The temple ruins of Angkor contained within the Angkor Archaeological Park represent the remnants of the millennium-old Angkorian-era capitals of the ancient Khmer Empire. The Khmer people were and are the dominant ethnic group in Cambodia. The name ‘Angkor’ refers to the Angkorian-era Khmer Empire that stretched across much of mainland Southeast Asia between the 9th and 15th centuries A.D., and also refers to the capital city of the Empire that was centered north of Siem Reap Cambodia. The Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses the main temple ruins of the Angkorian capitals located in the Siem Reap area. Most of these
Siem Reap City is the gateway to the Angkor Archaeological Park. There are no hotels within the Park grounds and most visitors stay in Siem Reap where almost all of the area's hotels and restaurants are located. Siem Reap City is just south of the Angkor Archaeological Park with the Park entrance located only 3km north of town. With the exception of the Roluos Group of temples 13km east of Siem Reap, the most important temple ruin are within 6-25km north of town, the closest major temple being Angkor Wat. To arrange your visit to the Angkor Archaeological Park you will need to decide how long to stay, purchase an admission pass, arrange transportation to the temples, obtain a guidebook or tour guide and plan out your temple itinerary.
Admission / How Long to Stay
You must possess an admission pass (an 'Angkor Pass') to visit the temples and sites in the Angkor Archaeological Park. Passes may be purchased at the main entrance on the road to Angkor Wat. One-day tickets only can be purchased at the secondary tollgate on airport road entrance near Angkor Wat and at Banteay Srey.
Passes are sold in one-day ($20), three-day ($40) and seven-day ($60) blocks. The three day pass is valid for one week, i.e. 3 days to be used within the week, not necessarily consecutively. The seven day pass is valid for one month, i.e. 7 days to be used within the month, not necessarily consecutively.
A one-day visit allows you to see the highlights of the most famous temples but very little more. Three days is sufficient to visit all of the major temples once, a few of the minor ones and have a little extra time at your favorites. Seven days is enough time to really explore some of your favorite ruins and visit many of the minor structures as well. One passport-sized photo is require at time of purchase of three and seven day passes. If you do not have a photo, free photos are provided at the main entrance, though this can be a time consuming process at peak entrance hours.
Visiting hours are 5:00AM - 6:00PM. Angkor Wat closes at 6:00PM, Banteay Srey closes at 5:00PM and Kbal Spean at 3:00PM. Always carry your ticket. It will be checked upon each park entry and at major temples. There is a significant fine for not possessing a valid ticket inside the park. A regular admission ticket is not required to visit Phnom Kulen, Koh Ker or Beng Melea, but there is a separate entrance fee of $20, $10 and $5, respectively.
There are dozens of temple ruins in the Angkor Archaeological Park spread across more than 400 square km. all in different states of ruin and displaying a range of artistic and architectural styles. To get the most from your limited time at the Park you will need to plan a temple itinerary. Your personal temple itinerary depends largely on how much time you have and your level of interest, though some temples are ‘must sees.’ See the suggested itineraries page for much more.
What to bring
Wear light, airy, covering clothing to protect yourself from the sun and mosquitoes. The sun can be intense so bring a hat, sunglasses and perhaps sunscreen. Consider buying a traditional Khmer scarf (krama) to keep the sun off your neck. Carry a raincoat during the wet season, though you will probably only need it in the afternoon. You should have mosquito repellent for sunrise and sunset hours. Wear practical shoes for climbing narrow steps and walking on uneven surfaces. For serious temple explorers, a flashlight, notebook and compass can come in handy. Books, refreshments, trinkets, postcards and film are available from small vendors throughout the temple complex.
Transportation to and around the Temples
The temples are too far apart to make foot travel practical (though some hearty visitors are hiking it anyway). Transportation options include: two-person motorcycle trailers (‘moto-romauk’) average $10-$13; car taxis $20-$25/day; motorcycle taxi (‘motodup’) for $6-$9/day; bicycles for $2-$3/day. Transportation to the temples is usually hired by the day. Prices go up for distant temples (e.g. Banteay Srey, Phnom Kulen, Kbal Spean, Koh Ker). Bicycling around the temples is becoming more popular. If you have the time to spare, the roads are good and the distances are about right for a bicycle. Your hotel or travel agent can arrange transportation.
Motorcycle Taxis and Trailers (Moto-romauk, 'tuk-tuks')
Mr. Borin
Tuk-tuk driver
www.angkorwat-tuktuk.com/index.html
Car Taxi
Vans, cars, tours, tour guides.
Tel: +(855) (0)92-890005
angkorwatdriver_fixer@yahoo.co.uk
Siem Reap Taxi Driver
Mr.Kriss is a fully licensed local taxi driver. He speaks English well and is very helpful. Mr.Kriss also can help you to arrange international and domestic air tickets, bus and boat tickets, visas and hotel reservations at reasonable prices.
Contact Mr. Kriss Tel: +(855) (0)12-941715, +(855) (0)11-222421.
siemreapdriver@gmail.com
www.siemreaptaxidriver.webs.com
Bicycle Rental
Bicycling is quickly becoming a popular way to visit the temples. The roads between the main temples are paved and the distances are about right for a bicycle touring. Bring sun screen, a good hat, water and a Cambodian scarf to keep the sun off your neck. Many of the guesthouses, hotels have bicycles for rent. $1.5-$4/day depending on the type and quality of the bike.
Electric Bicycles
Motorcycle Rental
Tourists are no longer allowed to rent motorcycles or cars, or drive a vehicle in Siem Reap.
Set itinerary, mini bus tours of the temples can be an economical alternative to hiring your own car and driver. Some travel agencies run minibuses capable of carrying between 10 and 25 people on set tours of the temples. The price includes guide and transportation. Also see the Travel Agent page.
Angkor Thom Services
Hotel booking, transportation, multi-lingual tour guide, tour packages, city tour and daily tour at reasonable rates
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Tel: +(855)(0)92-890005
Holystone Travel
Daily tours of Angkor. Free pick up from hotel. Comfortable a/c transport.
#0144, 200 meters from the Old Market
Tel: +(855)(0)63-966744
+(855)(0)12-955166
+(855)(0)97-7757217
E-mail: info@holystonetravel.com
Website: www.holystonetravel.com
And other ways of getting around the temples.....
Elephant Rides
Helicopter Rides
Helicopters Cambodia The first commercial helicopter service to operate in the country, commencing operations in 1998. Offer a selection of scenic flights to Angkor Wat and the Angkor area and services far beyond including supporting mining exploration operations, magnetic surveys, forestry and concession monitoring, long line lifting and more. Highly trained Australasian pilots have provide specialist aerial photographic and cinematography platforms, shuttled business executives from the capital to outfield locations and fly eco-flights over the wildness areas.
Tel: +(855) (0)12-814500 or +(855) (0)63-963316
www.helicopterscambodia.com
Helistar Helicopters offers scenic helicopter tours of the temples beginning at $90/pax for an 8+ minute jaunt along Angkor Wat. It isn’t particularly cheap way to tour but the view is spectacular and memorable. Helistar Helicopters offers specialized tours, aerial photography, charter services. Multiple aircraft in service. Conveniently located next to the big, yellow balloon about 1km from Angkor Wat on the road from the airport to Angkor Wat and at the airport. Office on National Road 6, Borey Angkor Arcade, diagonally opposite the Total petrol station. Walk-in customer welcome.
Tel: +(855)(0)63-966072 or +(855)(0)12-449555
www.helistarcambodia.com
Balloon Rides
Tel: +(855) (0)12-520810
Tour Guides
Whether you use a guidebook or hire a tour guide, it is essential to have some sort of guide lest the temples become just so many impressive piles of rocks. Tour guides are particularly helpful in explaining the bas-reliefs and history of the temples. Tour guides can be hired through most hotels and travel agents. Most guides ask $20-$25/day.
You can either hire a tour guide and transport separately (usually through your guesthouse or a travel agent) or book a group tour through a travel agent in town such as Neak Krorhorm. Group tours remove many of the hassles, and depending on your requirements, cost about the same or less than doing it yourself, especially for the lone traveler. On the other hand, you do lose some freedom and a bit of the adventurous atmosphere of Angkor. Some places focus on specialty tours such as distant temple, Tonle Sap and photographer’s tours by Peace of Angkor Tours and dirt bike/4WD adventure and cultural tours by Hidden Cambodia Adventure Tours.
Angkor Thom and Transportation
Hotel booking, transportation, multi-lingual tour guide, tour packages, city tour and daily tour at reasonable rates
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Tel: +(855)(0)92-890005
Angkor Temple Guides
"My name is San Park and I am a fully freelance licensed English speaking tour guide working at the Angkor temples in Cambodia..."
national Route #6, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Tel: +(855)(0)12-788354
English and Spanish speaking tour guides. transportations
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Tel: +(855)(0)12-564029
+(855)(0)99-366977
Angkor Tour Guide Service
Angkor park tour guides, transportation, hotel reservations
Tel: +(855)(0)12-631052
sokchea@guideangkor.com
www.guideangkor.com
Vans, cars, tours, tour guides.
Tel: +(855) (0)92-890005
angkorwatdriver_fixer@yahoo.co.uk
Asia Vipa Travel & Tours Cambodia
Tours, guides, transport, hotel bookings, all Cambodia
Tel: 012-630634
www.aangkortourguide.com
Daily tours of Angkor. Free pick up from hotel. Comfortable a/c transport.
#0144, 200 meters from the Old Market
Tel: +(855)(0)63-966744
+(855)(0)12-955166
+(855)(0)97-7757217
E-mail: info@holystonetravel.com
Website: www.holystonetravel.com
Phsar Leu Thom Thmey (Big, New, Upper Market)
“Approximately ninety percent of Cambodia’s performing artists died during the Khmer Rouge regime, a devastating blow to all of Cambodia’s oral traditions”.
“CLA works with the belief that supporting arts education is a way for people to grow and develop and heal from the traumas and hardships of both the past and the present.” 
their heritage and the elders in their community, but because through the mentoring and guidance process, the students and masters build their confidence, are able to exercise leadership skills, and nurture hopes for the future.”