Is it even possible to come to Siem Reap without visiting the famous temples of Angkor Wat? Everything in the busy town is temple themed, and packed with tourists from all over the world. It’s almost a right of passage to drink fifty cent beers on pub street, and recount your days of exploring. Planning a trip to the temples is actually much easier than we expected. In this guide, we breakdown all the Angkor Wat information you need! This includes the dress code, large vs small circuit routes, plus the Angkor Wat tickets and entrance fee. You’ll just have to decide these 4 things before you go!

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1. Small Circuit vs. Large Circuit

The Angkor temples are broken into two loops, a small circuit and large circuit. The small circuit will take around 6-9 hours to complete in full, while the large is a full day. The owner of our homestay put it best: If you only have one day, take your time and visit the small circuit because that has the most “special temples.” If you’re still yearning for more after completing the small circuit, then move onto the larger one.

Angkor Wat Small Circuit

After paying your Angkor Wat entrance fee, the small circuit will take you to 5-10 different temples. These range from the famous Angkor Wat to the lesser known Te Keo. The loop in total can take anywhere from 6-9 hours with visiting all the temples and lunch.

Read all about our day at the Angkor Archaeological Park in our post Sunrise at Angkor Wat: One Day Tuk Tuk Tour

Angkor Wat Large Circuit

You will visit some lesser known temples along with the more famous ones. This drive is much longer, and you should plan for a full day (or two) to see everything. If you want to do the large circuit you should consider a three day pass when getting your Angkor Wat tickets which we talk about below!

2. Angkor Wat Ticket

Hopefully now you have an understanding of what you want to see during your visit to the Angkor Archaeological Park! So now where do you get your Angkor Wat tickets? If you plan to go with a tour or private tuk tuk taxi you can simply tell them you don’t have your tickets yet.

If you’re going by motorbike or without a driver, it’s important to know that you are not able pay the Angkor Wat entrance fee directly at the park. For this reason, make sure to stop by the official Angkor Wat ticket office first. Also, you should only buy tickets from the official office to avoid getting scammed in Siem Reap!

1 Day Pass: $37 USD – Good for one whole day at the temples from 6am-5pm.

3 Day Pass: $62 USD – Good for 3 days of visiting the temples within 10 days.

7 Day Pass: $72 USD – Good for 7 days of visiting the temples within one month.

When to Buy: You can buy your ticket in the morning on the way to the temples, or the night before. Ff you buy it the night before you must purchase after 5pm. Any tickets before 5pm will be considered for that day.

Angkor Wat Entrance Fee Payment: Cash and major credit cards are accepted. There are also ATM’s on site.

Angkor Wat Ticket Tip: There are over 20 ticket counters at the main office. If you get your tickets in the morning like we did, the wait can be well over half an hour. Most people walk in and queue in line at the first counter. We ended up walking down to the far end away from the crowd and got our tickets immediately!

Angkor Wat Ticket Office Address: Corner of Apsara Road and Road 60

3. Angkor Wat Guide to Transportation

By now you have a route planned and know where and how to get your tickets… So what’s next? It’s time to figure out the best way to get around this massive park. We decided to hire a tuk tuk driver for the day, but really there are 4 choices that you have. Let’s break them down!

Tuk Tuk: Cost: $20-25 USD

The tuk tuk in our opinion is the best way to get around. You will negotiate the rate and what to include beforehand. Such as sunrise, small or large circuit, and sunset. The good thing about the tuk tuk driver is they also act as your Angkor Wat guide. If you decide this please try to book from your hotel.

There are dozens of horror stories about tourists being charged more once they got to the temples, or even abandoned by their drivers. Booking a driver directly through your hotel is just a small step you can take to ensure a great day.

Bicycle/Electric Bike: Cost: $3-12 USD

Depending on if you get a normal or electric bike, this is one of the cheapest ways to see Angkor Wat. We always prefer bicycles as a fun form of travel in Asia, but we just couldn’t do it. The sun is so uncontrollably hot in the afternoon that we opted for the small amount of shade that the tuk tuk provides. Make sure to plan for the heat if you decide to rent a bike!

Tour Bus: Cost: $12-15

Large and small tours are huge throughout Angkor. You can buy tickets from almost any hotel or information center, and they include transport, a tour guide, and water. The price is right for what you get, but we didn’t want to be locked into a group or with an Angkor Wat guide during our visit.

Moped: Cost: $15-20

There is a great moped debate in Siem Reap. Essentially, tourists are not able to rent them because of the countless motorbike accidents that have happened. The strange thing is that you will still see them for rent! Our understanding from talking to a shop owner was that you just can’t take them to see the temples.

Yet if you do then you can try to go into one of the small checkpoints and not the main gate… Confusing right? He also slid in the fact that if something happens (such as a crash) you’re on your own. We think it’s best to stay safe here, and leave the mopeds for the islands.

4. Tour Guide or Self-Guided

It comes as no surprise that there is an overwhelming amount of Angkor Wat information you’ll be taking in on your visit. That is why many people choose to hire a guide to join them on their day of exploring the temples. If you decide to hire an Angkor Wat guide, as always do it through your hotel.

Also, it’s important to make sure to lock the rate in before you leave. Guides should cost $20-30 USD per day depending on what circuit you choose. If you do hire a guide, you will also have to hire a tuk tuk to get your group around. Plan for $50-60 for a full day guided tour with transportation included. Also, be sure to follow the Angkor Wat dress code which we will go into next.

Remember, this does not include the cost of your Angkor Wat entrance fee.

General Angkor Wat Information

Park Hours

7.30am – 5.30pm, but there are exceptions:

Angkor Wat and Srah Srang are open from 5am – 5.30pm for sunrise.

for sunrise. Phnom Bakheng and Pre Rup are open from 5am – 7pm for sunrise and sunset.

Angkor Wat Dress Code

Men: Shorts and T-Shirt are fine.

Women: Long dress or pants and shoulders covered. The Angkor Wat dress code kind of goes without saying, but don’t be mistaken. A ticket checker will tell you to cover up at some places or you’re not allowed in. You need to have your shoulders covered with a t-shirt, or dress sleeves instead of a shawl.

More Quick Tips

Climbing Steps: Some of the temples have over 100 very steep steps. Make sure to use with caution when visiting.

Finding Food: There are food stands throughout the park. We also recommend packing some snacks and extra water!



Bathrooms: There are a handful of toilets around the park, but not inside the temple complexes. Ask your driver and be prepared, and know that it might take a few minutes to get there.



Angkor Wat Tickets: To enter the area and each individual temple you will have to show your ticket. Make sure to have it on you at all times, and don’t leave it behind in the tuk tuk!

We know this has been a whirlwind of Angkor Wat information! It was important for us to put everything that we learned into one helpful post. Have any questions about the Angkor Wat dress code, or want to share your own experiences at this special place in Cambodia? We would love to hear about it in the comments below!

Safe Travels,

Brigitte & Jake

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Where To Stay In Siem Reap Cambodia

Ultra Luxury (High End) – Park Hyatt Siem Reap – Ultra luxury in the heart of Siem Reap. We’ve recommended a lot of Park Hyatt’s over the years as they’re one of the nicest hotel chains in Asia. Siem Reap might take the cake though!

Fun Vacation (Mid Range) – Chateau d’Angkor La Residence – Stay near all the action, but still have the ability to escape the craziness of Pub street. Upscale hotel with traditional amenities and a beautiful pool to cool down in.

Travel Couple (Longterm Travel) – Chamraoen’s Home – This was our home during our stay in Siem Reap and we loved it! We were a quick walk to the action and had amazing food right outside out door. Great wifi, clean rooms, and owned by a very helpful family. They even set up our tuk tuk driver and Angkor Wat guide for us!

Hostel Life (Budget) – The Siem Reap Chilled Backpacker – There’s plenty of hostels in Siem Reap as it’s a huge backpacker haven. At the Siem Reap Chilled Backpacker you’ll be just a 10 minute walk from the central market, and have pool and hang out spots to go with your dorm bed.

For more places to stay in Siem Reap Cambodia you can explore the latest prices here!

*By booking through our website we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This allows us to continue our travels and keep providing great content to our readers! You can also bookmark this link for all your future stays*

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