How to See Angkor Wat Without the Crowds – The Secret to a Peaceful Sightseeing Experience Among the Ruins

 So you can't wait for your holiday to Cambodia and are dying to explore the ancient temple ruins at Angkor Wat? It's the country's most popular tourist destination and therefore, in normal periods, sees a massive influx of tourists annually. So it can be easy to get lost in the crowds. If you want to be able to explore the ancient ruins with some semblance of peace and quiet, and not get lost in the crowds, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Image via piqsels

Step One – Know Your Ruins

First of all, you need to understand exactly what Angkor Wat is. While Angkor Wat is a single temple, the same name is also used for the sprawling temple complex that not only includes Angkor Wat, but also hundreds of other temples as well, some more popular than others, and therein lies a way to avoid the crowds. The Angkor Wat temple complex is located close to the city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. From a boutique hotel Siem Reap has to offer, such as Anantara Angkor Resort, it can be reached in a 17-minute cab ride or so.

Step Two – Know the Big Three

Out of all the hundreds of temples in the Angkor Wat complex, three temples have gained significantly more popularity over time than the others. This includes, of course, Angkor Wat, after which the temple complex is named. But, what are the other two? That would be Ta Prohm and the Bayon. The first is visited the most, with the other two being fairly popular as well.

Step Three – When to Visit Angkor Wat

The best and worst time to visit Angkor Wat is in the early mornings. Why? It's the best time if you exclude the crowds – the weather is cool and the views are great at sunrise. However, it's the worst time if you don't like crowds and competing to find a good viewing and photo-taking angle. Tourists continue to visit this iconic temple throughout the day, however, sunrise is arguably its most busy and crowded time.

Step Four – How to Avoid the Crowds at Angkor Wat

To avoid the crowds somewhat successfully at sunrise, the secret is to explore Angkor Wat (the temple, and not the whole complex) from the East Gate, rather than gather with the masses at the West Gate. Take in the sunrise in relative tranquillity from the eastern side.

Step Five – Visit During Sunset

Instead of choosing a crowded sunrise tour of Angkor Wat, consider electing for a sunset tour of one of the other popular temples in the complex, such as Ta Prohm. It's one of the top three popular temples in the Angkor Wat temple complex, and the fact that it started in the Tomb Raider movie franchise doesn't hurt its popularity either! At sundown, you'll find that most of the crowds move to Phnom Bakheng Hill so that they can enjoy the stunning sunset views from there. However, this means that you can enjoy Ta Prohm to yourself at this time!

Step Six – Visit at Lunchtime

The Bayon, being one of the top three most popular temples in the Angkor Wat temple complex (alongside Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm), sees a constant influx of tourists throughout the day on most days. However, if you're looking to enjoy it at a time that's likely to be a little less crowded, try to time your visit during lunchtime. As people head off in search of a good meal, you're likely to be able to enjoy a little more breathing space as you explore these ruins and try and get some good photos of the temple structure.