Temple of Preah Vihear

Prasat Preah Vihear is another of the great wonders of the Khmer Empire, a grand sandstone temple complex atop a 500 m cliff of the Dangrek Mountain range. Since July 7, 2008, it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A page update is in progress………

Getting there: From Siem Reap, you can head north past Banteay Srei on road 67 turning right at Analong Veng until you reach the Tumnon Dach area where you can turn north and head to the temple ticket office, or, keep heading east to the village of Sra’em.

The roads are sealed and in very good condition, along that route, you can also stop at Anlong Veng and visit the Khmer Rouge era sites inc. Pol Pot’s House and there are two temples in the village of Trapeang Prasat that are easy to access.

Preah Vihear Temple Tickets: the ticket office is located at the foot of the mountain and is $10 for foreigners, Khmer locals are free

Getting up the mountain: at the ticket office, they offer two choices for getting up the mountain. You can ride on the back of a moto rides for $5 and 4WD for $25.

The 4WD are pickups with seats fitted in the back and able to seat six people. If you don’t like the idea of sitting in the back, some of the vehicles are four-door pickups and you can ask the driver for an inside seat. The same vehicle will wait for you while you explore the temple and there are no time limits.

Riding up the mountain is not usually recommended for foreigners, it’s steep but OK for most riders, bar the very last inclination which rises incredibly sharply. I rode up once and am quite glad to have done so but probably wouldn’t do it again. Bikes under 100cc or poorly tuned 125cc etc., will struggle to get up this section, and there’s a high chance of flipping, the local bikes that go up are fitted with huge back sprockets to raise the gear ratio.

Where to stay: In the nearby village of Sra’em there are several guesthouse options ranging from $10 and up, while a little east of the village is the newest offering, Motel Prasat Preah Vihear Sopheakmungkul, which offers clean rooms, a swimming pool, and onsite restaurant with prices starting at $17. Moto taxis and private cars offer transport between the village of Sra’em and the temple for between 10-25 USD.

Preah Vihear Tours from Siem Reap: there are numerous tour operators and drivers offering services. A car and driver can be found for $100-150 and tour packages may start around $150 depending on inclusions. Some offer tours including Koh Ker and or Beng Mealea on the same day, I’d suggest those options are quite rushed but if time is limited then that may suit.