There are few things that you need to know about Angkor Wat. These are more important than your stay duration. Angkor Wat is just one temple. You will find it inside the much larger Angkor Archaeological Park. It’s massive enough to cover around 400 square kilometres. And the park has over a thousand temples and ruins, which means there is a lot to explore in and around.
Travellers from Dubai mostly plan for a short holiday in Cambodia. If your target is to cover the top highlights of the country, three days are more than enough for you.
Also find Cambodia visa details for Dubai travellers discussed below. You will know what to sort first before jumping on to hotel booking in Siem Reap.
1. Angkor in 1 Day
You just have one day in Angkor Wat to explore the place. Well, you can still see the main temples. Keep in mind that an early start will keep your day a bit relaxed yet fun.
Try to reach Angkor Wat around 5 am – you don’t want to miss the sunrise. As soon as it is light outside, take a walk around the main temple. Some visitors choose to head back for breakfast at this point.
Make your way to Angkor Thom and be sure to stop by Bayon Temple.
Take some time out and visit Baphuon and the Terrace of the Elephants – located just close to Bayon Temple.
After that, make your way to Ta Prohm. By 2 pm the heat and all that walking can leave you exhausted. One day passes are exclusively available just for USD 37.
2. Angkor in 2 Days
You can hop around different places in Angkorwithin two days and you will have a great time for sure.
Start with the Small Circuit. From Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom to Ta Prohm Ta Keo and Banteay Kdei – enough for a full day of temple hopping.
Off to the second day, you cantake the Grand Circuit. Visit Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som and East Mebon. It’s around 26 km long. Save Pre Rup for sunset.
But here’s the catch. You won’t get any two-day pass. Three- day passes are available for around USD 62. So why not use that extra day too?
3. Angkor in 3 Days
Three days in here is perfect because you will get to tour the Small and Grand circuit on the first and second day. On the third day, you can also go sightseeing outside the park.
Banteay Srei is about 35 km from Siem Reap. It is a temple complex of pink sandstone carved by Khmer. Return to your hotel around 12-3 pm to avoid the hot sun rays. This pass is valid for three days within a 10-day period.
4. Angkor in 4 Days or More
For the people who love history or photography, 4 to 5 days will also not feel too much. The seven day pass is around USD 72 and it is valid for one month. If you are still left with some more time in your hand, visit Beng Mealea. It is about 65 km away and still in broken condition inside the jungle.
Koh Ker which was the old capital got its recognition as a heritage site back in 2023. Just remember, you have to buy separate tickets at the site for these places.
5. Some Practical Tips for Temple Visit
Always buy your passes from the official Angkor Enterprise website. Do not buy them from random people selling such tickets on the road. Angkor Wat opens at 5 am for sunrise.Other temples open around 7:30 am and close around 5:30 pm. Pick modest dresses to visit specially if you want to go to the upper level of Angkor Wat. For moving around, small tuk tuks are available everywhere. It costs around USD 15 to 25 depending on which circuit you are doing.
6. Cambodia Visa from Dubai
Your UAE residence visa won’t help you much. For Cambodia, its your nationality that decides the visa type. Filipino and other ASEAN passport holders can enter without visa. For Indian, British, European and most of the other passports there are two options for Cambodia Visa from Dubai, lets figure it out. First is the e-visa which you can apply online, it costs around USD 30 plus small service charge and approval comes in around 3 working days. Second is visa on arrival at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport which is also around USD 30 and you have to pay in cash in clean US dollar notes, and both of these give you 30 days stay.
But this easy option is not available for every nationality. Pakistan and Bangladesh passport holders generally have to apply from Cambodian embassy before travelling. Also there are two things which people usually forget, every air passenger has to fill the free e-Arrival card online within 7 days before arrival, and passport should have minimum 6 months validity with one blank page.
Remember your visa documents should be proper and always match with each other, like salary certificate, bank statement, UAE residence visa, Emirates ID copy and confirmed flight and hotel booking for same dates. Missing documents or even a single mismatch and your whole application will be rejected. Better consult an expert visa agent in Dubai in the first place and get rid of all that hassle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see Angkor Wat in half day.
Yes, only the main temple takes around 3 to 4 hours including sunrise. But in half day you will miss Bayon and Ta Prohm which many visitors like more than Angkor Wat.
Which is the best month for Angkor temples.
December and January are most comfortable because mornings are cool and sky is clear. April is the hottest month and after 11 am walking becomes difficult.
Is 3 day pass better than 1 day pass.
For most of the visitors yes. The difference is only around USD 25 and you get two extra days which you can use within 10 days.
How early should I apply for Cambodia visa from Dubai.
For e-visa apply at least one week before your flight. If your nationality needs embassy visa then start the process 3 to 4 weeks before travel.
Do I need visa agent in Dubai for Cambodia.
Not always. If your passport is eligible for e-visa you can apply on official website by yourself. But for embassy visa or for complete package with flights and hotel, a visa agent in Dubai like Tunz Travel can handle everything for you.