2 days in Siem Reap – Incredible Angkor Wat Itinerary

2 days in Siem Reap – Itinerary for Angkor Wat & Other Temples

Angkor Wat temple existed somewhere far on the periphery of our imaginations. We knew it only as a massive temple that was said to be the biggest Hindu temple in the world. In fact, the largest religious monument in the world occupying a staggering area of more than 1.6 million square meters. Cambodia was a distant dream, the kind of destination one reads about in history books.

But all that changed, when one fine day we landed at the Phnom Penh International airport on our 11-day sojourn in Cambodia. During the visit, we also looked forward to demystifying Angkor Wat during our 2 days in Siem Reap itinerary. and soon we were to find out that there was so much more than we had imagined and Cambodia had so much to offer with so many beautiful temples beyond Angkor Wat.

Siem Reap Temples Beyond Angkor Wat | 2 days in Siem Reap

What Is Angkor Wat?

We had imagined and thought that Angkor Wat is a single temple and was synonymous with Siem Reap. We used to use the words Angkor Wat and Siem Reap almost interchangeably as many do. Like us, for most people, Siem Reap stands for Angkor Wat and vice versa. We too thought that Angkor Wat, the mammoth Cambodian temple complex was all that was there in Siem Reap! But how wrong we were! our 2 days in Siem Reap totally changed our perspective and filled our minds with clarity.

Angkor Wat is one of the temples situated in what is designated as the Angkor Archaeological Park, albeit the biggest and the most famous one. There are temples beyond Angkor Wat within the Angkor Archaeological Park as well as beyond it which have their own charm too.

In fact, the cradle of the Khmer Civilization exists far away in the Takeo Province in the ruins of a temple known as Phnom Da which is said to have been the centre of the ancient Funan kingdom of the 4th century.

This post explores and demystifies the temples beyond Angkor Wat that await to enchant the visitors in Siem Reap. It does not delve into specifics of the Angkor Wat UNESCO heritage site for which there is a detailed and dedicated post. The post is also a good reference point if you are looking to spend 2 days in Siem Reap.

Angkor Archaeological Park – 2 days in Siem Reap Itinerary

The Angkor Archaeological Park which begins some 20 kilometres from the city centre of Siem Reap covers an area of about 400 square kilometres and encloses within it, forests and the ruins of various Capitals of the Khmer civilization from the 9th to the 15th century. The Angkor Archaeological Park not only has the heritage temples from the Khmer civilization, but it also contains within it whole cities that include waterways, canals, roads, and other infrastructure dating back to the Khmer civilization.

The most notable of landmarks of the Angkor Archaeological Park is the temple complex of Angkor Wat, the ancient city of Angkor Thom. It is worth noting that the Angkor Archaeological Park has many inhabited villages within its fold too. Though there is no exact information, it can be estimated that there are at least around 60 plus heritage sites in the Angkor Archaeological Park. In fact, there may still be many temple ruins waiting to be discovered in the thick forests as our guide informed us.

What We Covered In 2 Days in Siem Reap | 2 days in Siem Reap Itinerary

There are many questions going around like, how many days do you need to seed Angkor Wat, can one see the temples of Siem Reap in one day, and so on. There is no categorical answer to these questions. It all depends on your interest, and what all you want to cover, as well as of course your mode of transportation from one site to another. We had two days with us and we did manage to see the main sites as well as some temples beyond Angkor Wat. Here is our 2 Days itinerary of Siem Reap and our mode of transportation was by car ( pictured above).

2 days in Siem Reap – 2 days Siem Reap itinerary for Angkor Wat & Other Temples

Day One

Prasat Neak Pean – 2 days in Siem Reap Itinerary

Our guide Sovithyea Hok from the Cambodia Tourism Department planned our itinerary smartly so that we beat the crowds in most places. We began the day with a visit to a beautiful little temple in the midst of a reservoir of water. A wooden path led to the temple and the lotus flowers floating in the waters lent the place a mystical aura. The temple dates to the 12th century and it is believed that the temple which stands in the midst of pools of water was used for medicinal purposes. Bathing in different pools was believed to free one from different ailments.

Preah Khan – 2 days in Siem Reap Itinerary

This is a massive temple complex, in fact, it is an ancient city in itself bound by doors and moats and with gates from all four directions. The complex wall is graced by sculptures of Garuda. Preah Khan was built in the early 12th century by King Jayavarman and was dedicated to his father Dharanindra. The Preah Khan is a Buddhist temple and originally the sanctum sanctorum had an image of Lokeswara who is considered as the saviour God in Mahayana Buddhism. This was later replaced by a Stupa. One of the most fascinating aspects of this temple is that long passages with inter-connecting doors converge to the central sanctum sanctorum from the four cardinal directions.

Angkor Thom – 2 days in Siem Reap Itinerary

The grand and magnificent Khmer Empire built various cities that stood as benchmarks of urban living in those times. One of the last cities that they built was Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom encompasses an area of 9 square kilometres and is encircled by an 8-meter high wall with gates in all the four cardinal directions.

Each gate has a 23-meter high tower with the shape of a smiling face similar to the structures found in the Bayon temple, but a later addition. The Angkor Thom was the capital and centre of the regime of King Jayavarman VII. The main monuments within Angkor Thom are Preah Ngok Pagoda, Bapuhon temple, Royal Palace and Phimeanakas, Elephant Terrace, Leper King Terrace, Preah Palilay temple, Tep Pranam Pagoda, and of course the enigmatic Bayon temple.

Phimeanakas – 2 days in Siem Reap Itinerary

The Phimeanakas is a three-tiered pyramidical structure. It is a Hindu temple which was completed towards the end of the 10th century by King Suryavarman I. It is located within the ancient city of Angkor Thom and near the what used to be the royal residence. It is said that there used to be a tower at the top of the pyramid and the king used to spend the first half of the night in the company of a woman said to be a Naga, a semi-divine being.

Terrace of Elephants – 2 days in Siem Reap Itinerary

The Terrace of Elephants terrace named after the elephant carvings on its eastern wall was a raised platform. This served as a viewing platform for the King and his retinue to watch public programmes as well as watch the return of the victorious army. Not much remains of the original platform. The remaining walls are embellished with carvings of elephants, lions, and Garudas.

Terrace of the Leper King – 2 days in Siem Reap Itinerary

A raised structure with a statue that is referred to as the Leper King is located near the Terrace of Elephants. An inscription near the statue indicates that the statue is that of Dharmaraja or Yama, the Hindu God of death. However when the statue was found sometime in the 15th century it was discoloured and the local people associated with the Cambodian legend of a king named Yasovarman I, who was afflicted with leprosy. The place since then has been known as the terrace of the Leper King.

Bayon Temple – 2 days in Siem Reap Itinerary

This is the most enigmatic temple to be found in Siem Reap. The Bayon temple stands in the center of the ancient city of Angkor Thom. It is probably one of the most iconic of temples along with Angkor Wat. The prominent and arresting feature of the temple is the many carved faces that smile enigmatically in all directions.

It is still not established whom the faces represent. One school of thought has it that the faces represent King Jayavarman VII himself while the other school of thought is of the view that the faces represent Avalokitesvara or Lokesvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion. Whatever be the case, these 216 faces mesmerize you with their serene countenance. The Bayon temple was completed sometime during the end of the 12th century.

Ta Prohm – 2 days in Siem Reap Itinerary

The eerie and otherworldly aura that was brought alive by Tomb Raider was based on the temple of Ta Prohm. The temple that was originally known as Rajavihara was a Buddhist monastery that was built by King Jayavarman VII in the 12th century and was dedicated to his mother, and this interestingly, was before he built the temple of Preah Khan that was dedicated to his father. Exploring the ruined temple of Ta Prohm is an exciting experience as trees have a free run over the ruins of the temple and have formed strange and quirky formations. A place that offers some really exotic photo opportunities.

Phnom Bakheng – 2 days in Siem Reap Itinerary

A steep and somewhat tiring climb leads you to the top of a hill on which is situated a 9th-century temple built by King Yasovarman. A steep flight of steps takes you to the summit of the mountain on which is the temple which was dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. The temple is said to have been the center of the Khmer capital of Yashodharapura.

It is interesting to note that one can view the temple of Angkor Wat from the top of Phnom Bakheng, down below. Angkor Wat was built a couple of centuries after Phnom Bakheng. We were told that one should head to Phnom Bakheng for sunset as it presents a mesmerizing view. However, our itinerary did not permit that.

Day Two

Angkor Wat – 2 days in Siem Reap Itinerary

It was still dark when we walked along a pathway in the midst of a huge lake to get a vantage point to view the famed sunrise at the temple of Angkor Wat. The massive temple stood dark and shadowy as the sun slowly emerged and cast its glow from behind the structure. Huge crowds milled around to watch the spectacle. But it is a tribute to the sheer massive size of the complex that once you get inside and start exploring the temple complex, you do not realize the magnitude of the crowds.

The 12th-century temple of Angkor Wat was started by King Suryavarman but left to King Jayavarman VII to complete. It was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu and later transformed into a Buddhist temple. The architecture of the temple is unique and the bas reliefs and carvings exquisite and retain their charm even with the relentless passage of time. One of the things to look out for is the carvings of Apsara at different locations of the temple.

Banteay Srei – 2 days in Siem Reap Itinerary

This temple lies some 25 kilometres away from the main group of temples of Siem Reap. It is a 10th-century temple built for the Hindu God Shiva. It is noted for its beautiful carvings, much of which are intact and enchant even today. The other unique fact about the temple of Banteay Srei is that it is probably the only Khmer temple that was not built by a king. It is believed to have been built by courtiers named Vishnukumara and Yajnavaraha.

Beng Mealea – 2 days in Siem Reap Itinerary

The temple of Beng Melea is one of the most beautiful temples with exquisite windows and doors. The temple is about 77 kilometres from Siem Reap. The temple which is a Hindu temple was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman. Though most of the temple lies in ruins, the setting is really enchanting and a place where one can easily get lost in the chapters of history.

These are the temples that we covered in our 2 days in Siem Reap itinerary. But there are many more temples beyond Angkor Wat that we know we have missed. Probably a week in Siem Reap would be required to visit all the temples. Some of the prominent temples beyond Angkor Wat that we missed are the temples of the Roluos Group which are part of the ancient capital city called Hariharalaya, and these include Bakong, Preah Ko, and Lolei. Some of the other temples that we missed are Ta Keo, Banteay Kdei, Prasat Kravan, Kbal Spean, and Phnom Krom.

How to Reach Siem Reap

Book cheap flights either through Priceline or Cheapair or Cleartrip or Goibibo or Makemytrip and save big on flight bookings to reach Siem Reap in Cambodia.

Where To Stay In Siem Reap

There are many Siem Reap hotels to suit all budgets, from hostels to homestays to budget hotels to luxury hotels. We stayed at the Kingdom Angkor Hotel arguably one of the best hotels in Siem Reap. The constant tourist flow from across the world has ensured that Siem Reap is an international city catering to different preferences. Siem Reap accommodation options too are many and varied. The distance from Siem Reap to Angkor Wat is about 7 kilometres and most hotels are clustered within a small radius.

Hotel booking can be done through TripAdvisor or Agoda or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline to save huge and get the best deals on booking your stay.

Siem Reap Tours/Package Tours available in Siem Reap

Siem Reap points of interest are many and if you are wondering what places to see in Siem Reap or what to do in Siem Reap, then look no further. Siem Reap Tours are available easily. You can now book tours in Siem Reap as well as activities in Siem Reap. Plan the best places to visit in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and experience Angkor Wat and other beautiful temples beyond Angkor Wat.

Where And What To Eat In Siem Reap

• Siem Reap offers many options for eating that caters to different cuisines and budgets, one can choose to eat at many of the street joints that dot Siem Reap or choose to dine in an expensive restaurant
• When you are busy visiting the Siem Reap attractions, the temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park, it is not practical to get back to the city. But near most of the temples, there are small outlets that serve cool drinks and snacks
• VEGETARIAN ALERT! If you are a vegetarian check out where and what to eat and where we ate when in Siem Reap as well as in other places of Cambodia check out our guide to vegetarian food in Cambodia

Some Other Things To Do In Siem Reap

If you are wondering if the Siem Reap itinerary for 2 days that we did include only temples then you are wrong. We also did a walk around the night market and also attended a scintillating show that presented the rich heritage and culture of Cambodia in a high tech manner including the famed Apsara Dance.

This was a show named Smile of Angkor. So if you are thinking of what to do in Siem Reap apart from temple hopping there are many activities in Siem Reap itself. Also, all the temples close after sunset so you have the evenings free. One of the places to visit in Siem Reap is the Angkor National Museum.

Siem Reap Map

Siem Reap And Angkor Wat FAQ

– Do you need your passport for Angkor Wat?

Yes, you would need your passport along with your ticket or pass to visit the Angkor Archaeological Park.

– Where can one buy the Angkor Pass?

One has to buy the pass to visit the temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park at the Angkor Enterprise Ticket office which is open from 5 AM to 5.30 PM every day, this is through the APSARA authority who manage the temples.

– Can one buy the Angkor Pass online?

No, currently there is no option to buy the Angkor Pass online.

– How much is a day pass to Angkor Wat?

One can buy one day, three days, or a seven-day pass, for current rates check with the APSARA Authority.

– What Should I wear to Angkor Wat?

A visit to Angkor Wat and the other temples involves a lot of walking and climbing steep steps. Also even during the winter, it is bound to get hot and humid, so wear light and modest clothes, cover your head with a hat to protect against the sun and use sunscreen. Ensure your footwear is good too.

– Can you walk around Angkor Wat?

Yes, you need to cover a lot of ground to really enjoy the magnificence of the Angkor Wat temple.

– Can you do Angkor Wat in a day?

Yes, you can and maybe fit in another temple or two depending on your pace.

– How many days in Siem Reap are required?

This would depend on your interest in ancient art and architecture and particularly Khmer architecture. If you are passionate about the temples and want to explore them at your pace a week would be ideal.

– Do I require a Siem Reap Tour Guide?

A tour guide is required to unravel the complex nature Angkor Wat and other temples. However, only official certified guides are allowed to operate in the temples.

– Are there Siem Reap tours?

Yes, there are many Siem Reap day tour packages available

We hope that this post provides some clarity to the complex enigma that the Khmer temples of Cambodia present. One of the places that we recommend to unravel some of the Angkor Wat mysteries is a visit to the National Museum in Phnom Penh as it houses many of the findings from different historical Khmer sites including Angkor Wat.

As mentioned at the beginning the aim of this post is more to give a brief orientation of the temples rather than delve into the details of each of them. The information is based on our own Siem Reap travel experience.

We hope that this post answers your questions like where is Siem Reap, how to create a short Siem Reap itinerary, What to see in Siem Reap, How long should you stay in Siem Reap, what to see in Siem Reap in 2 days, etc.

We know that you are filled with questions like how old is Angkor Wat, when was Angkor Wat discovered, when was Angkor Wat built, what is the Angkor Wat history, What was Angkor Wat built for, Is Angkor Wat worth visiting, and many more.

Do look out for our detailed post on Angkor Wat, Siem Reap coming up soon.

You might be interested in reading our other posts on Cambodia:

Things to do in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
National Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
A Guide to Vegetarian Food in Cambodia
Siem Reap Temples – Must See Temples in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Phnom Da, Takeo Province, Cambodia
Tomb Raider Temple – Ta Prohm, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Takeo Province, Cambodia – Phnom Chisor and Ta Prohm

We were hosted by Cambodia Tourism. However, the views and opinions expressed here are our own.

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