Khmer Products: Angkor Archaeological Park: Getting Started, What to Bring, Admission Passes...

The Angkor Archaeological Park is home to the magnificent Khmer temple ruins of Angkor, including the legendary Angkor Wat, Bayon and dozens of other ancient ruins of the Angkorian-era (9th-13th century) Khmer Empire. The Park encompasses more than 400 square kilometers just outside Siem Reap City in northwestern Cambodia and is a World Heritage Site.

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 temples were constructed between the 9th and 12th century A.D. and represent the pinnacle of ancient Khmer architecture, art and civilization. At its height, the Age of Angkor was a time wealth and power for the Khmer Empire. The capital city at Angkor was populated by more than a million people, Khmer kings constructed vast waterworks and grand temples and the Empire's military, economic and cultural dominance held sway over the area of modern Cambodia, as well as much of Thailand, southern Vietnam and Laos.

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.

Themple Itiniraries

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')
Two-person motorcycle trailers (moto-romauks) have surpassed motorcycle taxis (motodups) as the most popular form of transport. Tuk-tuks are covered offering some protection from sun and rain. In Siem Reap most drivers speak some English. For short trips around the town, foreigners are expected to pay 2000-4000R for motodups and about twice that for a motorcycle trailer. To the temples, transportation is usually rented by the day. Rates run $6-$9/day for a motodup, and about $10-$15/day for motorcycle trailers.

Mr. Borin

Tuk-tuk driver

www.angkorwat-tuktuk.com/index.html

Car Taxi
Cars taxis are usually hired on a daily basis. The average car taxi is a fairly new Toyota Camry with air-conditioning. Car taxis run around $20-$25 per day to tour the main temple area and town. There are extra charges if you want to go to more distant temples such as Banteay Srey, Kbal Spean, Phnom Kulen, etc. The driver will charge about $10 extra to visit Banteay Srey.

Angkor Wat Driver & Fixer

Vans, cars, tours, tour guides.

Tel: +(855) (0)92-890005

angkorwatdriver_fixer@yahoo.co.uk

www.angkorguide.asia/phansy

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
Battery-powered bicycles, offering individual, motorized, eco-friendly transportation, can be rented for $4 per day. The battery is good for about 30km or one hour, and there are bicycle substations located throughout the main temple complex to replenish the battery as you visit the temples. Many guesthouses rent the bicycles. The main rental office in just off the road from town to Angkor Wat.

Motorcycle Rental
Tourists are no longer allowed to rent motorcycles or cars, or drive a vehicle in Siem Reap.

Small Group Tours
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

info@angkorthomservices.com

www.angkorthomservices.com

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

During the day, elephants await customers near Bayon and at the South Gate of Angkor Thom and they offer rides between those two points. $10-$15 for a 20-30 minute ride. In the evenings the elephants move from Bayon and are stationed at the base of Phnom Bakheng, ready to transport passengers up the hill for sunset ($15 for the ride up and, if you chose to ride down instead of walk, $10 for the ride down.)

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

Take a tethered helium balloon ride 200 meters straight up for an amazing aerial view of Angkor Wat, Phnom Bakheng, West Baray and the surrounding countryside. Bring a camera and binoculars if you have them. The big, yellow balloon is based about 1 kilometer west from Angkor Wat on the road from the airport to Angkor Wat.

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.