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Angkor Wat, Siem Reap - Things to Do at Angkor Wat

Things to Do at Angkor Wat

Complete Guide to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap

About Angkor Wat

Walking up to Angkor Wat for the first time, you feel the cool, damp morning air on your skin and see the first pink light catching the very top of the central towers. The sound of cicadas is already humming in the surrounding jungle, a constant backdrop that makes the silence inside the temple galleries feel even more profound. You'll smell the faint, musty scent of old stone mixed with the sweet, earthy odor of frangipani flowers from the trees in the outer gardens. The scale of the place is what tends to get you. That long causeway over the moat seems to stretch forever, lined with the crumbling remains of naga balustrades, leading you toward walls covered in intricate carvings that feel warm to the touch from the rising sun. It's the kind of site where you can spend an hour just tracing a single bas-relief with your eyes, following the story of a battle across hundreds of meters of sandstone. Interestingly, for a place so monumental, the atmosphere around Angkor Wat can be surprisingly intimate in the late afternoon, when the crowds thin and the long shadows make the carved devatas, or celestial nymphs, look like they're about to step off the walls.

What to See & Do

The Bas-Relief Galleries

Run your fingers along the cool, detailed sandstone depicting the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. You'll hear the gentle echo of footsteps in these covered walkways and see sunlight filtering through the columns, casting striped shadows over gods and demons locked in an eternal tug-of-war. The sheer length of the narrative, wrapping around the entire lower level, gives you a real sense of the ambition behind Angkor Wat.

The Central Sanctuary Towers

Climbing the steep, worn steps to the upper level, you feel the breeze pick up and the humid air lessen. From the top, you see a green sea of treetops stretching to the horizon, punctuated by the distant grey shapes of other temple peaks. Up close, the towers are covered in a patina of lichen, and you can smell the faint, dry scent of bat guano from the dark chambers below.

The Libraries and Reflecting Pools

Standing by the rectangular pools in front of the temple's main facade, you'll see the perfect mirrored image of Angkor Wat on a still morning, with the sound of frogs plopping into the water at the edges. The libraries themselves are smaller, cruciform buildings with surprisingly cool, dark interiors that offer a quiet respite, smelling of damp earth and old stone.

The Outer Gallery Carvings

This is where you find the famous procession scenes. You'll see hundreds of life-sized figures marching across the wall - soldiers, musicians, courtiers - their features softened by centuries of weathering but still remarkably clear. The afternoon light here is golden and sharp, making the deep carvings of parasols and headdresses cast long, dramatic shadows you can feel with your hand.

Practical Information

Opening Hours

The grounds of Angkor Wat open at 5:00 AM for sunrise, and the temple itself is accessible until 5:30 PM. That said, they start ushering people out of the central tower area by about 5:00 PM to begin closing up.

Tickets & Pricing

You need an Angkor Archaeological Park pass, which is sold at the main ticket center on the road into the park. A one-day pass is thirty-seven US dollars, a three-day pass is sixty-two dollars, and a seven-day pass is seventy-two dollars. You must have your photo taken for the pass at the time of purchase.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season from November to February brings cooler mornings and clear skies, which is why it's packed. The shoulder months just after, like March and April, are brutally hot but have thinner crowds. The wet season means dramatic storms and lush greenery, with the risk of a downpour that can make the stone stairs slick. Sunrise is obviously popular. But late afternoon often has softer light and fewer people around the outer areas.

Suggested Duration

You could rush the main sights of Angkor Wat in about two hours. But that misses the point. A more satisfying visit takes at least half a day, allowing time to sit in the galleries, climb to the top, and wander the perimeter walls. Many people spend a full morning here, if they're watching the sunrise.

Getting There

Most visitors get to Angkor Wat by hiring a tuk-tuk for the day from Siem Reap, which is a budget-friendly way to travel and allows you to set your own pace. The ride from the Old Market area takes about twenty minutes, winding past hotels and then through the forested park roads. You'll feel the air change, becoming cooler and filled with the smell of damp leaves as you enter the park. Private cars or vans are a mid-range option, offering more shelter from dust or rain. Some guesthouses rent bicycles, which is a cheaper way to go if you don't mind the heat and the distance; it's about a 30-minute pedal from town. Organized tours on large coaches are also available. But they tend to stick to very rigid schedules at the main sites.

Things to Do Nearby

Angkor Thom and the Bayon
Just north of Angkor Wat, this walled city is dominated by the Bayon temple and its dozens of massive, serene stone faces staring out from every angle. It pairs well because it has a completely different architectural and spiritual feel - more enigmatic and maze-like - within a short drive.
Ta Prohm
This is the temple famously swallowed by the jungle, where giant silk-cotton tree roots spill over crumbling galleries. You'll hear birdsong instead of crowds and feel the spongy, shaded earth underfoot. It's a great follow-up to Angkor Wat's order, showing nature's reclaiming power.
Banteay Srei
A longer drive into the countryside, this smaller temple is known for its beautiful pink sandstone carvings, which are so fine and deep they look like lace. The journey there gives you a sense of rural life around Siem Reap, passing through villages where you'll smell charcoal fires and see rice fields.
Preah Khan
Another large, monastery-like complex within the Angkor Thom area, it's less restored than the main temples. You'll find yourself in quiet, enclosed courtyards with the sound of wind rustling through broken windows, and it's a decent place to escape the main tourist flow after Angkor Wat.

Tips & Advice

For sunrise, don't just crowd at the main pond. The reflection shot is classic. But the view from the right-hand side of the causeway, looking back at the towers as the sky changes color, is just as good and often less packed.
Wear shoes with solid grip. The steps to the central sanctuary are incredibly steep and the stone can be polished smooth and slippery, in the morning dew or after a rain.
Bring a small flashlight or use your phone's light. The interior bas-relief galleries are quite dark in the early morning, and a little light helps you see the details of the carvings without having to wait for the sun to shift.
Hire your tuk-tuk driver for the entire day, not just for Angkor Wat. It's a splurge compared to a single trip. But it gives you the freedom to escape the midday heat back in Siem Reap and return later when the light is better.

Tours & Activities at Angkor Wat

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