Temples Essential

Private Angkor Day Tours – Available Daily

We have a number of private Angkor day Trips around Siam Reap and other sites listed below plus we have many Siam Reap tours available. Most of my tours are customized to suit your requirements for your visit to Siam Reap and other sites. If you are looking to plan your trip to Siam Reap Cambodia then just send me an e-mail at "angkortrail@gmail.com" & " angkorsavuth@yahoo.com".

Mini Angkor Tour

The Mini tour needs to be the first day trip you add to your itinerary as it includes the main temples of Angkor. During your tour you will see the amazing temple of Angkor Wat and visit the Angkor Thom complex which includes the Bayon temple, Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of Leper Kings. You will then continue onto Ta Prohm***** which is better known for its role in the movie Tomb Raider.Evening enjoy Sunset view with a leisure at Bakheng mountain over the Angkor Wat and view hidden elements of the ancient Khmer temple, relaxing and accompanied by the sound of bird song.

Banteay Srie** & Kulen mountain*

Banteay Srei in Cambodia is the only temple carved in hard pink sandstone in the Angkor region. It was discovered in 1914 by French archaeologists who described it as a "precious gem" and a "jewel in Khmer art". It is a very small miniature like temple in comparison to the dimensions of other Angkor temples, but due to its intricate and extraordinarily beautiful decoration it has become the favorite temple of many visitors. Amongst Banteay Srei highlights we must mention the refined carved walls of the central sanctuary and the guardian sculptures in the corners of the central tower. Banteay Srei or "Citadel of Women"" was not built by a King as the other Angkor temples. It was built by a Brahmin of royal descent who was the spiritual teacher of King Jayavarman V. It is therefore a Hindu temple dedicated to to Shiva and it was erected in the 967AD. It is believed that its modern name (which means Citadel of Women in Khmer) is related to the perfection of its bas-relief carvings. Kulen mountain See details at tours activities.

Kbal Spean*** & Banteay Srie temple

kbal Spean,, properly "Steung Kbal Spean", is a tributary of the Siam Reap river (Steung Siem Reap), and the site is about 47kkm from Siam Reap, a little over an hour by car. Kbal Spean highlights include the scenic waterfalls and pools, where it is possible to bathe, but the river is famous for its riverbed carvings of Hindu mythology, and particularly its many lingas, giving it the name Sahasralinga, or River of a Thousand Lingas. Kbal Spean is best seen during and just after the wet season, when water flows over the lingas and other river carvings.Kbal Spean is not a temple in Siem Reap, it is actually a the sacred site established along the tributary of the Siem Reap river which is found at the base of the Kulen mountains of Cambodia after Banteay Srei to the north. For 150m over one stretch of the river (amazingly this was only discovered in 1968) there are fascinating images of deities, and within these 1000 lingas giving the river its sanskrit moniker - 'River of a Thousand Lingas'. The Kbal Spean highlight re numerous, and include carvings of Vishnu reclining, a naturally formed bridge, and a small, perfectly formed waterfall at the end of the carved river bed. The style of the river is that of the Baphuon era, and the deities depicted are all Hindu. Some inscriptions which have been found date the carvings back to the reign of Udayadityavarman II.An expert local tour guide from Siem Reap will ensure you get the very best from your visit here.

Sambo Prei Kuk temples****

Sambor Prei Kuk is a very interesting site in which consists a collection of remains of some of the earliest Angkorian era temples which can be found in the province of Kampong Thom, 35km out of the main town, and about 120km in total from Siam Reap. There are 3 principal groups within the site as a whole - the Prasat Sambor (North Group) , Prasat Tao (Central Group), and Prasat Yeay Poeun (South Group). Each individual group houses some very impressive temple ruins throughout, depicting pre-Angkorian art, and this will most likely figure as one of the most impressive Cambodia tourist attractions for the true temple enthusiast who will certainly be in their element here, and with any luck, have the place to themselves. The temples hail back to the Chen-la era of the 7th century and at this site is what remains of the Chen-la capital, then Isanapura. Within each walled group are prasats in a varying state of decay, which focus around one main temple in the center. On each are carvings which also differ dramatically in terms of preservation and legibility. These carvings and temple designs are strikingly similar to many of the designs for the successive Angkor Temples, and the Khmer artwork displayed here is in the most part an absolute pretext for generations to come. However, a particular construction technique used which distinguishes the historical period from the Angkorian era is the use of an octagonal form for many of the prasats. The three groups of Sambor Prei Kuk are as follows:
Prasat Sambor - This group in the north comprises 14 temples in the main compound, with a main temple in the center. The temples are constructed of limestone and brick predominantly, all contain carvings, and as well as the traditional Khmer style of artwork and carving, influences from India can also be seen. Sandstone lotus petal carvings can be seen on the main tower as can the octagonal construction style.
Prasat Tao - This group is located in the center, and comprises 6 temples around 1 main temple. The 'Tao' in its name means 'lion' in Khmer language, and it refers to the lions which guard the entrance to the main temple of the group - 2 at each of the 4 entrances.
Prasat Yeay Poeun - All the temples are located in the forest, but this southern group is much more hidden. As well as the fact that not many tourists make it to these temples, alone in the jungle you will feel like you are the first to discover these remarkable buildings. To see all the site you will have to pay an entrance fee of US3.
Anytime is good to visit. Early morning shows the temples in their best light. The journey from Siam Reap is a fairly long one, so we'd recommend organizing accommodation near the site the day before.

Beng Mealea**** & Koh Ker temples day trip

Beng Mealea in Cambodia is one of the larger Angkor temples and is built on a similar scale and floor plan to Angkor Wat. The temple is located some 80km from Siam Reap and the main UNESCO archaeological park. For tourists the principle attraction of Beng Mealea is as an exotic travel adventure, a 'lost' temple still gripped by the jungle, removed from the tourist crowds of Angkor. Highlights of Beng Mealea, Cambodia include wonderful photo opportunities of the interplay of ancient carved stonework and nature. Beng Mealea was built under King Suryavarman II, the founder of Angkor Wat. It is commonly believed to be a forerunner or 'blueprint' for Angkor Wat itself and is decorated in substantially the same art style. The temple has remained in its collapsed state, partly hidden by jungle and recently the temple opened to the public.

Koh Ker temples****

Koh Ker Temple in Cambodia is a huge temple complex that served as the capital of the Khmer empire for a brief period between 928AD and 944AD. It is located 118kilometers northeast of Siam Reap and as it is the case with other remote temples, Koh Ker has not been restored and is one of the least studied temple-complex. Saying that, the area has 42 major temples and it once contained some of the most extraordinary sculptures ever produced in the Khmer art. Two of them are kept in the National Museum at Phnom Penh, the huge Garuda bird at the entrance hall and the monkeys Sugriva and Bali werstling protraying an episode of the Ramayana. Koh Ker highlights include the predominant Preasat Thom monument and the stunning view from its summit, and the Shiva lingas in Prasat thneng and Prasat Leung. The history of Koh Ker temple is linked to the obscure figure of King Jayavarman IV, about whom scholars cannot agree whether he was an usurper or not. About five years before he became king, Jayavarman IV left the then capital of Angkor Yashodharapura (which was under the reing of his uncle) and he established at Koh Ker. By moving the capital to this distant area King Jayavarman IV divided the empire and to do so he must have have held considerable power as a military leader. In 1880 Louis Delapore visited the site whilst undertaking a broader study of the Angkor temples. There has not been restoration works at the temple and archaeological surveys were undertaken by Cambodia teams in the 1960s but these studies were destroyed during the Khmer Rouge regime.

Preah Vihear temple****

Preah Vihear in Cambodia is a very impressive Hindu temple situated on top of a 547 meter high hill in the Dangrek Mountain range in the northeast of Cambodia, near the Thai border. With one of the most spectacular settings in Cambodia, this temple was built over a period of 300 years by different Kings and unlike other Angkor temples it is built on a north south axis (most Angkor temples are built facing the sun). Preah Vihear highlights include its unique architectural style, adapted to the natural setting of the monument, and the stunning views over Cambodia and Thailand from the top of the hill. Preah Vihear is quite a remote temple located 120 kilometers from Siem Reap, and travel from the town is complicated. The temple can only be reached by an all terrain car (3 hours journey) or a helicopter. Preah Vihear was built over a period of 300 years by various kings. The construction began in the early 9th century during the reign of King Yasovarman I, but most of the temple was built by King Suryavarman I in the 10th century and King Suryavarman II in the 12th century. It was dedicated to the God Shiva in his manifestations as the mountain gods Sikharesvara and Bharesvara. In 2008 Preah Vihear was listed in the World Heritage site list by the UNESCO.

Dispute between Thailand and Cambodia
Preah Vihear has been the center of a dispute between Thailand and Cambodia for years. In 19o7 France and Siam allocated the temple to Thai territory, but a map drawn by the French officers show the temple placed on the Cambodian side. In 1954, after the French troops withdrew from Cambodia, Thailand occupied the temple and the political quarrel between both countries started. In 1962 the International Court of Justice in The Hague settled the case and allocated the temple to Cambodia and ruling that Thailand must return any antiquities that it had removed from the temple. However, access to the temple was only from Thailand until recently, and during the three decades of civil war in Cambodia, the it was open only sporadically. The conflict continues nowadays, and it broadened in 2oo8 to include the Ta Moan Thom complex. Thai-Khmer political relationships’ remain tense with regards to this issue.
Itinerary planning

Preah Vihear, Cambodia - Preah Vihear, AnLong Veng and Banteay Srei for a full day out of Siem Reap.
Preah Vihear, Cambodia- Preah Vihear, AnLong Veng and Beng Mealea for a full day out of Siem Reap.

Preah Khan of Kompong Svay temples *****

Preah Khan Kampong Svay or Prasat Bakan as it was originally pronounced (Preah Khant is a mispronunciation of the French) is the largest temple complex found in Cambodia and a massive complex, that is larger than any of the Siem Reap sites. Four times the size of Angkor Wat, it occupies an area of 5 square kilometers and it comprises 4 enclosure walls, the central sanctuary, a baray and various buildings and basins. Located 105 kilometers from Siem Reap, it is a remote temple and it receives very few visitors if compared with other Angkor Temples.It has undergone some restoration works but it remains very much in its natural state and it is a rewarding site for those who venture all the way here. The complex is within a distance of 105 kilometers from Siem Reap, in the Preah Vihear province, and it can only be accessed either by helicopter or an all terrain vehicle as the road is in a very bad condition. Travel by road in the wet season becomes very complicated and hence it is recommended to visit in the dry season. You can access the temple from the eastern Baray, which has a cruciform sandstone shrine in the middle (prah Thkol) and a square pyramid in the Southeast corner of the Baray (Preah Damrei). At the western end of the moat you will come across Prasat Prah Stung, a sanctuary containing carved face that resembles those Bayon. A bridge flanked by naga balustrades will take you to the eastern gopura and ahead of this is the cruciform shaped central sanctuary standing on a two tiered platform. There is not much information about this temple complex. Archaeologists place its building in the 11th century with additions into the 12th century. It is possible that the site served as the homes of both the King Suryavarman II and the future King Jayavarman VII before he defeated the Chams and move the capital to Angkor in AD1181. In 1870s Louis Delaporte, a member of the Mekong exploration Comission that studied the Angkor temples, appropriated many sculptures and art works and removed many carvings from the site which are now exposed in the Guimet Museum in Paris.

Banteay Chhmar temple ****

Banteay Chhmar in Cambodia is one of the most important yet least understood archaeological sites in Cambodia. Albeit its historical significance this remote temple is rarely visited mainly due to its distant location near the Thair border. Unlike many other Angkor temples Banteay Chhmar has never been restored and it has succumbed to severe looting over the years, and has been listed several times as one of the hundred most endangered sites in the world by the World Monuments Fund. Experts have claimed that the temple rivaled Angkor Wat in size and magnificence and it has been estimated that it took about 20,000 laborers and about 30 years to build it. Highlights of Banteay Chhmar include the exceptional bas-reliefs on the walls although many are much damaged due to vandalism or theft. Banteay Chhmar is located 162 kilometers away from Siem Reap center and it can be reached by car or motorbike (the duration of the journey is just over 4 hours by car). To get there take National Road 6 toward the west from Siem Reap for 102 kilometers until you arrive to Sisophon and from Sisophon take the road N56 for 55 kilometers until Banteay Chhmar.You can access the temple from the east side and walk around the enclosure wall to see the carvings before entering the inner complex. Banteay Chhmar was built during the reign of Jayavarman VII in the late 12th - early 13th century and it is Buddhist temple dedicated to the crown prince Indravarman and to four royal servants who gave their lives defending the prince in battle. An inscription found at the site and now exposed in the National Museum of Phnom Penh reveals the names of those servants and informs that one of the temple's shrines once held an image of the crown prince. The Global Heritage Fund, a Californian organization, has undertaken preservation works at the complex and with a budget of $6 million and 44 employees, is rehabilitating the temple with the aim of its future inclusion in UNESCO's Heritage List.