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The temples at Angkor recieved about half a million day visits by tourists last year, and this figure is only expected to increase in the future, there are significantly more visitors at the Angkor temples today than a few years ago and the crowds can sometimes be a problem.
Admission to the temples:
In order to gain access to the temples (except the Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King) you must purchase a pass from the ticket booths on the main road from Siem Reap. You have the choice of a 1 day pass for $20, 3 day pass for $40 or 7 day pass for $60, we recommend spending at least 3 days viewing the temples, as 1 day is not enough to see much except for the main temples. A passport photo is included on the 3 and 7 day passes, these are done with fairly high efficiency on arrival, but if there are lots of people it can take some time to get your photo. The pass should always be carried on you and must be shown when entering most of the temples, but you can drive around the site, and visit the Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King without having a pass. The park and ticket booths are open from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM each day.
Transport to & Getting around the Angkor temples:
The size of the Angkor Archaeological Park at first can be daunting, but there are many modes of transport available to get around and see the temples as it is unpractical to walk. In Siem Reap or around the temples you can find tuk tuks, taxis and motorbike taxis available to hire (with their drivers) for the day, the costs are around $6-8/day for a motobike taxi, $10-14/day for a tuk tuk, $20-25/day for a car taxi, and bicycles are available for hire at around $2/day. Foreigners are not allowed to hire a motorbike to ride themselves. You can also hire electric bikes at various places around the temples for about $5-6/day, as an alternative mode of transport. Transport to the more distant temples such as Banteay Srei, Kbal Spean, Phnom Kulen, and the Rolous Group of temples can cost a bit extra.
An air-conditioned car can provide some much needed relief from the heat when exploring the temples.
Guide Books:
Many guidebooks are sold by the local vendors around the temples, make sure to look through the book before buying as some are bad photocopied copies.
The Siem Reap & Angkor Visitors Guide published by CanBy Publications is distributed free in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh in hotels & restaurants, the FCC is one place where you can pick up a copy. The guide has good maps and information on local restaurants, bars, hotels and guesthouses in addition to a guide to the Angkor temples.
We also recommend Ancient Angkor written by Michael Freeman & Claude Jacques as a guide to the temples.
What to take/wear to the temples:
It gets very hot around the Angkor temples, wear light airy clothing like shorts, t-shirt, short-sleeved shirt, skirt, etc. Make sure to take a hat or cap to keep the sun out of your eyes, and a good pair of sunglasses. Wear suitable footwear for walking on uneven stone surfaces at temples, tall narrow steps and dusty roads, trainers are the most suitable. Sun cream is useful, money to buy drinks and souvenirs, map/guidebook, and a spare t-shirt can come in useful if it gets sweaty, or a thin raincoat in the rainy season.
Tour Guides:
A tour guide is not essential, you can have a much more relaxed experience with more freedom if you opt to explore yourself. A local guide can be usually be hired through your hotel or a travel agent, or picked up around the temples for about $20-25/day. You can book group tours through us on our Tours & Sightseeing page.
We suggest getting yourself one or more guidebooks with a good map to carry around, and a driver, and showing yourself around the temples.
Things to Do at the Angkor Temples
Sunrise/Sunset locations, elephant rides, hot air balloon, read more..
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