Cambodia is still a hidden gem in Southeast Asia. And its “city of temples”, Siem Reap, is home to the world heritage site — Angkor Wat. Read on to find out why you should spend 3 days exploring all of the breathtaking temples making up the temple complex at Angkor Wat.
Where is Siem Reap
Siem Reap is in northern Cambodia, about a 6-hour drive or 1-hour flight from Phnom Penh. We recommend flying into Phnom Penh on a major carrier, spending a few days there and then heading up to Siem Reap on a local airline.
How to Explore Angkor Wat
To really explore all the major temples, you will need at least 3 days to do it comfortably. We also recommend hiring a tuk tuk driver for each day you will be exploring, however you really don’t need a “guide”. The difference between the two is that a tuk tuk driver you hire for the day will pick you up at your hotel, bring you to any temple you ask for or follow one of the popular routes, wait for you at a designated spot outside the temples and then bring you to the next one and then back to your hotel in the afternoon.
Ask your hotel to arrange this for you; you should expect to pay between $18-$25 for the day. Also, plan to wake up early, you will want to do the majority of your exploring in the morning to avoid large crowds and the excessive afternoon heat.
Angkor Wat Temples
There are dozens of major temples and dozens of smaller temples in Siem Reap to explore. Most visitors make it to: Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm. We visited those as well as several others. And we loved them all, they were all so unique and just awe-inspiring, it was such a wonderful trip, we highly recommend it to anyone interested in history and ancient architecture.
Angkor Wat – Angkor Wat is certainly the most famous of the temples, but beware it is also the busiest. Definitely watch sunrise if you have time, but just know that if it’s a cloudy day it won’t be impressive. Plan on taking several hours to explore the grounds, but if its crowded, don’t feel guilty about leaving and hitting up the other temples because they are equally as breathtaking and most likely far less crowded.
Bayon – This was our favorite temple of them all. Filled with beautiful faces throughout the temple complex, it is just something we’ve never seen before. We liked it so much we went back again on the second day of our visit when it was sunnier to make sure we explored every nook and cranny!
Ta Prohm – Ta Prohm is a 10th century Khmer temple engulfed in gigantic trees where Paramount Pictures filed Tomb Raider in 2001. It’s certainly an other-worldly site to see!
Where to Stay
Any temple exploration trip to Siem Reap will mean early mornings and hours of trekking through the ruins, so you’ll want a luxurious and convenient home base. Our choice was Templation, a Maads Hotel. Located equidistant between downtown and Angkor, Templation was convenient for early morning adventures at the temples and evenings downtown for dinners and the famous night market.
Templation is a sprawling boutique resort. When you arrive, you walk through a beautiful path surrounded by waterfalls and greenery. And after a refreshing welcome drink of iced ginger tea, you’ll be guided to your villa. Trust me, you’ll want to go for a pool villa. They are truly luxurious! The pools are huge, and the accommodations are modern, clean and tasteful. Also, one of their signature design features are the open-air bathrooms, complete with an outdoor shower. But don’t worry, they are 100% private!
You feel as if you are in your own private oasis for your entire stay.
So after you take a few hours to explore the temples, head back to Templation for a tasty lunch and a cool afternoon swim in your private pool! Keep an eye out for our next blog on all the amazing dining available at Templation and throughout Siem Reap! But here’s a little sneak peak into whats in store for you and your friends at Templation.
If you are interested in exploring Cambodia, read about Phnom Penh and Siem Reap’s food scene for more travel tips and tricks!