Angkor Wat is one of Asia’s leading tourist attractions and the Cambodians have learnt how to make the most of their asset.

A visit to this Unesco World Heritage site is not cheap however, so be prepared to part with over RM400 per person to cover the cost of a one-day entrance ticket, taxi fare and a guide while you’re there.

Still it’s an enriching experience and as Cambodia is a poor country, it is good to spread some money around.

However, another way to visit Angkor Wat would be to rent a bike in Siem Reap, which is only 6km away, for under RM10 per day and cycle around the complex yoruself rather than hire a driver.

That way you have more freedom to go as you please, and you will probably see more than you would in a van, and you get some exercise too.

Also don’t forget to visit the excellent Angkor National Museum in Siem Reap the day before you go to Angkor Wat.

The museum holds all the background information you need to enjoy your temple trip more, and you can dispense with the guide too.

Or, if you don’t want to fork out the steep museum entrance fee, you could just buy a guide book.

There are a couple of hundred temples, pagodas and ruins within the Angkor Archeological Park of which only one is called Angkor Wat.

On your day trip, visit the three most popular ones there: the main Angkor Wat, the so-called jungle temple or Ta Prohm, and Angkor Thom which includes the famous Bayon Temple.

Here are a couple of photos of each.

Angkor Wat

Ta Prohm

Angkor Thom (east gate) and Bayon Temple

This tourist attraction is well worth visiting if you haven’t already. There is a lot of restoration work going on so you could argue that the longer you leave it the better it will get.

his article first appeared on thriftytraveller.wordpress.com