“One day in Angkor and some practical tips”
We just did this tour hiring a tuk tuk driver. The four of us paid $18 total, but I heard that the prices go from $12 to $15. Our driver was very nice and we were fine paying a bit more, plus there were four of us.
Tickets are available as of 5am. You can buy one day pass for $20, or three day pass for $40. Bring dollars. In riels, it cost 82,000, which is more than $20 by 2,000 rl, or about half a dollar.
Have I mentioned that dollar - EUR exchange rate does not have anything to do with the world exchange rate for that day? When I visited Cambodia, dollar - EUR rate was: 1: 0.73. The rate in Cambodia was 1:0.90. Do the math. Bring dollars and only dollars, and change some dollars to KHR, since you may get better prices at some local places if you pay riels.
ANGKOR WAT for sunrise? Why on Earth is this in every book you can find about visiting Angkor? Guys, it is absolutely nothing special. We had clear sky, not a single cloud, and it was not colorful. It was nothing special, really. We started our trip at 5am in the morning just because of this, and it was so NOT worth it! Hundreds, if not thousands, of tourists come to Angkor Wat in the morning because they have read that sunrise there is magical. Please, go some place else in Angkor for sunrise, and you will have the place almost for yourself, since everyone is at Angkor Wat.
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Photo: early bird tourists
What can you see in one day?
1. My favorite place was BAYON.. It has special energy. Many people I spoke to felt the same. This place just makes you want to stay there for hours and absorb amazing energy that it has. I wish I came to this place for sunrise, and had it for myself.
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Photo: Bayon Temple
2. ANGKOR THOM - right next to Bayon.
3. TA PROHM - east of Angkor Thom. Amazing place. This is the place where huge trees intertwine with the buildings. Looks nicer earlier in the morning.
4. PREAH KHAN - north of Angkor Thom. Haven't seen this one, but it is so possible to add it to the 1 day visit list.
5. Start heading back to ANGKOR WAT. In the afternoon is great because of the position of the sun, and you can make great pictures then. I saw many Buddhist monks meditating here, so, if you are into meditation, this could be the place to plan this. But, you will end up in the photographs of many visitors while meditating. As did the monks.
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Photo: Angkor Wat, Buddhist monks and tourists
6. Sunset? No idea where. Bayon again? Or PHNOM BAKHENG hill, which is recommended for sunset. Expect many tourists at sunset. Or visit it during the day.
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Photo: the view from Phnom Bakheng Hill
Also, who says that it is very difficult to do the tour ON BIKE because it is far? From the city center, there is about 6km to Angkor. Does this sound to you like impossible or strenuous? Unless you are bothered by the heat or humidity at certain times of the year. Tuk tuk is nice, but then - you have to make your list in advance or you would be charged extra or the driver would tell you that there is no time to go back, or you would feel bad for the driver waiting for you, so sometimes you would hurry, and change your plans because of that. And bikes - many guesthouses give them for free. Next time I would definitely try the bike. Yes, if I go back to Cambodia, Angkor is so amazing that it is worth visiting again.
