How to visit Angkor Wat - entrance tickets, opening hours, transport and other useful information

The cost of tickets to Angkor and where to buy

Entrance to the territory of the temple complex for foreigners is paid and is carried out by tickets in the form of passes. Passes are valid for access to all temples of Angkor, except the park Phnom Kulen, which requires a separate $20 ticket.

Passes (tickets) to Angkor with your photo (photo is included in the price) are made only in one place - Angkor Park Pass Ticket Counters (Angkor ticket offices) and it is not safe to buy them in other places, they may be invalidated. Opening hours of the ticket office: from 05:00 to 17:30.

There were two ticket offices for the sale of passes to the Phnom Kulen complex, one is located in the city (ticket offices map of Angkor), the second - before entering the park (ticket offices map of Angkor).

🕑 Ticket office opening hours: from 06:30 to 11:00 and from 13:00 to 17:00.

There are several types of passes of different cost and validity:

It is also important to know:

• Children under 12 years old are free upon presentation of a passport. There are no other benefits and discounts for foreigners.
• Tickets can be used not only for several days in a row, but also for any days during the validity period. For example, by purchasing a three-day ticket, you can visit the complex on the first day, the fourth and the seventh. Each visit is marked with a composter
• Payment is made in cash in US dollars or by plastic card (cards have been accepted since 2017)
• Passes (tickets) cannot be exchanged or refunded
• A lost ticket is not recoverable, you will have to buy a new one
• The pass is registered and cannot be transferred to other persons
• If a fake pass is detected on the territory of the complex, a fine of 100, 200 and 300 dollars is charged, depending on its validity period.

Working hours of Angkor

The Angkor Temple Complex is open 365 days a year from 5:00 to 17:30. In particular, the temples of Angkor Wat and Srasrang are available from 5:00 to 17:30, the temples of Phnom Bakheng and Prerup – from 5:00 to 19:00. The rest of the temples are open to visitors from 7:30 to 17:30.

However, after the closing of the temples at 17:30 hours, in practice it remains possible to stay here at least until 22 hours to spend the sun and photograph the temples in the light of the moon.

If you buy a pass after 17:00, then you will be able to visit Angkor absolutely legally in the evening of that day (i.e. the pass begins to operate in the evening from the moment of its purchase) and throughout the next.

In how many days can you see Angkor

You can see some popular temples on the run in one day. Of course, such an inspection cannot be called complete in any way, and during this time, most likely, you will be able to appreciate only the scale of Angkor, but not its beauty. To see and more or less examine in detail at least a small part of the ancient buildings, take beautiful photos, meet the dawn, spend the sun at sunset and, at the same time, do not get out of breath, running from temple to temple, most travelers recommend spending three days on temples. In addition, there is just such a type of pass - for three days for $ 62.

If time permits and there is a desire, then in seven days (there is a seven-day pass) you can see all the main temples and visit the most remote and little-known, which most tourists rarely reach.

When is the best time to visit Angkor

If we are talking about the time of the year, then it is best, of course, to visit Angkor during the dry season - from November to March. During this period, bad weather will not be able to disrupt the plans and prevent you from exploring the ancient temples in a measured and enjoyable way.

As for the time of day, the best time to go to the temples is early in the morning, when the sun has not yet risen (at about 5:30), to meet the first rays on the approach to the walls of the temples. At this time you will be able to take the best photos (the property of cameras is that the highest quality pictures are taken at sunset or sunrise). In addition, there will be no crowds of tourists in your photos, most of whom like to lie in bed longer or are limited by the opening hours of group excursions.

It is best to meet the dawn or see off the sunset at the top of Phnom Bakheng. In the winter months, the sun rises at 6 o'clock, so you will have enough time to get there and take a place on the top.

Hire a guide to Angkor or explore by yourself

Of course, every traveler who has already been here has his own point of view on this, which, among other things, depends on your financial capabilities. If you can afford to hire a Russian-speaking or well-spoken guide, hire one. If not, it doesn't matter. Study the information, stock up on a guidebook or audio guide and go ahead.

You can find a guide on the spot. The easiest way is at the hotel reception or at a travel agency. A guide without transport can be found for $ 20-25 per day.

A licensed guide-driver with a car (we recommend hiring such) will cost $ 50 per day. There are also Russian-speaking guides, but it is better to look for them based on recommendations and agree in advance. You will have to pay up to $ 100 a day for a Russian-speaking guide.

You can find and download an audio guide on the Internet.

Transport and how to travel between temples

The issue of transport, including when visiting temples, has already been touched upon by us in the topic "Siem Reap transportation – moving around Angkor".

Useful tips when visiting Angkor

• Clothes, shoes. When visiting, wear light, ventilated and at the same time closed clothes to protect yourself from sunburn. No protective cream will help. Also cover your face and head with a hat (maybe even an umbrella). Wear dark glasses, otherwise your eyes and head may ache from the unusually bright sun. Considering that it can take a whole day to inspect the temple complexes, then in case of a sudden change in the weather, it will not hurt to take an umbrella or, preferably, a plastic raincoat with you. If you plan to climb the ruins (and this should be done in the absence of prohibitions), use good lace-up shoes, not beach slippers.
• More about clothes. The temples of Angkor are a sacred place and it is strictly forbidden to visit them in miniskirts, shorts, with an open back, in too transparent clothes or without clothes.
• Religion. In no case do not touch the monks and show them respect.
• Food and drinks. There is a brisk trade in drinks, ice cream and more substantial food near the temples everywhere. You can buy beer. Strong drinks are not sold near temples (buy in advance, just do not abuse them in the heat).
• Insect protection. It would be prudent to have a mosquito repellent with you in the evening and morning hours (it is better to buy a local one, those bought from us do not work).
• Travel Guide. Well, don't forget to download maps of the area (we recommend Organic Maps) and a guidebook.