This is a very different site to the main temples of Angkor. It's not a temple at all, but rather a carved, sacred river bed. It's a long way from Siem Reap, at least one and a half hours by tuk-tuk, but worth the drive. It inspired hushed awe like nowhere else we visited in our stay.
We based this as the centre of a day trip calling at a couple of temples including Banteay Srei and calling at the landmine museum on the way back. We did it by tuk tuk which was good as you get to see the countryside but probably as far as you'd want to do by tuk tuk. It cost us $25 for the day but we didn't try and get it for less as we were happy with our driver who was safe and reliable.
Glad we did it and enjoyed it but iit s a scramble up and down to the waterfall in places so you need to be prepared for some effort. It was very hot when we did it and you need plenty of water as you will sweat. You'll cool off in the tuk tuk after. The Angkor Wat ticket includes Kabal Spean and Banteay Srei so no extra charges. Plenty of places to eat by the tuk tuk park. We were about 2 hours getting up and back down. Worth doing with the other stops and different to the temples
BRING A BATHING SUIT - Spent a week in Siem Reap and had a lot of time, we decided to do this and Banty Srei in one day and with tuk tuk which cost us $16 for the day, was well worth it, the waterfall was very refreshing the hike is actually 1500m, The drive through is excellent as well, you pass through many villages. A note about the food stalls if you decide to eat here, they all range in prices and some are significantly cheaper than others, we ate at the third from the left.
A bit of a walk so do it earlier in the day when it is cooler. In some places you need to scramble up rocks but it is not an excessively hard walk. The carvings a spectacular and a good guide made sense of it all.
Had enough of the crowds in Siem Reap and the Angkor temples. A short ride north (about an hour by tuk-tuk hired at $30 for the day or you can hire a car) and you get to see something of the countryside before you arrive and be cooled by the breeze. The climb is a bit steep at times so not for those who struggle to climb stairs - almost all under shade amid a lovely forest. Sure you sweat but that's part of the visit. The carvings themselves are not that exciting (to me) and they are child friendly in spite of many being fertility related. There is a waterfall that can be used for cooling off at the top. At the bottom are the usual curio and drink stalls. There is a wildlife rescue center and ecovillage as well (closed on Sunday so can't tell you if it is worth a visit). Where the track from the parking rejoins the main road is a restaurant you can lunch at - our driver suggested it and it was some of the best food we had during our weekend visit to Siem Reap and surroundings.
If you own or manage Kbal Spean, register now for free tools to enhance your listing, attract new reviews, and respond to reviewers.
