A visit to Siem Reap is not complete without visiting the Angkor complexes. Considered the largest religious monument in the world, there are multiple temple areas that it is recommended to visit. There is the small circuit that includes Angkor Wat, the great circuit, and the Koh Ker area. Here is a great guide on how to visit the Koh Ker and Beng Meala temples.
Tickets for Koh Ker and Beng Meala
Due to being part of the temple complex, both of these locations require tickets for entry. Here is the website to buy those tickets.
- Koh Ker – Separate ticket, costs $15 for one day
- Beng Meala – Angkor Wat ticket; 1 day is $37, 3 days is $62, and 7 days is $72. The tickets can be used over the course of 10 days.
We recommend getting the 3 day pass at minimum. This allows for one day at each of the areas as it is not possible to see every area in one day. Even if you were super fast, it is crowded and there is a large distance between each area.
Transportation
When in Cambodia, the Grab app is your best friend. For this trip we recommend scheduling a car through Grab for 8 hours. This is because Koh Ker is a 2 hour drive from Siem Reap. In a tuk tuk this would take even longer and would not be as comfortable. Let the driver know your plans and they are really good about knowing where to go as this is what they do all the time.
A great part of having a car is you can get picked up super early (we recommend by 5:30 am at the latest) and nap on the car ride there. It’s also great to keep your snack bag in the car with water and some food. In the same bag keep your sunscreen as there is not a lot of shade coverage.
Visiting Koh Ker
This temple complex area is 2 hours away from Siem Reap so we recommend going here first. If you plan to arrive at open at 7:30 am there are two things that will likely happen; the first is you will be the only ones at the temple and the second is you will avoid the heat of the day. Koh Ker is it’s own temple complex area consisting of over 10 temples. Here is a quick list of the ones that cannot be missed.
- Prasat Prang – a 30 m high pyramid made of 7 levels. During our visit there were stairs on the back that allowed you to go to the top of the temple. We stopped here first and had it to ourselves.
- Prasat Pram – a set of 5 small structures that have been overtaken by the jungle. One of the most iconic photo spots in our opinion.
- Prasat Thom – a larger area that has multiple structures.
- Prasat Neang Khmau – the black temple, named due to the color. Another stunning photo spot.
It’s recommended to have a list of the temples you for sure want to see when visiting the Koh Ker area to show your driver. They likely will already know and even add in a couple you hadn’t known about! Expect to spend at least 2 or so hours exploring the different temples and the drive time between them.
Visit Beng Meala
Beng Mealea is a temple dating back to the early 12th century, built during the reign of King Suryavarman II, who is also credited with constructing Angkor Wat. It is located roughly an hour away from Siem Reap. This makes it a perfect stop on your way back to town from Koh Ker. The temple was constructed using sandstone blocks and laterite, featuring impressive galleries, courtyards, and towers. However, it has been left largely unrestored, giving visitors a sense of the romanticized “lost temple” experience.
The primary way to explore the temple is walking on the raised platforms that take you around the inside. Due to the destruction, it is not possible to walk across the ground of the temple. It truly gives a jungle temple experience as you explore around the trees that are overtaking the area. We were informed many of the trees cannot be removed because they now hold the temple together.
On the outside there is a huge area where they have started organizing the ginormous stones. It is impressive to see just how large they are. Restoration is taking place at many of the temples at this time but they are still always finding new information.
Expect to spend at least an hour exploring this area.
General Recommendations
When visiting Koh Ker and Beng Meala there are a few key things to remember. It is really hot and there is likely minimal coverage. Bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Also bring water. There are some stalls that can be found but not at every single temple. Be respectful and dress appropriately. The stone is very old so be careful where you walk and don’t leave or take anything from the temples. The workers are very kind so be respectful to them as well. Overall, enjoy the deep history and wonder at how they lived!
We hope you enjoy your visit to Siem Reap and would love to hear about it in the comments below! Check out our other posts about exploring the history of Angkor.
Here are a few guided tours to help you get started on your historical exploration!
