Angkor without the crowds: 3 days to fully enjoy the temples

Anticipating tourist flows

The goal is usually to get up early in order to arrive before the buses of Chinese, Japanese and other fans of " I arrive/photo/I leave » arrive. If getting up early is an imperative, the idea is also to move according to the tourist flow.

Day 1: Big day

To illustrate what I'm just saying, when we left the Bayon on the first day, it was starting to get quite crowded, so it was time for us to anticipate the influx and go somewhere else. In this case, we went to see the nearby temples, to put it simply, until we returned to the terrace.

It was still a bit early (around 11am) so people were still visiting, for us it was lunch break! Like that when leaving, most of the groups went back to Siem Reap to eat while we left for other temples. One in the north and one in the south so as not to stay in the same area (in order Preah Khan and Phnom Bakheng). Knowing that we finished the day early enough to avoid the groups rushing to the temples for the sunset (the last of the day, the Phom Bakheng, being popular for that)

Day 2: We bide our time.

The next day we literally left at dawn to go to the most distant temples, the tuk tuk driver still advised us to see the sunrise on the way and indeed it was worth it.

While most stayed in the area to visit the temple located opposite the reservoir (Banteay Samre) from where the photos above were taken, we were heading straight to Kbal Spean. Again, a paying choice since we will be the only ones in the forest and the first visitors of the day. In fact, when returning from the Fram buses, we will only come across French people arriving, there was still time to leave!

For the next one, the Banteay Srei, it almost worked out well, if when we arrived, there were still quite a few people hanging around the new souvenir shops (next to a large parking lot making the place unrecognizable compared to 7 years ago), we hesitated to eat, but faced with the prohibitive prices (despite the guy offering us a "special discount") we resigned ourselves to going there. And finally, it was okay, people certainly, but not the hustle and bustle either.

The rest of the day was spent at 2 temples which were relatively empty even in the middle of the day, Banteay Samré and Pre Roup, the latter being a little less “spectacular” and therefore quite ignored.

Day 3: Saving the best for last

Your Prohm It's one of the most famous temples in Angkor, with its large trees and unique atmosphere in the middle of the forest; it's almost vital to arrive early to fully appreciate it. Note that it's currently undergoing renovation, so some parts are inaccessible. But the worst part is some really bad news.

The temple's iconic trees are apparently dead and threatening to collapse; according to reports, they're going to cut down four of the large trees around and inside the temple in order to preserve the rest! This is understandable, of course, but a large part of the place's charm is at risk of disappearing…

We continued with the temple next door, still as calm, and continued in the area for “secondary” temples like the Your Keo, before moving on from it duo Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda, the two temples facing each other.

We ended this 3rd and final day with Angkor Wat , and by the admission of my fellow travelers, it is not the most impressive. At the time we were there, we were able to afford the "luxury" of taking a nap break in the temple given how quiet it was. It was just early afternoon, most people were still digesting in Siem Reap and it is still too early for sunset enthusiasts (which gives magnificent colors to the frescoes surrounding the lower floor).

In summary, a relatively hairy program, certainly we were out of season (mid-August) but it is clear that there were groups. We managed to get around the problem thanks to the tips in this article, and once again, thanks to Tugdual for these tips at the base!