Visiting Angkor Wat in Cambodia
Last year we visited Angkor Wat and other temples and attractions around Siem Reap in Cambodia. We were there in april.
It was extremely, sickening hot. I seriously thought I had a mild heat stroke at one point.
Even though we were not there in high season, tourism was pretty bad. Meaning that everywhere we went, we were in the company of thousands of other tourists.
What’s so bad about that, you may wonder?
Well, the worst part are the tour groups.
Individual travellers are always better to digest; one here, two there, five over there. But groups of 20 or more tourists form obstacles. They arrive all at the same time, move slower and are more noisy then individual tourists, and they tend to block views and pathways.
They want to have their picture taken in front of everything. “And now one with your camera. Oh, and one with your phone. Oh, take one with her and me. And one with him as well.”
They carry parasols to shield themselves from the sun and use large ipads and selfie sticks to take pictures. So that there is a wall of people, umbrellas and selfiesticks between you and what you came to see all the time.
The moat around Angkor Wat. It looks pretty peaceful from afar.
Oops, when you come closer to the entrance of the temple area, you discover the crowds.
How to avoid the crowds at Angkor Wat
Doing my research on the internet resulted in the following tips on how to avoid the crowds at Angkor Wat, the main temple complex. Most tips also apply for your visits of other temples in the area.
Tourists everywhere.
Most groups follow the same itinerary, arriving everywhere in the same following order at around the same time.
What THEY do
Most people do the following:
- leave their hotels at 4 am
- gather at the West Gate in front of the Pond
- wait for the sun rising behind Angkor Wat at 5.30 -6 am
- then they visit Angkor Wat itself
- after that Angkor Thom etc (clockwise)
- that means Bayon mid-morning
- and Ta Prohm and Banta Srei mid to late afternoon
- ending at Pnom Bakheng
What YOU should do instead
To avoid the crowds DON’T do the same thing as everyone else. Duh!
- Walk around in the opposite direction (except for the marked route between Baphuon and the Royal place Area)
- Choose the opposite timing: if everyone visits temple A at 9 in the morning and ends with temple Z at 5 in the evening, start your day with Z and end with A. For example: choose to see the sunrise at Phnom Bakheng or at the bank of Srah Srang. After that, do the temples counter clockwise. Angkor Wat will likely be empty at 2 pm.
- schedule your visits to temples between 6 and 8 am and between 4.30 and 6.30 pm
- view Angkor Wat from the West as the sun sets and look at the temple in a golden glow. Be there at 3.30. The light should be perfect around 4.30 pm. Sun will set around 5.30 and darkness at 6 pm.
- the west, east and Victory Gates are less busy than the crowded South Gate
- enter temples via another entrance than the main entrance. That means that inside you will also follow another path than the rest of the visitors.
- visit during lunchtime. Be aware though, that there often is no shade at all around the temples, so at lunchtime the heat is excruciating. There IS a reason that it will be less crowded then;-).
More tips
- don’t forget to buy tickets in advance. Preferably the day before you plan to visit the temples.
You have to purchase your tickets in advance here.
- bring plenty of water; you’ll need it
- and some small snacks for that blood-sugar low. Dry cookies are good, or anything else that will not melt in your bag
- wear good, comfortable shoes
Ready? Set? Go! Let’s mingle;-).
- slap on sunscreen
- and insect-repellant
- wear a sun hat and sun glasses
- bring hand sanitizer or even better small wet towels. Handy to clean hands and face and for ‘bathroom’ visits
- hire a local guide
- wear clothes that cover legs and arms (especially for women). A wrap around is NOT accepted.
A long queue to go up to Angkor Wat’s higher levels.
Read my story here; it was infuriating!
But what is it really like at Angkor Wat?
I’ll tell you all about it in my next post, ok?
Have you been to Angkor Wat? How was your experience? Any tips?
Yikes. That heat makes me sick just reading about it. To top that off with crowds? I don’t think I’d care for it.
bisous
Suzanne
I understand where you’re coming from, Suzanne.
That kind of place seems to want tranquility. It’s old and fragile. I wouldn’t want people crawling all over my grandparents. Heh. That said, it’s also wonderful that we can appreciate these monuments today. Like you, I wouldn’t be able to handle the crowds with the added stress of heat. Your ideas are great.
I agree, Melanie. But it’s the truth about tourism nowadays. We are looking for quiet, untouched experiences and landscapes, while many sights and sites are crawling with tourists like ourselves.
It’s just the way it is and we will have to make the most of it anyways;-).
Aha.. the insight not to wear a skirt came after you were refused at the temple haha. I remember the story.
You are so clever to find out all these things in advance. I am far too lazy to do that. And.. consequently get punished for that.. as I would be at the wrong place at the wrong time. It does pay off to be prepared.
Greetje
Not doing research also saves you a lot of time and effort, so both ways of traveling have there benefits. I just enjoy preparing myself and finding out the less obvious gems.