When you visit Angkor Wat and the Angkor Temples in Cambodia, you will get the option of a 1 day or 3 day ticket (and a 7 day ticket!!).
Here’s a few pointers that will help you decide which one is for you. I
went for the 3 day ticket option as I knew it would be my only visit to the area, so I wanted to see as much of it as I could and give myself added flexibility. Please note that when people say they are visiting Angkor Wat – they don’t just mean one temple called Angkor Wat! There are tons of temples in and around the area and Angkor Wat is just the largest and busiest one – some of the others are better!
Visiting Angkor Wat: 1 Day Ticket Pass ($20):
Advantages:
- You can start your one day pass early in the morning and get a full day of use out of it, thus maximising it.
- You could even do sunrise and sunset on the same day if you wanted (it’s open from 5am to 6pm).
- You only need to spend one day’s worth of tuk tuk or bicycle rental (or only a day’s worth of walking).
- You won’t get bored of temples.
- You will end up just doing the best bits, so in essence you see all you want anyway.
Disadvantages:
- You will definitely miss out on seeing some of the more unusual temples.
- You are simply doing the touristy thing and visiting Angkor Wat and the main Angkor temples, not really getting to all the off the beaten track temples.
- You probably won’t be here again so you may regret doing it so quickly in one day.
- You will be tired if you do an all day-er at the temples.
Visiting Angkor Wat: 3 Day Ticket Pass ($40):
This is the option I chose. I didn’t want to rush it all in one day and I had 4 days in Siem Reap so I had plenty of time for this.
Advantages:
- You will ensure you don’t miss any of the major temples in the area (Bayon, Baphuon, Angkor Wat, Preas Dak, Ta Prohm).
- Added flexibility.
- If you want to leave early one day, you can as you know you have another day (or 2 left).
- You don’t have to rush around, you can relax!
- It’s only twice the price of the 1 day ticket, but 3 times the length of time (The 3 Day pass costs $40 US Dollars whereas the 1 Day pass is $20 US Dollars).
Disadvantages:
- You might get bored of temples!
Visiting Angkor Wat: 7 Day Ticket Pass ($60):
Advantages:
- Unlimited entry to the Angkor Temples for an entire week
- You can take it slow and relax as you have plenty of time
- If you love the sunrise you can do it all over again if you want
- You will be a total Angkor Temples expert by the end of the week
Jonny Blair is a self confessed traveling nomad who founded and blogs at Don’t Stop Living. He sees every day as an adventure. Since leaving behind his home town of Bangor in Northern Ireland ten years ago he has traveled to all seven continents, working his way through various jobs and funding it all with hard work and an appetite for travel. Don’t Stop Living, a lifestyle of travel’ contains over 1,000 stories and tips from his journeys round the globe. He wants to show others how easy it is to travel the world, give them some ideas and encourage them to do the same but most of all he aims to constantly live a lifestyle of travel. He is currently based in Hong Kong and on Twitter @jonnyblair.