Before you go to visit Angkor Wat or any of the temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park, you will need to purchase an Angkor Wat Pass. It’s important to note that you CANNOT purchase your Angkor Wat ticket at Angkor Wat itself (or any of the main route Angkor Temples) – you need to head to the Angkor Wat ticket office slightly South of Angkor Wat. I’ve now been in Siem Reap for 2 weeks and I hope that you will find my Angkor Wat Ticket guide useful.
Top Tip – Buy your Angkor Wat Ticket the Day Before you visit the temples!
If you can manage to spare four days in Siem Reap, get a 3 Day Angkor Pass on the first day. This will mean that on the first morning of your temple visits you can head straight to Angkor Wat or any of the other temples first thing in the morning and miss the crowds who are all stuck at the ticket office before they can head out exploring! This will not waste one of your days as you can do any 3 days within the week and they only start to clip your ticket from the day that you start visiting (not from the day that you purchase your ticket).
Angkor Wat Ticket Guide
There is a total of three ticket options for Angkor Archaeological Park which accommodate for how many days you want to spend there. The ticket counters will also accept almost every credit card apart from from American Express. There is also an ATM at the Angkor Wat ticket office. Avoid shopping at the Angkor Wat ticket office as it’s a bit touristy and overpriced – better to do your shopping in Siem Reap.
Entry prices increased largely in 2017, which is the downside to the complex being managed by a for-profit, private organisation which keeps a massive portion of the incoming revenue, and now have been raised to the slightly overpriced current entrance fees. However, it is still WELL WORTH IT!
Also, the price includes a $2 donation to the ‘Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital Fund’.
There are three different Angkor Wat Passes available – the 1 day pass, the 3 day pass and the 7 day pass. You will not need your passport to buy a ticket to Angkor Wat, but do be prepared to have your photo taken for your ticket – this is to ensure that it is not transferable.
One day ticket – $37 USD
Great if you’re short on time, but it is highly recommended not to go for this as you really need to be spending more than one day here! If you really only have one day here then do the main inner circuit that will include Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Phrom.
Three-day ticket – $62 USD
This is the ideal choice for most travellers. It gives you plenty of flexibility to really explore and admire the temples without running around like a crazy person. It will allow you to do the inner circuit and the outer circuit plus one other day of exploration such as Banteay Samre and Banteay Srei.
Seven-day ticket – $72 USD.
This is the option that I went for – the 7 day ticket is ideal if you’re spending a solid amount of time in Siem Reap and would like to see the the temples in depth (but maybe not all in one go). This ticket lets you come and go as you please over 7 days and you have a month in which to use it from the issue date.
Angkor Wat Ticket Guide – things to Remember
- You can purchase entrance tickets to the Angkor Archaeological Park only from the Angkor Ticket Office (Angkor Enterprise); those bought anywhere else are invalid.
- It is recommended that you organise your tickets for the following day from 5pm the evening before you want to enter. Trying to sort out a ticket at early morning/ sunrise when everyone else is there is guaranteed to be an annoying, frustrating process.
- You will need to visit the office in person because your picture will be digitally printed onto your ticket.
- Be sure to carry your ticket with you at all times, as it’s common to have these checked multiple times by security guards at the entrance to the park and also at the entrance to certain temple ruins.
- Take a sunhat and plenty of water! Although there are places to buy snacks and drinks all around the temples too.
Further Reading on Angkor Wat
I’ve spent 7 full days exploring the temples of Angkor Wat and I’ve written extensively about them. If you would like to read further, check out these articles…
- The Best Temples of Angkor Wat
- Banteay Samre – A worthwhile off the beaten track temple
- Angkor Wat Sunrise – A photo essay
What to Pack for Cambodia
Take light cotton tops, long comfortable trousers and maxi dresses that cover your shoulders. Thailand is a conservative Buddhist county and you are likely to be refused entry to top sites like the Phnom Penh Royal Palace and Angkor Wat with shoulders showing and shorts or short skirts. You can pack shorts and vest tops for hanging around your hotel or the pool.
Pack a water bottle because many guest houses are eco friendly and have a refill and reuse policy to cut down on plastic waste. The drinking water is fine and many hotels supply cold purified drinking water.
Bugs bite particularly in the evenings in Cambodia and so a bug repellant is essential. Also the sun can get hot – this Christmas and New Year temperatures were exceeding 32 degrees and so sun screen is another essential.