A sense of exploration set in as we wandered through these ancient abandoned ruins. Thoughts of what happened here arose, who lived here, who carved these exquisite embedded relief details into these magnificent structures. Angkor temples are one of the world marvels and top travel destination that you can’t miss when visiting South East Asia. And after experiencing and witnessing it with my own eyes, I now understand why. We created a list of the top 10 must see temples in Siem Reap with a bonus one at the end, you will be amazed at the stunning panoramic view and sunset.
As a mother and daughter duo (well hubby went with too, so trio), we opted to explore the less-visited temples,  the off-the-beaten-path, and a few must-see popular temples like Angkor Wat itself. The main aim, not too squeeze in as many as possible, but to travel slowly and digest what we are observing. Keeping in mind that my mom of 60+ is travelling with,  although she is rather fit, we still did not want her to feel as if she is participating in a workout session, so the selection of temples are a range of easy/moderate access to one a bit more of a challenge.
So here is our list of 10 must see temples in Siem Reap over 3 days, plus a bonus temple with the most amazing sunset in Siem Reap.
10 must see temples in Siem Reap in 2 ½ days Â
Day 1Â
We started the day by purchasing our 3-day pass at the official ticket office.
Reminder: You can only buy your pass at the official ticket office, they are not available at the temples.
Prae Roup
Arriving I started to clicking away, as I turned to ask my mom if she would like to climb to the top, I realized I was talking to myself. Nowhere to be seen, until I noticed someone waving at me from halfway up Prae Roup, not waiting around, her adventurous side kicked in. I was not too sure if she would want to climb these steep stairs. Lesson learnt, don’t underestimate my mom. And I definitely know where I got my explorer genes from. My mom the adventurer, the explorer.
Ta SomÂ
Our second stop was one of the less frequented temples it seemed or we were just lucky, with very few people it was not to difficult to get photos without anyone in. Absolutely beautiful how nature has intertwined with the structures.
Neak PeanÂ
This man-made island on which Neak Pean is located is quite impressive, although the temple is rather small. To reach you have to cross a bridge with scenic water views.
Preah KhanÂ
A rather big complex, with little paths around the outer wall, this allows you to walk around without seeing anyone for quite some time. Various interesting buildings and structures with a massive tree overtaking part of the one building.
Banteay Srei
After lunch, we set off to the furthest temple on our list. Arriving in the late afternoon the sun played beautifully on the reliefs, and I can see why it is known as the jewel of Khmer art.
Banteay SamreÂ
The last temple for the first day is named after the ancient people of Indochina and we basically had it all to ourselves as everyone else set off to the popular sunset spots. Feeling as I was transported back in time, with the sun setting and no one around, just like an explorer of the past.
Also see: 7 Photography tips for getting the best shots at Angkor Wat
Day 2Â
Angkor Wat SunriseÂ
Waking up at 4.30 am to view the sunrise over Angkor Wat, it was busy but with thoughtful planning beforehand on where to stand, we got to see a beautiful sunrise without being stuck in the crowd.
After the sun had risen and everyone was heading off to explore Angkor Wat we enjoyed our packed brekkie prepared by our hotel. By the time we finished our breakfast, most tourists had gone back to their hotels for breakfast or on to the next stop making it less crowded and ideal for exploring. The details are incredible.
BayonÂ
This temple is best known for the multitude of serene and smiling stone faces on the towers.
Ta KeoÂ
A recently renovated, and seemingly not so popular temple. The small steep steps lead to a commanding view from high up. Being midday my mom decided to stay at the bottom in the shade. It was hot and slightly challenging to climb these stairs.Â
Ta ProhmÂ
Our last visit of the day saw us exploring the famous ‘Lara Croft’ temple. One of the striking features of this place is how nature has started to take back by the overgrown trees on most the structures.
Day 3
An outing my mom and I both looked forward too. Strolling through the various workshops with a guide at a silk farm just outside of Siem Reap, was how our day started. Witnessing the whole process from silkworm to the final product, as well as a technique I was curious about, Ikat. Being a fashion designer I found the intricate process of ikat weaving most intriguing.
The silk farm is part of a social enterprise called ‘Artisans Angkor‘, who striving to revive ancient Cambodian Arts & Crafts, which like many other cultural crafts across the globe will slowly disappear if no action is taken. They do so while aiming to also improve and empower the lives of the artisans who are mostly from rural areas.
I love this statement on their website:
“Caring for the past, crafting for the future”. – Artisans Angkor
Phnom Krom – Bonus
We ended our trip on a high note, literally! Advised by our driver from the day before as ‘the best place to view the sunset in Siem Reap‘, we set out for Phnom Krom on the 30min tuk-tuk drive 12km southwest.
After numerous stairs, we made it to the top just in time for sunset. Although this temple is not in the best condition, the view from this hill is breathtaking. A perfect ending to our trip.
Interesting facts about Angkor Archaeological Park
Angkor Archaeological Park is the largest religious monument in the world which contains various ruins of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, starting from the 9th to the 15th century. [ref]
Angkor Wat was originally built in the first half of the 12th century and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. At the end of the 12th century, it became a Buddhist temple. Angkor Wat means temple city and marks the pinnacle of Khmer architecture, a witness to their remarkable craftsmanship. [ref]
Since 1992 Angkor Archaeological Park has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site.[ref]
Helpful tips for visiting the temples
Here is a few tips for when you visit the 10 must see temples in Siem Reap. One of the first things to take note off is your role as a responsible and respectful tourist by adhering to the do’s and don’ts.
Here are a few, but not limited too.
-
- Read and follow the signs.
- If an area is marked ‘no entry’ do not enter, most likely it more for your safety, remember these are ruins that are hundreds of years old.
- Know the proper etiquette & customs for Cambodia. Read up.
- Don’t touch someone’s head.
- Don’t point with your feet and remove your shoes when entering a temple or someone’s house.
Trips:
You will see a lot of children begging, it might be difficult but avoid caving in and giving any money or buying cheap souvenirs. This only encourages them to skip school, and is more harmful in the long run. Rather research and donate to organizations who are reliable and offers support to the children. Â (UNICEF, NEF are a few)
Reminder:
You can only buy your pass at the official ticket office, they are not available at the temples.
These are but a few tips, do’s and don’ts, remember to do your research, read up, not only one site/blog but look at official tourist site of countries too.
So we hope you will enjoy the top 10 must see temples in Siem Reap and even the bonus temple wit includible sunset spots.Â
xxx
*Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are my own
Research sources:
HISTORY. (2018). Angkor Wat. [online] Available at: https://www.history.com/topics/landmarks/angkor-wat [Accessed 23 Sep. 2018].
Encyclopædia Britannica. (2017). Angkor Wat. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Angkor-Wat [Accessed 23 Sep. 2018].
Quijada Plubins, R. (2013). Khmer Empire. [online] Ancient History Encyclopedia. Available at: https://www.ancient.eu/Khmer_Empire/ [Accessed 24 Sep. 2018].
How what beautiful memories