Tips for Visiting Angkor Wat and Avoiding the Crowds!

Visiting Angkor Wat is one of the very top things to do in all of Southeast Asia and one of the most stunning places I’ve ever seen! The sprawling, UNESCO listed Temples of Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia are undoubtedly one of the most incredible sights in the world and feature on many a traveller’s bucket list.

Angkor Wat is a magnificent sight, the crown of the once mighty Khmer Empire, the icon of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and the largest religious building in the world. Far from being lost to the jungle, now the Temples of Angkor now receive over 2 million visitors a year.

This does mean that the most famous temples are pretty crowded, which takes a bit away from the adventure and experience, but Angkor Wat is still totally worth visiting.

And there’s so much more to see than just Angkor Wat! There are so many temples to explore and the complex is so enormous that it’s still possible to avoid the crowds and find your own quiet corner.

With a little research and planning you can still have that alone in the jungle, Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider experience you’ve been dreaming off. Here’s my tips for visiting Angkor Wat and avoiding the crowds to help you make the most of your trip.

Tips for visiting Angkor Wat and avoiding the crowds

Go in the off season

The best time to visit Angkor Wat is in the cooler winter months of November to March, however this is also the most crowded time.

April and May are unbearably hot but you could visit in the rainy season (June – Oct)  like I did and enjoy cheaper prices, less crowds and amazingly luscious green countryside!

The weather kept most of the tourists away but didn’t disrupt our sightseeing too much, it hardly ever rained in the morning and by the afternoon the rain was a refreshing respite.

Arrive Early

The difference between visiting a crowded temple and a blissfully empty one basically comes down to a combination of the right timings and the right sites.

Seeing the sunrise over Angkor Wat is a spectacular experience, but don’t be surprised that everyone else has had the same idea!  If you’re set on seeing sunrise at Angkor Wat then arrive early to get a good view point or sit further away or to the side to get a bit of peace from the crowds near the ponds. To save time you can now buy your Angkor Pass ticket online.

Most tourists go back to the hotel for breakfast after sunrise so just after sunrise is the best the time to explore Angkor Wat.  If you’ve already seen the sunrise at Angkor it’s still worth getting there early ( the complex opens at 5am and closes at 6pm)  and starting to explore the other temples in the flattering morning glow without the crowds and heat.

Lunchtime is also a good time to visit some of the busier temples as many tourists will have gone off to have lunch but it will be hot. For sunset avoid Phnom Bakheng as it’s unbearably crowded and check out Angkor Sunset Finder for suggestions of alternative places to enjoy the sunset.

Go the opposite way round

One way to avoid the crowds is simply go the other way round! Most tourists will stick to the same route – the small circut or the grand circut so by mixing up your route a bit or deviating off the main path or road you can sometimes find yourself all alone.

You can also avoid the main entrance of a temple and going in a different direction around the same temple (most have more than one entrance) you should be able to escape some of the crowds.

Head further away to explore some of the less popular temples

There are so many temples in Angkor but most tourists will try to rush around in one day ticking off the big, famous attractions of Angkor Wat, Ta Phrom (the tomb raider temple) and Bayon (with the huge faces.)

But there’s so much more to see and some of my favourite memories are sitting alone in the mossy green ruins of an unknown temple surrounded by the jungle far from the crowds at the more famous temples.

Travelfish also has a good article on how to avoid the crowds which goes more in depth into the exact timings and sites you should aim for or avoid. See it here – How to avoid the crowds at Angkor

Take your time

The Angkor temples are located near to the town of Siem Reap in Cambodia which is well set up for tourists and has many hotels, accommodation options, restaurants, bars and other activities so you can stay for a few days or even a few weeks and not get bored.

So don’t even think about spending only one day at Angkor Wat, even 3 days wasn’t enough for me! And don’t think that once you’ve seen one temple you’ve seen them all because there is a huge variety of styles and levels of decay that mean every temple has something different to see.

I recommend getting at least the 3 day Angkor pass (US$62) and spending a week in Siem Reap if you can and split the 3 day pass across a week. There is so much to see but temple fatigue can set in quickly. 

There are lots of things to do in Siem Reap so alternate your days visiting Angkor Wat with days spent relaxing in Siem Reap, having a massage or Khmer cookery class, visiting the Angkor national museum or going shopping. You can also explore the idyllic countryside by horse back, visit the bird reserve or floating villages at Tonle Sap nearby, watch a classical dance or just have a night out on pub street.

Taking your time will make visiting Angkor Wat even more amazing and enjoyable if you don’t try to cram it all in at once.

Hire a tuk tuk or use a local guide

The temple complex is just massive. I really can’t over estimate how big it is and how much there is to see when visiting Angkor Wat. It’s a few kms outside of Siem Reap and if you were to go by bicycle or walk in the tropical heat then you will probably wear yourself out before even reaching the first temple!

A popular way to visit the temples is with a group tour on an air conditioned mini bus. It’s a convenient way to travel to the temples, a guide really helps to bring the history to life, and the air conditioning with be very welcome after all exploring the temples, but you could end up stuck in a large tour group totally unable to avoid the crowds.

I prefer doing things to my schedule with a private tour with a knowledgeable guide that knows the best places to go and allows the flexibility to go at my own pace and avoid the crowds.

If you’d like to enjoy the comfort of an AC car, a proper guide, and get your tour organised in advance then Viator is the best places to book. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of scams in Cambodia so I recommend using these trusted international platforms and reading reviews first before booking. This full day private Angkor tour receives rave reviews so you know you’ll be in good hands.

If you’re on a smaller budget, just want transportation, and don’t mind leaving the arrangements until you arrive in Siem Reap then you can always hire a tuk tuk and driver for the day from about $20, depending on your negotiation skills. The tuk tuk drivers know the complex well and can advise you on which temples to see, and possibly how to dodge the crowds, but you can also make your own itinerary.

If you have transport then it’s also easier to visit some of the further away temples which have less crowds. Just be aware they are just drivers and their English skills are limited. They don’t guide you through the temple – you’re on your own there.

If you can’t afford a guide then at least invest in a good guidebook – the more you understand more about the temples, sculptures and carvings and the Angkor Empire will give more depth, interest and meaning to your visit.

For example, did you know that Angkor Thom was the largest city in the pre industrial world. The Khmer’s were incredibly advanced for their time and learning how and why they built these temples is fascinating and gives a better insight into an amazing ancient culture.

Come prepared for temple climbing

When visiting Angkor Wat it’s best to wear sturdy shoes, take plenty of water and protection from the sun. The many uneven surfaces and huge, steep, temple mountains to climb which will feel precarious in flip flops.

It’s hard work exploring these massive temples and climbing up the steep steps in the sticky, jungly heat and it’s very easy to get dehydrated. Take way more water than you think you will ever need.

Cover up

While some temples are in a state of ruin they are still a highly sacred and holy site to Cambodians and are often visited by monks so you need to dress respectably when visiting Angkor Wat – avoid sleeveless tops, short or revealing clothing and follow Angkor’s Code of Conduct.

This can be uncomfortable in the heat so try wearing light, loose cotton or linen pants (elephant pants work well!) or a long skirt and something that covers your shoulders like a T-shirt or lightweight shirt with sleeves.

Whilst you may get away without covering up in some temples, some temples will not allow you in if you are not dressed modestly and be warned that sometimes even a shawl or scarf may not be acceptable so its better to wear a long sleeved shirt.

Try to ignore the beggars and touts.

One of the low points about visiting Angkor Wat is the many children, beggars and touts who work around the temples selling postcards and trinkets or begging for money.

While this is a heart breaking and controversial subject, giving to them will only encourage them to work in this way instead of getting an education and so keeps them in poverty in the long run.

Most of the Cambodian people are lovely but around the temples there are some that might try and scam you and the milk scam is a common one. There are many NGOs in town that you could support instead.

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Whilst you can’t ever expect to be alone at sunrise at Angkor Wat it’s a sight you’d be crazy to skip and one that’s worth battling the crowds for. Luckily it’s a huge complex so there are still plenty of ways to avoid the crowds and enjoy this magnificent sight.

With these tips in mind you should be able to plan an amazing visit to Angkor Wat, avoid the crowds, and experience the magic of Angkor in peace. Visiting Angkor Wat is truly an incredible experience that cannot be missed, don’t let the crowds, the steep steps, or the heat put you off seeing these amazing temples – it’s so worth it!

Have you been to Angkor Wat? Do you have any more tips for visitors? Leave your tips in the comments below 🙂