Siem Reap

Cambodia | Exploring Siem Reap’s Bayon Temple [Pt 2]

April 24, 2016 by admin Leave a Comment

Yesterday I shared the first installment of my pictures of Bayon Temple on our first visit to Bayon Temple. Being that it was my favourite temple out of all the ones we had seen I had to go back for a second visit. Sadly on our second visit to Bayon Temple, the weather wasn’t the best, but we were lucky in that there was some sort of gathering on the day and a lot of monks out on the day. In an around many of the temples, the monks were out exploring much like the tourists themselves so from what I gathered, a lot of them were also visiting the city as visitors.

Our visit, this time, was a lot more slow paced this time as we visited slightly later in the afternoon so it was much quieter, although there were still tourists out and about. Below are some of our shots from our to my favourite Temple in Siem Reap; Bayon Temple.

So, have you been to Siem Reap? What was your favourite temple?

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Bayon Temple Faces | Exploring One Of The Coolest Temple In Siem Reap

April 21, 2016 by admin Leave a Comment

One Cannot visit Siem Reap without exploring Bayon Temple face. These Bayon Temple smiling faces are what draws the crowds. Bayon’s most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and smiling stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak. Almost everywhere you look there are faces, you will start to wonder just how many faces are in Bayon Temple. There are 216 gigantic faces on the Bayon temple’s towers.

It’s best to take your time and see only a few temples a day so that you can fully explore each temple at leisure and then repeat on the ones that you liked. Out of all the temples that we visited Bayon Temple stood out for me. Out of all the temples we passed by, visited, and explored, Bayon Temple came out a clear favorite for me. You can see part two of our visit to Bayon Temple on the blog.

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The Bayon Temple Faces | Bayon Temple Smiling Faces

Bayon Temple is distinctive in that it’s richly decorated with a multitude of smiling faces in many of the towers of the Bayon Temple. Bayon Temple was a state of Jayavarman VII, a powerful ruler in the 13th century. It’s sat on what was a center of Angkor Thom, a walled city that served as the capital of the Khmer Empire. Much like all other the temples, there are carvings around the temple telling stories of the empire, of life of those in around cities at the various times throughout past centuries.

The temple has seen modifications having passed through Hindus and Buddhists. This is evident in the combination of beliefs and representation through mythological, historical scenes around the temple as well the notable marks where carvings were later removed as and when different leaders were in power and depending on their beliefs (whether following Hindu or Buddhist) some motifs were removed.

Bayon Temple | My Favourite Temple In Siem Reap and Why You will Love It Too

Bayon Temple Faces | A Favourite Temple In Siem Reap and Why You will Love It Too

Bayon Temple Architecture

Out of all the temples, Bayon Temple stands out, it’s different from all other temples which seem follow a rather tradition or classical style and perhaps that makes them appear roughly the same. Bayon temple, I guess makes you fall in love with it as it smiles at you from every direction as your explore. So much so that I wouldn’t be surprised if you revisited this temple twice more. We managed to visit and walk around twice as well as passing by it several times during our stay in Cambodia. I will share more pictures from our second visit to Bayon Temple.

Bayon Temple Entrance Fee

Tickets to Bayon Temple and all other temples is via day passes into the Angor Thom national park, you can buy day passes, 3 days, 5 day and 7 day passes to see the temples in Siem Reap.

The tips and ticket details I shared in the Angkor Wat post in that your should bring with you some water, something to cover and protect your from mosquitoes as well as sunscreen or an umbrella, especially during the crazy summer season.

Bayon Temple Faces | Temple In Siem Reap | Bayon Temple Images

Bayon Temple Images

Below are some the Bayon Temple images we captured while exploring this beautiful temple. You will definitely want to explore it several times are there are just so many great opportunities to take amazing images of Bayon Temple, plenty of angles that allow you to bring some of the faces together depending on where you stand. It is simply a beautiful temple. One of the very best in my opinion, among the temples in Angkor Thom.

Angkor Wat Temple Tours

Guide to visiting Bayon Temple, one of Angkor Wat's most amazing temple. Plus tips on the best temples to visit in Siem Reap in Cambodia. #asia #traveltips #adventure #itinerary #letsgo

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Where To Stay In Siem Reap – Guide To The Best Areas

April 19, 2016 by admin 23 Comments

Where To Stay In Siem Reap And The Best Locations In The City | Siem Reap Best Locations

Heading to explore Angkorian temples in Cambodia’s Siem Reap and looking to find where to stay in Siem Reap, best location to stay in Siem Reap while you temple run? Sit back as I take you through the best places to stay in Siem Reap.

One of my faviourite neighbourhoods in Siem Reap were The Old French Quarter and Old Markets neighbourhoods as these are right in the center of town with easy access to many of Siem Reap’s entertainment areas. Here you will find many of the city’s attractions, clubs and bars too. These are also the best places to stay in Siem Reap for first time visitors. Below I will also be covering unique places to stay Siem Reap, some of my, hostels, guesthouses, accommodation near Angkor Wat, Siem Reap neighborhoods, as well as the best hotel in Siem Reap for both budget stays and luxury budgets as well as the best areas to stay in Siem Reap. So you not only have an idea of what available accommodation in Siem Reap Cambodia but also grab yourself the best place to stay in Angkor Wat too as well just what is the best area to stay Siem Reap for you while visiting Cambodia.

Tales of ancient civilisations, unique landscapes, and now UNESCO World Heritage sites. Siem Reap serves as the gateway to temple ruins of the Khmer Empire. Majority of your time when not exploring temples will be spent in Pub Street. While this post is focused on where to stay in Siem Reap. Make sure you also stop by on my post on what to see and do in Siem Reap’s Pub Street, which also recommends some of the best places to eat in Siem Reap.

Siem Reap is a bustling city and you will want to be right at the heart of it, in terms of accessibility to restaurants, entertainment, and accommodation. Siem Reap or Cambodia as a country for that matter is one of those places that you can surprisingly find a bed to sleep on for the price of a London Latte. Yes, I was just as surprised as you are right now. Yes, beds in a hostel can be as little as £3.75, which is great for those on a super tight budget. Fear not, for those with supercharged budgets as luxury hotels and villas, are a-plenty! So if you are looking for where to stay in Cambodia as you explore Angkor Wat temples, then read on!

Finding Where To Stay In Siem Reap Best Locations

We skimmed through many hotels in Siem Reap Cambodia while searching on Booking.com. When I book hotels I can be a little fussy and sometimes I tend to opt for smaller hotels simply because I want a more peaceful stay without hordes taking up spots for the pool side lounge.

Having scoured the internet and booking and canceling places, we finally settled on Kiri Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap as it offered one of the best locations to stay in Siem Reap. It was within walking distance to Pub Street and markets. It’s also one of few boutique hotels in Siem Reap We booked this via Booking.com. You can check out deals on hotels, villas, hostels in Siem Reap.

Palm-fringed villas and gardens, all surrounding an inviting pool, with even better service are the makings of a perfect stay. In the land of $5 hour-long massages, you know you will be in for a relaxing stay. The beauty of our stay at Kiri Boutique Hotel was that in addition to the cheap and worth-every-buck massages you could get in the city, the hotel could arrange these in-house and have the masseuse come to our hotel room if all the temple running has got the best of us.

Below I have listed a few spots covering most budgets just to get you started on your search if thinking of heading to Cambodia’s Siem Reap. Kiri Boutique hotel was also a short walk to Pub Street but also far away enough that we didn’t get the crazy traffic and noise of the entertainment area. I also stayed at another smaller hotel and spa in Siem Reap and will share that soon.

Finding Unique Places To Stay In Siem Reap | Accommodation In Siem Reap Cambodia

Siem Reap as popular as it is for the temples, there are also plenty of good hotels in Siem Reap, apartment and more to match the demand. The city is densely populated with a good selection of hotels and most centrally located in Siem Reap. Unique places to stay in Siem Reap are in abundance and also good is that the prices for budget and luxury are competitive, allowing you to have a little luxury without spending a lot of money. Even up-market hotels offer excellent value for money.

Majority of the luxury hotels in Siem Reap is north of the city center, near Phokeethra Country Club but further below I will provide details of the best areas to stay in Siem Reap. Also, note that there aren’t many if any Siem Reap hotel near Angkor Wat. Most of the hotels in Siem Reap sit further into the city just outside of the Angkor Wat temple complex.

So, if you are looking for where to stay in Siem Reap near Angkor Wat, you will find that most of the hotels are around the Angkor Archeological Park. You will still only be a short tuk-tuk ride from amazing temples. One the best locations to stay in Siem Reap are just around Pub Street as this is majority of where you will spend your time after exploring the temples in Siem Reap. This is the main entertainment area with markets, shops, restaurants and hotels nearby.

Choosing Where to stay in Siem Reap

Where to Stay In Siem Reap – Best Neighborhoods | Finding The Best Area To Stay In Siem Reap

Still confused about what is best area to stay in Siem Reap? Well below I cover the various Siem Reap neighborhoods and areas most of the hotels are located in Siem Reap. Central Siem Reap is organized around the Old Market, where a collection of French colonial buildings, shops and guesthouses are located. Wat Bo, one of the oldest temples in the city center, is also here.

Siem Reap is quickly becoming a flourishing market town, and tourists can shop for gifts and souvenirs at Phsar Kandal, Phsar Leu and at the night market. More modern shopping venues are at the Museum Mall. To help you nail down the best accommodation in Siem Reap, Cambodia for your budget, below are Siem Reap neighborhoods when majority of the hotels in Siem Reap are located.

Siem Reap Villages

There is a cluster of small villages, stretching along the Siem Reap River. These include Sala Kamreuk Village which is in central Siem Reap on the north side of the river that runs through the town. You can find beautiful Siem Reap riverside hotels in Cambodia. It’s an easy walk into the Old Market, Psar Chas, and Pub Street as are the other villages; Kruos Village, Svay Dangkum, Kouk Chak, Sla Kram. For places to Stay in Siem Reap Taphul Village Area click here. (See map below).

The Old French Quarter and Sivath Boulevard

This is an old colonial center with colonial style French buildings and architecture. This is one of the best places to stay in Siem Reap if you are visiting for the first time. Sivatha Boulevard is one of the main streets in Siem Reap heading away from the Old Market area towards the Temples of Angkor. It’s lined with restaurants, shops mid-range and luxury hotels. Click here for hotels in the Old French Quarter in Siem Reap.

Wat Bo & Wat Damnak

The villages Wat Bo and Wat Damnak riverside in Siem Reap are located on the east side of the Siem Reap river which is a quieter area of town with lovely restaurants, bars, good hotels and many guesthouses. For Siem Reap hotels in Wat Bo area and Wat Damnak click here.

Charles Gaulle Boulevard

This is the road towards Angkor National Park or officially Charles de Gaulle Boulevard. It connects the center of Siem Reap with the Angkor Archaeological Park. For Siem Reap hotels in Charles Gaulle Boulevard click here.

The Old Market

The area around the Old Market is the center of town and pretty much one of the best areas to stay in Siem Reap as this is where most of the restaurants, pubs, and shops can be found. One of the best places to stay in Siem Reap for the first time visit to Cambodia’s famous city. The Old Market. It encompasses the Night Markets, Pub Street, the Pub Street Alleys and The Lane. For accommodation hotels in the Old Market area of Siem Reap click here.

Map of Siem Reap Cambodia

Below is a map of the areas to stay in Siem Reap and where you will find many of the hotels and hostels in the city.

The Best Budget Places to Stay in Siem Reap – The Best Budget Hotels In Siem Reap Cambodia

There are plenty of Siem Reap hotels near pub street, the hub of entertainment in the city. Below is a selection of good hotels in Siem Reap for the smaller budgets.

– Check out the Rambutan whitewashed buildings set out swimming pools, terraces, and outdoor baths. It’s also close to the markets and Pub Street; an ideal place for entertainment in the city. Rooms are around £38 on B&B basis.

– La Niche D’Ankgor is another reasonably priced spot with doubles starting at £30. Paths to your room are all lined with palm trees and orchids with plenty of poolside lounges to for those chill out sessions for a day’s run at Angkor Wat.

– Siem Reap Hostels don’t get any cheaper than £3.90 for a dorm bed and doubles for £8 and guess what, breakie is included too! For the best cheap place to stay in Siem Reap check outJasmine Family Hotel if you are on a tight budget.

– Angkor City Hotel is situated close to the airport and offers rooms from £28. Although there is a benefit to being close to the airport but is not that great if you are in Siem Reap for a few days as you will want to be close to the main hang out places like Pub Street.

– For the best hostel to stay in Siem Reap and more budget hostels and hotels click here.

Cambodia | Where To Stay In Siem Reap with pool

The Best Places To Stay In Siem Reap For – Mid-Range and Luxury Hotels In Siem Reap

You can find really good luxury hotels in Siem Reap that totally dont take your budget away. Below are highly recommended hotel in Siem Reap, including some of Siem Reap luxury hotels covering mid-range to luxury budgets.

You can still find really good siem reap hotels near pub street within the luxury budget. So you get the best location to stay in Siem Reap as well as a great hotel.

–Sofitel Royal Angkor– With landscaped gardens, luxurious and calm surroundings you will have a choice of three bars, a spa and many treatments to keep you busy so just make sure you don’t forget to explore the ruins and temples that brought you to Cambodia in the first place. Sofitel Roya is one of the top luxury hotels in Siem Reap. Rooms at Sofitel start from £150 to about £300 per night.

– Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor – This is a historical hotel with opulent surroundings and extensive facilities is one of the best luxury hotels Siemiem Eeap. It’s also one of the region’s best hotels and for that rooms and suites start at £150 all the way to £700 per night.

– Apsara Centrepole Hotel – Rooms here can range from £70 to £800 but perfectly located as its only a few minutes walk from Pub Street which is where you will spend the majority of your time while visiting Siem Reap.

– For an extensive list of the best place to stay in Siem reap click here for mid-range to luxury hotels.

Hotels in Siem Reap Near Pub Street

Where you stay in Siem Reap will highly depend on your budget, how long you are staying in Siem Reap and your purpose and whether relaxing or exploring is the main priority. What I would recommend though, is if you can try and find hotels in Siem Reap near Pub Street.

This is the place where you will spend the majority of your time after exploring the temples. This is also the location where all the bars, restaurants, markets and many entertainment options are located.

Getting to your hotels is also made easy with the many Tuk Tuks that are around the area. You won’t have to pay more than $2/3 for a ride back to your hotel but watch out for the ones that will try and pull a fast one and ask for $5 “because there is too much traffic” on the road leading to your hotel.

Half the time this is BS you can negotiate and pay an additional $1 if it was really late though and not too fussed about paying $5 for a ride – People gotta eat, right? It is still way cheaper than a taxi in London for a similar journey.

Cambodia | Where To Stay In Siem Reap near pub street

Cambodia | Where To Stay In Siem Reap Cambodia near the temples

Paying For Your Hotel In Cambodia

Cambodian currency is Riel but USD is widely used and more than likely what your hotel will accept as payment unless paying by card. Same goes for shops. Best to bring USD than trying to go to Cambodia with the local currency as most actually prefer dollar.

Siem Reap Airport Transports To Hotels And City Center

Your hotel will either have a tuk-tuk waiting for you or you can take the local taxi. There is a taxi office at the exit of the Airport. Most will charge about $10-15 in and around the city. Most hotels are only about 10-30 minutes from the Airport.

Be prepared for some taxi drivers being picking on who they take based on the location of your hotel. If it’s deemed to closed for them to bother they may refuse to take you but the taxi office may negotiate with another driver to take you. I found it rather silly but it’s something I have found in other countries too(yes, even London sometimes although based on too much traffic in a location rather than how much the cabbie can earn from the trip.)

You can also arrange your transfer from airport to hotel in Siem Reapvia Viator. Most of these are under £5.

Having missed our flight to Paris, we also managed to sample another place in Siem Reap so I may be posting that as well soon(if I can locate a few of the pictures I took from our stay). Below are some pictures from our stay at Kiri Boutique Hotel(and no this post is not sponsored! 🙂

Siem Reap Tours

There are many tours available from those guided with a Tuk Tuk driver to those on bike tour and many more. For inspiration check out Get Your Guide for a range of tours available both for those in Siem Reap’s popular Pub Street to exploring Angkorian temples.

Cambodia | Where To Stay In Siem Reap near temples

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Cambodia Hotels | Where To Stay In Siem Reap near pub street #hotels #combodia #traveltip

Angkor Wat Photography Tips + 5 Things They Don’t Tell You About Angkor Wat Sunrise

April 16, 2016 by admin 3 Comments

When planning a trip to Cambodia, right at the top of that list is an Angkor Wat Sunrise photography. I shared a post on this recently, this post is all about Angkor Wat Photography tips. From things, you need to know about Angkor Wat sunrise camera settings, the best spots for an Angkor Wat temple photo, to the best tour options for Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat offers the perfect place for photographing beautiful ancient architecture and natural surroundings. So in Many people dream of seeing the temple of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia and the beautiful pictures that we see floating around make it seem so serene, peaceful and calm.

That is until you actually get here and the place looks like a zoo for humans. Okay, there are times when it’s not so crazy, providing you avoid the place at certain times. So below I will also be sharing certain things people don’t tell you about Angkor Wat so that you can prepare, especially if you are visiting for Angkor travel photography. Below was my experience and having not found a lot of information on Angkor Wat photography tips I actually didn’t expect the massive crowds hence why I wanted to share my travel experience at Angkor Wat.

Below are some of the things I wish people would have warned me about when I was planning a morning shoot for an Angkor Wat sunrise, which I hope will help you. Also, note that this post is only intended to assist in setting your expectations when you visit and perhaps prepare you for it. Particularly for an Angkor wat photographer making their way to Siem Reap.

Also See:

5 Angkor Wat Photography Tips | Siem Reap Photography Guide

Below is a mini Siem Reap photography guide for those wanting to take amazing pictures of Angkor Wat at sunrise as well as surrounding areas in Siem Reap and Cambodia. Further below I will cover where you can find photography workshops in Siem Reap as these offer hands on Angkor Wat photography tips while you are on location and in the best spots to take great pictures of the temples in Cambodia.

1. Visit During The Day If Possible

So how do you know just what is the best location for photographs in Angkor Wat Cambodia? To know this you really need to explore the area during the day if possible. There are apps you can download that will also tell you just what the sun will be rising from and some with great accuracy. Visiting during the day allows you to see the building’s architectures so you can plan your shots. Many professional photographers do this. Not all the time if you time poor but if you are taking commercial shots, the only way to know the best location for photographs in Angkor Wat for sunrise or sunset shots is to visit the place and sometimes you may have to visit at sunrise for a dry run and return again if you feel you didnt get the shot you wanted.

2. Prepare You Camera Equipment Before Arriving

As I will illustrate below just how popular Angkor Wat sunrise photography is, this means in addition to know the best location you also dont want to miss the opportunity to take the best shots by fumbling through your shots as the sunrise. So make sure you arrive with the write equipment. If you can bring a tripod then even better otherwise not always necessary. If you are bringing a tripod then I would advise you to arrive really early so that you can grab the best location or spot right at the front. Also in terms of lenses for Angkor Wat, this really depends on what you have and making the most of that. For more tips on how to capture Angkor Wat at sunrise, check out the link.

If possible though make sure you bring a versatile zoom lens to Angkor Wat. Depending on the location you manage to get you, also just so that you can vary your shots a little bit you can take pictures at different focal lengths. For those that know more about their camera lenses, you will note that some lense can add a little distortion to images at different focal lengths and to counteract this, you can use a tripod to limit this as much as possible. For a lot of my shots in Angkor Wat, I had an 18-55mm Nikon lens with my D53300 DSLR Nikon camera.

Most DSLRs starter kits will have this if you are one of those wondering if an 18 55mm lens enough for Angkor? I would say you will be fine with this but in some cases, you also have the option for 16-300mm which allows for even more flexibility. I have Nikon, Sigma and Tamron lenses. I got my 16-300mm Tamron lens with a Nikon mount. This superzoom lens is perfect for travel or walkabout shooting as it allows you to take a wide range of shots. It’s also available in 18-200m I also have a Sigma wide lens in 10-20mm perfect for shooting inside some of the very narrow alleys within the temples. So yes, prepare your camera equipment. Learn about what your lenses are capable of, their limitations, what shots they are suitable for and the best ways to get the most of your you camera lens.

3. Arrive Early At Angkor Wat

As I said above and as you will see in the images below, you need to arrive early to Angkor Wat and by early I mean, in some case you may need to arrive by 3 am to get the best Angkor Wat photo spots. This is especially important for professional photographers coming to Angkor Wat. You will also need to come prepared with a head torch as there isn’t any lighting at Angkor Wat. Again, for the pros, prepare to do this at least twice, especially if taking the shots from the best locations for Angkor Wat photography is. What you can do is also combine your trip with Cambodia photo tours as you will also get tips on the best spots, the best time to visit. You can then return on your own and do your own thing while taking some of the advice from the tour guides.

4. Vary Your Shots | Angkor Wat Sunrise Camera Settings

Vary your shots, from potrait and landscape shots to those that are zoomed in, with and without people in the shots. This way you have a variety to choose from when you get back to your hotel. This avoids the possibility of 100s of pictures of Ankor Wat at sunrise that all look virtually the same. Have a rough idea of what Angkor Wat sunrise camera settings you need. There is nothing worse than fumbling through while the sun rises and realising that you came away from an early morning shoot with less than desirable shots of Angkor Wat sunrise. Especially if your trip is much photography focused.

Make sure you put the settings to a rough setting of what you expect the weather to be like this way you only have to make minor adjustments. Also, bear in mind that Angkor Wat doesn’t have a lot of lighting so you will depend on your head torch to see the setting so the last thing you need is panicking while fumbling through Angkor Wat sunrise camera settings, for beginners and pros, you also opt for a tour which will give you a foundation on getting the most of an Angkor Wat sunrise or sunset shoot in Siem Reap. This includes getting local tips on the best Angkor Wat photo spots. There are plenty of options for Angkor Wat photography workshops and tours to choose from.

5. Shoot Raw (If You Can!)

For a lot of my shots, I prefer to shoot RAW. This way I can manipulate my photos any which way and I will still have plenty of detail in my shots. So make sure you check your Angkor Wat sunrise camera settings before setting out. There have been occasions when I have taken several shots only to realise that I was shooting in JPG also make sure you check your shots frequently because again if I was doing night shots the day before and I am shooting again in the morning those I cannot just start shooting. I will need to adjust my settings. So make sure you know roughly the settings you need for the time and weather you shooting in but also for YOUR particular style. I actually take to under process my pictures because I can make adjustments in LightRoom. So also knowing your photography style is equally important.

5 Things They Don’t Tell You About Angkor Wat Sunrise

Below are things people don’t necessarily tell you about Angkor Wat Sunrise.

1. The Moat Is Artificial (Fake) – Sorry!

We have all see those beautiful pictures with a beautiful reflection of an Angkor Wat sunrise or sunset with the beautiful towers and palm trees reflecting off the water. Well, guess what the moat has dried up and now has to be artificially filled with a pipe connected to the water supply from the main moat at the entrance of the temple’s outer entrance from the road.

The scenery itself was beautiful and the reflection perfect. As you do this you are also in clear view of this large blue pipe that was supplying water to the moat. This is so that these tourists who have paid hard earned money to view the world-famous Angkor Wat sunrise reflection can get their money’s worth and get that money shot reflection picture. Well, let’s just say I felt cheated a little. I arrived in the summer so maybe it does dry out and refills during the rain season, but just the thought of this thing being filled up while we were there, rubbed me the wrong way.

2. Relentless Vendors and Touts

Many people set off from Siem Reap hotels at the crack of dawn so you will most likely not have had breakfast. Hotels usually make breakfast for their guests if they have any part in arranging your tuk-tuk to take collect you at 4am from the hotel to the entrance of the temple. When you arrive ready for your Angkor Wat sunrise, you will soon notice that they have set up small stalls with small cafes. These cafes send out their waiters to drum up business and take breakfast orders from the many tourists that stand and wait for the sunrise to hit the fake moat and produce the reflection shots that they have all waited to tick off their bucket lists.

These vendors are relentless and the moment you fend off one, another comes out of nowhere and it now appears you have entered some kind of ‘whack em all’ game with the vendors. When the Angkor Wat sunrise appears, soon after the tourists start to disperse, many people go back to the hotels to sleep with a few heading to explore the inside of the temple and others staying behind for breakfast.

Note that if you do stick around for breakfast, most of the vendors will not speak a word of English so don’t go thinking that you can have your eggs made to order just the way you like em. What you get on your plate will very much be what you have either pointed on the pictures of the menus or what the waiter and the cook assumed you meant to order. Neither will match your expectation of what your mind’s eye envisioned. Either way, don’t forget to bring your sense of humor!

3. Expect To Pay Buddhas For A Picture

There are many a buddha around the temple and all providing some sort of a service. You can either sneak in a few pictures of them but most will expect some sort of compensation for taking pictures with them or of them or for the bracelets that they put on your wrists. Either way, they have to eat, and I guess this is another way to ensure that.

4. Expect The Crowds For An Angkor Wat Sunrise

I knew the gathering for an Angkor Wat sunrise was popular but what I was faced with, I hadn’t prepared for. In addition to the moat being artificially filled, let’s just say I was less than pleased. The place is crowded!!! People probably embark to the spot at least by 3.30am. Also don’t be surprised by the micro-aggression of people as they fight to hold down their little spot in front of the moat so they can take the reflection shots they have been dreaming about for so long. The whole experience was not as serene or as peaceful as, perhaps, I had imagined it was going to be. It’s a temple and therefore I thought it would have some sort of peaceful and perhaps people would either behave a certain way or dress a certain way.

Let’s not get into my pet peeve of people who turn up half naked to religious sites. Just mentally prepare yourself for the crowds or prepare to get there at ridiculous o’clock to get a good spot. Another option is that you may have to revisit a few times if you are serious about your sunrise photography and their quality. If you want to avoid the crowds then visit Angkor Wat after 8am once the sunrise crowds have dispersed. Same goes for the sunset crowds, depending on when the sunset is that day, ensure you visit much earlier. This is also the best time to visit a lot of the other temples before the sunrise crowds descend back to the temple for further exploring after morning power naps.

The crowds circling the moat for an Angkor Wat Sunrise

After Angkor Wat Sunrise | Once the sun comes out the crowds disperse and disappear back to hotels or inside the Angkor Wat.

5. Kids Selling Items

I get that Cambodia is a developing country but it’s rather disheartening to see so many kids out here so so early trying to flog off items from some of the market stalls nearby. From magnets, to key rings and postcards. The kids also seem to be taught not to take no for an answer so will sometimes come as a group and expect you to buy, buy, buy! Whether you need it or whether you have repeatedly said “no thank”. The adults bank on you being guilt-ridden by their poor little faces that you will ultimately buy items.

There are so many of these kids about, selling items from 4am sometimes, which is just a sad case but what can one do? As much as I wish they were in school, I can’t help but think that buying items from them will help the situation. It only helps to prove to their parents that keeping them out of school is profitable for them. In the short run, it might be, not the long run.

Items To Bring With You For An Angkor Wat Sunrise

You can actually bring your own breakfast or grab something from the stalls near the moat.
There is water (much of which is stagnant) nearby so that means mosquitoes so bring Mosquito repellent or something to cover you with.
Bring some drinking water with you.
Head Torch

Angkor Wat Photography Tours | Cambodia Photo Tours

Who doesn’t want to take an amazing Angkor Wat temple photos. So, what is the best tour option for Angkor Wat? There are a few tour operators in Siem Reap running Cambodia photo tours that offer a Siem Reap photography guide whether private or group, depending on what you need. These guides will also help you with Angkor Wat camera settings if you are unsure about this. Tours like the Portraits of Angkor Half Day Masterclass takes you takes best locations for Angkor Wat sunrise photos. Also gives you a glimpse of the contemporary temple culture, also travel to surrounding countryside and into the lives of rural farmers.

Then there is the Full-Day Photo Tour Angkor Wat from Siem Reap Tour, the tour guide collects you from your hotel and takes you to the first photographically interesting point. From here, you will have a great chance to capture a beautiful Angkor Wat sunrise. You guide on the Angkor Wat photography tour will take you to the best spot to take the picture, and show you how to handle your best camera settings for an Angkor Wat sunrise. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, you will get to express your creative side through photography.

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So have you seen the Angkor Wat sunrise? What was your experience when you visited? Any additional Angkor Wat Photography Tips you can offer?

Exploring Angkor Wat At Sunrise In Siem Reap

April 13, 2016 by admin 2 Comments

If and when you visit Cambodia, a visit to Angkor Wat at sunrise is an absolute must. Wild, mysterious and beautiful all at the same time. I have been wanting to visit Cambodia for such a long time. Last December my boyfriend and I decided to embark on a month-long trip traveling around this part of Asia. Our first stop was to be Cambodia. On my list were the many temples of Angkor and at the top of that list was a sunrise over Angkor Wat.

I will try not to refer them all as Angkor Wat Temples as is the case with most blogs. Angkor Wat simply means City Temple ( Angkor means city and Wat means temple, or city of Temples in Khmer), which is the one shown in the pictures below. All the other temples although siting within the Angkor Archaeological Park are not called Angkor Wat like commonly referenced on blogs. Each has its own name. I will be sharing more pictures of the other temple with tips on these in the coming days.

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Angkor Wat At Sunrise

Out of all the temples in Siem Reap, an Angkor Wat sunrise is top of many bucketlis for those coming to Siem Reap. Angkor Park is a world heritage site and compasses 400 square kilometers and more than 1000 temples. Some are just piles of rubble as a reminder of what was. Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world. Originally constructed as a Hindu Temple for the Khmer Empire but was later transformed into a Buddist Temple. Having explored the temples and ruins of temples, it is by far one of the best preserved among them and a prime attraction for visitors heading to visit Angkorian temples.

In order to get the best spot when visiting Angkor Wat for sunrise, many set off from hotels at 3am or even 4am especially when sunrise is around 5.30am. Everyone wants to get the best photos of the temple at sunrise and sunset.

Exploring Angkor Wat Temple At Sunrise In Siem Reap

Visiting At Angkor Wat In Siem Reap

The temple grounds are huge. A lot bigger than I imagined they would be. You will be up and down steep stairs and dark and mysterious(read scary) that you will need to take your time here and explore at a leisurely pace. The walls are covered in so much detail telling stories of empires and life as it once was. It’s always beautiful to see the level of detail scribed into the walls showcasing the level of skill it took to not only build and carve out statues, considering the technology they had then and what we have now.

All around the temple you will see Apsara carvings(I have a picture below). An Apsara is a female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. In Indian religions, Apsaras are beautiful, supernatural female beings. They are youthful and elegant with an art for dancing, perhaps for nudity as well as some if not all carvings are half naked with their ample bosoms out on show. They are said to be wives of Gandharvas, court musicians of Indra can usually be found dancing in palaces of the Gods, entertain and sometimes seduce gods and men(explains why their tits are out on display).

Unless you have a tour guide, learning and knowing a little bit about the site, Hinduism and Buddhism will make your visit to Angkor Wat a little more enjoyable in my opinion as you will have an inkling of understanding what you see. Similar to how, say, as a Christian visiting a cathedral I would have an inkling of what stained windows tales stories of miracles or tales from the bible. It adds a little more depth to your visit than just a picture-taking exercise. I would also recommend checking out the Angkor National Museum which will help you understand a bit more about the beliefs and architecture of the temples in Siem Reap and Cambodia in generally and how this is tied to Indian religions.

Angkor Wat Sunrise The Best Spots

In order to get the best pictures of a sunrise over Angkor Wat people to arrive super early or scope out Angkor Wat best spots to take pictures of a sunrise the day before. Visiting during the day to see where the moat and try to figure out where the morning sun rises from at Angkor Wat. Also taking note of Angkor Wat sunrise time so you know when to head out to the temple. You can also opt to take an Angkor Wat sunrise tour where a lot of things is arranged for you.

Choosing Between Angkor Wat Sunrise Or Sunset

If you have plenty of time then you can avoid choosing between an Angkor Wat sunrise or sunset. There are a lot of keen photographers who come here and do both Angkor Wat sunrise and sunset and repeat a few times a week to get the best image of sunrise over Angkor Wat. I preferred morning sun rises at Angkor Wat but you can certainly do both if you are in Siem Reap over a couple of days. If you are not a morning person then pictures of Angkor Wat at sunset might be a better option for you. You can also opt to do Sunrise and sunset combined tours.

Is Sunrise Angkor Wat Worth It?

I had heard so much about pictures of sunrise at Angkor Wat that I wanted to see this myself. While I am certainly glad I did, I was rather disappointed. You can find out more about that in my post on what they don’t tell you about Angkor Wat sunrise. So it sunrise at Angkor Wat worth it, I suppose its worth it if you are really into photography otherwise its just meh. If you are going to go my Angkor Wat sunrise tips are to prepare the night before on how to get there. Seek help from your hotel to arrange a tuk-tuk driver to take you early in the morning. Angkor Wat temple can be super crowded as people assemble. So, check just what time does sun rise in Siem Reap so that you can get there early. For hardcore photographers they will get there super early so that they have the best spot to get pictures of Angkor Wat at Sunrise.

When to Visit Angkor Wat Best Times to Visit

Angkor Wat is well known for its sunrise and sunset photographers so prepare fro crowds! If this is not really something you are into then I would highly recommend visit between 8am and 12pm and again before the sunset crowds return before 5pm, depending on the season you visit. You can also come for the sunrise then head back to sleep and return later in the day.

Angkor Wat Entrance Fees

Tickets are sold in one-day($20), three-day($40) and seven-day($60) and are not necessarily consecutive. The tickets will have a picture of you so you will need to bring ID, preferably your passport. They will take a picture of you, so the tickets cannot be transferred to someone else.

Angkor Wat Tours

How To Get To Angkor Wat

As I said above, make sure you secure a tuk-tuk driver so that you don’t have to figure out how to get to Ankgkor Wat that early in the morning for a sunrise shoot. Bear in mind that it will be as dark as night when everyone is descending on Ankgkor Wat temple.

What To Pack For Angkor Wat

Bug spray. There are plenty of mosquitoes around so repellent and a scarf or cardigan to cover up. If coming for sunrise/sunset shoots then bring a torch. Also, bring drinking water and comfortable shoes.

Where to Stay In Siem Reap

We stayed at a beautiful little boutique hotel and not to far from the famous Pub Street where you will spend the majority of your time when not temple running. I will share pictures and tips on where to stay and where in Siem Reap. We booked it via Booking.com. You can check out my tips on how I save money when I book hotels and apartments here.

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Siem Reap

The Bayon Temple Faces | Bayon Temple Smiling Faces

Bayon Temple Architecture

Bayon Temple Entrance Fee

Bayon Temple Images

Angkor Wat Temple Tours

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Finding Where To Stay In Siem Reap Best Locations

Finding Unique Places To Stay In Siem Reap | Accommodation In Siem Reap Cambodia

Choosing Where to stay in Siem Reap

Where to Stay In Siem Reap – Best Neighborhoods | Finding The Best Area To Stay In Siem Reap

Siem Reap Villages

The Old French Quarter and Sivath Boulevard

Wat Bo & Wat Damnak

Charles Gaulle Boulevard

The Old Market

Map of Siem Reap Cambodia

The Best Budget Places to Stay in Siem Reap – The Best Budget Hotels In Siem Reap Cambodia

The Best Places To Stay In Siem Reap For – Mid-Range and Luxury Hotels In Siem Reap

Hotels in Siem Reap Near Pub Street

Paying For Your Hotel In Cambodia

Siem Reap Airport Transports To Hotels And City Center

Siem Reap Tours

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Pin It For Later

5 Angkor Wat Photography Tips | Siem Reap Photography Guide

1. Visit During The Day If Possible

2. Prepare You Camera Equipment Before Arriving

3. Arrive Early At Angkor Wat

4. Vary Your Shots | Angkor Wat Sunrise Camera Settings

5. Shoot Raw (If You Can!)

5 Things They Don’t Tell You About Angkor Wat Sunrise

1. The Moat Is Artificial (Fake) – Sorry!

2. Relentless Vendors and Touts

3. Expect To Pay Buddhas For A Picture

4. Expect The Crowds For An Angkor Wat Sunrise

5. Kids Selling Items

Items To Bring With You For An Angkor Wat Sunrise

Angkor Wat Photography Tours | Cambodia Photo Tours

So have you seen the Angkor Wat sunrise? What was your experience when you visited? Any additional Angkor Wat Photography Tips you can offer?

Angkor Wat At Sunrise

Visiting At Angkor Wat In Siem Reap

Angkor Wat Sunrise The Best Spots

Choosing Between Angkor Wat Sunrise Or Sunset

Is Sunrise Angkor Wat Worth It?

When to Visit Angkor Wat Best Times to Visit

Angkor Wat Entrance Fees

Angkor Wat Tours

How To Get To Angkor Wat

What To Pack For Angkor Wat

Where to Stay In Siem Reap