Phnom Bakheng
Phnom Bakheng
3.5
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Phnom Bakheng served as the temple mountain of the first city of Angkor. Elephants can take you from the bottom to the top of Phnom Bakheng Mountain.
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  • HMKaren
    Los Angeles, California1,348 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Climb the hill to climb the temple---unbelievable sunset!!
    You have to do this one! It's part of the Angkor Thom area, so it's included with the Angkor ticket. Give yourself maybe half an hour (?) to walk up the hill. There is at least one small temple to see (from a distance) along the way, and there are places to stop to sit if you want. Once you reach the top of the hill, climbing the temple takes no time at all. Go for sunset, the view is spectacular!! But get there with plenty of time to get a good viewing spot, lots and lots of people are up there with you. Gorgeous, and a photo op you do NOT want to miss.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 11, 2024
  • RamboNWAlberta
    Spruce Grove, Canada653 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great views, sunset opportunities
    This was last stop on full day tour. We hiked to the top which takes about 15-20 minutes. Two platforms on way up for viewing. Temple up top is open to climb, mist crowd up here for sunsets. The views here are great, full view of Angkor Wat in the distance was nice and great photos! We enjoyed the site, stayed for sunset which was great. We actually moved down during sunset to get photos at lower two platforms. Very good views and pics from there as well.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 5, 2024
  • Aethelred
    Cambridge, Massachusetts1,337 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sunset
    All reviews are right, once again: Sunsets from the top of the pyramid are spectacular, but because of that, they are a mass event - can't be helped. Still worth it, and if you're tall, you can still make great pix. Zoom pix of Angkor Wat (on the other side of the sunset) are spectacular too but these days, they just look like drone shots. I think it's one of the best sunset spots in SR and I would recommend.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written April 19, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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3.5
3.5 of 5 bubbles686 reviews
Excellent
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204
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Rune T
Lund, Sweden489 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Solo
The mountain was the centre of the first capital (i.e. before Angkor Thom) in the Angkor area. The temple was its state temple.
Many people want to see the sunset from the top. However, only 300 people are allowed at the same time on the highest part, so there can be waiting time or you may miss it.
I was there at late afternoon, hoping to enjoy the fabulous view. The sun maze (and possibly the djungle) obstructed me from seeing any temples.
You have to uphill for 1 km before you reach the temple. It is rather steep but not dangerous, if it's not raining of course. There are benches on the way. Then there are stairs to ascend at the temple
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ruchi Sharma
34 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Family
Phnom Bakheng is said to be the oldest temple of the ancient city of Angkor Thomp. It was built 2 centuries before Angkor Wat temple (889-910 AD). A small hike leads to the temple which is located on a 60m high hill. Best time to start this hike is 4PM if you don't want to miss breathtaking sunset views.
Since the temple is ancient and structure doesn't support more than a certain number of people,it is advisable to come early else you might end up staying in queue at the foot of the temple, from where narrow steep stairs take you to the temple top.
Written August 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

amanda5805
Duncan, Canada7,379 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
We hired a guide months before actually arriving in Siem Reap and WOW did it pay off. Plus it was a great price for just the 2 of us to be gone 10+ hours. We were doing 2 circuits in one day. Ya we are a bit crazy but we did not have much time in Siem Reap. I chatted with Virak Kao to book the prefect trip for us. He was a delight to deal with.

Our Tour Guide Mr. Khemarin picked us up at our hotel managed to keep away from the crowds almost the day. I was shocked how quiet most places were. We decide to skip the sunrise over Angkor Wat and go straight up the Mountain to Bakheng Hill temple. So glad we did. It was so quiet and peaceful. Plus it was about a 15min hike up and honestly, I did not want to do that later in the day when it is much hotter out. We spent about 30mins on the top before taking the elephant trail back down. The Elephant Trail is much shorter routine but a little more steep and rocky. But we enjoyed it!

The temple and grounds were lovely. The view over the jungle is incredible. You can even see the top of Angkor Wat!
If you have the time you should really make your way up to this Temple.

Mr. Khemarin was the prefect guide for us. He was so knowledgeable and shared stories of life in Cambodia. Also, he was a great photographer! So creative!

Don't forget to have your shoulders and knees covered!
Written May 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RamboNWAlberta
Spruce Grove, Canada653 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Couples
This was last stop on full day tour. We hiked to the top which takes about 15-20 minutes. Two platforms on way up for viewing.

Temple up top is open to climb, mist crowd up here for sunsets. The views here are great, full view of Angkor Wat in the distance was nice and great photos!

We enjoyed the site, stayed for sunset which was great. We actually moved down during sunset to get photos at lower two platforms. Very good views and pics from there as well.
Written April 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SteveRDay
Alvechurch, UK128 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
Our driver told us that at busy times there are more than 100 coaches in the car park. When we arrived there were just 8 other people at the temple and a short while later just my wife and me. Amazing

To climm to the top is quite a hard climb but it's well worth it.
Written April 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KTP310
Reading, UK1,192 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We were very disappointed that having walked the fairly steep climb up to this temple, followed by a steep staircase, the officials announced that there was no sunset tonight so they were closing and we all had to leave. True, it was cloudy so there would not be a striking sunset -that’s just the luck of the draw. But the skies were still beautiful and it would have been lovely to sit and watch as night fell. I do not think the closing time should be at the discretion of a few officials who want to get home early!
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Leannie
Hanoi, Vietnam2,472 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Couples
We cycled here from the town centre and locked our bikes up around a tree at what appeared to be the entrance, it wasn't very obvious or signposted from the road at all, we asked at the temple check guide opposite who directed us to it.
We sort of expected to just walk around a corner and be presented with a temple, what a mistake, be prepared to get the steps in climbing an upwards path to the temple. Along the way are a few vantage points and they had some great views of other temples, the bay and jungle. When we arrived at the temple we walked round the front and climbed the narrow steps, we had the temple to ourselves around midday which I was pleased as the thought of climbing the narrow steps with lots of other people did not appeal. There are handrails either side but the issue is they are in the sun and so almost impossible to grip!
The views from the top are stunning and well worth the climb, from all sides the views were impressive.
Written January 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

HMKaren
Los Angeles, CA1,348 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
You have to do this one! It's part of the Angkor Thom area, so it's included with the Angkor ticket. Give yourself maybe half an hour (?) to walk up the hill. There is at least one small temple to see (from a distance) along the way, and there are places to stop to sit if you want. Once you reach the top of the hill, climbing the temple takes no time at all. Go for sunset, the view is spectacular!! But get there with plenty of time to get a good viewing spot, lots and lots of people are up there with you. Gorgeous, and a photo op you do NOT want to miss.
Written February 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jo-Ann
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia17,192 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Friends
Only 300 people allowed to climb up at one time. If you are late, you have to wait until a few people decide to leave the place before they let you in. A steep climb indeed. Sunset is amazing here!
Written December 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

rebecca_schofield
Preston, UK6 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2016 • Solo
Riding elephants is physical and psychological torture. I witnessed these elephants giving rides to one group of tourists after another, in the middle of the day during mid 40 degree heat. No shade, rest or water provided. Elephants are scarred from injuries, presumably from "training" into submissive behaviour. Do not ride elephants anywhere, especially here. Please research. Tourists are responsible for the welafre of these animals to ensure they are not exploited and tortured further. Awful and disgusting.
Written August 27, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Phnom Bakheng, Siem Reap

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