Preah Vihear is a Khmer mountain fortress about 250km from Angkor on the Thai border. From Preah Vihear you have a great view of the surrounding plains. I quickly understood why they chose the location and what purpose it served. I felt strongly reminded of other mountain fortresses, specifically Xochicalco in Mexico.

Most of the site consists of ruins. The most notable structures are the naga stair case and the big temple buildings at the top of the mountain. But to me the main asset is the great view you get.

While it's no Angkor, it is sufficiently distinct from it and offers a different glimpse into Khmer architecture and history. I felt it was a nice addition to my Angkor visit.

Getting There

Being based in Siem Reap I hired a driver for a day to take me to Preah Vihear. The driver dropped me off at the base of the mountain where the entry is located and waited for me.

The original price we negotiated for the ride was 100 USD. I then extended the trip to also visit nearby Koh Ker (T) and I paid 120 USD for a full day of driving. The roads overall were good and traffic not much of an issue.

Getting In

You cannot go up the mountain in your own car. You have to hire a local driver to take you up either on the back of a pickup truck (groups) or on a motobike (individuals). The climb is quite steep and coming down did feel a bit risky. Tickets for the site and the ride are sold at the site entry.

I am not sure if you can hike up the mountain. Probably, but it's fairly steep and the heat was hard to handle as it was. Also, although risky the ride up the mountain was fun.

While You are There

I would recommend going to Koh Ker if you make the effort to visit from Siem Reap. It's a 30-40km detour. Travelling on to Thailand could be difficult due to ongoing border tensions encompassing the site itself. Your best best is probably to return to Siem Reap.