Biking to Angkor Wat

Biking to see the Angkor Wat temples is a great way to experience the temples. If you have a good level of fitness, you should try biking to the temples!

The road to Angkor Wat is flat, so on that score it's pretty easy to bike. But it is rather long. It's 8 km to Angkor Wat, roughly another 8 km for the small circuit, and then finally 8 km going back to town.

Once you're at the Angkor Archaeological Park, there are many signs directing you where to go. So it's easy to figure out where you next temple is.

Tips on biking to Angkor Wat

Having biked to Angkor myself, there are several things, and tips, that I think could make your biking experience more enjoyable (mine too, if I came up with this list sooner).

1. Get the right bike

This is probably what saved my life. I used a mountain bike, the one with multiple gears. Plus, my bike has a basket in the front where I put my backpack.

2. Get your temple itinerary straight

Since the Angkor Park is huge, you should make note on which temples you'd like to see. Even if you're going by tuktuk, they divided the visit into two: the big tour, and the small tour (petit or grand circuit).

With bike, it makes even more sense to prune and be ruthless with your choice of temples. It’s much better to enjoy the temples in leisure than try to see everything with an already tired body.

3. Bring an extra clothes for change

You will sweat like you never before.

In addition to the actual physical exercise of biking, you have the added factor of the famously hot Cambodian sun. Most likely, your top will be totally wet, which could be uncomfortable.

4. Bring enough water

Bring only enough, because carrying too many water bottles will slow you down, and plus, there are lots of people selling cold water around.

5. Lunch within the park

When people visit the temples by any other types of transportation, they usually go back to town for lunch and siesta. But since you're biking, it doesn't make sense to go back to town, then back after lunch to continue to visit. Well, unless you're really fit, then of course nothing is stopping you.

There are lots of great places for a relaxing lunch in the park.

So in short…

The whole point of biking to Angkor Wat is to enjoy it, and have a great time while doing it. Which is why I think a good level of fitness is a must.

Also, I would not really recommend biking there for first time Angkor visitors. There's so much to see on your first day, and if you're biking and making yourself tired, you won't be able to enjoy the temples as much.

Enjoy!

To find more tips on biking to Angkor Wat, visit this biking page.