Tag: big circuit

Angkor Big Circuit: Pre Rup +

Pre Rup is the Hindu temple where I am supposed to watch the sunset today after my long day of temple sightseeing.

If you think it looks similar to a temple I already posted you are probably right. It looks similar to the East Mebon temple I just visited.

Tuk tuk waiting

Turns out it is very cloudy and I cut my visit short in favor of just going back to the hotel early. My driver is surprised to see me so quickly and starts taking me back toward my hotel; but instead he makes a detour for the famous Angkor Wat so I can watch sunset there instead.

The stop to Angkor Wat was not planned for today so it is a pleasant surprise.

At the entrance the original bridge is closed for repairs. I walk along a long bouncy water bridge to get to the site for pictures and a good view.

  • Bridge under construction

I didn’t explore too much this evening because the plan is to be back early tomorrow to see the sunrise.

It is very beautiful and impressive in the evening, can’t wait for what the morning holds.

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 : 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.