Weekend Guide: Siem Reap and Angkor Wat

The Red Jacket Weekend Guides are quick itineraries on how to make the most of your short time in a specific city or region, without breaking the bank. From the best sights and the tastiest restaurants, you can trust RJT Weekend Guides to provide you with the best possible experience.

Angkor Wat and Siem Reap

Angkor Wat is the ancient temple of the Khmer empire, originally constructed as a Hindu temple and later converted into a Buddhist temple. However, there is so much more to see other than the temple complex, such as the gigantic city of Angkor Thom, the “Tomb Raider” temple: Ta Prohm, and the beautifully intricate Banteay Srei. The days might be long, but feeling like you’re Indiana Jones exploring abandoned temples and tombs is absolutely incredible.

Day 0

There is only one affordable way to get around the Angkor Wat complex, by tuk tuk. If you can, the day before you start this plan, find a tuk tuk driver just on the street or through your hotel, go to the Angkor Enterprise Ticket Center and buy a three day ticket, which will be valid for the day you arrive and the next two days. If you have time, you can visit more of the temple complex on this first day, but, whatever you do, organize with your tuk tuk driver to be picked up at a certain time tomorrow.

Day 1

Wake up before sunrise and plan to arrive at Angkor Wat about 45 minutes before the sun rises. If you don’t already have tickets, I would swap the plan for days one and two so you allow yourself plenty of time to get to Angkor Wat before sunrise and so you can get your tickets the morning you go into the park. Anyways, it’s about a 20-30 minutes drive by tuk tuk to Angkor Wat, and when you get there, you’ll walk across the bridge into Angkor Wat. Cross through the initial structure and along the causeway, past two identical buildings, and you’ll see two ponds. Step off the causeway and head to the pond on the right. You’re going to be waiting in the dark for about 45 minutes, but slowly the ponds will fill up with more and more people, and invariably, people will be shoving you for a spot at the front of the pond. However, it doesn’t matter, the sunrise at Angkor Wat is still one of the most incredible sights I’ve ever seen. Absolutely nothing compares to the sun rising and seeing the perfectly reflective pool with this ancient temple in the background.

Whenever you feel ready, head into the temple. It’s organized into three different levels, each one smaller than the last, but each one with more and more stunning views. You can basically go wherever you want in the temple complex (within reason) and one of my favorite things to do was to just wander around and explore the gigantic complex.

But Angkor Wat isn’t even the largest site in the complex. That honor belongs to Angkor Thom, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire which is a total of 9 square kilometers. Tell your tuk tuk driver to take you to Bayon, the main temple at the center of Angkor Thom, which looks exactly like the monkey king’s palace from The Jungle Book. Tell him to pick you up at the Terrace of the Leper King, which is a short walk away. Explore Bayon and be sure to take note of the 216 gigantic faces of King Jayavaraman VII carved all over the temple. 

Following Bayon, walk along the road to the temple Baphuon, a Hindu temple with a very long causeway connecting the main temple to the road. During the 20th century, almost the entire Baphuon temple was in ruins, so, with the help of the French, the Cambodian government reconstructed the temple in a process that took over 50 years. The temple you see today was opened in 2011. 

Next, head out the back of Baphuon and walk along the trail past Phimeanakas, another temple, and then to the Terrace of the Elephants, the base of the Khmer King’s audience hall and where he would hold events and examine his soldiers on the field out in front of you. Walk to your left down to the end of the raised platform to the Terrace of the Leper King, with its maze-like structure.

After this, meet your tuk tuk driver and tell them to take you to their favorite restaurant within the park, which will probably involve some traditional Khmer food. If you already packed lunch from your hotel, go ahead and eat that. Next, head to my personal favorite temple, Ta Prohm, or the “Tomb Raider Temple.” 

Ta Prohm was just another temple in the Khmer age, but today, it’s one of the few that was left untouched when UNESCO restored the temples around this region. This means it feels more ancient and mysterious because it has gigantic trees growing out of the buildings. Ta Prohm was also used as a filming location for Tomb Raider, hence the moniker “Tomb Raider Temple.” 

Explore Ta Prohm for as long as you want and when you’re ready, head back to your tuk tuk and tell them to take you back to Siem Reap. You’re going to want to get some rest for another big day tomorrow!

Day 2

Wake up early yet again and take either a tuk tuk or a hired car out to Banteay Srei, a completely different type of temple from the ones you saw yesterday. Banteay Srei was a Hindu temple that is quite a bit smaller than other temples in the Angkor Wat region. But what it lacks in size it makes up for in detail, with absolutely incredible ornate carvings honoring various gods and such. It’s about a 30-45 minute drive outside of Siem Reap, but it is absolutely worth it.

After Banteay Srei, head back closer to the Angkor Wat complex. You’re going to see four smaller temples that should take about 15-30 minutes each that are located on the northern side of the complex. 

First up is Preah Khan, a temple dedicated to the father of Khmer king Jayavarman VII. It’s cool because it is largely unrestored like Ta Prohm, but it has none of the crowds.

Second is Banteay Brei, yet another ruinous temple that is interesting for its architecture, but is nice because it is rarely visited by tourists.

Next up is Neak Pean, a medical temple that was believed to heal anyone who stepped in the pools within the temple. I like this temple because you have to walk along a long causeway to the artificial island where the pools are located.

Last is Ta Som, which I like because it has a massive strangler fig on one of the entrances which is absolutely incredible. The rest of the temple is nice to see too, but that strangler fig is key. 

After this circuit, grab some lunch within the park and then head to the Eastern Mebon, a large temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. This temple has tons of elephant sculptures and other animals guarding the different levels, which make it a bit unique. Be careful about the steep steps up to the top. 

Following this, if you have time, you can head back to Siem Reap for a quick rest, if not, then go to Pre Rup temple just down the road and watch the sunset over the forest and other temples in the area. A perfect way to end two days in Angkor Wat!!