TIPS TO VISIT ANGKOR (AND DON'T FALL IT)

In the depths of the lush forests of Siem Reap province, the stone temples of Angkor. For those who have not heard of them (what world do you live in?), It is one of the best preserved archaeological complexes in all of Southeast Asia, and a mandatory stop during a trip to Cambodia. Of all, the temple of Angkor Wat usually takes almost all the praise, but the park as a whole is one of the most magical places on the planet and is worth exploring in depth. Keep reading because below we give you all Tips for visiting Angkor and enjoy this incredible experience to the fullest.

The city of Angkor was the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire. This town dominated the territory of Southeast Asia from the ninth to the fifteenth century, and Angkor Wat was the largest of the legacies.

The ruins we know today are only the tip of the iceberg of what was the most populous city in the world at the time. And we don't just talk about temples and religious buildings, Angkor housed a population of between 750,000 and 1 million people! Apparently the key to be able to support such a large number of people for so long was the water channel system. By controlling the water, they were able to irrigate the fields and supply the entire population. But it was also the reason for its decline: when this system deteriorated and ceased to function properly, the inhabitants gradually left the city, until it was completely forgotten.

It was not until the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when Europeans discovered this city devoured by the jungle, and restoration work began, which still lasts today.

Siem Reap It is the nearest city and the best place to base and visit the temples of Angkor. Located northwest of Cambodia, on the shore of Lake Tonle Sap, it is easily accessible in various ways:

• Bus: there are many companies and number of schedules to make the route between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (6h, € 6-10, try to avoid night buses). It is also common to arrive from Bangkok (8-10h, € 25) or from the 4,000 islands in Laos (10-12h, € 25). You can book tickets on the 12go.asia website.
• Boat: there are fast ferries that travel the Tonle Sap (first the river and then the lake) in about 6 hours and for around € 20. You can also connect Siem Reap with Battambang by ferry. Although it is not the safest or most comfortable medium.
• Plane: Siem Reap has an international airport, with flights to several cities in Asia and domestic connections to Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville.

From Siem Reap, the Angkor site is only a few 5 km, next we tell you how to make the visit.

exist two circuits recommended, the short of about 17 km, and the length of about 26 km (here you can see the map). We in the visits we made always chose to make the short, and we dedicated one day. We believe it is enough to see the most important temples (Angkow Wat, Prohm and Bayon), with others less prominent along the way. So the ideal is to stick the early morning and take advantage of the first hours of the morning 😉 The long circuit covers more ground, but it could also be done in one day (especially if you go to tuctuc).

Here we tell you our experience visiting Angkor Wat by bicycle

These two proposals are only recommended tours that you can take into account to perhaps design a personal tour that best suits your preferences.

If you are very interested in Angkor's history, you are passionate about archeology or simply prefer to enjoy this wonderful place more calmly and for several days, you can opt for 3 day ticket and distribute the zones each of them. Remember that Angkor is huge, 400 km² to be exact!

The Angkor Pass It can be purchased only at the Angkor Ticket Office, located on Highway 60 to 4 Km from Siem Reap and open every day from 5.00 am to 5.30 pm. Admission can be paid in cash in US dollars or by credit card.

These are the available passes and their prices:

• 1 day pass: $ 37
• 3-day pass: $ 62
• 7-day pass: $ 72

The 3-day pass is valid for 10 days from the date of purchase, and the 7-day pass for one month, so with these passes you will not be required to plan your visit necessarily on consecutive days.

TAKE NOTE: If you buy your pass after 5 pm, from then on your ticket will be valid until the next day. Take advantage of this advantage and start exploring Angkor enjoying a beautiful sunset.

There are options for all tastes and pockets. As we told you before, the complex is huge and walking on foot could be exhausting ... So we have the following ways to visit Angkor:

- Travel Angkor by bike, it will make you sweat the fat drop, but it will give you enough freedom and you will save a little money. You will find bicycles for rent in most accommodations for about $ 3-8 a day and in a multitude of rental shops scattered around Siem Reap for even less. Do not forget to download the application maps.me on your phone to know where you are at all times.

- Hire a tuk-tuk, if you prefer to go more comfortable and do not want to spend too much ... it's your choice! You will not have air conditioning, but you will enjoy the journey effortlessly and with a little luck your driver will spit some English and give you some useful information about the temples. Prices from $ 15-20 (for the tuk-tuk all day), although it will depend on your negotiating skills and the route you want to make. We recommend that you negotiate the day before and take you both at sunset and sunrise the next day.

- Visit Angkor by private car, if you are looking for comfort and want to avoid the heat, as long as you don't mind paying a little more. There are also minivans and can be hired with a guide in Spanish or English, such as this tour in Angkor with a guide in Spanish.

All options can be hired and negotiated directly in Siem Reap, either in travel agencies, in your accommodation or directly in the street with a driver. Although we recommend that you go through this Facebook group where lots of drivers and guides who speak Spanish are shared.

Being honest depends on your budget, what you have previously documented and of course on your personal interest. Obviously it is not essential to hire a guide, but if you decide to do so you will know the details of each corner by the hand of an expert.

Our "Top 3" is not surprising, but these three places you can not miss:

• Angkor wat. Considered the largest religious structure in the world, this temple is without a doubt, the most famous and visited place in the entire archeological park.
• Bayon. The more than 200 faces of this temple generate very different feelings among travelers. His intriguing and mysterious smiles, in the purest Mona Lisa style, leave no one indifferent. It is in the middle of the huge walled enclosure of Angkor Thom, which contains other less important temples.
• Ta Prohm. We do not know very well who has contributed more to this temple being one of the favorite by visitors ... Lara Croft or the wild Cambodian jungle? Known worldwide for having appeared in the Hollywood movie Tomb Raider, the impressive roots that cross its structure have created a surprising fusion between architecture and nature.

There are some schedules that you have to keep in mind to plan your visit to Angkor:

• The ticket sales office Opens from 05:00 to 17:30. If you buy the ticket after 17:00 you can visit the site what is left of that day and all the next day.
• Phnom Bakheng and Pre Rup Temples: from 05:00 to 19:00.
• Angkor Wat and Srah Srang temples: from 05:00 to 17:30.
• Other temples: from 07:30 to 17:30.

Considering that we are going to buy the 1-day pass, and taking into account the temples schedules, this would be the ideal plan to visit Angkor:

• At 5:00 pm on day 1 (arrives a little earlier) we buy the ticket and we will see the sunset from the temple Phnom Bakheng or from the Pre Rup, the rest closes at 5:30 pm (better first). We can take advantage until 7pm that closes the enclosure.
• At 5:00 am on day 2 (good early morning) we are taking place in front of Angkor wat to watch the dawn. Remember that the ticket you bought yesterday is valid for today's full day.
• Rest of the day, visit the other temples, following one of the two circuits. You probably do not want to stay until sunset, but if you have energy left, go to the temple you did not visit the day before (the Pre Rup in this case) and end your visit there.

To the north of the Bayon temple there is a area with restaurants Where to recharge energy. They take advantage of the site and prices are exaggerated, but we haggle a little and end up paying less than what I put on the menu.

We leave you a Google Maps map that you can use as a reference for your trip, with the itinerary we recommend (matches the short route):

Also write down these other tips, which are sure to be great for you:

- The tickets are personal (They will take a picture to recognize you), so you won't be able to resell it or share it with several people (in case you were thinking about doing a trick).

- Early morning (much!) to see how the sun rises behind the wonderful temple of Angkor Wat. Now, don't expect to do it alone. If you arrive with the right time it will cost you to find a place in the front row to watch the show.

- Keep hydrated! I feel a little mother saying this ... but don't forget to drink water regularly because your body will need it, believe me. And since I'm in the role of mother, I could feel a very proud mother if instead of buying plastic bottles you will carry your own bottle. On this website you will find all the places to refill your reusable bottle for free in Siem Reap.

- Do not worry if you have forgotten to put some food in your backpack because in Angkor you can buy small snacks, fruit or even taste local dishes at street food stalls. There are also restaurants especially tourist-oriented, but obviously with much higher prices.

- Dress respectfully. The Buddhist culture is quite conservative with respect to clothing, so avoid wearing shorts or skirts that do not cover the knees and sleeveless shirts.

- Keep in mind that in Angkor it is very hot and sunny days wear a hat or cap It is more than recommended. As it is also included in your bag or backpack Solar protection Y mosquito repellent, especially in the rainy season.

- We know that it is difficult to remain impassive before the eyes of a child who asks you to buy a bracelet or a souvenir from Angkor, but please don't help these children keep begging on the street and in no case give them money. Cambodia is an extremely poor country, if you want to help it is much more effective than giving money to a charity that helps the education and literacy of these children.

- Do not forget that you are in a sacred place which continues to be actively used today. It is important that you speak quietly and with respect. Shouting or making excessive noise disturbing other visitors and spiritual practitioners is considered rude. Remember also that Buddhist monks They are revered and highly respected in Cambodia, which does not mean that you cannot converse with them following certain rules. Of course, women have to be especially careful and can not stand or sit very close to the monks and much less touch them.

- Angkor is a place smoke free, so smoking is totally prohibited. If you are a smoker, take the opportunity to breathe fresh air and give your lungs a truce. Needless to say, it is equally forbidden to litter ... moreover, if you see garbage, bring your grain of sand and collect it.

- The avalanche of visitors that receive Angkor temples every year is leaving a mark. Try minimize the impact of your visit as far as possible and do not touch carvings, do not lean on temples, nor do you feel in fragile structures that could break. Obviously do not move anything from the place where it is (even if it seems like a pointless stone, if it is there it is for something!), Let alone think of leaving your name written on any wall.

- Of course we strongly recommend that don't be involved in animal abuse and exploitation and never hire a tour to visit Angkor on an elephant. Recently we have read that this practice no longer exists, but if they offer it to you, refuse.

- Download the full map from Angkor here.

Photocredit: @thinkdeep

And finally, just enjoy the incredible place you are and others can do the same as you in the future. These are ours Tips and recommendations to visit Angkor, hopefully they will help you plan your trip. If you have been and want to contribute your experience, or need any other information, leave us a comment!