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There are dozens of temple ruins in the
Siem
Reap area. Your temple itinerary depends largely on how much time you
have and your level of interest, though some temples are ‘must sees.’
Any itinerary should include the legendary ruins of
Angkor Wat
and the giant faces of
Bayon. These two temple ruins offer the
most spectacular and unique examples of Angkorian art and architecture.
On the road trip to
Bayon, you will also see the
South Gate of
Angkor Thom and some other minor ruins. As it is within walking
distance of Bayon, most itineraries can easily include central
Angkor Thom, with its artistically interesting terraces and massive
‘temple-mountains,’
Baphuon and
Phimeanakas. Due to
lighting conditions, it is best to visit
Angkor Wat in the
afternoon, so most itineraries begin in the morning with the
South
Gate of Angkor Thom and
Bayon.
As your schedule allows, build the rest of your itinerary around
visiting each type of major ruin – temple mountains such as
Pre Rup,
Ta Keo,
Bakong and West Mebon; flat, sprawling monastic
complexes such as
Ta Prohm,
Preah Khan and
Banteay Kdei;
and unique monuments such as
Neak Pean and
Srah Srang. The
Roluos Group, which comprises the monuments of an early Khmer
capital, lies 12 km west of Siem Reap, outside the main temple complex.
It is a bit out of the way, but offers some fine examples of early
Angkorian art and should be included in two or three day itineraries. Of
special note is the artistically exquisite but more distant temple,
Banteay Srey. If there is any way of squeezing it into your
itinerary, it is well worth it.
Long days of touring temples can lead to
‘temple burnout.’ To help prevent this syndrome, consider taking a
boat
trip on the Tonle Sap, lunch at the
Butterfly Garden, tour a silk
farm and a craft
workshop, visit the 'Landmine Museum,' or take a countryside drive to a distant temple.
Suggested Itineraries:
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Half-Day Visit
1) South Gate of
Angkor
Thom
2) Central
Angkor
Thom (Bayon,
Terrace of the Elephants,
Terrace
of the Leper King)
3)
Ta
Prohm
4)
Angkor
Wat |
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One or Two Day Visit
Day 1
Morning:
1) South Gate of
Angkor
Thom
2) Central
Angkor
Thom (Bayon,
Phimeanakas,
Terrace of the Elephants,
Terrace
of the Leper King).
(Single day visitors:
Old
Market area/souvenir shops
in Siem Reap at
lunch.)
Afternoon:
4)
Ta
Prohm
5)
Pre Rup
(optional)
6)
Angkor
Wat
7) Phnom Bakheng for sunset
Traditional dance show in the
evening
Day 2 Options
Option A: Banteay Srey
Morning:
1)
Angkor
Wat for sunrise
2)
Pre Rup
3)
Banteay Srey
4)
Banteay
Samre (optional)
5)
Thommanon
Old Market area/souvenir
shops in Siem Reap at
lunch.
Afternoon:
6)
Roluos
Group (Bakong,
Preah Ko,
Lolei)
Option B: Variety of temples
Morning:
1)
Angkor
Wat for sunrise
2)
Preah Kahn
3) Victory Gate
4)
Thommanon
5)
Pre Rup
(optional)
6)
Prasat Kravan
Old Market area/souvenir
shops in Siem Reap at
lunch.
Afternoon:
7)
Roluos
Group (Bakong,
Preah Ko,
Lolei)
Option C: Grand circuit
Morning:
1)
Angkor
Wat for sunrise
2)
Preah Kahn
3)
Neak
Pean
4)
Ta Som
5)
Pre Rup
(optional)
6)
Prasat Kravan (optional)
Old Market area/souvenir
shops in Siem Reap at
lunch.
Afternoon:
Roluos
Group (Bakong,
Preah Ko,
Lolei) |
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Three Day Visit
Day 1
Morning:
1) South Gate of
Angkor
Thom
2) Central
Angkor
Thom (Bayon,
Baphuon,
Phimeanakas,
Terrace of the Elephants,
Terrace
of the Leper King).
Lunch at restaurant near
Angkor Wat
Afternoon
3) Victory Gate
4)
Thommanon
5)
Ta Keo
(short visit)
6)
Ta
Prohm
7) Sunset at
Angkor Wat
Traditional dance show in evening
Day 2
Morning:
1) Sunrise at
Angkor Wat
2)
Baksei Chamkrong,
Prasat Bei, Thma Bay Kaek
3)
Preah Kahn
4)
Neak
Pean
5)
Ta Som
6)
Pre Rup
Visit to
Old Market area
in Siem Reap at
lunch.
Afternoon:
7)
Roluos
Group (Bakong,
Preah Ko,
Lolei)
8) Sunset at Phnom Bakheng
Day 3
Morning:
1)
Banteay Srey
2)
Banteay
Samre
3)
East
Mebon
Visit to craft/silk workshop after lunch
Afternoon:
4)
Prasat Kravan
5)
Banteay Kdei
6)
Srah
Srang (optional)
7) Sunset at
Angkor Wat |
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Of Special Interest
Sunrise:
Angkor Wat, (alternative:
Srah
Srang)
Sunset: Phnom Bakheng,
Angkor Wat
Trees growing from temple ruins:
Ta Prohm,
Banteay
Kdei,
Ta Som
Giant carvings of faces:
Bayon,
the gates of
Angkor
Thom,
Banteay Kdei,
Ta Prohm
and
Preah Kahn
Notable artistry/carvings:
Angkor Wat,
Banteay
Srey,
Bayon,
Bakong,
Terrace
of the Leper King |
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