Angkor Wat is a giant temple complex dedicated to the god Vishnu in Cambodia. It is the largest religious building ever created and one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Built during the time of King Suryavarman II (1113-1150).
Angkor Wat is located 5.5 km north of the modern city of Siem Reap, the capital of the province of the same name in Cambodia, and is part of a temple complex built in the area of the ancient capital of the Khmer state, the city of Angkor. Angkor covers an area of 200 km²; Recent research suggests that it may have had an area of about 3,000 km² and a population of up to half a million inhabitants, making it one of the largest human settlements of the pre-industrial era.
It was discovered only in the 19th century by the French traveler Henri Muot. Many bizarre buildings with trees and bushes sprouted in them appeared to his amazed gaze. Currently, this complex attracts many tourists from all over the world.
13th century Khmer Buddhist temple at Angkor Wat, Cambodia.
Trees grew through the buildings.
Angkor Wat from a bird's eye view. The surrounding moat of water is clearly visible.
Pre Rup, one of the many ruined temples at Angkor Wat. It was built in 961, by order of the Khmer king Rajendravarman, who was buried here.
Statue at Bayon Temple.
The Angkor Thom terrace consists of elephant statues.
Bizarre combinations of trees and buildings, corridors and labyrinths of Bayonne.
Apsaras, detail of the lower pediment. Bayon style, end 12 - beginning. 13th century, sandstone.
Terrace of the Leper King in Angkor Thom.
Banteay Srei (left): This is a temple of 10th-century Khmer architecture dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Banteay Samre (right): Located about 500m east of the East Baray, is one of the Angkor temples.
Banteay Srei Temple is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
Built in the late 12th century or early 13th century: Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom.
An image of Buddha appears through the roots and trunks of trees.
Buddhist monks in front of the pool, which is located in front of the central temple of Angkor Wat.
Two small temples, Thommanon and Chao, are located east of Angkor Thom.
Bas-relief on the wall in the Terrace of the Leper King, part of the Royal Square of Angkor Thom - Angkor Wat. 
Ta Prohm Temple, Angkor, Cambodia.
Bas-reliefs and corridors of the Buddhist temple of Angkor Ta Prohm. It dates back to the 12th century and was built by King Jayavarman VII, who is considered one of the greatest rulers of the ancient Khmer Empire.
Close interweaving of tree roots and stones of the Ta Prohm temple.
The heads of mythical characters are located above the moat leading to the southern gate of Angkor Thom.
This is an artificial island with the Buddhist temple Preah Khan Baray.
Phimeanakas was "built in the late 10th century, during the reign of Rajendravarman (941-968), and later rebuilt by Suryavarman II as a three-tiered pyramid, like a Hindu temple.
Between Angkor Wat and Bayon is the Phnom Bakheng Temple.
Prasat Preah Palilay.
Prasat Sister Prat is a series of 12 towers at Angkor Thom.
View of the ruins of the Preah Khan Temple at Angkor in Cambodia. Preah Khan was built by the Khmer king Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century, dedicated to his father, Dharanindravarman II.
Tree roots and Ta Prohm temple.
A boy plays in the pool in front of the central temple of Angkor Wat.
Sunset over Angkor Wat.
On the left is Ta Prohm, on the right is Angkor Wat.
One of the most famous parts of the complex is the empty doorway to Ta Prohm.
Dressed statue at Bayon Temple. Here the monks talk to the spirits.
A look through the many doors of the Angkor Wat temple complex.
The Srah Srang pond was dug in the mid-10th century and has a staircase flanked by lion statues.
The 12th-century temple is dedicated to Buddha.
Temple of Ta Prohm. 
A detailed historical excursion that will tell you about Angkor Wat - the legendary temple complex in Cambodia. Get ready, it will be interesting!
The religious building of Angkor Wat is the world's largest Hindu temple. It is considered one of the most magnificent “pearls” of Angkor, the ancient capital of the powerful Khmer Empire. While on vacation in Cambodia, an independent traveler should definitely visit this mysterious and beautiful place.
Angkor Wat: history
More than ten centuries ago, the Khmer Empire (Kambujadesha) existed on the territory of Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Its founder was King Jayavarman II (802-850), who united these lands through bloody wars.
The empire reached its peak a little later, during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113-1150). The king worshiped the Hindu god Vishnu, and Angkor Wat was built in honor. The construction of the religious building lasted more than 30 years. Not only local craftsmen worked on its creation. By order of the ruler, craftsmen were searched throughout Asia.
The main material used was sandstone, which was brought from a quarry located 40 km away. from the construction site. The stones were polished and stacked on top of each other. No mortar was used during installation.
In those distant times, rulers were considered messengers of the gods. After the death of Suryavarman II, the temple became his tomb. Since then, the history of Angkor and its main religious monument have been inextricably linked.
The construction of the temple complex undermined the country's economy. In addition, the capital was overpopulated; at that time more than 1 million people lived in it. There was a catastrophic shortage of water, and fertile lands were depleted. During the reign of Jayavarman VII (1181-1218), several uprisings occurred, as a result of which Angkor was partially destroyed.
Later, the capital was repeatedly invaded by Siamese troops. After the last invasion in 1431, Angkor finally fell into disrepair. People left the city forever. Only monks remained to live in the temples. The capital of the empire was moved to Phnom Penh. The territory of Angkor was swallowed up by tropical forests, and the structures became home to thousands of animals. But the city did not disappear forever.
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At the beginning of the 17th century, Portuguese and Spanish travelers accidentally stumbled upon mysterious stone structures in the jungle. But for some reason, the Europeans did not attach any importance to the unusual find and soon forgot about it. Ancient Angkor owes its second birth (late 19th century) to the French traveler Henri Muo. He described the ancient city in detail and with admiration in his manuscripts. Crowds of explorers, scientists, historians, pilgrims and traders rushed to Angkor.
Photo 45 years after opening: 1906
Unfortunately, not a trace remains of the capital's former splendor. The sandstone from which the buildings were built has eroded over time due to exposure to wind, sun and water. Most of the wooden buildings were burned by vandals during periods of hostilities. Tree roots and branches grew through the walls of buildings in many places.
Thanks to the efforts of thousands of people, by the middle of the 20th century, many buildings in the city, including Angkor Wat, were restored. After the end of the civil war, the restoration of the temple complex was carried out mainly by Indian specialists. Since 1992, the unique creation of Khmer masters has been protected by UNESCO.
Photo 45 years after opening: 1906
Structure and architecture of Angkor Wat
The temple is located in the very center of the ancient city. Angkor Wat measures 1.3 km from north to south and 1.5 km from west to east. Religious building of rectangular shape. It consists of three levels (tiers), which increase in height towards the center. In appearance it somewhat resembles a pyramid. The levels represent three elements: air, earth and water. The territory of the complex is surrounded by lush greenery and is reliably protected on all sides by a moat with water. The width of the moat is more than 100 m. A stone bridge is laid across it, connecting the rectangular “island” with land. Further the road leads to the main entrance. The central gate and the front side of the structure are oriented to the west. There is also a road to the eastern side of Angkor Wat, but it is less noticeable and can be found by using the services of a guide.
You have to walk around the entire temple territory; transport is prohibited here.
Angkor Wat is located in such a way that when looking at it from any direction, only three of the five towers are always visible. This proves the skill of the architects of that time. The towers and tiers are connected by staircases, intersecting galleries, and covered walkways. The internal space thus formed is divided into numerous square-shaped courtyards.
The walls of galleries and corridors, columns and stairs are covered with bas-reliefs, carvings and paintings. The ceilings are decorated with lotus images and intricate patterns. On the territory of the complex, many statues of strange animals, mythical heroes and real historical characters have been preserved.
The first tier is the largest and consists of several galleries and passages. The walls are decorated with numerous images. There are 8 panels here, the total length of which is more than 800 m. The main “subjects” are the battles of the gods, the period of the reign of the great Suryavarman II and numerous battles for the power of the empire. Several panels are dedicated to scenes from the epics “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana”. The outer wall is made in the form of a double row of columns.
At the end of each gallery there are corner pavilions. Two pavilions are connected to the main galleries. Two more end in shallow niches in the wall. At one time these recesses were also decorated with bas-reliefs, but over time they have worn away and are barely noticeable.
The gate towers of the main entrance are connected to the towers of the second tier using transitions. Between them are four courtyards, which are filled with water during the rainy season and serve as swimming pools. The interior walls of the galleries are made in the form of columns, through which the courtyard-pools are visible. On the opposite walls, between windows with figuratively carved columns, figures of thousands of celestial dancers (apsaras) are carved. There are many statues in the long corridors.
At the intersection of the galleries (from north to south) there are corner columns with inscriptions in an unknown language. On both sides of the second tier there are libraries, each of which has four entrances.
The small kingdom of Cambodia is located, its interesting places never cease to amaze. Everything that may be of interest to tourists is located in southeast Asia. Founded in the first century AD, the state of Funan was built. At the beginning of the seventh century, it began to be called Cambodia or "Kampuchea" - the country of the Khmers, who made up the majority of the inhabitants. They professed mainly Hinduism and Buddhism. The state of Cambodia achieved independence only in 1953, having gone through a difficult path of political restructuring.
Today, Cambodia remains a kingdom and preserves the cultural traditions of its ancestors. The culture of this state is in great demand among tourists. Cambodia is becoming a favorite tourist destination due to its beautiful nature and architecture. Cambodia Angkor Wat is one of the interesting attractions of the town.
Angkor Wat Temple
You can get to the ancient capital of Cambodia, Angkor Wat, in several ways, for example, by car or minibus. There are several excursions lasting several days. The temple complex is located in Cambodia, near the city of Siem Reap. You can get to this city by any transport, bus, plane and even by boat. If you decide to spend your holidays in Pattaya or, you can take part in excursions, they are regularly held at Angkor Wat.
Let us draw your attention to the fact that the Angkor complex refers to all the temples located on a huge site; in addition, there is also the Angkor Wat temple, it was erected by the ruler Suryavarman II. This temple is considered the main one and is called the pearl of Angkor.
From Bangkok
Traveling from Bangkok to Siem Reap or Siem Reap (the name is pronounced in two ways) involves several steps:
- you need to get to the border (to the town of Aranyaprathet);
- You won’t be able to cross the border without a Cambodian visa, so you should worry about its availability in advance;
- get from the border (Poipet town) to Siem Reap.
Tours from Bangkok to Angkor Wat are available both individual and group.
Where to stay in Angkor
So, we have already found out where Angkor is. The closest city to the complex is Siem Reap. There you can stay at any hotel you like, because you still have to use transport to get there. There are a large number of hotels in the city; any vacationer, if necessary, can choose a suitable hotel for themselves. It is possible to rent a bicycle (but, again, it will be difficult to get to the right place) or take a bus.
A little history
Angkor Wat, whose history is quite interesting, was founded around the 10th-12th centuries. At that time, Angkor was one of the largest cities on the planet. The temples from that time became famous even far from the Khmer Empire.
In 1431, Siamese troops almost completely defeated and plundered the city, after which all residents had to leave their homes and go in search of new ones. Since that time, Angkor and more than 100 palaces and temples that remained intact were hidden under the arches of tropical forests. Until, at the end of the 19th century, the French naturalist Anne Muo presented a sufficient number of works that were created and written in honor of Angkor.
It became known that even Rudyard Kipling published his “Jungle Book” about Mowgli only after he had the good fortune of becoming a visitor to the beautiful Angkor. In 1992, the temple complex was taken under the supervision of trustees from UNESCO.
Angkor Temples
The temples included in the regular Angkor ticket are referred to by guides as near temples, and those located a little further from Siem Reap are called distant ones. The nearby temples are part of several routes designed as a tour taking place in the town square: the small circle and the large circle of Angkor. The Batni Shri and Batni Samri temples are also included in the complex, but are located a short distance from the excursion route.
Visits to the small and large circles of Angkor are designed for several separate days, as they occupy a very large area. One small circle is about 17 km. The mileage of the big circle is 26 km.
There is a certain scheme where you can find the desired temple. The red line indicates that you are traveling in a small circle, the green line indicates that you are traveling in a large circle. . You can choose excursions to Angkor Wat according to the route that interests you.
Meaning of the word
Angkor, the meaning of the word comes from the Sanskrit “nagara”, which means “sacred city”. The beginning of the first Angkor period is considered to be the beginning of 802 AD. BC, while the Khmer Emperor Jayavarman II declared himself the “Ecumenical Monarch” and “God King”. The end of this period occurred at the end of the 14th century.
Having decided on a tour of Angkor, you need to pay attention to how the city of Angkor is located, the map of which will help with this. The country delights visitors with sunshine most of the time of the year.
When choosing the clothes you will wear during the excursion, give preference to breezy clothes that cover most of the body, because you can get a sunburn if you are in the sun all day.
Covering your face and head will also make your journey more enjoyable. Too much sun in Angkor can cause headaches and eye pain, so it is worth wearing a hat and, if possible, sunglasses.
If you love ruins, then in order to climb them, it is better to wear well-laced sneakers, because summer flip-flops can easily be lost. You don't have to worry about going hungry while on this excursion. You can buy food and drinks near the temples. There are no strong drinks on sale, only beer. If you wish, you can take something stronger with you, but be careful, in the heat this can lead to unpredictable consequences.
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Angkor temple complex – the most important attraction of Cambodia. The complex is so huge that it can rightfully be included in the list of the most majestic and grandiose buildings in Southeast Asia. Thousands of people visit the temples of Angkor every year. Angkor Wat is a place that makes it worth visiting Cambodia at least once in your life. I don’t even know what impressed us more: or the Angkor temple complex in .
Angkor Wat temple complex
To avoid confusion, it is necessary to immediately clarify that the Angkor complex is called all temples, located on a vast territory, in addition there is temple Angkor Wat, built by the ruler Suryavarman II, which can be called the pearl of Angkor or the main temple.
Angkor Wat Temple - the pearl of the Angkor temple complex I will not describe the history of the creation of Angkor, talk about the beauty of the temples and unusual bas-reliefs, I will only share practical information that will be useful to you when planning a visit to the Angkor complex.
Before the trip, I carefully studied the reports of people who visited Angkor, wrote down useful information, reflected on the optimal route, and then tested this route in action. Today I will share this information with you. From this article you will learn:
Where is Angkor Wat and how to get there
The Angkor temple complex is located in Cambodia, near the city of Siem Reap. You will find all useful information about this city in the article:
You can get to Siem Reap by plane, bus and even by boat. If you are vacationing in or on, you can buy an organized excursion to Angkor at one of the travel agencies. But it’s still better to visit the temples of Angkor on your own. About how we got to Angkor from Pattaya:
If you are vacationing in Sihanoukwel, you can get to Siem Reap by bus. If your vacation takes place in Vietnam, for example in, then the best way to get to Siem Reap is by plane from. You can, of course, take a bus, but moving from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap will take quite a lot of time: 8 hours before and the same amount to Siem Reap.
Where to live in Angkor
Of course, you cannot live in the Angkor temple complex itself :) All tourists stay in the city of Siem Reap, closest to Angkor. The question often arises, Which hotel should I choose to be closer to the temples? In fact, the location of the hotel relative to the Angkor complex is not important; in any case, the temples cannot be reached on foot. To visit Angkor, you will have to hire transport or rent bicycles (but without good physical fitness, I would not advise you to do this).
There are many hotels in the city of Siem Reap to suit every taste and budget. I can recommend a good inexpensive hotel with a swimming pool, where we stayed for almost a whole week Bou Savy Guesthouse, I talked about it in detail in photos and videos.
When is the best time to visit Angkor Wat?
1. It is better not to visit Angkor Wat during major holidays , especially during the Khmer holidays, when entry to the complex is free for local residents.
On weekends and holidays there are a lot of tourists in Angkor Wat 2. It is not very pleasant to explore the Angkor temple complex and during hot or rainy season. The hottest month in Cambodia is April; the rainy season begins in mid-May and lasts until November.
In summer, umbrellas from the rain, and at other times of the year - from the sun 3. The optimal time to visit Angkor is autumn-winter. And when you arrive in Siem Reap in November, you will still find bright tropical vegetation around and see temples hidden in the green jungle. In February, we found the Angkor complex no longer so green and nature resembled our autumn :)
Angkor landscape in February. Ta Prohm Temple In mid-February, the morning was cloudy, and the sun appeared around lunchtime. On the one hand, in cloudy weather it is not so hot and it is more comfortable to explore the temples, but on the other hand, without the sun, all the photographs turned out gray and not bright.
Near and far temples of Angkor. Small and large circle of Angkor
The temples that are included in the standard Angkor ticket are called nearby churches, but temples that are located at a decent distance from Siem Reap are called distant temples.
Nearby temples of Angkor
Nearby temples are usually visited along two routes: small circle And Great Circle of Angkor. There are several more temples that are located on a branch of these two circles - these are the Bantaey Srei and Banteay Samre temples.
Banteay Samre Temple What is the small and large circle of Angkor?
Small and large circles of Angkor These are two routes for visiting temples, each lasting one day. The length of the small circle is approximately 17 km. The length of the large circle is 26 km. Diagram of the location of the Angkor temples, in which the small circle is indicated by a red line, and the large circle is indicated by a green line.
Map of the location of Siem Reap and the Ankor temple complex What temples are included in the small circle of Angkor?
- Angkor Wat
- Phnom Bakheng
- Baksei Chamkrong
- Angkor Thom: Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas and east to Victory Gate, Elephant Terrace and Terrace of the Leper King
- Chau Say Tevoda
- Thommanon
- Ta Keo
- Ta Prohm
- Banteay Kdei
- Prasat Kravan
- Several small temples
Majestic Bayonne 
Bayon Temple 
Ta Keo Temple - currently undergoing large-scale restoration, cranes and workers are spoiling the whole atmosphere 
Jungle-covered Ta Prohm 
What temples are included in the great circle of Angkor?
Big circle it also starts from the Angkor Wat temple and to the Bayon temple coincides with the small one, and then goes north to the northern gate of Angkor Thom and to the temples:
- Preah Khan
- Neak Pean
- Ta Som
- East Mebon
- Pre Rup
Neak Pean Temple 
Elephants at East Mebon Temple 
Distant temples of Angkor
The furthest temple from Siem Reap is the pyramid temple of Koh Ker. It is located about 120 km from the city, almost near the border with Thailand. Another distant temple is Beng Melea, located about 65 km from Siem Reap on the road to Koh Ker.
Also in Angkor you can visit:
- Temples of the Roluos Group
- Phnom Kulen National Park: sacred mountain with waterfall, river of 1000 lingas and Buddhist temple
- Tonle Sap lake with floating village
Sunrises and sunsets in Angkor
Sunrises in Angkor everyone is met near the lake in the Angkor Wat temple. There are a lot of people gathering, the earlier you arrive, the greater your chances of getting the best seats.
That's how many people want to watch the sunrise on the lake in front of Angkor! 
Everyone is waiting for dawn, but it’s still not there :))) They say that sunrises in Angkor are a magnificent sight. We did not catch beautiful sunrises; on the days of our visit to Angkor, in February, there were clouds in the sky in the morning, the sun appeared from behind the clouds only in the afternoon. On the one hand, this is good - it’s not so hot to climb the temples, but on the other hand, it’s a pity that we didn’t see all the beauty of Angkor Wat in the rays of the rising sun.
This is the only sunrise we were able to see in Angkor The second place to meet the sun is the former royal bath Spas Srang. We tried to catch the sunrise there too, but we weren’t lucky with the sun that day either :)
It's still a little dawn, but it's already about 7 am, the sun is already high Sunset at Angkor Basically everyone meets at Phnom Bakheng. Having heard enough about the wild crowds of people there at sunset and the difficult ascent and descent, we decided not to go.
You can also try watching the sunset from the Pre Rup or Ta Keo temples or look for other pyramid temples that you can climb and be higher than the jungle around you :)
To watch the sunset you need to climb somewhere higher. For example, at the Pre Rup Temple 
Or on Ta Keo I think that the sunset will be clearly visible from a hot air balloon ( important: You must book in advance for a hot air balloon ride at sunrise or sunset!).
We tried to watch the sunset near the Angkor Wat temple. That's what came out of it
Sunset near Angkor 
Sunset near Angkor 
Sunset near Angkor Dawn in February was around 6 am and sunset around 6 pm. Due to cloudy weather, we did not see beautiful sunrises and sunsets in Angkor. Maybe you'll have better luck.
Cost of visiting Angkor
To visit nearby Angkor temples, you can buy tickets for 1, 3 and 7 days.
Ticket prices to nearby Angkor temples
- Ticket price for 1 day – 37 dollars
- 3-day ticket price: $62 (valid on any 3 days during the week)
- The cost of a ticket to Angkor for 7 days is $72 (valid for any 7 days within a month)
Three and seven day tickets with photo. Take photos immediately when purchasing a ticket. The ticket office for one-day and multi-day tickets is different. There is a line in the morning (especially for one-day tickets), but it moves quickly.
Line at the box office at 5:15 a.m. 
Queue for 3 and 7 day tickets Visits to the following places are paid separately at other ticket offices
- The cost of visiting the Koh Ker Temple is $10.
- Entrance fee to Beng Melia Temple: $5
- Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre – with general Angkor tickets
- Phnom Kulen – $20
- Boat on Lake Tondesap – 20 dollars per person
- Hot air balloon ride over Angkor – $20
Opening hours of the temple complex
All Ankor temples (except Ankor Wat itself) can be visited from 7:30 to 17:30. The box office opens at 5:00. People start entering Ankor Wat to watch the sunrise from 5:30.
People are no longer allowed into the temple grounds after 17:00 (except for Phnom Bakheng, where they watch the sunset). I read in reviews that even after 18:00 people are not kicked out of churches. I don’t know, maybe this is true in small, inconspicuous temples, but they started kicking us out of the Angkor Wat temple almost immediately after 17:30. And by 18:00 they kicked us out very persistently. I don’t understand why they won’t allow people to stay in the temples until sunset?
You can go to the main temple of Angkor Wat (to the top) from 7:40 to 17:00.
Visiting hours for all temples except Ankor Wat itself are from 7:30 to 17:30 
Main tower of Angkor Wat Cost of renting a vehicle in Angkor
Travel between the temples of Angkor by taxi, tuk-tuk, bicycle or motorbike. Yes, ride a bike into the area of the nearby temples of Angkor now allowed!
In principle, with good physical fitness, you can go around a small circle on a bicycle. But keep in mind that it is very hot in Angkor from 9 am, so you need to leave before dawn, around 5 am. Bicycles can be rented at any hotel. Cost from 2 dollars per day.
The main transport around Angkor is here and there, which can accommodate up to 4 people. By tuk-tuk you can explore almost all the temples of the complex, except for the distant Koh Ker temple and Phnom Kulen National Park (there a tuk-tuk simply cannot go up the mountain). It is also better to go to Beng Melia by car, but some people also go by tuk-tuk.
You can rent a tuk-tuk either at your hotel or on the street. Don’t worry, there are so many tuk-tuks in Siem Reap that you will definitely not be left without transport :)
Our tuk-tuker :) Cost of a tuk-tuk in Angkor
- Small Circle of Angkor – 10-12 dollars
- Great Circle of Angkor - $15-18
- Additional for sunset or sunrise (early departure) – 5 dollars
- Additionally for the Bantaey Srei and Banteay Samre temples – 5-10 dollars
- Beng Melia - they told us the cost was 35 dollars, I read on Vinsky that people went there by tuk-tuk for 20 dollars
For a small circle of Angkor + sunrise (departure at 5 am from the hotel and return back to the hotel at 16:00) we paid 15 dollars.
For the big circle + Banteay Samre + early departure (we left at 5:30, were in the center of Siem Reap at 14:30) we paid 20 dollars.
We paid 7 dollars to go to the hot air balloon, then to the Angkor Wat temple and then take us to the street of bars (from 15:30 to 19:00).
Cost of a car with driver in Angkor
- Small Circle of Angkor – 25 – 30 dollars
- Great Circle of Angkor – 25 – 35 dollars
- Beng Melia and Koh Ker – 80 – 100 dollars
- Beng Melia – 35-40 dollars
- Phnom Kulen – $40
- Phnom Kulen + Banteay Srei + Banteay Samre – $50
Prices are approximate, the cost of tuk-tuks and cars with a driver increases every year. But you can bargain; it is often more convenient to hire a driver “in bulk” for 3-4 days at once, discuss the route and bargain for the price.
Another option for moving between temples is to take an organized excursion at any of the tour agencies in the city. But even if you come to Siem Rim alone, it is still more profitable to hire a tuk-tuk and explore the temples at your own pace.
For example, a tour of Angkor with a visit to four temples: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, Bayon will cost $11 per person for half a day and $13 for a whole day, with an additional entrance fee.
But it is more profitable to go on a tour to the distant temples of Koh Ker and Beng Melia if you are traveling alone. The tour will cost 45 dollars. The price includes entrance fees to these two temples. An independent trip there will cost at least $10+$5+$80 = $95.
Prices for organized tours to the temples of Angkor and other nearby attractions 
Prices for organized tours to the temples of Angkor and other nearby attractions Important: when you negotiate with tuk-tuk and car drivers clearly state your action plan: What time do you leave the hotel, what temples do you visit, do you stop at a cafe for lunch, do you return to the hotel for breakfast after dawn, etc. and so on. Khmers are generally lazy people, so if you don’t clearly indicate which temples you want to see, they will take you to 2-3 temples and say that’s all, it’s time to go home.
But sometimes tuk-tukers are smart and can tell you in what order it is best to explore the temples, what is worth visiting, and what, given limited time, can be skipped. It’s good when a tuk-tuk drives up to one entrance to the temple and waits for you from the opposite entrance. This is especially true for long temples, so that after inspection, you don’t have to go back in the heat.
Remember what your tuk-tuk looks like, sometimes it is not very easy to find your driver and vehicle in a crowd. The right tuk-tuker will look for you and meet you at the exit of their temple, but he will only receive payment for his work after returning you to the hotel :)
Guides in Angkor
Do you need a guide in Angkor? If finances allow, then I would advise taking a guide to Angkor. We toured the complex ourselves, but beforehand I read a lot on the Internet about the temples and we had an audio guide to some of the temples. But all the same, I think that we missed a lot and many questions remained unclear for us.
A good guide will tell you everything, show you where to take an interesting shot, and take a photo of you against the backdrop of the temples. I believe that a guide is needed in Angkor (especially if you come on a long-awaited vacation, and not since we are traveling on a budget in Asia). But need a good guide. Bad things won't do any good. But I can’t tell you how to choose a good guide 🙁 Previously, on Vinsk, people shared the coordinates of guides, but the guides became impudent and raised their prices, so this shop was closed. The guide Virak was once praised. I don’t know if he’s working in Angkor now, or maybe he’s already gotten so rich from Russian tourists that he lives happily ever after :)
I would take a guide to the main temples for one day. And then she would have walked on her own.
Approximate prices for a guide in Angkor
- English speaking guides – $25 – $35 per day
- Russian-speaking guides – $40-60 per day
You can order a guide or transport in advance, contact us and discuss all your questions.
The Angkor temple complex is huge, do not think that you will be able to see all the temples in a few days. Yes, this is not necessary, by the end of the second day all the temples I saw merged in my head into one big stone :)
Somewhere in the temples of Angkor. On the second day, all the temples in my head merged into one big stone :) Look at photos of temples before your trip and decide for yourself which ones you definitely want to see. The most popular temples are:
They are always crowded and you have to try hard to walk through these temples without crowds of tourists!
In addition to the main temples, I also really liked:
In small churches, crowds of people appear in influxes: they brought a group of organized tourists - noise, hubbub, inability to take proper photographs, and after 10-15 minutes the crowd subsided and you wander alone again. This is the beauty of an individual visit to the Angkor temple complex.
Determine for yourself what you want: explore as many temples as possible or simply enjoy the walk and the atmosphere of ancient Angkor.
We explored the temples of Angkor without haste: it’s better to see less, but enjoy the walk and feel the atmosphere of the ancient city If you come to Angkor for 3 days and don’t want to bother planning a route, then the easiest way is to follow the standard route.
Angkor itinerary for 3 days
1 day. Small circle (+ sunrise or sunset)
Day 2. Big circle + optional Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre
Day 3. Distant temples of Koh Ker and Beng Melia
There are different opinions on how best to move around the small and large circles: clockwise or counterclockwise, so as to avoid interfering with crowds of tourists. We drove clockwise.
Angkor itinerary for 2 days
If you come for only 2 days, then on the first day it is quite possible to explore the main temples from the small and large circles (it is better, of course, to travel by car: it will be faster and you will rest under air conditioning while traveling), and on the second day - distant temples.
If you want to visit Phnom Kulen, you can combine it with Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre temples. When visiting Phnom Kulen, you should take into account that on the way to Mt. reverse movement. Until 13:00 all transport goes up, and after 13:00 - back down. Those. You can’t come to Phnom Kulen after lunch!
When is the best time to go to visit temples?
I believe that to explore the temples of Angkor you need to leave the hotel as soon as possible. As much as I like to sleep and getting up at 5-6 in the morning is a huge stress for me, but I advise you to move yourself and leave to explore Angkor as early as possible.
Why? Firstly, in order to have time to see at least one of the main temples before groups of organized tourists arrive to it, and secondly, after 10 am it becomes so hot that visiting the temples becomes very difficult.
This is the crowd at Bayon Temple already at 8 am How to plan your day in Angkor?
There are different ways to plan your day in Angkor :)
Option 1. Having left early in the morning at dawn and having examined several temples, return to the hotel around 9 o'clock, have breakfast, sleep, swim in the pool, and then after lunch go further to explore.
Option 2. Leave the hotel after an early breakfast at 7-8 in the morning, return to the hotel at 12-13 for lunch and rest, and continue visiting the temples at 15:00.
Option 3. Everything is the same as in option 2, but have lunch somewhere on the territory of the temple complex and rest a little (maybe even sleep in the car or in a tuk-tuk), and not return to the hotel.
Option 4. Leave the hotel early in the morning, take with you a packed lunch and a thermos of coffee. Visit several temples, and then at 9 o’clock have breakfast somewhere on the ruins overlooking Angkor. Explore the temples before lunch, and after lunch return to the hotel to rest. This is exactly the option we acted on :)
We ordered breakfast to go at the hotel, brewed coffee in a thermos and had a great breakfast right in the ancient temple :) Important: If you plan to return to the hotel for breakfast, for an afternoon rest, or into the city for lunch, agree on this option with the driver in advance. Most likely, you will have to pay some extra amount.
As I mentioned above, the most popular temples are Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm. Angkor Wat, it seems to me, is generally not really possible to explore without a crowd of people, but you can arrive at Bayon and Ta Prohm early in the morning and have time to walk around them almost completely alone.
You won't be able to see Angkor Wat without a crowd of people. So we did this:
1 day:
- Dawn near Angkor Wat
- When the whole crowd ran to see Angkor Wat after dawn, we went to Bayon
- From Bayon we walked to the temples of Bapuon and Pimeanakas, where we had breakfast
- We examined the terrace of the Elephants and the Leper King and drove further along the small circle of Angkor
- We visited the temples of the small circle (except Ta Prohm) and returned to Angkor Wat
- We walked for two hours in the heat at Angkor Wat
In principle, I liked the route, but walking after 11 days was already hard and hot, so my impressions of the Angkor Wat temple remained blurry. Perhaps, before Angkor Wat, we had to return to the hotel to rest, and by 4 pm we should have moved back to inspect it. But I knew that if I returned to the hotel, I wouldn’t want to go to any other temples that day. Still, it’s very difficult to see temples because you’re not used to it, and even in the heat :) A few photos from the first day:
Day 2:
- Dawn near Srah Srang
- Handsome Ta Prom
- And further along the big circle with a stop at Banteay Samra
- We ended the day with the Hindu temple Prasat Kravan
With this plan, we were able to explore Ta Prohm without too many crowds, but we could still go straight to it instead of waiting for the sunrise near Spas Srang, the sky was still in the clouds that day. Some photos from the second day:
I don’t remember where :) 
Day 3:
After lunch we went up in a hot air balloon and walked around the Angkor Wat temple for about two hours before sunset. A few photos from day three:
Hot air balloon over Angkor 
Bas-reliefs in the Angkor Wat temple All the most large and popular temples are located in a small circle. Therefore, it may be worth visiting the temples of the large circle on the first day, and leaving the temples of the small circle for the second day - for a snack :)
Despite the fact that the small circle is called small, you will have to walk in it and examine it more than in a big circle. In a large circle, it takes more time to travel by transport between temples, during which you can rest. In general, the small circle of Angkor is more difficult to visit than the large circle.
Angkor Wat Temple is best visited during afternoon, before lunch the sun shines directly into the lens.
Try to visit Ta Prohm and Bayon as soon as possible earlier in the morning or in the evening before sunset.
Take water with you. I'm very thirsty! Our first tuk-tuk driver supplied us with water, but the second tuk-tuk did not give us water. You can also buy water and fruits near the temples, but the price will be high.
Riding a tuk-tuk in the winter morning Cold, you need to wear a blouse. But walking during the day is very hot.
Dress up comfortable shoes, especially if you plan to climb the stairs to the top of the temples. It is better to choose closed shoes, there is a lot of dust and sand, your feet instantly become dirty.
And yes, be prepared to climb a lot of steps. The next day my legs just fell off :)
Be be careful when going up and down the stairs of temples. There have been fatal accidents at Angkor. Now in most churches the old staircases have been closed and the rises have been equipped with new staircases with railings. But not everywhere! Be especially careful when climbing to Ta Keo!
New staircase at Baphuon Temple Take wet wipes with you to wipe your hands. On the descents and ascents you have to hold onto the steps with your hands, and they are all covered in red dust.
It is most convenient to climb the temples in shorts or trousers, although I met many girls in long skirts. Short skirts will definitely not be comfortable :)
Do not wear white and black clothes - you will have to sit on the stones: on white, all the dirt is immediately visible, and on black, dust.
You can walk around the Angkor temple complex in any clothes, but you are not allowed into the main temple of Angkor Wat in shorts and a T-shirt! A scarf on your shoulders will not save the situation, and there is nowhere to rent clothes.
If possible, set aside five days for Siem Reap and Angkor to see everything leisurely and take breaks between days in the temples. We were in Siem Reap for 6 full days, but we only allocated half of them to the temples. If you are not a historian or a super lover of antiquities, then after some time all these temples will simply get mixed up in your head and you won’t really remember which of them you were in and what you saw.
Behave yourself properly. Just like in the photo below - no need to do it!
Don't mark yourself on the ancient stones of Angkor! 
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Angkor is a temple city of the Khmer Empire, located on the shores of Lake Tonle Sap. Although Angkor was never included in the list of the New Seven Wonders, visiting the ancient capital of the Khmers is the cherished dream of many travelers. But what do we know about Angkor? Our review contains the past and present of the holy city of the Khmers, as well as a story about the main temples of Cambodia.
HOW DID ANGKOR COME TOGETHER?
Some things in this world are constant. As you know, the ruins of the ancient city of Angkor are located in the center of modern Cambodia. An interesting fact here is that in ancient times Angkor was not only the political and religious, but also the geographical center of the Khmer empire, so it turns out, whatever one may say, the sacred city, regardless of historical upheavals, was and remains the center of the country.
The name Angkor translates as “city”, and the Khmers built their sacred city in a special place. It is located between Phnom Kulen Mountain and the Great Lake, and the Siem Reap River flows through it. The Khmers saw magical symbolism in the arrangement of rivers, lakes and mountains. Phnom Kulen was considered a kind of personification of Mount Mahendrapura, where, according to legend, Shiva lived, and the Siem Reap River was associated with the sacred Ganges River, and, by the way, according to legend, it was to this area of Cambodia that the goddess Ganga descended from heaven, entangled in Shiva’s hair.
Angkor was built from the seventh century AD to the twelfth century approximately according to the following scheme. The first temple complex was built here by Emperor Indravarman the First in 881 AD. The example turned out to be contagious; after Inravarman, each subsequent Khmer ruler decided to build a temple in Angkor.
Ashrams, swimming pools, hospitals and houses of ordinary residents always appeared near the temples. By the way, the size of Khmer houses strictly obeyed the hierarchy that existed in society - the lower the social status, the smaller the home should be.
Most of the houses of ordinary townspeople were wooden with a thatched roof, which is why none of these structures have survived to this day.
Due to the fact that each new emperor built another temple complex in Angkor, the center of the city constantly shifted depending on which temple was considered the main one here at a given time. In the end, the territory of Angkor expanded to 200 kilometers.
Thus, from approximately the tenth century AD to the end of the fifteenth century, Ankor was a city of over a million people, while it was not only the religious, but also the political capital of the Khmer Empire, which dominated Southeast Asia at that time.
Unfortunately, in the fifteenth century the city was captured by the Siamese. After the plunder and the epidemic that happened here a little later, Angkor was deserted. Soon the city was completely swallowed up by the jungle, and many Khmer temples were rediscovered by archaeologists only in the nineteenth century.
THE FLOWING OF HINDU ANGKOR
Angkor flourished in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Of course, many of the local temples are much older, but the most beautiful surviving ones (including the legendary Angkor Wat) were built during this period.
In the photo: the pool at the entrance to Angkor Wat
Travelers who visited Angkor at that time called the Khmer capital a city-kingdom, because on its territory, in addition to the famous temples, there were hospitals, swimming pools, inns and many ashrams.
Foreigners were also amazed by the water supply system that existed in Angkor: canals, dams and pools called barays. Well, of course, the Royal Palace, built in Angkor, was a real embodiment of luxury and a symbol of the power of the empire.
ANGKOR WAT
Famous Angkor Wat- a temple complex dedicated to the god Vishnu, the largest religious building in the world - was built by Emperor Suryavarman in the second quarter of the 12th century.
It must be said that all the temples of Angkor have common features, and this is not only about the bas-reliefs, which traditionally depict iconic scenes from Hindu mythology, for example, the great churning - the process as a result of which the gods and demons received amrita - a drink that gives immortality.
In the photo: the courtyard of Angkor Wat
In their structure, Khmer temples most closely resemble pyramids made of large stones (Angkor Wat, for example, consists of three pyramids). Such structures were called a temple-mountain.
Another interesting point. In the Khmer tradition, the temple is not a place for prayer, but a place of residence of the gods, so mere mortals were prohibited from entering the temple; only clergy and representatives of the aristocracy could freely enter the temple.
In the photo: the courtyard and baray of Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat- the personification of classical Khmer architecture. Rectangular structure surrounded by a moat; temple-mountain, which is crowned by three pyramids.
However, two important points distinguish Angkor Wat from all other temples in the city. Firstly, this is the first temple dedicated to Vishnu; all previous temples in the city were dedicated only to Shiva. Secondly, Angkor Wat “looks west”, although all other temples of Angkor are oriented to the east, that is, towards the rising sun. Although today the temple is open to everyone, visitors to Angkor Wat must adhere to a dress code; you will not be allowed inside in shorts.
However, it is much more interesting to look not at the interior decoration of the temple, but at the bas-reliefs decorating its walls; they are excellent illustrations of scenes from Indian mythology.
In the photo: bas-relief “great churning” at Angkor Wat
Although Angkor Wat was founded as a Hindu temple, it “converted to Buddhism” in the sixteenth century and continues to be a Buddhist sanctuary to this day.
In the photo: Buddha statue at Angkor Wat
Another interesting nuance: Angkor Wat was never completely abandoned. Despite everything, services were always held here, which is why the temple complex has survived to this day in much better condition than even later Khmer buildings.
BUDDHIST ANGKOR
During its history, Angkor managed to be both a Hindu and a Buddhist temple city.
The fact is that the Khmers originally professed Judaism, but by the end of the twelfth century it was replaced by Buddhism. The largest number of Buddhist temples in Angkor were built by Jayavarman VII, who ruled the Khmer country at the end of the twelfth century. By the way, according to some historians, the emperor not only built temples, but also served as a model for the sculptors who sculpted the faces of Buddha in these temples.
ANGKOR THOM
The main masterpiece of Jayavarman VII - Angkor Thom temple complex. According to the emperor's plan, Angkor Thom (translated as “Big City”) was to become a separate city within Angkor, the capital within the capital of the Khmer Empire.
No sooner said than done. Angkor Thom became not just a complex of buildings, this place was a scaled-down model of the universe as the Khmers saw it. The “Big City” is a square protected by a fortress wall and a moat filled with water. This is how the Khmers imagined the world - a piece of land surrounded by water.
Canals were laid around the city, and barai pools were created inside, in which, paradoxically, even women were allowed to bathe.
At least, the Chinese Zhou Daguan, who visited Angkor in the thirteenth century, talks about collective bathing of the fair sex. The faces of Buddha can be seen on the towers of Angkor Thom and the walls surrounding the large city. A road leads into the city, which is “guarded” by sculptures of demons and gods.
There are several interesting objects inside the city. The first is the state temple of Jayavarman VII, it is rightfully considered the second temple of Angkor after Angkor Wat.
From afar, the temple seems like a simple pile of stones, but when you get closer to it, you realize that these are real pyramids, decorated with images of Buddha. Bayon is crowned with 54 towers - this is the number of provinces the ancient Khmer empire consisted of. In the eastern part of Angkor Thom is the Terrace of the Elephants, which is easily recognizable by its sculptures of elephants and bas-reliefs depicting hunting scenes. According to the generally accepted version, this is where the emperor sat during ceremonies.
Nowadays, near Bayon one can constantly observe personalities depicting Shiva, garuda or apsaras. The price for a photo with them is the traditional 5 dollars.
TA PROHM
The second temple ensemble, erected by Jayavarman VII, was seen by all those who watched the film “Lara Croft - Tomb Raider,” because the film was filmed on the territory of this complex. The temple is dedicated to the mother of the emperor.
At the time of Jayavarman VII, more than 12 thousand people lived in Ta Prokhm, the inside of the temple was decorated with gold and precious stones, and on the territory of the complex there were hospitals, each of which was staffed not only by doctors, but also by priests and astrologers.
In the photo: trees entwining the Ta Prokhm temple
Today, the gigantic temple complex is in ruins, and the roofs and walls of the buildings are entwined with tree roots. The spectacle is beautiful and creepy at the same time. .
In the photo: ruins and trees in Angkor
PRAH KHAN
The name Preah Knah is translated as “sword of glory” or “victory”, because this is the name that the sword of the same Jayavarman VII bore. The temple is dedicated to the emperor's victory over the Chams, as a result of which the Cham country became a province of Cambodia.
Like all occult buildings of Angkor, Preah Knah is huge; the temple complex, along with a hospital and an inn for pilgrims, occupied an area of approximately 56 hectares.
The peculiarity of Preah Khan is that the temple complex was surrounded on all sides by ditches, through which water flowed into reservoirs and a reservoir, in the center of which a pyramid was erected.
In addition to the pyramid temple, local statues (they have been preserved in surprisingly good condition) and bas-reliefs deserve attention: sculptures depicting garudas and bas-reliefs with dancing apsaras are found here at every step.
By the way, according to scientists, Preah Khan was the site of a curious ritual in ancient times. Celebrations were held here in honor of Buddha: the Buddha statue was dressed in luxurious clothes, cooks prepared food especially for the statue, and musicians and dancers entertained the statue with performances. Of course, now no such rituals are carried out in Preah Khan, but the temple is not completely abandoned; incense and candles are still burned here.
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Yulia Malkova- Yulia Malkova - founder of the website project. In the past, he was the editor-in-chief of the elle.ru Internet project and the editor-in-chief of the cosmo.ru website. I talk about travel for my own pleasure and the pleasure of my readers. If you are a representative of hotels or a tourism office, but we do not know each other, you can contact me by email: [email protected]
