Time of the visit of Siam Reap: 26.03.-5.04.2025

As soon as I arrived in Siam Reap I bought a 7-day pass( You have 1 month to use up the 7 days) for the unesco complex of Angkor Wat and went immediately to the temple Angkor Wat where I spent around 3h till sunset.It was a very hot day and the temple was totally overcrowded with visitors from all parts of our planet.The next two following days I visited the unesco sites Preah Vihear near the Thai border as well as Koh Ker. I also visited the Angkor National Museum (strongly recommended as it helps you to understand quite a few things better when out in the Angkor Wat Complex),the war museum and the cultural village ( a kind of surreal cambodian disneyland,quite big) in Siam Reap. I carefully planned the next six days to divide the massive temple complex into six manageable sections. The temperatures were high—always over 35 degrees Celsius. It was impossible to spend every day in the temple complex from morning until sunset.I used various transport options: one day I rented a bicycle, another day a tuk-tuk for almost a whole day (60,000 riel, the standard is 80,000, anything above that is a rip-off). Mostly, though, I used the very useful and excellent app "Pass Up Cambodia," a kind of Uber for tuk-tuks and motorized rickshaws(they are around 10-15% cheaper than tuktuks and have a roof).                                                      My 7 days were the following:

1. Angkor Wat temple,

2.the so-called Roluos group(Bakong,Lolei,Preah Koh)near the road to the airport,the Bakong temple is the most impressive one.Bakong is the first monumental temple mountain built by a Khmer king on the plains and represents a significant leap in Khmer architecture.

3.The Bayon area is, besides Angkor Wat, the most visited one. It's a large area that took me a whole day to explore. I entered the area through the south gate and walked along the moat to the west gate, then visited all the temples within the complex. Highlights included the Elephant and Leper Terrace, the Bayon Temple, and the Preah Palilay Temple with its impressive tree. I left that area through the south gate again and then watched the sunset on the hill temple of Phnom Bakheng.Without a doubt my toughest day in Angkor Wat complex, physically.

4. I took a rickshaw to drop me off shortly at the Bat Chum temple and then to the Bantei Kdei temple (east gate).I first went the very short way to the  Srah Sang water reservoir opposite the entrance gate.Wonderful view.I then visited the temples Bantei Kdei,Ta Prohm( the third most visited temple in Angkor War,the so-called "Tomb-Raider-Temple) and last but not least the temple "Ta Keo" where I watched the sunset.My personal highlight was the Ta Keo temple with its extremely steep stairs and its magical light effects.However,all three aforementioned temples are breathtakingly beautiful.Just one warning: dont visit the Ta Prohm temple before 4.00 pm...too crowded.I had the temple almost to myself.

5.I took it easy and spent 3 hours in the so-called west mebon area,relatively boring.

6.What a brutal day it was,my toughest day,mentally.I took a rikshaw to visit the "Ta Som temple.Shortly before we reached the temple, there was a collision between a tuktuk driver and an SUV. The driver flew through the air and his helmet hit my rickshaw. The young man was killed instantly. My driver didn't care and stopped just for a few seconds.

The Ta Som temple is quite fascinating  because of its jungle atmosphere and the eastern gopuram (face tower) with its strangler fig. However,I was still under a shock as I had just seen a young man die in front of my proper eyes and couldnt really appreciate these things.I then walked along a path parallel to the road around the huge water reservoir to the bridge at Neak Pean and its temple island complex. Very picturesque, and a beautiful body of water with its sea plants. Then I continued on foot to Preah Khan. I didn't arrive there until around 5:15 p.m. A guard, all of whom live in Siam Reap, made me a good deal for the return trip; he would wait for me for 30 minutes.The Preah Khan Temple is large, damn large, with long paths. At 5:30 p.m., all the guards from the entire temple stop for their duty and go home. There were no other visitors. I was alone and lost track of time. It was getting dark. I ran to the west exit. The road there was closed due to construction work. It was getting dark, and there was no chance of getting a vehicle there. The mosquitoes were coming out. I had no more water, was thirsty, and exhausted. I raced to the northern exit. The guard at the east exit was long gone.

My phone had barely any power left, and I had no mobile internet reception. Apart from a few stray dogs, there was no one at the north exit, but luck was on my side. A moped was driving through the pitch-black, remote area. I stopped him, and with gestures , I managed to get him to call me a tuktuk via the Pass Up app. What a memorable day.

7. On the last day, I explored the WHS site by bicycle. The bike paths were surprisingly good. I visited the Pre Rup (great temple to watch the sunset) and East Mebon temples, as well as the Ta Prohm and Preah Khan temples a second time. On the way back to Siam Riep I revisited the Elephant and Leper terrasse in the Bayon area. Most of the bike paths were in the shade, and I slightly regretted not having rented one beforehand. The only annoying thing about cycling is the occasional large group of intrusive monkeys... small groups are harmless, large ones less so. I even had to get off my bike once and arm myself with a large branch.

Angkor Wat is a fantastic whs which is really worth every second passed there.

I enjoyed the Bayon area and quite a lot of other temples more than the Angkor wat temple inside the Angkor Wat complex.

My most favoured temple was probably Ta Keo watching the sunset there.

The city of Siam Riep is without any doubt the most  livable city in Cambodia. I met lots of expats who enjoy the relaxed life in that very green city.