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No trip to Cambodia would be complete without a trip to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat. Heck, there’s probably a good chance that is exactly why you planned your trip to Cambodia to begin with. If you’ve got multiple days in Siem Reap, then you can see most of what there is to see. However, if you’ve only got 1 day to spend, you’ll want to make sure you see the best Angkor has to offer.
Here’s our Top 3 sites to see at the ancient city of Angkor.
Angkor Wat There are over 70 different temples within Angkor, but Angkor Wat is the crown jewel. This thing is massive! We spent a fair amount of time enjoying what we thought was the temple only to find out we had only gone as far as the outer entrance. This temple is a MUST SEE, but be prepared for lots of walking. Our driver dropped us off on one side and picked us up on the other (a few hours later). You’ll need time to explore this one.
Ta Prohm This site has a totally different vibe than the others. You’ll recognize it right away if you’ve seen Lara Croft’s Tomb Raider (Angelina Jolie version). The jungle has taken back what is rightfully hers as you’ll experience ancient ruins with tree roots swallowing it up everywhere you look. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen! Getting certain photos here can be a challenge. Be sure to check out our post about getting great shots in difficult situations.
Bayon Completely different than the other two sites, Bayon Temple is most known for the many faces that cover it; 216 in fact. This temple is fun to explore and takes much less time than the other two. I wouldn’t exactly say it’s a one-trick pony, but a solid hour here should give you enough time to enjoy it while getting some great shots.
We only had a day and a half in Siem Reap and wanted to share the best bits from all of our research. However, if possible try to fit more than one day into your trip to get the most out of this magical place. Getting around is very inexpensive as a car with driver only costs roughly $30 per day, and ours came with air conditioning as well as a cooler filled with bottled water.
