Cambodia’s Awe-Inspiring Angkor Wat: The 900-Year-Old Wonder of Southeast Asia

You don’t need to be a history fan to know that Cambodia’s Angkor Wat should be on your Southeast Asian bucket list! 

Cambodia is a kingdom full of wonder, rich in culture, brimming with beauty, and with a powerful past, but no part of the country embodies all of these traits quite like the great Angkor Wat temples in Siem Reap province. 

It is a place that has graced countless postcards and documentaries, but nothing quite prepares you for standing in front of it, soaking up its glory with your jaw on the floor. 

I’ve been several times now, and each time brings a different moment of awe, a new sense of wonder, or an undiscovered piece of exploration. It is the perfect place for travellers, photography enthusiasts, history buffs, architecture fans, exploration fanatics, wonder-seekers, memory makers, and everyone in between. So, to help with your planning, here is my simple guide to Angkor Wat! 

Getting Your Angkor Wat Ticket 

Before you go charging into the jungle like Indiana Jones, you’ll need a ticket to enter the Angkor Archaeological Park. The ticket office is located about 4km from Siem Reap town centre, and it’s open from 5 AM to 5:30 PM. You’ll be turned away if you arrive at the temples without one, so plan ahead!

They take a quick mugshot of you at the ticket counter, which then gets printed on your pass. Make sure you don’t lose it, as it’s checked at multiple points inside the park, and without it, you won’t get to see anything.

You can also visit the official Angkor Enterprise website, which has more information about tickets, as well as news updates relating to the Angkor Wat and its surrounding temples. The funds raised by the sale of Angkor passes go towards the maintenance of the ancient temples, the repair of structurally unsound areas, and the wages of the army of local workers who keep the place up and running.

Getting to Angkor Wat 

Angkor Wat is only about 6 km from Siem Reap, so getting there is fairly easy. You have a few options depending on how much effort you’re willing to put in: 

• Tuk-Tuk ($25 for a day) – The classic choice. You get a driver who waits while you temple-hop, and it’s a breezy way to explore. If you’re looking for a driver with insight, I would 100% recommend the lovely Channa, who grew up on the banks of Angkor Wat’s moat and knows the area and the history like the back of his hand. 
• Bicycle ($5 per day) – If you fancy a bit of exercise, cycling is a great option. Just beware: Cambodia is HOT. 
• Motorbike Taxi ($15 per day) – A zippy way to get around if you don’t mind hanging on for dear life. 
• Moto Rental ($6-$10 per day) – If you’re comfortable driving yourself around, several places in Siem Reap town have moto & scooter rental services, and the roads near Angkor Wat are generally not as crazy as you see in other parts of the country.
• Private Car ($30–$50 per day) – If air conditioning is non-negotiable, this is your best bet. 

Packing Essentials for Angkor Wat Adventures

A temple adventure is no quick jaunt; it’s an all-day affair, so pack light and smart!

• Comfortable shoes  Ancient stone steps are not flip-flop friendly. 
• Sunscreen & Hat – The Cambodian sun shows no mercy. 
• Water & Snacks – There are stalls inside the park, but prices are inflated. 
• Bug Spray – Those mosquitoes have no respect for personal space. 
• Camera – You’ll want to capture this place in all its glory, and snaps on your phone just won’t do it justice!
• Cooling Towel – (Travel hack alert!) My new favourite bit of kit! Simply put it in cold water, ring it out and it stays cool for hours without soaking you. If you’re finding the heat is getting to you, wrapping one of these around your head can be a game-changer!

Exploring the Temples: Where to Start? 

The Angkor Archaeological Park covers over 400 square kilometres, with more than 1,000 temples scattered throughout. You’d need months to see them all, so let’s narrow it down to the must-sees.

Angkor Wat – The Crown Jewel 

The star of the show! Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world and an architectural masterpiece. Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, it was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu before becoming a Buddhist site. 

The most famous feature is the stunning carvings that wrap around the temple, depicting everything from battles to Hindu mythology. But the real magic happens at sunrise – that picture-perfect moment when the temple’s reflection glows in the lotus-filled moat. Get there early (and I mean EARLY) to secure a good spot. 

Bayon – The Temple of Faces 

Located in the heart of Angkor Thom, Bayon is known for its 54 towers adorned with 216 massive stone faces. No matter where you stand, those serene faces seem to be watching you, creating a bizarre sense of calm that is impossible to explain. 

Despite being hundreds of years old, this temple and the faces that grace it create an atmosphere that you can only understand by visiting it yourself.

Ta Prohm – The Tomb Raider Temple 

You’ve seen this one before. Ta Prohm is the famous “Tomb Raider temple,” made even more legendary by Angelina Jolie’s adventures as Lara Croft. Unlike other temples that have been cleared of jungle overgrowth, Ta Prohm has been left in a beautiful state of ruin, with massive tree roots snaking through ancient stone walls. 

It’s impossible to deny that there is something magnificent about the sight of nature reclaiming the abandoned temple and knowing that one day, nature will win. It makes experiencing Ta Phrom altogether more breathtaking and otherworldly.

Preah Khan – The Underrated Gem 

If you want something less crowded but equally atmospheric, Preah Khan is the temple for you. It’s similar to Ta Prohm, with jungle vines and massive tree roots consuming the ruins, but without the hordes of visitors. It’s also one of the largest temples in Angkor, with long corridors to explore and grand statues to admire.

Banteay Srei – The Pink Temple 

A bit further out (about 25km from Angkor Wat), but well worth the journey. Banteay Srei is famous for its delicate, intricate carvings and its unique pink sandstone. The name itself translates to citadel of the women and though it is significantly smaller than the other main temples, its beauty is unmatched. The bas-reliefs here depict epic tales from Hindu mythology in intricate detail, and are some of the most notable carvings in all of Angkor. 

Tour Guide or Solo Exploration? 

To guide or not to guide, that is the question. If you’re a history fan, a guide is invaluable – they bring the temples to life with fascinating stories and insights. Tour guides at Angkor Wat need to have a specific license that proves that the facts they are sharing are accurate, and guides are required to have extensive knowledge so that they can answer questions off the top of their head. You can hire one at the entrance or book in advance through your hotel.

If you prefer to wander at your own pace, on your own route, or immersed in your own adventure, going solo is for you. The temples are well-signposted, and there are plenty of online resources to give you historical context.

A Note on Angelina Jolie & Cambodia 

Angelina Jolie isn’t just linked to Cambodia through Tomb Raider – she’s had a real impact on the country. Whilst filming at Angkor Wat in 2001, she fell in love with Cambodia, adopted her son Maddox from a local orphanage, and has since done extensive humanitarian work here.

Jolie was so heartbroken when she learned about the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime, she directed the 2017 film First They Killed My Father based on the memoirs of a survivor of the genocide. She even owns a house in the Battambang region and funds conservation efforts in the Cardamom Mountains. Her Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation supports education and healthcare for Cambodian children in areas that are still recovering from the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge regime.

In fact, Angelina Jolie has done so much for the Cambodian people that in 2005, she was granted honorary citizenship by King Norodom Sihamoni. Not your average Hollywood connection! 

Final Tips for Visiting Angkor Wat 

• Start early – The heat gets intense by midday, start early to skip the heat of the day.
• Respect the temples – The temples are holy places of great importance to the Khmer people. Don’t go climbing, running around, and being rowdy. Some areas are still practicing holy places, so quiet and respect are of great importance. 
• Sunset at Phnom Bakheng – A stunning way to end your day, and pretty heroic if you also managed to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat!
• Avoid tourist traps – Be aware of aggressive souvenir sellers. Cambodians can be quite pushy when trying to make sales, it’s just part of their culture and you have to respect the hustle, but their prices are likely to be inflated. Simply politely say “No” and keep walking.
• Dress appropriately – Since there are still areas of the temples that operate as Buddhist places of worship, modest clothing shows respect to the Cambodian culture. Appropriate clothing should cover the shoulders and chest and pass the knees, particularly for women.
• Avoid monkeys! – I learned this one the hard way! Though they’re cute, the monkeys at Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples can be right nasty little things! They’ll happily come to you for food, but if they take a dislike to you, they have big teeth and they’ll let you know about it! A great tip is to avoid wearing sunglasses near them, and seeing their own reflection in your shades can make them aggressive!

Final Thoughts

Visiting Angkor Wat is an experience filled with wonder, adventure, and just a touch of sweat! No trip to Cambodia is complete without diving into the country’s iconic history and seeing Angkor Wat for yourself. From watching the sun rise behind those iconic towers to wandering through the moss-covered ruins of Ta Prohm, there’s a sense of scale and history that’s hard to shake. Take your time, stay curious, and let the place speak for itself.

I got my trip, now get yours! Anna xx

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