Best Way to See Angkor Wat

In the far north of Cambodia, almost buried amidst the jungle of Siem Reap Province lies one of the world’s most outstanding temple complexes. Covering an area of around 400 square kilometers, Angkor Archaeological Park is considered the largest religious monument in the world and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

What is the best way to see the large Angkor complex? How to make the most use of your time in Angkor? Here are the best ways to see Angkor Wat found by our local guides based on their extensive experience.

Three Travel Routes to Visit Angkor Temples

There are three separate routes for visitors to see the Angkor complex, usually depending on how much time you have to spend at the site. The first one, known as the Small Circle Tour, takes in the major highlights of the complex, including Angkor Wat, Phnom Bakheng, Angkor Thom, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Leper King, Terrace of the Elephants, Victory Gate, Ta Keo, Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang, and Prasat Kravan.

The second is known as the Big Circle Tour, and as well as the temples covered in the Small Circle, it also takes you around the more outlying temples, including Pre Rup, East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean, Prasat Prei, Preah Khan, North Gate, and West Mebon.

Then you have the Long Trip, which usually takes a few days to complete, and includes both the small and big circles as well as the Women’s Temple, the Landmine Museum, and other smaller temples located outside the main park area.

Best Way to See Angkor Wat in 1 Day

If you have only one day to spend in Angkor, then your best option is to take the Small Circle tour, which covers the main three temples of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm. This also includes the other smaller temples, but you don’t have to stop at them all if you want to spend more time on the main ones, and exploring Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom will take up most of the day.

Angkor Thom is a temple complex built about 1200 by King Jayavarman VII.

It is best to start with Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, as touring the vast temples can be tiring in the Cambodian heat. And then, if you have any energy left in the afternoon, you can visit Ta Prom and some of the smaller temples, which are usually less crowded.

Please Notice:
Don’t rush. You have all day to explore these temples, so make the most of it. The more you rush around the more chance you will miss the best aspects of these amazing ancient religious sites.

Best Way to See Angkor Wat in 2 Days

If you have two days to travel around Angkor Wat, then you do have time to take in more of the temples. The Big Circle is the ideal route for 2 days in Angkor, as it is a two-day tour incorporating some 21 different temples, though again, not all of them need to be visited if you want to skip some. And you can do this the opposite way round, if you wish, as each day’s tour is unique.

The best way to start is with the big loop of the lesser-known temples, to get you into the swing of temple-exploring with the less-crowded locations first. The day starts with heading off to Preah Khan Temple and moves you on around the loop to Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon, Pre Rup, and Srah Srang, which is technically part of the small loop, but it is easy to squeeze in on day one.

Day two of this schedule starts with sunrise at Angkor Wat, one of the most stupendous sights you can imagine, and something you will not want to miss. The temple opens at 5:00 AM daily so people can get photos of the sun rising behind the temple.

Bayon temple is in the heart of the ancient city of Angkor Thom.

From there you travel on to Phnom Bakheng, and then to the Bayon Temple, Baphuon Temple, and Terrace of the Elephants in Angkor Thom. The rest of the day is then spent visiting Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda, Ta Keo, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Kdei.

Please Notice:
For some reason, it is cheaper to buy a three-day pass to the temple complex than two one-day passes, so since your trip is for two days, you should take advantage of this.

Don’t be late on the second day for the sunrise over Angkor Wat. As the largest religious monument in the world, and being perfectly symmetrical, Angkor Wat is a photographer’s dream.

Best Way to See Angkor Wat in 3 Days

A three-day schedule for Angkor Temple Complex is a great way to visit more temples and experience more of this ancient Buddhist culture up close. And it is recommended to make the first day the earliest day, for the sunrise photos, as you may be tired later on.

The first day starts with the 5:00 AM opening of Angkor Wat for the iconic sunrise photos from the pond in front of the temple. Then you move on to Ta Prohm, Bantay Kdei, and Ta Keo, and end with the sunset at Phnom Bakheng.

For day two, you start with another sunrise photo op at Pre Rup, which is comparable to Angkor Wat itself in its own way, filled with peace and solitude. Then you move on to visit the temples at East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean, and Preah Khan, before taking an early finish and getting some much-needed rest.

Baphuon, the Terrace of the Elephants

Day three is a later start, and you can get into Bayon Temple at around 7:15 AM, as you can get some decent early photos, and spend some time watching the groups of monkeys playing on the temple. Then you move on to Baphuon, the Terrace of the Elephants, and then finish with either Prae Roup or Prasat Banteay Srei.

Please Notice:
Get your three-day pass the day before your first day of touring, as the lines for tickets in the mornings are usually very long. And as a bonus, they will not punch your ticket if you go in after purchasing it after 5:00 PM, so you may get an opportunity for that sunset shot of Angkor Wat.

Best to See Angkor Wat at Sunrise or Sunset?

Angkor Wat is such an iconic place that you are probably going to want to see it at both sunrise and sunset, but many photographers prefer to get their shots at sunrise.

The stunning sunrise view of Angkor Wat.

Where the sunrise shot is concerned, it is more explosive and vibrant in colors, and makes for a magical and otherworldly experience, as the sun rises directly behind the temple from the best location in front of the ponds. It is also less crowded once the initial photo op has passed, so you can spend time exploring the temple itself before the main visitors flock in around midday.

However, you do have to contend with the crowds trying to get the same photo, and it is almost a race to get to the best spot from the entrance when it opens at 5:00 AM.

As for the sunset shots, with barely any people around it is a peaceful experience, there is no need to get up early, as the day is almost over, and the sunset in front of the temple allows for some great creativity in angles and light. And it is the best way to end the day.

Best Way to Visit Angkor Temples: by Tuktuk, by Car, or by Bike?

There are generally three ways to visit Angkor Temple Complex, by car, by bike, or by “tuk-tuk”, the unique Cambodian local transport that consists of a motorbike with a trailer that looks like a horse-drawn carriage.

One aspect that will help you make up your mind is the distance between temples, and then you have to consider the heat. But if you get up early to get to Angkor Wat at sunrise, and you love cycling, then you would easily be able to complete the Small Circle before it got too hot. There are many bike rental shops in town, and some hotels even offer free bikes to guests. Please book your rental in advance according to your travel schedule.

If you want a more luxurious experience, you can hire a local car with air-con to take you between the temples as you explore. It is much less tiring, and allows you to stay cool between temples, but is also much more costly.

Visit Angkor Temples by Tuktuk is one of the best way to explore the temples in a short time.

The tuk-tuk is the most popular option for touring Angkor and is ideal for small groups of 2-4 people. They are open to the air, which makes for better viewing around the temples, and they can move quickly enough to get you to the places you need to visit. And they are relatively cheap as well.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that the Angkor Temple Complex is the highlight of any Cambodia tour. No matter how long you stay in Cambodia, it is worth your visit. You can see the Angkor and get around the complex by bike, by car, or take a tuk-tuk. And even see the Angkor in more memorable ways at sunrise or sunset as you like. But whichever way you decide to visit Angkor, it is an experience you will never forget.