Month: August 2020

Angkor Big Circuit: Neak Poan

I walk down a long wooden bridge in a lake to get to a temple. I hear local music playing in the distance.

After crossing the bridge I find a small temple within a water moat.

I have arrived at Neak Poun, the next temple of my big circuit temple tour. There isn’t much to see here so I don’t take long.

The most charming about the temple are the musicians on the walkway.

While it is nice because the temple is not crowded, it is time to move on since there are still more temples to see for the day.

Angkor Big Circuit : Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei is a 10th century Hindu temple to the god Shiva

Many leave this temple out of the ciruit since it is pretty far from the others (25 km northeast) but my tuk tuk guide insist I visit this temple. He thought it was worth it.

Love all the monkeys around the temple.

  • Fun green beetle

This temple is definitely worth the out of the way trip.

Angkor Big Circuit : Preah Khan

The Angkor temple tours are divided into the small and big circuits. The small circuit covers the famous temples (angkor wat, tomb raider temples) and the big circuit covers the ones a little further out. On my first day I am doing the Angkor big circuit tour with a sunset view. The big circuit tour begins with the temple of Preah Khan, Bantaey Sai (optional) and continues with Neak Pean, Ta Som, East Mebon and Pre Rup.

My tuk tuk picks me up at my hotel early but not too early. We stop at the official ticket center for me to buy my pass. You can buy a 1,3 or 7 day pass. I buy the 3 day pass because I know I’ll be visiting at least two days of my visit to Siem Reap.

We drive by all the temples in the small circuit so I get a sneak peak on what I will see tomorrow.

Preah Khan

The first temple stop is at Preah Khan, a 12th century temple built for the father of King Jayavarman VII. It is a good introduction to the temples of the ancient Khmer empire. It is peaceful and the crowds are thin this morning.