When I first decided to come to Cambodia, it was for one reason. To see Angkor Wat. To be honest, I didn’t know all that much about it. I only knew that it was one of those places that HAD to be on your bucket list. So I made the trip, and found out that there is SO much more to Angkor than just one, amazing and incredible temple. There are so many unmissable temples of Angkor, that I ended up spending 5 long, hot days trying to discover them all.
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Needless to say, I failed. There are actually around 400 temples in the Angkor Archeological Park, and to see them all, let alone FIND them all, would be a mammoth task. I did, however, see a hell of a lot, and decided to make this list of my favorites. Because there are just SO MANY temples that it can get quite confusing after a while.
So here is my list of what I consider to be the most unmissable temples of Angkor. Some of them are well known, and popular temples. Others are temples that most visitors to the area will hear about. There are a couple, though, that you probably will NOT know, or even hear about. I have included them because I personally think they are worth seeing!
Table of Contents
- Angkor Wat
- Bayon Temple
- Ta Prohm
- Pre Rup
- Ta Som
- Banteay Srei
- Phnom Bakheng
- Banteay Samre
- Preah Khan Temple
- A few handy tips
- Should you do a tour?
- Summary
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is the central temple and the main attraction in the Angkor Archeological Park. And it is easy to see why.
This majestic structure is massive, with five towers pointing toward the sky. Dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu, this incredible temple is visited by thousands every single day. Opening at 5am in the morning, hundreds of tourists will already be lined up to catch the dawn, as the sun rises and stretches out across the famous towers of Angkor Wat.
When I first visited, I was not ready for what I found at Angkor Wat. The kilometer walk in, the buildings at the entry that held me enthralled for so long. I had no idea what was coming, and just when I thought I could not be “wowed” anymore, I was. To climb to the top of Angkor Wat, and be right in the heart of this incredible piece of history is something that I will hold with me forever.
Angkor Wat is a national symbol in Cambodia, and even graces their national flag. To visit is a must if you are in the country, and personally, I saw it as a must visit just because I was in South East Asia. Just beware that there will be many others, thousands in fact, with the same idea. So get in to see Angkor Wat at the start of the day, or even at the end when most others have left.
There are a few things to know about visiting Angkor Wat, as well as some of the other unmissable temples of Angkor that will make your trip easier. Check the end of this article for a list of tips.
Bayon Temple
Bayon Temple is a large Temple to the North of Angkor Wat, that took me totally by surprise the first time that I saw it. I had visions of Angkor Wat being so massive, and all other temples in the Angkor Archeological Park being dwarfed by it. This is not so, and definitely not in the case of Bayon Temple.
Granted, it is located right beside the road, and unlike Angkor Wat, you don’t have to walk a kilometer to reach its front gate. Despite that, it is still an impressive structure to wander around.
Bayon Temple boasts 54 towers, each with massive carvings of faces on every side, making 216 faces in total. This is the most distinctive feature of the temple, and one that captivates anyone who visits. It is said that there may have once been up to 200 original towers, so you can imagine how many faces would have been staring at you as you entered!
The other notable feature of Bayon Temple are the bas-relief carvings all around the temple. There are so many that they stretch an incredible 1.2 Kilometers, and depict many historical battles, as well as images of everyday life in the ancient Kingdom.
Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm Temple is one of the most visited Temples in the Park, and definitely one of the most unmissable temples in Angkor. Why? Well, there are a couple of different reasons.
First and foremost, this temple has incredible structures that are very distinct. I loved walking around and gazing at the mossy green walls and roofs, trying to imagine what it looked like many hundreds of years ago. That aside, it is not the structure itself that attracts visitors from all over the world.
This temple, long ago, began to be reclaimed by nature. As a result, there are many massive trees, towering toward the sky, that have grown on TOP of the temple ruins. Their roots are twisted and entangled into the structure itself, creating an Instagrammers dream! The photos are truly amazing, and defy belief unless you have actually been there to witness it yourself.
The other reason that this temple is one of the truly unmissable temples of Angkor, is that it was made famous by Angelina Jolie in her 2001 hit movie Tomb Raider. Locally, it is even known now as the “Tomb Raider Temple”. This may not appeal to everyone as a reason to visit, but there was a reason she chose it as a major setting for the movie, and that becomes apparent as soon as you enter. This really is an amazing place.
Pre Rup
Pre Rup is a different type of Temple to many of the others that you will find in the Angkor Archeological Park. It has a sort of orange color to it, and is different in shape and design. Its towers and tiers make it a great place for photos, too.
The name Pre Rup, in English translation means “turning of the body”. This makes many believe that it was once used for funerals, in particular cremations, as at certain points during an ancient cremation they would turn the body. Indeed, when I poked my head into a couple of structures on the ground level, they certainly seemed to have been blackened on the inside by flame, and had a distinct chimney like hole in the roof.
You can climb right to the top of Pre Rup, and the views are wonderful. Many visitors like to come at dawn or around sunset, as it can be a great place to view either. Otherwise, you can get a great view of the surrounding jungle, and walking high among the five towering structures gives quite the sense of awe.
Ta Som
Ta Som is a little known gem of Angkor. I put it in this list of unmissable Temples of Angkor due to a couple of factors.
First, you will have it nearly to yourself! During the period after Covid, this was true of many (or most) of the temples around the Angkor Archeological Park. At Ta Som, though, it is pretty much true all of the time. When we visited, we didn’t see another soul other than the occasional security guard, until we were just about to leave and another tourist turned up. What better way to tour and explore ancient ruins than in peace and quiet!
Ta Som is very similar to Ta Prohm, the Tomb Raider Temple, but has been very much left untouched by renovations or repair. The ruins are authentic, and you can wander the area feeling very much like no one else has been there for years! The carvings are wonderful, and you will even find some faces carved into the rock, much like you would find at Bayon Temple.
One of the best places to seek out in Ta Som is the far Eastern Gate. Leave the main building and wander down the dirt path to the gate you can see in the distance. Pass under the portal and out the other side, then turn around. Here you will find a great strangler fig growing over the gate, very reminiscent of the trees that make Ta Prohm famous!
Banteay Srei
The Temple of Banteay Srei cannot be found among the main complex of temples at Angkor. It is actually located 25 kilometers to the north, meaning that if you want to visit, you will need about 40 minutes in a Tuk Tuk to get there. Despite that, it is still one of the most unmissable temples of Angkor because of its unique characteristics.
When you visit, don’t expect anything like what you have seen in the other, main temples to the South. This beautiful place is made of a red colored sandstone, which glows “pink” in the sun, giving it the nickname “The Pink Temple”. The carvings in the rock are very intricate, which has seen it dubbed as “the citadel of Women”. This is because it is believed that such intricate carvings could not have been done by the hands of men, but the softer touch of women. This also means that it is the only temple in the Angkor area not to have been constructed by a King.
When you visit, be ready for a hot day. We were sweltering in the heat, and not just because it was a blue sky with no clouds. The red colored sandstone made the place noticeably hotter than the cool, grey rock of the temples around the main Angkor Park. Don’t let this put you off though, as this temple is beautiful, and makes for nice photographs.
The amount of market stalls and restaurants located out front is a sure fire sign that it is a very popular tourist stop!
Phnom Bakheng
Phnom Bakheng is a temple with a difference. A 7 tier pyramid style temple, it is the location of this temple that makes it one of the unmissable temples of Angkor.
That is because it sits on one of the only hills of note in the area. Known locally as the “mountain”, it is really not that high, and only takes about 20 – 25 mins to climb. Once you reach the summit though, you will find this beautiful temple awaiting you. Climb the sides, and the views are extraordinary.
Off to one side you will be able to spot Angkor Wat below, standing proudly amid the jungle surrounds. Wander around the top and you will get 360 degree views of the surrounding country, and several other temples. Off to the West though, you will see the great lake of the West Mebon, and if you are there late in the day, you will be able to witness the sunset from atop this beautiful temple.
Which really, is one of the best reasons to come to Phnom Bakheng. Get there early though, because you won’t be alone! Photographers descend on the temple because of the amazing views, and if it the sun sets just right, you will get all sorts of golden colors glinting off Angkor Wat far below.
Banteay Samre
This gem of a temple is one that many, many have not and never will hear of. In fact, the only reason that we even visited was because we had just done the trek up to Banteah Srei, and liked it so much that our Tuk Tuk Driver thought we would enjoy this one too. It was even his own admission that he doesn’t really bring people to this temple, as it is largely forgotten.
Even when we approached the temple, the security and ticket check were caught unaware. The stall owners out front went apoplectic with glee to see the only potential customers of the day. If you want a temple to yourself, then seek this one out.
What we found turned out to be one of my favorite temples of Angkor. It has the same pinkish hue as “The Pink Temple” up north, without the heat. Instead, this one has a beautiful ring of green grass around the outside, and even a grazing cow which added to the serenity.
Stepping inside, I couldn’t help but feel the solitude sweep over me. Making my way through the outer room, I stepped back out into the daylight, and a beautiful court yard opened in front of me. To one side was a wonderful stone walkway that wound its way around that side of the buildings. The grey stone was intricately carved, and I stood for a moment as I stared in wonder. After all the amazing buildings and temples I had been in over the past 4 days, somehow this one caught my imagination.
Off to the right the courtyard opened up as it followed the outer wall around the circumference. Bright green grass grew there uninhibited as the lack of pedestrian traffic was adamant.
If you want to find a Temple that is under stated and under rated, one that you will never forget, then seek this one out. You can sit in solitude and really lose yourself in your own imagination at Banteay Samre.
Preah Khan Temple
Preah Khan Temple is another one that really snuck up on me. We had not heard of it when we were dropped off by our Tuk Tuk Driver, and his brief of the history didn’t prepare us at all for what we discovered inside.
Surrounded by a moat, Preah Kahn holds many similarities to the famous Ta Prohm Temple. Like the Tomb Raider Temple, you will find a tree or two standing on top of the ruins, and those cameras will whip into action quickly.
What I loved about this temple though, did not become apparent right away. It was after wandering through for some time that we emerged into the more open area at the rear of the temple. Here, we found a structure to one side that gave me real “Greek Parthenon” type of vibes. Of course, that is impossible, but that is what I was reminded of.
The back area is half ruined, but wandering around here and exploring the nooks and crannies really reminded me of why I was there. To soak up history, and remind myself of just how old this place was. You don’t get to come to a place like Angkor every day, and temples like Preah Khan brought me back to reality pretty fast.
A few handy tips
First, if you are going to visit for the Angkor Wat sunrise, get there EARLY! Even then, you might not be guaranteed a prime spot by the reflecting pools for the best shots. Trust me, it is cut throat, and if you step away for a second your spot will be taken and you will not get it back. Instead, try and find a quiet spot away from the pools where you might not get your reflective photo, but can just enjoy the moment instead. Many like to sit on one of the two buildings behind the pools, that both give a great and comfortable view.
Second, you will be harassed to hire a guide. This is a great for a first timer, if you want to know all of the history. You will also get pretty bored, if you are like me, and it will take a lot more time than exploring for yourself. I personally enjoy reading up on the history first, and then heading to Angkor Wat and going it alone. I loved my time there, wandering around exploring without someone tagging along making me stop for a history lesson every 30 seconds!
Third, hire a local Tuk Tuk Driver. I wrote an article about this HERE, and you can find out the details of a trusted local driver. He was amazing, and knew a lot of history himself, so you got a good overview of each temple before you entered. He also took us to a lot of hidden and lesser known places that you only knew about because he grew up LITERALLY across the road from Angkor Wat.
Lastly, get there THIS YEAR if you can. (2022, if you are reading this after Dec 31st 2022, I apologize) There is a sale on tickets post covid, and a single day pass will extend for 2 days. A 3 day pass for 5 days, and a 5 day pass for 7 days. That’s amazing value. Also remember that the ticket office is NOT at Angkor Wat. You have to buy from the official office before heading into the Park.
Should you do a tour?
This is a question that many will ask. Personally, I think it is up to the individual. When I visited Angkor, I did so with just my partner and Tuk Tuk Driver. He knew so much about the park that we didn’t NEED a tour. He WAS the tour! Check out THIS article for more.
If you really want to do a tour, then you have plenty to choose from. The bonus of being on an organized tour is that you won’t really have to worry about many things, such as getting to and from the temples, or getting tickets etc. If this sounds like you, and you like things easy, even if it costs a little more, then hit the button below to take you to some of the best Angkor tours you can find. Some of the most unmissable temples of Angkor will be covered in these tours.
Summary
If you are in South East Asia, then get to Cambodia and visit the Angkor Archeological Park. There are so many unmissable temples of Angkor, that you just can’t afford not to. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people, and you will really kick yourself if you pass it up!
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