Suggested Iternaries

The Temples of Angkor: Suggested Itineraries

There are dozens of temple ruins in the Siem Reap area. Your temple itinerary depends largely on how much time you have and your level of interest, though some temples are ‘must sees.’ Any itinerary should include the legendary ruins of Angkor Wat and the giant faces of Bayon. These two temple ruins offer the most spectacular and unique examples of Angkorian art and architecture. On the road trip to Bayon, you will also see the South Gate of Angkor Thom and some other minor ruins. As it is within walking distance of Bayon, most itineraries can easily include central Angkor Thom, with its artistically interesting terraces and massive ‘temple-mountains, Baphuon and Phimeanakas. Due to lighting conditions, it is best to visit Angkor Wat in the afternoon, so most itineraries begin in the morning with the Angkor Thom.

As your schedule allows, build the rest of your itinerary around visiting each type of major ruins – temple mountains such as Pre Rup, Ta Keo, Bakong (one of temples in Roluos Group) and West Mebon; flat, sprawling monastic complexes such as Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Preah Khan and Ta Som, and unique monuments such as Neak Pean and Srah Srang. The Roluos Group, which comprises the monuments of an early Khmer capital, lies 12 km west of Siem Reap, outside the main temple complex. It is a bit out of the way, but offers some fine examples of early Angkorian art and should be included in two or more than two day itineraries. Of special note is the artistically exquisite but more distant temple, Banteay Srey. On the road trip to Banteay Srey, you will also see Banteay Samre is always quiet and peaceful. Other impressive temples outside the main temple complex are: Beng Mealea located about 70 km from Angkor Wat, which is largely unrestored with trees and thick bush thriving amidst its towers and courtyards’ and many of its stone lying in great heaps, Kbal Spean located more than 50 km 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), Phnom Kulen, the most important historical site which marked the birth of Angkor Civilization, consists of big view of waterfall, 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 km from Angkor in the province of Preah Vihear, used to be an ancient capital of Cambodia (AD 928-942). If there is any way of squeezing it into your itinerary, it is well worth it!

Suggested Itineraries:
Half-Day Tour
If start in the morning, visit Angkor Thom (South Gate, Bayon, Baphuon, Royal Palace, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King)
If start in the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat and sunset on Phnom Bakheng

One-day Tour
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

Two-day tour
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: Art school (Artisans d’Angkor) and Floating Village (Tonle Sap Lake)
2nd option
Morning: Thommanon, Chau Say Thevoda, Ta Keo, Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang (Artificial Lake) and Prasat Kravan.
Afternoon: Pre Rup or Banteay Samre and Banteay Srey

Three-day Tour
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 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 Art School (Artisans d’Angkor) and Floating Village (Tonle Sap Lake)

Four-day Tour
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 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, Art School (Artisans d’Angkor) and Floating Village (Tonle Sap Lake)


Of Special Interest
Sunrise: Angkor Wat, (alternative: Srah Srang)
Sunset: Phnom Bakheng, (alternative: Floating Village)
Trees growing from temple ruins: Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Ta Som, Beng Mealea
Giant carvings of faces: Bayon, the Gates of Angkor Thom, Banteay Kdei, Ta Promh, Ta Som
Notable artistry/carvings: Angkor Wat, Banteay Srey, Bayon

All mentioned itineraries above can be adjusted to meet with your requirements.