Temple Entry Pass, Angkor Wat

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.

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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 new 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. Make sure you get one of the new passes! 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.

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.

Favorite thing: Cambodia may be a third world country but the entry fees into Angkor Wat are first world prices!

A one day ticket or pass costs USD 20 and a 3 day pass costs USD 40. My advice would be to go for the 3 day pass as a day in the Angkor region is simply not enough! Please note that the 3 day pass can only be used on 3 consecutive days.

The passes can be purchased at the ticket booth which visitors have to pass through. The pass covers the temple of Bantaey Srei as well.

Please bring along a passport size photo of yourself as the staff at the ticket booth would paste your photo onto the pass and laminate it; it serves as a means of identification. If you don't have one at hand, the staff would be more than happy to take a picture of you with their camera. The only downside is your waiting time at the booth would be longer.