Exploring The Temples of Angkor with Kids

The Temples of Angkor are world famous and on many a travellers bucket list, but how easy are the temples of Angkor to explore with kids?

WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE TEMPLES OF ANGKOR?

The temples of Angkor were built between the 9th and 14th centuries, when Khmer civilisation was at the height of its creativity. Unparalleled in South-east Asia (although the temples of Bagan in Myanmar are a close runner up), Angkor rates among the foremost architectural wonders of the world. From Angkor, the kings of the Khmer Empire ruled over a vast area from what is now southern Vietnam north to Yunnan in China and from Vietnam west to the Bay of Bengal.

Angkor Wat, the most well known and largest of the temples, is in fact, one of many structures that made up the ancient city of Angkor. Other popular temples include Angkor Thom and the Bayon, and Ta Prohm. There are however, many other temples and structures to explore throughout the historic city.

EXPLORING THE ANCIENT CITY OF ANGKOR WITH KIDS

PREAH KHAN

Preah Khan was our first temple on the Angkor Archaeological Park and we picked a good one. This temple is relatively quiet compared to others, with fewer visitors. There are lots of nooks and crannies to explore, perfect for kids, and trees growing out of the temple walls in places. It’s the perfect introduction to the temples of Angkor.

Our boys loved unleashing their inner Indiana Jones and racing around this temple, exploring every nook and cranny!

PREAH NEAK PEAN

Next stop was Preah Neak Pean, a small temple surrounded by water. You reach Preah Near Pean by walking along a boardwalk across a lake. A beautiful location for a temple.

EASTERN MEBON AND PREAH RUP

Eastern Mebon and Preah Rup are two very similar temples, located close to one another. Each has a quincunx (five) of towers standing on the temple form. You climb up to these temples and explore the temple platforms.

BANTEAY KDEI

Banteay Kdei is a massive Buddhist temple from the second half of the twelfth century.

There are some beautiful wall carvings at Banteay Kdei.

These five temples made up our first day of exploring at the Angkor Archaeological Park, all done in a tuk tuk with a driver. The driver waited for us at each of the temples we visited. This is a very common way of exploring the Angkor complex.

On day two we visited the more famous temples, including Angkor Wat. We were joined in Cambodia at this point by the Shackleton family, good friends from Abergavenny in Wales. They joined us for a two week holiday and travelled with us through Cambodia and into Vietnam. On this second day we hired a mini-van and guide for our tour of the Angkor Archeological Park.

ANGKOR THOM

Our second day exploring the ancient city of Angkor began with a visit to Angkor Thom.

A moat surrounds Angkor Thom, while the bridge over the moat is guarded by Gods on one side and Demons on the other, 54 on each side.

THE BAYON

The Bayon was next, a truly spectacular place within the Angkor Historical Park, and one not to be missed. The Bayon consists of fifty four gothic towers decorated with over two hundred giant faces carved into the rocks. The faces a blend of Jayavarman’s face with that of Buddha. These giant heads star down at you from every angle.

As well as these majestic faces the Bayon has the most amazing carvings depicting various stories.

The Bayon is a popular place within the ancient city of Angkor so it is advisable to get here early to enjoy this place without crowds of people! We visited twice, once in the middle of the day, and again the following morning early (after watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat). It was a much better experience early in the morning without the hoards of people.

TA PHROM

Ta Phrom is another well known temple, not least because Indiana Jones has been filmed here. This is the temple that has been left to be swallowed up by the jungle. It looks very much the way most of the monuments of Angkor appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them. The walls are crumbling, everything is covered with moss, and tall trees tower above. These same trees have taken root in the walls of Ta Phrom, sometimes growing directly on top of the walls and structures. This place has a mysterious feel.

‘Tomb Raider’, starring Angelina Jolie, and ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’ were filmed here.

ANGKOR WAT

Angkor Wat was our final temple on day two, the largest, and undoubtedly the most breathtaking of the temples of Angkor. It is surrounded by a moat, 190 metres wide, and forms a giant rectangle 1.5km by 1.3km. An avenue leads from the main entrance to the central temple, passing two pools, popular spots for sunrise viewing and good for reflections of the temple. The central temple has three storeys, with towers at the corners of the second and third storeys, and a central tower rising 55 metres above the ground. It is a truly majestic building.

ANGKOR WAT AT SUNRISE

We visited Angkor Wat for sunrise one morning by tuk tuk (auto rickshaw). In order to catch the sunrise its an early wake up call! In our case we were up at 4.30am to get to Angkor Wat before 5.30am. Even though many people watch the sunset its a truly memorable and worthwhile experience.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT THE TEMPLES OF ANGKOR?

Angkor is a year round destination as temperatures are warm throughout the year. Peak travel season is marked by dry and mild weather, which begins in November and ends in March. Heat and humidity define the months of April and May. The rainy season begins in June and lasts until September.

GETTING TO AND FROM THE TEMPLES OF ANGKOR

The nearest town to the ancient city of Angkor is Siem Reap, situated approximately 6kms to the south. Most tourists base themselves here for exploring this vast archaeological site.  The ancient city of Angkor is the obvious draw but there is so much more to Siem Reap than just the temples.

Read Also: Best Things To Do in Siem Reap with Kids

There are many different transport options for exploring the temple complex, from cycling to private car hire. For the best experience however, we recommend hiring a tuk tuk driver for the day. In this way, you really get to appreciate the sights, sounds and smells of this historic city. It’s also great fun for kids, racing around in an open sided tuk tuk.

Tuk tuks are a very popular method of transportation in Siem Reap. It is easy to hire a driver and tuk tuk for the day who will take you to the various temples and wait for you whilst you explore. We paid just 18 US$ per day for the five of us.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO VISIT THE ANCIENT CITY OF ANGKOR?

Entry to the ancient city of Angkor requires an Angkor Pass. The fee for a single-day ticket is $37 (£28), a three-day pass $62 (£48) while a seven-day pass is $72 (£55). Prices correct in 2018. All adults and children over the age of 12 require a photo ID for the Angkor complex which can be purchased before entering the historic site. Photographs are taken when purchasing a ticket. Children under 12 are free but you may need to prove this with a passport.

HOW MUCH TIME IS NEEDED AT THE ANGKOR HISTORICAL PARK?

Our advice would be to purchase a three-day pass if time and finances allow. The ancient city is huge and when travelling with kids it is best to be able to dip in and out, rather than spend a super long day touring the best of the sights. We purchased a three-day pass and went into the Angkor complex on each of the three days. We felt we would have missed a great deal if we’d only visited for a single day.

VISITING TIMES AT THE ANGKOR COMPLEX

Visiting hours are 5AM – 6PM. Angkor Wat closes at 6PM and Banteay Srey closes at 5PM. Sunrise is magical over Angkor Wat. It is worth getting up very early if at all possible for this memorable experience.

SPECIFICALLY FOR FAMILIES

Bring a baby/child carrier for small children as a buggy will be useless at Angkor.

It is very hot in Cambodia throughout the year so remember hats and plenty of suncream.

There are toilets at various points throughout the site but bring toilet paper and hand sanitiser.

Snacks and drinks are readily available but bring plenty of water.

Dress appropriately, cover knees and shoulders. Kids are fine to wear shorts and t-shirts.

WHERE WE STAYED IN SIEM REAP

We spent six wonderful nights at the Golden Temple Hotel in Siem Reap. We had two rooms in this delightful small hotel, complete with swimming pool, bar and restaurant. The staff are super friendly and really can’t do enough for you. Everything had been thought of here: free drinks and snacks at the pool between 6-7pm every night, a free Khmer style five course dinner, free massages, and a complimentary picnic style meal at the temples. This is somewhere that we were very sad to leave!

The temples of Angkor are fantastic to visit with kids.  From here we travelled south to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

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Have you been to Siem Reap? Do you have any recommendations for visiting the temples of Angkor?