Angkor Archaeological Park is a place where you can see a lot of magnificent temple ruins of Angkor, including World Heritage Temple, Angkor Wat , Angkor Thom, The Bayon Temple with countless sculture decoration, and dozens of other ancient ruins of Angkorian & Khmer Empire of 9th to 15th century. The Angkor Park is encompasses more than 400 square kilometers just outside Siem Reap City in northwestern Cambodia.
During your visit to Siem Reap, Cambodia is gateway to Angkor Archaeological Park. To visit to the Angkor Archaeological Park you will need to decide how long to stay, buy an admission pass, arrange transportation to the temples, map, guide book, tour guide and plan out your temple itinerary.
Here’s a detailed travel overview of Angkor Archaeological Park in Cambodia:
🌍 Overview
- Location: Siem Reap Province, northwestern Cambodia
- UNESCO Status: World Heritage Site (1992)
- Size: Over 400 square kilometres
- Significance: The park is home to the ruins of several capitals of the Khmer Empire (9th–15th centuries), including the world-famous Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Bayon Temple.
It is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia and a symbol of Cambodia, even featured on the national flag.
🏯 Key Attractions
- Angkor Wat – The largest religious monument in the world, originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, later converted to Buddhism. Famous for its towers, intricate bas-reliefs, and sunrise views.
Angkor Thom – A fortified city built by King Jayavarman VII, home to:
Bayon Temple with its giant stone faces - Terrace of the Elephants
- Terrace of the Leper King
- Ta Prohm – Known as the "Tomb Raider Temple," left largely unrestored, with giant tree roots entwined with ruins.
- Banteay Srei – A smaller, pink sandstone temple with highly detailed carvings, often called the “Jewel of Khmer Art.”
- Preah Khan – A large, atmospheric complex once serving as a monastery and university.
- Other Notable Sites – Phnom Bakheng (sunset spot), Neak Pean (island temple), East Mebon, Ta Som, and more.
🎟️ Tickets & Entry
- Pass Options (as of 2023–2024):
- 1-day pass: $37 USD
- 3-day pass: $62 USD (valid over 10 days)
- 7-day pass: $72 USD (valid over 1 month)
- Tickets are purchased at the Angkor Ticket Office in Siem Reap.
- Free for children under 12 (passport required).
⏰ Visiting Hours
- General: 5:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Angkor Wat & Srah Srang: open from 5:00 AM for sunrise visits.
- Most visitors start before dawn to catch the iconic sunrise over Angkor Wat.
🚲 Getting Around
- Tuk-tuk – The most popular and affordable way to explore.
- Bicycle – Eco-friendly, but best for fit travellers due to heat and distances.
- E-bikes / scooters – Widely available in Siem Reap.
- Car or private van – Comfortable for families or groups
🌤️ Best Time to Visit
- Cool & Dry Season (Nov–Feb): Best weather, peak tourist season.
- Hot Season (Mar–May): Very hot, but fewer crowds.
- Rainy Season (Jun–Oct): Lush landscapes, dramatic skies, fewer tourists, but muddy paths.
✅ Travel Tips
- Wear light but respectful clothing (shoulders & knees covered) for temple visits.
- Carry water, hat, and sunscreen—temperatures can be intense.
- Hire a licensed guide if you want detailed historical insights.
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat is popular but crowded—arrive very early.
- Don’t climb on fragile temple structures; preservation is important.
- Respect Buddhist customs—many temples are still active places of worship.
✨ Visiting Angkor Archaeological Park is more than sightseeing; it’s a journey into the grandeur of the Khmer Empire and one of humanity’s most awe-inspiring architectural achievements.
Would you like me to create a suggested 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day itinerary for exploring Angkor?
Why is the location of Angkor Wat important?
Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs, and for the numerous devatas adorning its walls.
When was Angkor Wat abandoned?
During the course of the 15th century, nearly all of Angkor was abandoned, except for Angkor Wat, which remained a Buddhist shrine.
How much does it cost to go to Angkor Wat?
You must posses an admission pass (Angkor Pass) before you want to visit the temples and it sou rounding sites in the Angkor Archaeological Park. Passes may be purchased at the main entrance on the road to Angkor Wat.
The Angkor Pass can only be purchased at the official ticket center, located 4 km away from Siem Reap town and open from 5am to 5.30pm every day. Tickets purchased from hotels, tour companies and other third parties are not valid.
The entrance ticket must be paid in cash (US Dollars, Cambodian Riel, Thai Bath or Euro). Paying by credit card is not possible. An on-site ATM is available to withdraw cash.
Angkor Ticket Passes are sold in new price:
- One-day ($37)
- Three-day ($62)
- Seven-day ($72)
The three day pass is valid for one week, i.e. 3 days to be used within the week, not necessarily consecutively. The seven day pass is valid for one month, i.e. 7 days to be used within the month, not necessarily consecutively.For ticket reservation please contact:
Visiting Hours
- Most of the temples in the park can be visited from 7.30am – 5.30pm, but there are exceptions:
- Angkor Wat and Srah Srang can be visited from 5am – 5.30pm, to make it possible for visitors to witness the sunrise;
- Phnom Bakheng and Pre Rup can be visited from 5am – 7pm, to make it possible for visitors to witness both the sunrise and sunset;
Admission Tips
- Admission passes are not refundable.
- Admission passes are not transferable. The pass owner’s name and photo are printed on the ticket.
- Children under 12 years old are not required to purchase an entrance ticket. A passport needs to be shown as proof.
- The admission fee does not include special permits for commercial picture taking or film shooting.
- The admission fee is non-negotiable. There are no discounts for groups.
- Phnom Kulen National Park cannot be visited with an Angkor Pass. It requires a separate admission pass.
- Beng Mealea and Koh Ker temples also require a separate admission pass, which costs US$ 5 and US$ 10 respectively.
How old is Angkor Wat?
Angkor Wat was built sometime in the early 12th century AD during the Khmer Empire by King Suryavarman II. So that would make it approximately 900 years old. Till date this Hindu temple remains the largest religious site in the world.
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