It is not a walk in the park. While for some people, setting foot on the grounds of Angkor Wat is scratching off the top items on my bucket list, exploring the site is anything but dreamy. Angkor Wat can be overwhelming. It is huge, even bigger than you probably imagine. and it is just one of the numerous structures at the Angkor Archaeological Park. There are several other temples peppering the jungles of this part of Cambodia, and — count on me — you will want to visit many of them.
If anything, it can suck out all the energy in you and make the experience less pleasurable if you come unprepared. Thus, here are some suggestions to help you make your trip hassle-free.
Angkor Wat
1. Tuktuk is the most popular implies of transportation within Angkor and for a reason. It is cheap and comfortable. The typical cost is USD12 but if you’re a group of 3 or bigger, you can save a lot more. If you have made friends at your hotel who will also be touring around Angkor, you can form a group with them. If you’re alone and you have the stamina, biking is a great option (although very tiring). Bike rental shops typically charge USD1 per day.
2. Don’t lose your tuktuk driver. There are so numerous tuktuks swarming in front of major structures that it can be challenging to find the one you hired. It’s a lot harder when it gets darker around sunset. before leaving the vehicle, you and your chauffeur ought to agree on where you ought to find them or ask where he will be parking.
3. use a good pair of shoes. Your shoes ought to have a good grip because the ground can be uneven and, when raining, slippery. Also, pick the most comfortable pair. Rubber shoes for hiking or running are ideal because you will be walking the entire day.
4. Don’t purchase from kids selling souvenirs. At Angkor Wat alone, you’ll find numerous children selling postcards. I personally think they ought to not be working and purchasing from them will just allow them to stay that way. There are numerous other ways of helping.
5. Bring a hat or an umbrella. The sun and the rain can be such a damper sometimes.
6. Bring a bottle of water. Or two. You’ll probably finish both bottles after Angkor Wat alone.
7. read up on Angkor and Khmer history in general before your trip. This will allow you to appreciate the temples and its numerous features better. This is especially true if you don’t have a guide.
The South gate of Angkor Thom
8. be wary of “guides” providing to trip you around the temple. As in numerous other major traveler destinations, there are numerous scams in Siem Reap and the last thing you want is to fall victim into one of them. At some temples, there are people who method tourists and present themselves as guides. some of them are children. They will trip you around for a short time but they will charge you or ask for a big, big donation after.
9. purchase tickets at 5pm. strange tip, huh? It’s because at 5pm, the Ticketing office already sells admission passes for the next day. But the best thing about it is that you can already use the pass on the day itself. Although this will give you only a few additional hours, you can use the time to view the sunset (and possibly view the sunset again the next day but at another temple) or already start exploring some parts of Angkor Wat. and oh, don’t ever lose your pass.
10. pace yourself. At first you’ll be like, “Oh! So numerous temples! I’m gonna see them ALL!” but when you’re actually doing it, the temple fatigue kicks in and you might find yourself not wanting to visit any other temple anymore. The essential is to just take your time and not rush. Take a break and “recharge” each time you feel tired. This is also a good reason why you ought to read up on the temples before going there — it’s not that tiring when the numerous features of the places you visit actually imply something to you. Not only will it give you much more things to look forward to, it also manages your expectations. So, on the way to the next temple and you found an eatery and you want to try it, go ahead. Don’t jump from one temple to another like you’re gonna see them all in one day because it’s just not gonna happen.
That’s about it! like I said before, exploring Angkor is a mind-blowing experience but it can be a test of stamina as well. It would be best if you come prepared. If you’ve been to Angkor and you have other tips, please post them using the comment form below!
Planning on seeing Angkor Wat for your next trip? You will find much more suggestions and much more information that can help you plan your trip in my SIEM REAP travel guide here.
More suggestions on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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