Tips For Visiting The Temples of Angkor | Guide on how to explore the temples of Angkor, Cambodia

We recently completed a three day tour of the Temples of Angkor and along the way we learned some valuable things that we're sharing in the form of advice, tips and a guide for visiting the temples along with our personal favorite experiences. Tip number one is to get a three day pass as opposed to just a a one day pass. There are a lot of fascinating temples to explore aside from just Angkor Wat and trying to cram that all into one chaotic day is a bad idea. Instead go for a three day pass and take your time to experience the temples at a more leisurely pace.
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Tip number two is to get up as early as possible. The package tourists crowds start arriving at around 7 to 8 am and if you can get to the temples before that time you may be the first on site. We were fortunate enough to have that experience at Banteay Srei where we were welcomed as the very first tourists of the day.
Tip number three is to take a tuk-tuk instead of a bike. Although it may seem like a good idea to take a bicycle, it's certainly not in our opinion. We noticed many people on bikes looking exhausted, burnt and dehydrated. The temples themselves are quite massive (some kilometers in length) and when you couple that with the heat and humidity it's best to conserve your energy by hiring an autorickshaw for the day.
Audrey's favorite experience was waking up early to visit Angkor Wat for sunrise. She found it special to share the moment with others and she also met a Uruguayan couple that she started speaking to in Spanish.
Samuel, on the other hand, was in awe over the fact of being the first people to arrive at Banteay Srei. In the past, he had arrived at this temple when it was overcrowded with tourists and this time around it felt much more intimate with a special VIP tour.
Today we are making a video where we will be sharing some of our tips for visiting the temples of Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia. We just finished a three day tour there. It was an excellent trip all in all but we did learn a few things along the way that we'd like to share with you.
Okay, point number 1. We would suggest you go for three days instead of one. There are just so many temples to choose from. There is no way you would be able to fit in all of them main ones into one day. There is an option for a seven day pass but we both think it is way too much. You would be templed out by the end of that. You really would be. In just one day if you try to cover all of the main temples, all of the temples you'd like to visit, it just wouldn't be any fun. You would be going from maybe six or seven in the morning right up until five at night. Given the heat and humidity here that is just totally unpleasant. Not pleasant at all.
Tip number two is get up early to visit the temples. You're gong to have to get up a lot earlier than you might think. On our first day here we got up at seven in the morning. We thought that would be early enough but by eight o'clock it was already scorching. We actually learned our lesson by visiting Bayon first in Angkor Thom. It was overrun by package tourists at the time. We probably go there around eight o'clock. We had to buy our passes and whatnot but every day after - the two other days - we got up at five and it was a much better experience. Sometimes we even had the temple all to ourselves, so set your alarm for four thirty in the morning and you can be there by five and it'll be a completely different experience. A perfect example of that was at Banteay Srei. We were the first people there and we got a VIP tour, so even if you're not a morning person, get up early and you'll be rewarded for it.
This is part of our Travel in Cambodia series. We're making a series of videos showcasing Khmer / Cambodian culture, arts, food, religion and people.
Proudly presented by: nomadicsamuel.com , smilingfacestravelphotos.com , thatbackpacker.com & backpacking-travel-blog.com
All photos and video taken by Samuel Jeffery (Nomadic Samuel) and Audrey Bergner (That Backpacker).

[@privateangkorwattour]

Really amazing day tours with the right time! Love to hear what you got the best experiences!

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you

[@samuelandaudrey]

That's great! Waking up early is definitely the way to go.

[@darasurathip823]

Dawn at the temples is so beautiful.

[@maimcbride560]

Love to watch you two agian!

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thanks! I will keep that in mind for the next time I visit Cambodia :)

[@guang.dai_]

Thanks for the tips! 😊

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you!

[@garyroberts3859]

Most of the temples open at 7:30, I went to the Bayon at 7:00 and had to wait till 7:30.
Angkor Wat is the exception, open at 5:00

[@samuelandaudrey]

Oh, that is good to know. Maybe new rules have come in place since we visited many years ago.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you! I definitely agree with you :)

[@meykosal]

Thank for sharing your tip, i hope next you can try to Preah Vihear temple where is just 220km from siem reap.

[@r.otaviano]

You guys don’t age... ☺️

[@samuelandaudrey]

Ah, thank you!

[@luigi2545]

Hey guys, thanks for the video. When you mention pay for a day pass or 3 or 7. To whom do you pay that? Is this an entrance fee?

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thanks, you buy that before entering the site where you can decide what kind of pass you want.

[@garyroberts3859]

You 2 are misleading people about the opening times

[@samuelandaudrey]

No, the information we gave was correct when we visited. If things have changed in recent years that is a possibility.