Customizable Itineraries
In the Siem Reap area, there are dozens of temple ruins. Your temple itinerary is mostly determined by the amount of time you have and your degree of interest, while several temples are’must sees.’ Any tour should include the famed Angkor Wat ruins and the massive faces of Bayon. These two temple ruins include the most spectacular and one-of-a-kind specimens of Angkorian art and architecture.
The South Gate of Angkor Thom and some other minor remains can be seen on the way to Bayon. Most itineraries may easily explore central Angkor Thom, with its architecturally interesting terraces and massive ‘temple-mountains,’ Baphuon and Phimeanakas, because it is within walking distance of Bayon. Because of the lighting circumstances, it is ideal to visit Angkor Wat in the afternoon, hence most itineraries begin in the morning with Angkor Thom.
Build the rest of your itinerary around visiting each type of major ruins, such as Pre Rup, Ta Keo, Bakong (one of the temples in the Roluos Group), and West Mebon; flat, sprawling monastic complexes like Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Preah Khan, and Ta Som; and unique monuments like Neak Pean andSrah Srang. The Roluos Group, which includes ruins from an early Khmer metropolis, is located 12 kilometers west of Siem Reap, outside the major temple complex. It is a little out of the way, but it contains some excellent specimens of early Angkorian art and should be included in two or more day itineraries. Banteay Srey, a more distant but artistically stunning temple, deserves special mention. On the journey to Banteay Srey, you’ll see that Banteay Samre is always quiet and pleasant. Other notable temples outside the main temple complex include: Kbal Spean, located more than 50 kilometers 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), Beng Mealea, located about 70 kilometers from Angkor Wat, is largely unrestored with trees and thick bush thriving amidst its towers and courtyards’ and many of its stone lying in great heap. Phnom Kulen, the most important historical site that marked the birth of the Angkor Civilization, consists of a large view of a waterfall, a 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 kilometers from Angkor in the province of Preah Vihear, was an ancient capital of Cambodia (AD 928-942). If you can fit it into your schedule, it is certainly worth the effort!
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
