Angkor Wat

Angkor opens from 5am to 6pm and pre-dawn pickups can be arranged so that you can witness the sun rising over the temples. Many larger tour groups will head back directly after sunrise for breakfast so it’s a good idea to take some snacks and stick around before they return mid-morning. Another top tip is to do the traditional temple circuit of Bayon in the morning, Angkor Wat in the afternoon and Phnom Bakheng as the sun sets, in the opposite direction. And, although the peak season for visiting Angkor falls within the drier, cooler months of November to March it’s still worth braving the humidity between June and October because there are far fewer crowds. Also, it usually only rains in the afternoon so you can visit Angkor in the morning and head back to Siem Reap to enjoy a beer, book and brief tropical rainstorm from the shelter of an open-sided bar.

There are some excellent small group holidays and tailor made alternatives for travellers looking to experience Angkor Wat, with foodie adventures, wildlife expeditions, cultural heritage trips and photography holidays all combining with guided temple visits. Spending time in Phnom Penh and learning about the atrocities that befell Cambodia under Pol Pot is also highly recommended, as is getting off the beaten track and visiting the port town of Kampong Chhnang or taking a boat out to Rabbit Island, both of which are rarely seen by ‘in and out of Angkor’ tourists.