Angkor temples circuit by bike
Cycling around the Angkor temple complex is a highlight of any trip to Cambodia. This guide will provide all the essential information you need to plan your ride.
There are many areas to cycle in Cambodia but Siem Reap and the Angkor Temple complex are a stand out favourite. Siem Reap is the gateway to the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most significant archaeological sites in South East Asia. Siem Reap is also a charming town with a rich history, vibrant culture and lively nightlife.
Cycling in Cambodia offers a unique and immersive way to explore the country’s cultural heritage and vibrant local communities. Cycling is a popular mode of transport for many Cambodians and is also gaining popularity among tourists. Bike rental is easily arranged with many hotels offering this service.
Cambodians are generally friendly and welcoming towards cyclists. However, local road rules can be different to your home country. It is worth noting that, in many Asian countries there is a need to give way to any form of transport that is bigger than yours, meaning that cyclists are at the bottom on the pecking order and larger vehicles will expect you to get out of the way. They often indicate this with a friendly beep of the horn. Complying with this unspoken rule will help keep you safe. It is also essential to prioritise safety by wearing a helmet and using lights at night.
The safest way to cycle in Cambodia is on bike paths and Siem Reap has a great network of paths linking the town to Angkor Wat, and also a network of bike paths around the temples. These paths are a recent addition, added in 2020, and there is currently 23km of paths. They are currently very under-used and we hardly saw any other bike riders on these paths when we were there. There is also a lack of information about the cycle paths and I couldn’t find any maps. The best way is to just get out there and explore!
The Angkor Bike path
The Angkor bike path follows most of the Grand Circuit and the Small Circuit. It’s a shady, flat path away from the road. In some sections it loops behind the temple rather than following the road which makes visiting the temple a completely different experience. For example, at Ta Phrom (the Tomb Raider temple) the bike path took us around the back and we entered through a small archway then along dirt paths until we reached the temple. This is a very different approach compared with navigating the business of the hawkers and stalls, the tuktuk drivers and ticket collectors at the front of the temple!
| Total distance | The Small Circuit is about 17km and the Grand Circuit is about 26km, and it’s 7km each way to/from Siem Reap. |
| Type of trail | Mostly paved bike path, some short sections of road, and some dirt paths within the temple enclosures and if riding from Siem Reap |
| Difficulty level | Easy, however the hot and humid weather can make it feel harder |
| Highlights | Amazing temples! Highlights include riding in to Angkor Thom through the archways and entering Ta Phrom temple through the forest. Wildlife, including monkeys, along the way |
Planning and essential information:
Weather: Cambodia is a hot and humid all year round but the winter is definitely the best time of year for cycling. Don’t let the hot weather put you off cycling though! If you start reasonably early from Siem Reap by the time the sun is hot you will be on the lovely shady forest paths, and make sure you rest with a shady picnic or lunch in one of the many cafes and restaurants during the hottest part of the day. Also, the area around Siem Reap is very flat so it makes for easy riding.
Essential equipment and safety: Essential items include a helmet, lights in case you come back into Siem Reap as it’s getting dark, and a bike lock. If you are hiring a bike do check the bike carefully before leaving the hire shop – check that all gears and brakes are in good working order and types are sufficiently pumped. Make sure you have the hire shop’s contact number in case of any bike issues. They will often provide bike locks with the bike hire.
Water and supplies: There are plenty of shops, café’s and hawkers from whom you can buy all kinds of food and drinks. There are toilets outside of most temples.
Accommodation in Siem Reap
There are many excellent accommodation options in Siem Reap and where you choose will depend on location, facilities and price. We stayed at Solar Hotel and loved our hotel. The location was very convenient, 5 minute’s walk from the markets and pub street and we had inter-connecting rooms (and 2 bathrooms between the 4 of us!). The facilities were excellent including swimming pool, filtered water for filling up our water bottles and free use of the laundry facilities. This was the only hotel we stayed in that had a washing machine for guest use, which for an active family of bike riders, was very welcome. They also provided a simple breakfast.
Tickets for the Angkor complex:
Tickets can be purchased for 1 day, 3 days or 7 days. The 3 day and 7 day tickets can be used on non-consecutive days within a 1 week or 1 month period. Each ticket has days of the month around the edge and one of the many the ticket inspectors will make a hole in the ticket corresponding to the day of your visit. Tickets are US$37, $62 and $72 for 1, 3 and 7 day passes. Tickets bought the day before your first day can be used after 5pm to experience the sunset at Phnom Bakheng which is popular and busy. Most of the temples close at 5.30pm so sunset can only be experienced at certain locations.
Getting to the Temple complex and Angkor Bike Path:
There are a few ways to get from Siem Reap to the Angkor Bike path. The easiest way is along Charles De Gaulle Street, heading north, which will take you to the entrance where tickets are checked, and from where you can join the bike paths. This is a busy road so do take care. The best way, in my opinion, is along the river. As you leave the paved streets of Siem Reap, keep to the west side of the river along dirt roads and then a path. Once you get to the Small Circuit you can turn left for Angkor Wat or turn right to complete the circuit anti-clockwise. If you are cycling with young kids you might prefer to arrange to start your ride at the temples to avoid the 6-7km bike ride there.
Suggested itinerary:
There is so much to think about when planning a trip to the Angkor complex. Do you want to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat? Which temple to visit at sunset?
If you are a keen cyclist you could spend 2 days on your bike exploring the Small Circuit one day and the Grand Circuit the other day. If one day of bike riding is enough, I would recommend the Small Circuit.
A note about Angkor Wat: It’s worth noting that your bike will not be very useful for Angkor Wat as you can easily spend half a day exploring what is believed to be the largest religious building in the world and if you are coming by bike you do have to leave your bike outside of the enclosure. Also, if you are planning to visit for sunrise (highly recommended, although it is busy) I would recommend alternative transport as this is a busy time and riding in the dark to get here for sunrise would not be enjoyable.
What we did:
Day 1: Sunrise at Angkor Wat followed by the Grand Circuit by tuktuk.
Day 2: Bike ride around the Small circuit
Day 3: Further temples by car including Preah Kahn and Beng Mealea.
We spent 5 days in Siem Reap in January and incorporated other activities in to the week to break things up. Other great things to do in Siem Reap with kids include The Apopo Centre, The Landmine Museum, Tonle Sap lake and Siem Reap markets.