mealea.
Afternoon: Banteay Srey, Banteay Samre.
Day 4:
Morning: Silk Farm (Silk Factory) and Local Market (Old Market)
Afternoon: Buddhist Pagodas, Artisans D’Angkor (Art Carving School) and Floating Village on Tonle Sap Lake or Floating village on Tonle Sap lake at Kampong Pluk village with flooded Mangrove forest.
Suggested Avoid Crowded Tour Group Itineraries
Morning: Angkor Wat (start visiting in morning by walking from the east as from this side mostly more quiet in morning than the front side, west ), Ta Promh ( We walking to access inside temples on the north gate as this gate usually less tourists all the time )
Afternoon: Ta Nei ( Jungle temple as no any big restore yet as most of the heap of the stones still on the grand nearby temple ), Angkor Thom ( Dead gate, Bayon, Baphoun, Royal Enclosure Wall, Elephant & Liper King Terrace ), Phnom Bakheng or Phnom Krom mountain with sunset view.
Night: Dinner with watching Cambodian Traditional Performance (Apsara Show).
1st Day:
Morning: Angkor Wat (start visiting in morning by walking from the east as from this side mostly more quiet in morning than the front side, west ), Ta Promh ( We walking to access inside temples on the north gate as this gate usually less tourists all the time )
Afternoon: Ta Nei ( Jungle temple as no any big restore yet as most of the heap of the stones still on the grand nearby temple ), Angkor Thom ( Dead gate, Bayon, Baphoun, Royal Enclosure Wall, Elephant & Liper King Terrace ), Phnom Bakheng or Phnom Krom mountain with sunset view.
2nd Day:
Morning: Sunrise at Angkor Wat or Phnom Bakheng, after bring you back to hotel for breakfast and then start again to visit Prah Khan ( Walking to access to the temples on the South gate as this side always quiet all the time ), Neak Poan, Ta Som, East Mebon.
Afternoon: Banteay Srei, Banteay Samre ( Walking to access the temple on east or west side ), Pre Rup, Banteay Kdei, Krovan.
Night: Dinner with watching Cambodian Traditional Performance (Apsara Show).
1st Day:
Morning: Angkor Wat (start visiting in morning by walking from the east as from this side mostly more quiet in morning than the front side, west ), Ta Promh ( We walking to access inside temples on the north gate as this gate usually less tourists all the time )
Afternoon: Ta Nei ( Jungle temple as no any big restore yet as most of the heap of the stones still on the grand nearby temple ), Angkor Thom ( Dead gate, Bayon, Baphoun, Royal Enclosure Wall, Elephant & Liper King Terrace ), Phnom Bakheng or Phnom Krom mountain with sunset view.
2nd Day
Morning: Sunrise at Angkor Wat or Phnom Bakheng, after bring you back to hotel for breakfast and then start again to visit Prah Khan ( Walking to access to the temples on the South gate as this side always quiet all the time ), Neak Poan, Ta Som, East Mebon.
Afternoon: Banteay Srei, Banteay Samre ( Walking to access the temple on east or west side ), Pre Rup, Banteay Kdei,Krovan.
3th Day
Morning: Floating village on Tonle Sap Lake at Kampong Pluk Village with flooded Mangrove forests.
Afternoon: Beng Mealea ( Walking to access temples on east or west ), Roluos Grou: Lolei, Bakong, Preah Ko ( if time possible ).
Night: Dinner with watching Cambodian Traditional Performance (Apsara Show).
1st Day:
Morning: Angkor Wat (start visiting in morning by walking from the east as from this side mostly more quiet in morning than the front side, west ), Ta Promh ( We walking to access inside temples on the north gate as this gate usually less tourists all the time )
Afternoon: Ta Nei ( Jungle temple as no any big restore yet as most of the heap of the stones still on the grand nearby temple ), Angkor Thom ( Dead gate, Bayon, Baphoun, Royal Enclosure Wall, Elephant & Liper King Terrace ), Phnom Bakheng or Phnom Krom mountain with sunset view.
2nd Day
Morning: Phnom Kulen mountain ( 1000 Lingas carved under riverbed, Big Reclining Buddha at Wat Prah Ang Thom, Waterfall ). Lunch Break along the way.
Afternoon: Banteay Srei, Banteay Samre ( Walking to access the temple on east or west side ), Pre Rup.
3rd Day
Morning: Sunrise at Angkor Wat or Phnom Bakheng, after bring you back to hotel for breakfast and then start again to visit Temples on Big Circle : Prah Khan ( Walking to access to the temples on the South gate as this side always quiet all the time ), Neak Poan, Ta Som, East Mebon. Lunch Break along the way.
Afternoon: Banteay Kdei, Rolous Group ( Lolei, Prah Ko, Bakong ).
4th Day
Morning: Floating village on Tonle Sap Lake at Kampong Pluk Village with flooded Mangrove forests.
Afternoon: Beng Mealea ( Walking to access temples on east or west ).
Temples Map Photo
