Quick facts
Budget breakdown
| Category | Budget | Midrange |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $5–12 | $20–60 |
| Food | $5–10 | $15–30 |
| Transport | $3–10 | $15–20 |
| Temple Pass | $37 | $37 |
| Drinks | $1–3 | $5–10 |
| Daily Total | $51–72 | $92–157 |
Daily per-person estimates. Costs vary by season and travel style.
Practical info
Visa & Entry
- Visa on arrival at Siem Reap airport: $30 for 30 days. Bring a passport photo or pay $2 extra. E-visa online at evisa.gov.kh for $36 (processed 3 business days)
- Passport must be valid for 6+ months. Direct flights from Bangkok (1hr), Ho Chi Minh City (1.5hrs), KL (2.5hrs). Airport tuk-tuk to town: $7–10
- Temple pass required for entry — buy at the Angkor Enterprise ticket office on the main road, not from touts near the temples
Temple Access
- Ta Prohm opens 7:30am–5:30pm. Angkor pass covers all temples in the complex. 1-day $37, 3-day $62 (valid 10 days), 7-day $72 (valid 1 month)
- Dress code strictly enforced: covered shoulders and knees. Light cotton trousers and a loose shirt are ideal. Sandals are fine for Ta Prohm's flat ground
- Some structures at Ta Prohm are fenced off for conservation. Follow the marked paths — climbing on ruins is prohibited and can cause real damage
Getting There
- Tuk-tuk from Siem Reap: $12–15 for a half-day circuit including Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, and Srah Srang. Full-day temple circuit: $18–25
- Bicycles ($2–3/day) are possible — Ta Prohm is 12km from town via a flat road. Set off by 7am to beat the heat. E-bikes ($10–15/day) are more comfortable
- Grab (ride-hailing app) works in Siem Reap for town trips. For temple runs, negotiate directly with a tuk-tuk driver the night before for better rates
Health
- Mosquitoes are active at dawn and dusk in the temple area — bring repellent. No malaria risk in Siem Reap itself but apply repellent regardless
- Tap water is not safe — bottled water $0.25 everywhere. Bring at least 1.5 litres per person for a temple morning. Coconut water from vendors is safe and refreshing
- Pharmacies on Sivatha Boulevard stock basics. Royal Angkor Hospital handles emergencies. Travel insurance covering Cambodia is strongly recommended
Cultural tips
Active Worship Site
Monks still perform ceremonies at Ta Prohm. When you encounter monks, step aside and lower your gaze. Women must never touch or hand anything directly to a monk. Remove shoes when indicated by signs at inner sanctuaries.
Respectful Photography
Ta Prohm draws influencers and photographers in numbers. Be patient at the famous tree-root doorways and wait your turn. Never climb on roots or walls for a photo — even a foothold causes irreversible damage to 900-year-old stone.
Sampeah Greeting
Greet Cambodians with a sampeah — palms pressed together, slight bow. Return any sampeah directed at you. A smile goes a long way. Most locals working at the temples appreciate a genuine greeting over silence.
Supporting Ethically
Buy handicrafts from certified Artisans Angkor shops rather than from children at temple gates — the latter keeps kids out of school. Eat at social enterprise restaurants (Haven, Marum, Spoons) that train and employ vulnerable youth.
