There are hundreds of temples in the Angkor complex, and, although most visitors spend two or three days here, others take a week in an attempt to see as much as they can. You can rent bicycles or hire a car and driver (we hired the hotel driver who picked us up at the boat jetty, who turned out to be a local politician, and who gave us great information on Angkor and Siem Reap, well worth the $20 per day that we paid him).
Angkor has three main sites, Angkor Wat, the complex of Angkor Thom (including the Bayon), and the wonderful jungle-encroached temple of Ta Phrom.
Angkor Wat Top 5
1) AngkorWat is the largest temple in the complex, and scholars suggest it was a funerary temple for King Suryavarman II. It faces west, so catches a beautiful glow at sunset. It is surrounded by a moat, entered by a causeway, and has towers that can be climbed. Its ground-floor bas reliefs are meant to be viewed in a counter-clockwise fashion, and a highlight for many are the reliefs of the apsara dancers in the upper levels of the interior.
2) Angkor Thom and the Bayon. Some 10 sqkm in size, the walled city of Angkor Thom was finished in the 12th century. Its five monumental gates are decorated with elephant trunks and an image of the botthisativa Avalolkiteshvara. A few meters to the south of the moat is the Bayon, considered to be the area’s second major attraction, after Angkor Wat. This temple features 54 towers and massive heads of Avalolkiteshvara. Sunrise is the best time to see the Bayon, which lies in the geometric center of Angkor Thom.
3) Ta Phrom, with its tree-encroached temples, towers, and corridors, was left pretty much the way it and all the other Angkorean structures were found, overrun with tress, vines, and other greenery. This highly romantic spot was not without controversy, as a number of scholars bemoaned leaving Ta Phrom to the elements. Countless visitors love the poetic aura of Ta Phrom, and it’s a must-see.
4) Banteay Serai is a wonderful late 10th century Hindu temple 20 km northeast of the Bayon, with three beautiful central towers, and exceptional bas-reliefs. If you’re fortunate, you’ll encounter a troupe of disabled musicians playing traditional music under the trees, where you can enjoy the atmosphere and buy a cassette of their music.
5) Follow the Sun! Veteran travelers like to see the Bayon at sunrise,when morning sun captures the large Khmer stone faces, then visit Ta Phrom at mid-day, before moving on to Angkor Wat during late afternoon and sunset.
Passes to get into Angkor Wat
There is a free picture taking service at the checkpoint, but please consider bringing your own passport-sized photo to accelerate the process.
A one-day pass is $20 USD, three-day pass it $40USD, and a seven-day pass is $60USD. Visit the ruins on the arrival day after 4pm, provided you purchase the entrance pass starting on the next day. This allows you to view sunsets in the Angkor area prior to the day your pass is in effect.
