THE BEST WAY TO EXPLORE ANGKOR WAT

Angkor Wat is one of the world’s most visited archaeological sites and also the largest religious monument in the world. There are over 60 temples surrounding Angkor Wat, making it very difficult to see it all. After two previous trips to Asia and never making it to the ancient world wonder, I knew I had to visit this time around. There are plenty of ways to get around Angkor Wat but the best option I found was using a Tuk-Tuk service run by women only for the full three days I was there. I love supporting women businesses, our driver was knowledgable and was always on time picking us up. We spent three days with our driver for only $30. I recommend messaging them on facebook to book a reservation.

Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage and everyone should visit before they get too old! There’s a lot of walking and climbing so be prepared to do a lot of walking.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Cambodia uses US currency
Bring sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses
Bring snacks and water
Dress code: Cover shoulders and knees

HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Our Tuk Tuk driver took us to purchase our tickets on the first day in the late afternoon. Here’s a breakdown of prices in US currency:

One-day ticket for $37 USD
Three-day ticket for $62 USD (I did this option)
Seven-day ticket for $72 USD

DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR TICKET. Tickets will be checked when entering temples.

HOW TO EXPLORE ANGKOR WAT

There are many ways to explore Angkor Wat. You may use a tour company, personal driver, bike or a Tuk Tuk. The personal driver is great if the weather is very hot but a Tuk Tuk is the most convenient. I highly recommend using Driver Srey by messaging them on Facebook.

PLAN OUT YOUR DAYS

What I loved about Driver Srey was that the driver came to meet us at our hotel to discuss our plans for what we wanted to see. She provided us with a map and outlined our three-day itinerary. Our first day was a half day trip where we visited a few smaller temples and the Gates of Bayon.

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

Day two was a busy day! If you’re like every other tourist and dedicated to watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat you will want to beat the crowd and start your day very early. The gates officially open at 5 am, so you’ll want to start heading to Angkor Wat by 4:30 if you want a good spot for photos. Once you arrive you will walk in the dark towards the entrance, make sure you and your driver pick an easy location to meet after. I tried to get sunrise, but unfortunately, it was very cloudy when I was there. Hopefully, you’ll have more luck! After the sunrise, you’ll want an hour or two to explore Angkor Wat and take lots of photos! We saw a few other big temples such as Bayon and Ta Phrom. Ta Phrom was one of my favorite temples! There are trees growing through the temples, on top of the temples and it was fascinating to see this temple in person. If you’ve watched the Tomb Raider movie, you’ll recognize this famous temple.