Temple Entry Pass, Angkor Wat

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Favorite thing: An official pass is required for admission to any temple or monument in the main Angkor complex and most other temples and monuments in the Siem Reap area. Angkor passes can be purchased at the sales booths on the main road from Siem Reap to Angkor Wat (~4 km north of the Old Market), at the checkpoint on the road from the airport to Angkor Wat, and at the checkpoint at Banteay Srei. No one else is authorized to sell Angkor passes and they are not transferable. You no longer have to bring a passport picture. They will take your picture there. You will be required to show your pass at each temple and monument.

When I visited in Mar 09, there were three options for passes: one day (US$20), three consecutive days (US$40) and seven consecutive days (US$60); however, the ticketing rules which started on 1 Jul 09 allow the US$40 passes to be valid for any three days during a week instead of three consecutive days, and the US$60 tickets are usable for any seven days during a month. The fee must be paid in US dollars, Cambodian Riel, Thai Baht or Euro. Credit cards are not accepted for payment, but there is a bank counter at the sales booths, where visitors can get a cash advance on their credit card. There are separate windows at the sales booths for each length of pass. Be sure to check on both sides of the building.

It is not cheap to visit the Angkor temple complex. Besides the pass, if you want a guide to accompany you into the temples, they must be licensed and the cost is typically $20-25 per day. A tuk tuk costs $12-15 per day. A tuk tuk driver can only take you to a temple and cannot be a guide. BTW, the Angkor pass includes free use of the restrooms that are now outside many of the main temples in the complex. Evidently there used be very few restrooms but when a VIP visitor had a hard time finding one, that was changed.

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Favorite thing: whether you are riding a tuk tuk, private car, tour van or tour bus, all of you must go down and have your picture taken at the ticket booth for your entrance pass to the Angkor Archeological Park (if you are in a tour package, no extra charge but if you are back packing then you will pay at the ticket counters). You must possess an admission pass (an 'Angkor Pass') to visit the temples and sites in the Angkor Archaeological Park. Passes may be purchased at the main entrance on the road to Angkor Wat.

Passes are sold in one-day ($20), three-day ($40) and seven-day ($60) blocks that must be used on consecutive days.

Visiting hours are 5:00AM - 6:00PM. Angkor Wat closes at 6:00PM, Banteay Srey closes at 5:00PM and Kbal Spean at 3:00PM. Always carry your ticket. It will be checked upon each park entry and at major temples. There is a significant fine (the price of a 1 week pass as penalty) for not possessing a valid ticket inside the park.

Favorite thing: You need to buy your ticket for the temples yourself at the entrance. You can't miss as it is on the road from Siem Reap and there is only one road north. It costs $20 for a day $40 for 3 days and $60 for 7 days. It is not the cheapest, but it's definitely worth the money. If you are Cambodian it is free!

Favorite thing: Passes are required to enter the Angkor area. They are on sale at the front gate, on the main road from Siem Reap to Angkor Wat, for 1-day ($20), 3-day ($40), or 7-day ($60) intervals. The 3-day pass is valid for any 3 days within a week, while the 7-day pass is valid for any 7 days within a month. You will have a photograph taken and printed on your pass to make sure they are non-transferable as they have valid from and to dates on. Regular checks for the pass are performed at almost all sites within the park, so carry your pass with you at all times. See my transport tips about how to get around the temples.

Favorite thing: If you purchase your Angkor Pass for the next day at 5 pm in the evening, you can then go in to see the sunset using that pass. Just be carefull as they will try to stamp your Pass as you go in that evening. I had to say No No (with a smile) and show them the time on my watch - then it was o.k. My pass then got it's first stamp next morning.

Another thing, At the sunrise many organised tours instructed their passengers to be back at their bus by 7.45 (february). This was to bring them to breakfast. While it had become light by this time, and the passengers saw the dawn breaking which is good, the sun did not rise above the Angkor building until nearly 8am. By this time most of the crowd had left. It is well worth staying to see the sun actually come up over the building in all of it's glory. By taking your own Moto or Tuk Tuk you can dictate when is best to leave.

Unfortunately in february, as the light strengtened we saw a huge green canvas stretched over scaffolding where they were carrying out renovations to the front of the building - but it did not entirely spoil the view.

Favorite thing: According to several sources I have read, as of July 1, 2009, the temple pass timeframes have changed. The $40US pass is now good for any 3 days in a 7-day period. The $60US pass is good for any 7 days in a 30-day period.

Favorite thing: Visiting Angkor is not an inexpensive thing to do in Cambodia. Depending on how long you want to visit the temples, you need to purchase a 1-day-, 3-day- or 7-day-pass. The 1-day-pass is available for 20$, the 3-day-pass costs 40$ and the 7-day-pass 60$. A normal tourist is probably best served with the 3-day-pass as this allows you to see all of the temples and do both the grand tour and the small tour. You have to purchase the pass at the entrance gate to Angkor, but perhaps the upmarket hotels will do that for you. It features a little webcam-taken picture of you that makes it non-transferable. The money you pay is used for the preservation of the temples of Angkor.
During your time in Angkor you have to carry it with you at all times - it is checked at the entrance of each temple.

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Favorite thing: Tickets are required to enter the Angkor area. They are on sale to foreigners at the front gate for 1 (US$20), 3 (US$40), or 7 (US$60) consecutive days (Cambodians can enter for free). If you buy your ticket the evening before, you can enter the park after 5PM to view the sunset, after which the park closes. A photo is required for the 3 and 7 day passes. There is a provision for obtaining this photo for free but this can be time consuming at peak times in the day. Note that regular checks for the pass are performed at almost all ruin sites. So, do carry your pass with you at all times while visiting the ruins.

You can enter the park from 5 AM, and the temples themselves open at sunrise — as there are far fewer people there early in the morning and the sun isn't at full force. Arriving at the temples at 8 AM instead of 9 AM can make all the difference in staying one step ahead of the tour bus contingents.

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Favorite thing: 1 days =USD20, 3 days = USD40, 1 week = USD60

Don’t worry if you do not have a passport size photo. They will take the photo using a USB camera. (See picture). You will get your pass in a jiffy.

You are required to flash this pass at the entrance of most of the temple. No pass. No Entry.

Favorite thing: Since I was visiting the temple for several days I choose to purchase a pass instead of a ticket. The rate for a three day pass was US$ 40 and allowed access to all areas. It simply had to be displayed and showed to the control officers on demand. The pass can be purchased at the entrance points. I had a passport photo with me to make things easier.