How To Explore Angkor, Cambodia On Your Own

This past October, I was extremely fortunate that my company sent me on one of our trip packages to Southeast Asia. It was a life-changing experience. I not only learned so much about the culturally-rich cities I visited, but I also learned a lot about how to get the most out of my travel experience.

Throughout my trip, I was with a guide and a group, and we all followed a set itinerary that included daily activities. There was one day where I went off on my own to explore the city of Angkor. If you’re thinking of doing the same, or if you’re unsure of what to expect in Angkor, read ahead about some things I discovered when I explored the city by myself.

First, some background information …

Angkor served as the capital of the Khmer Empire starting in the ninth century, and enjoyed a period of prosperity in the twelfth century. An advanced hydraulic system and elaborate city blueprint supported the growth of ancient Angkor’s population, which swelled to an estimated one million people at one point. Archaeologists believe that the 15th century was a turning point when climate change began to affect the city’s network of waterways. When the Khmer leaders left the city in search of a location where they could settle again, the locals followed and Angkor’s population dwindled. Today, Angkor is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to a ton of incredibly well-preserved temples.

Now, let me tell you what I learned based on my experience in Angkor!

Hire a guide or go with a tour group

(Pictured) A guide—not my guide—at Bayon Temple

You can read articles about the history of Angkor on your own, but there is something more meaningful about hearing a person describe the history of a place while you are actually there. This almost transports you back to that period in history because you can connect words with visuals. I was also blindly wandering around the temples. There aren’t any signs explaining the significance of certain areas of the temples I visited, so I didn’t know what I was supposed to pay close attention to.

Hire a remork driver for the day

Angkor is HUGE! If you do want to explore on your own without the help of a guide or tour group, then I recommend hiring a remork driver for the day. A remork is a local mode of transportation that is essentially a covered wagon pulled by a motorcycle. It would take you forever to walk from temple to temple. Not to mention, it’s so hot and humid that I don’t think you’d want to walk from temple to temple.

I was fortunate because the guide I was with at the beginning of my trip asked his uncle if he could drive me around Angkor at a discounted price. I visited five sites over the course of four hours, and I believe he charged me $20 USD (without tip). So I suggest that you negotiate a price with your driver before you leave.

Stay hydrated

I did not bring enough water with me and I was dying at the end of my visit. You will walk a lot and sweat a lot—so make sure your backpack is stocked with water.

Give yourself enough time to actually enjoy the sites

Due to some pre-planned activities that I scheduled in the morning and early afternoon, I didn’t leave for Angkor until 2pm. You should set aside a WHOLE day to explore—it will take a whole day. Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious structure, and I had to rush through it because there were several other temples I wanted to visit before they closed. If you take anything away from this post, I think this is the most important piece of advice I have for you.

Wear the proper attire

This is tricky because it will be so hot and humid no matter when you travel to Cambodia, and the temples have very strict dress codes. You need to wear long pants that cover your knees, and wear a top that covers your chest and shoulders. I recommend wearing flowy, light fabrics that allow your body to breath in the heat, and I DO NOT recommend wearing dresses or skirts. You’ll most likely climb steep sets of stairs at one or more of the temples, so pants are probably a little more practical. Also, wear a comfy pair of shoes. I went for style over comfort and will forever regret my decision.

Which temples are must-sees?

Honestly, all of them. They are all architectural marvels that are full of so much history. That’s probably not the answer you want to hear though, so I will tell you what I think are the most important temples and sites that you should definitely see during your Angkor visit.

Angkor Wat
Bayon
Ta Prohm
The Elephant Terrace

Monkeys

If you love animals, look out for monkeys! They are so cute and silly. Oh, and they like to steal things. I watched a monkey steal a banana out of somebody’s backpack, so keep an eye out as you walk around and make sure your backpack is monkey-proof.

Now, if you have any tips and tricks that you learned when you visited Angkor, let me know in the comment section below!

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