Ultimate 2-Day Angkor Wat Itinerary
Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia is one of the main reasons why you should visit Cambodia. It is known as the largest Hindu-Buddhist temple complex in the world with over 162 hectares (402 acres) of land. Built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II during the 12th century. Angkor Wat was originally constructed as a Hindu temple for the god Vishnu. Later, it became a Buddhist temple complex.
Angkor Wat is the number one must-visit tourist spot in Cambodia. If you are planning to visit Angkor Wat, here is my 2-day Angkor Wat guide.
Pre-travel guide
⛑️ Travel Insurance:
- Safety Wing
- If you are a Filipino, you can buy using GCASH which is a much cheaper option
🏨 Accommodations:
I use Booking.com to book accommodation, but sometimes I can find good accommodation in Agoda too.
💰 Currency:
In Cambodia, they use a money called the Cambodian Riel (KHR). But many places also take US Dollars (USD), especially in tourist spots. Lots of businesses show prices in both Cambodian Riel and US Dollars.
🛜 How to stay connected?
I bought a SIM card at the airport for 41,000 KHR. However, there are also data esims available to purchase if you prefer that.
🛵 How to get around in Nusa Penida?
- Tuktuk: you will need to hire a tuktuk to take you around the area. We hired a driver named Mr. Kou for $20/day. He was really nice and he also helped us connect with his friend who is also a driver when we went to Phnom Penh.
- Rent a motorbike: if you can drive and want to go at your own pace, renting a motorbike would probably the best option for you.
- Private Car: If you are in a group and want to be more comfortable, hiring a private car with a driver would be a great choice.
Temples to see in Angkor Wat in 2 Days
You can buy the Angkor Pass at the ticket center, which is about 4 kilometers away from Siem Reap town. It is located on Road 60. It’s open every day from 4:30 in the morning until 5:30 in the evening.
Admission fee:
↳ 1-day pass – $37
↳ 3-day pass- $62
↳ 7-day pass- $72
Opening Hours: 7:30 am to 5:30 pm every day
Dress Code: You need to wear clothes that cover them up properly when visiting Angkor Wat. This means covering shoulders and knees. As a tourist, we must show respect to these temples. Also, wear comfortable clothes as you will be walking a lot!
Reminder: Due to its age and the high number of visitors it receives. As visitors, you should not to touch the carvings or climb on the buildings. This helps keep the special place safe for the next people who come to see it..
Tour Guides: Angkor Wat can be explored on your own and just hire a tuktuk driver to drive you around the temple area. But if you want to learn more and make your visit even better, I suggest hiring a guide who knows a lot about the history and culture of Angkor Wat. They can tell you interesting things while you’re exploring the temple.
➡️ DAY 1
Angkor Wat Temple
Angkor Wat is the main temple in the complex. People love to see the beautiful sunrise and sunset here. Lots of travelers come early in the morning to watch the sun come up over the temple, which feels like something out of a fairy tale.
When you go in, you’ll walk across the moat and into the temple. Inside, you’ll see all the amazing architecture on the walls, both on the outside and inside.
If you’re with a guide, they’ll tell you interesting facts about Angkor Wat and explain all the fancy details in the temple complex.
Bayon Temple
Bayon Temple is in Angkor Thom. It’s famous for its special style of architecture. There are lots of big stone faces carved on the towers of the temple. People think these faces might show Avalokiteshvara or the king who made the temple.
The main part of Bayon Temple has three levels. The top level has the famous face towers. There were originally 54 towers, and each one had four carved faces. But some faces got broken or lost over time. The design of the temple is supposed to look like Mount Meru. In Hindu and Buddhist stories, Mount Meru is the center of everything in the universe.
Ta Keo Temple
Ta Keo Temple is known for its five-tiered pyramid structure. It’s different from other temples built at that time. The temple is mostly made of sandstone blocks.
Visitors can climb the steep stairs to reach the top, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. The temple is relatively less crowded which means you can explore calmly and peacefully.
According to local legend, Ta Keo was struck by lightning while it was being built. The kings thought it was a bad sign (like it was cursed), so they stopped building it.
Ta Prohm Temple
Ta Prohm is famous because it’s a mix of nature and man-made things. Big trees grow over and through the temple. This makes the temple look mysterious and amazing. Before, Ta Prohm was called Rajavihara, and it was for Mahayana Buddhists.
Unlike many other temples nearby, Ta Prohm looks almost the same as it did before. Trees and plants grow everywhere among the old walls. This keeps the temple looking romantic and wonderful.
Ta Prohm became really famous after it was in a movie called “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” with Angelina Jolie. The temple’s old ruins were used in the movie’s action scenes. Some famous things about Ta Prohm are the big tree roots covering the walls and a tree called the “Tomb Raider tree.” People like to take pictures there and pretend they’re in the movie.
When you visit Ta Prohm, you can walk around its narrow paths, open areas, and old towers. You’ll see beautiful carvings on the stones and how nature and the temple mix together.
Banteay Kdei Temple
Banteay Kdei translates to “Citadel of Chambers” or “Citadel of Monks’ cells” in Khmer, referring to the numerous chambers and galleries within the temple complex.
The temple is made of sandstone and laterite. It has a bunch of connected areas, like halls, galleries, and towers. It looks simpler compared to other temples in Angkor. However, you will enjoy it because it is much less crowded than the other temples.
➡️ Day 2
Prae Rup Temple
“Pre Rup” translates to “Turning the Body” in Khmer. Some people think this might have something to do with a special ceremony, like a cremation, that happened here.
Prasat Pre Rup was an important temple used for religious events, including funerals. People believe it was made to remember King Rajendravarman II.
When you visit Prasat Pre Rup, you can climb up the steep stairs to the top where you can see the views of the surrounding area.
East Mebon Temple
East Mebon Temple sits on a man-made island in a big lake called the East Baray. This lake was made a long time ago to help with watering crops.
The temple was very important for ceremonies, especially ones about water and making things grow because it was near the lake.
The temple has lots of carvings of animals like elephants and lions, as well as stories from Hindu myths.
To reach East Mebon, you walk along a path from the ground to the island where the temple sits. Along the path, there are statues of lions and snakes on each side, making the temple look really cool.
Ta Som Temple
Ta Som Temple’s name means “The Old Som.” “Som” stands for a tree. People think there might have been an ancient tree at the temple.
Ta Som was an important temple used for religious ceremonies. People believe it was made for King Jayavarman VII’s father.
The temple is made of sandstone and laterite. It has one tower and is surrounded by a moat. Ta Som is famous for its small size and detailed carvings.
Neak Pean Temple
Neak Pean Temple’s name means “The Entwined Serpents” in Khmer. There are carved stone serpents around the main part of the temple.
The temple has a round middle part and four small ponds around it. These ponds stand for four big rivers in ancient India. It’s mostly made of a type of rock called laterite and sandstone.
In the old times, people went to Neak Pean for religious ceremonies and healing rituals. They believed the water there could heal them.
Going to Neak Pean, you walk on a path over a small lake. The quiet surroundings makes the temple feel even more special and peaceful.
Preah Khan Temple
“Preah Khan” means “Holy Sword” in Khmer. People think it was named to honor King Jayavarman VII’s father.
The temple was used as a Buddhist school and a place for religious events and important meetings.
Its design has symbols from both Hinduism and Buddhism, showing what people believed back then.
Preah Khan is built with sandstone, laterite, and brick. It has lots of paths, halls, and tall towers. People enjoy its large gates and the intricate carvings on it.
Overall Experience
I highly recommend visiting this wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site if you ever get the chance. The temple complex is so big that it will take days to visit every temple. Each temple offers its own unique beauty that you will surely enjoy while hopping from one to another.
During our visit to the temple complex, I liked it better when there were fewer people. Some temples are hidden away, and you have to walk through pretty trees to get to them. There are even monkeys in some places, which is really fun to see, though I’m not sure if they’re used to people or not.
Durng our visit, we hired a tuktuk and visited the temples on our own. We enjoyed looking around and we took a lot of photos. I really think having a tour guide would make the exploration more fun because you can learn a lot more about each temple, so I highly suggest to get one.
P.S. During our visit, we bought a 1-day pass but got the explore the temple for 2 days (It was a promo rate during our travel date). However, if you have more time, I highly recommend exploring Angkor Wat for more than a day.
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My Travel Faves!
🌎 Safetywing: For travel insurance
✈️ Google Flights: For finding flight deals
🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels
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☀️ Klook: For tours and activities
📷 Canon G7X Mark II: My travel camera
🧳 Luggage: My favorite luggage
