Angkor Wat tour is a must activity when you are visiting Siem Reap during Cambodia tours. The most common way to reach the temples is by vans with air conditioning. Yet, for active people – cycling to see the Angkor complex is a great idea. Besides, discovering Siem Reap on the local Tuk Tuk is the next choice.
How to get Angkor Wat from Siem Reap
By car, bike or Tuk Tuk?
The aspect to choose for way to do a Angkor Wat tour from Siem Reap is the distance between temples. For those who love cycling, a full day tour to see major temples in town by bike is highly recommended. Within a day, you can cycle between the most well-known temples of Angkor including Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm. For early birds who don’t mind waking up at 04:30, sunrise at Angkor Wat temples is a different experience – just make sure that you have your phone fully charged as opportunities for photos are endless. For temples which are located far from the central town such as Banteay Srei, having a van will be most convenient.
The next point that will decide your vehicle is group size. Tuk Tuk is ideal for a group of 2 to 4 people, and if you are big ones, 2 would be most comfortable. For a bigger group, a van will be handy. Bikes can fit either small or big groups, yet make sure that all members are in a good physical condition to keep the speed of the whole group.
Angkor Wat tour price
Now, when it comes to Angkor Wat tour price. If money is a concern, it always is, I guess. Hiring a private van may be the most expensive choice. Yet, this is only right when you travel in a small group of 1 or 2. The car rental fee will not be a considerable cost if you can share with 3 people or more. Tuk tuk runs second in the race of pricing, while bike wins the crown in term of cost. Some hotels even offer free rental bikes for their in-house guests. If you choose cycling, you may need to pay and tip your tour guide a little higher as it will be a hard working day for him/her.
Best time to visit Angkor Wat
So there are at least three ways to choose your own vehicle and make the trip “your way”. The question is how to find out what way works best? Let’s look at the weather.
You may already hear that the whole country of Cambodia is hot almost all year round, and so is Siem Reap. The temperature will be defined based on rainfall levels. The dry season starts in early November and ends by late April. Since Siem Reap is located in the north of Cambodia, this place is often expected to be a little cooler.
Three best months to visit Siem Reap are December, January and February when the temperatures are lovely, the average is 25-degree Celsius. There’s the least rainfall in December and January. If you are traveling during this period, bike or Tuk Tuk are wonderful to do an Angkor Wat tour. Least rain forecasted in both December and January is another assurance. Everybody likes to travel when the weather is perfect, yet I bet you also prefer to avoid crowds and expensive services during peak season. For adventurous people who don’t mind seeing Siem Reap during its monsoon season, go from May to October. When traveling during the rainy season and hottest months, hiring a private van with air conditioning is definitely a better idea.
Some tips for a hassle-free trip in Siem Reap
- If you choose Tuk Tuk or bike, make sure that your water bottles are packed in your bags. Stay hydrated for outdoor activities will make sure that you will not have to lie on the hotel bed for the rest of the vacation.
- Bargain if you hire a Tuk Tuk. You should discuss with the local driver directly or find a trustable Tuk Tuk rental firm. Giving them your itinerary and agree on the price will avoid any potential troubles at the end of the day
- Your tour guide and driver may expect a tip from you. Below are the average amounts:
- US$3 – US$5 per person for your tour guide, if you travel in a group of fewer than 5 people; US$1 – US$3 per person per day is an appropriate amount if you travel in a larger group.
- If your whole group go by van or Tuk Tuk, you could tip the driver US$3 – US$6 per day.
Some suggestions for Angkor Wat tour
Here are some of the best Angkor Wat tours, let’s have a look then drop a line about what you are interested, Indochina Voyages travel experts will contact you immediately.
- Siem Reap In Depth 5 Days
- Classic Glimpse Of Siem Reap 4 Days
- Classic Angkor 4 Days
- Full Day Angkor Wat – Siem Reap Private Tour
Last but not least, if you are planning Indochina tours and Cambodia is one of your destinations, you can experience all types of vehicles and find out your favorite means of transportation. Also, based on your travel time, your interests, your group size, your budget, you can choose the most suitable way to explore Angkor Wat.
Huyen Nguyen – Travel Specialist
