The essentials in 30 seconds
- Verdict: Arrive and settle in on the first afternoon, give day one to the main Angkor temples with a midday return to the hotel, give day two to a second group of temples with a late afternoon at the pool or spa, and leave unhurried on the third morning.
- Hours: The official ticket page shows Angkor Temples Park entry from 5:00 AM to 6:30 PM (as listed in October 2026, confirm before you travel).
- Pass: The official ticket card shows the 3 day pass expiring in 7 days, which covers this plan (confirm before you travel).
- Hotel help: Ask your hotel's concierge to arrange the driver or guide for each temple day, as several hotels in this guide describe doing.
This plan is written to be followed as it stands. It assumes you have booked three nights at a luxury hotel in Siem Reap and want the temples and the hotel to share the stay evenly. Each day has one main purpose, with a rest built in so that you keep your energy for the next morning.
Sunrise and sunset specifics sit on the sister page about the sunrise and sunset plan. The reasoning behind three nights is on the mother page, why three nights suit a stay. Hours, prices and rules change, so confirm them on the official Angkor ticket page and on your hotel's page before you travel.
Arrival and the first evening
Hotels set their own arrival times. FCC Angkor by Avani lists check-in at 14:00 and check-out at 12:00, and its pages mention late check-in and check-out are available, sometimes for a fee. Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra lists check-in from 2:00 PM. Amansara is listed by Michelin with check-in at 14:00 and check-out at 12:00. Confirm times and any early arrival options on your hotel's page.
Airport distance shapes the first hours. Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra states the airport is 45 minutes away, FCC Angkor by Avani states a 55-minute drive, and Lotus Blanc Resort states 60 minutes. Several hotels offer a private transfer or can arrange one, so ask when you book.
Spend the first evening close to the hotel. Jaya House River Park lists a spa open daily from 10:00 to 22:00. Viroth's Hotel has a 20 m salt water pool open 07:00 to 22:00, a spa open 10:00 to 22:00, and a restaurant serving lunch and dinner from 11:00 to 22:30. Borei Angkor Resort & Spa lists six dining venues and room service available 24 hours a day. Have dinner at the hotel, prepare your clothing for the temples and rest.
Day one: the main Angkor temples with a midday return
Start early. The official ticket page shows entry from 5:00 AM, and an older travel blog advises starting around 8 am at the latest because the day becomes hot and busy. The same blog suggests saving Angkor Wat and Bayon for last, a useful idea if you prefer to build toward the largest monument.
Buy your ticket through the official channels. The official site states that the Angkor Ticket Office is the only place to purchase entrance tickets and that tickets bought elsewhere are not valid. The Road 60 ticket office is about 4 km from the town centre, roughly 15 minutes from the temple checkpoints.
Dress for the temples. The official visitor code bans revealing clothes such as shorts and skirts above the knees, and bare shoulders, in sacred places. A 2024 guide recommends clothing that covers the shoulders and extends below the knees. Drone use in the park is prohibited without written permission obtained ahead of time.
Return to the hotel at midday. Hotels list distances such as 5 minutes to the ticket gate at Jaya House River Park, 10 minutes at Amansara and 15 minutes at FCC Angkor by Avani, so a rest by the pool is easy to build into the day. Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor lists its 35 metre pool as open daily from 7:00am to 7:00pm. Head out again later only if energy allows, since the park closes at 6:30 PM on the official page.
Day two: a second group of temples and a late afternoon at the hotel
The second day can explore a different group of temples or a site further out. Banteay Srei lies northeast of Siem Reap, and sources differ on the distance (one guide states 37 km, about 55 minutes by car, while an older article states about 32 km), so confirm with your driver. The Banteay Srei Butterfly Centre is listed as open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with admission figures that differ between guides.
Kbal Spean is reached by an easy walk through forest of about 45 minutes, with entry until 3 p.m., so plan it early in the day. The official page sells separate tickets for outlying sites, so check what your plan requires.
Your hotel can help with the day. Lotus Blanc Resort lists an Angkor Discovery offer with a one-full-day Angkor Wat tour with private car, driver and English-speaking guide. Jaya House River Park lists a one-day Jaya Discovery tour with a local guide. Temple guiding at Angkor is a licensed profession, according to an operator, and guides for languages other than English cost more.
Return in the late afternoon for the spa. Zannier Phum Baitang lists traditional Khmer therapies and a 50-metre infinity pool. Shinta Mani Angkor lists the Khmer Tonics Spa. Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor lists a spa with male and female areas with saunas, steam rooms and Jacuzzi.
An easy departure morning
Keep the last morning free of schedules. Breakfast at the hotel is part of the experience: Viroth's Hotel lists a la carte breakfast from 06:00 to 10:00, and Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor lists a champagne breakfast at Cafe d'Angkor. With check-out listed at 12:00 by several hotels, you can swim, take a last walk in the gardens or enjoy a final treatment.
If your flight leaves late, ask about late check-out when you book. The page on late check-out for evening flights covers the options in more detail.
What to arrange with the hotel
A short checklist for the concierge
- A driver or guide for each temple day (tuk-tuk, SUV or limousine are listed by Lotus Blanc Resort).
- The ticket plan, using the official channels.
- Airport transfers both ways, as listed on your hotel's page.
- Spa and dinner reservations for the evenings after temple days.
- A late check-out request if your flight is in the evening.
Tourists are not allowed to drive motorbikes or cars in Siem Reap according to a secondary source, so hire comes with a driver. Tuk-tuk, motorbike and taxi drivers must be licensed and wear identification when entering Angkor. Before you book, enter the same dates on Agoda and Booking.com and read the cancellation terms.
Test your knowledge
Five questions on this guide.
Luxury hotels in Siem Reap: frequently asked questions
How do I split three nights between temples and the hotel?
Use the first afternoon for arrival, day one for the main temples with a midday return, day two for a second group of temples with a late afternoon at the hotel, and the third morning for a gentle departure.
What time can I enter Angkor?
The official ticket page shows entry from 5:00 AM and closing at 6:30 PM, as listed in October 2026. Confirm before you travel.
What should I wear?
The official visitor code bans revealing clothes such as shorts and skirts above the knees, and bare shoulders, in sacred places. Choose clothing that covers shoulders and knees.
Can I fly a drone at the temples?
Drone use within Angkor Archaeological Park is prohibited without written permission obtained ahead of time.
Which hotel arranges temple tours?
Lotus Blanc Resort, Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Jaya House River Park and FCC Angkor by Avani all describe arranging Angkor tours or guides. Confirm the current offer on each hotel's page.
What about my departure day?
Several hotels list check-out at 12:00. FCC Angkor by Avani mentions late check-out is sometimes available for a fee, so ask when you book.
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