Day trips from Siem Reap at a glance
Most visitors spend their first days inside the Angkor park. Day trips from Siem Reap take you further out: to a collapsed jungle temple, a sacred mountain with a waterfall, or a remote royal capital. Each one is a full day on the road with its own entry fee, set apart from the Angkor Pass price.
Treat the three destinations as alternatives. A tour that links all of them in one day is not a standard route, and the drives are long. Pick one, or give each its own day.
Our picks: day trips from Siem Reap
Koh Ker and Beng Mealea, Kulen with Beng Mealea and the lake, or Kulen in a small group.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Koh Ker and Beng Mealea temples
- English-speaking guide
- Transport
- Hotel pickup
A long day with a guide to the jungle temple of Beng Mealea and the pyramid of Koh Ker. Entry to both is extra; Koh Ker costs $15.
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Kulen Mountain, Beng Mealea and the Tonle Sap
- English-speaking guide
- Picnic lunch
- Hotel pickup
Ten hours with a guide, transport and a picnic. Kulen ($20), Beng Mealea and the Tonle Sap boat ($15) are paid separately.
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Kulen Mountain in a small group with a picnic
- Kulen entry
- Guide and driver
- Picnic lunch
Eight hours with a guide and driver, a picnic lunch and the Kulen entry included.
Check availability →Siem Reap day trips and temple tours
Beng Mealea, Phnom Kulen and outer-temple tours with live prices and availability.
The three day trips compared
Fees in US dollars, 2026. Check what your tour price includes before you pay at the gate.
| Trip | Entry fee | Hours or timing | Distance and drive | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beng Mealea | $10 single ticket | 06:00–18:30 | About 70 km, around 1.5 hours by car | Ruins in the forest |
| Phnom Kulen | $20 per foreign visitor | Drive up before 11 a.m. | About 50 km northeast of the Angkor area, around 2 hours up | Waterfall and riverbed carvings |
| Koh Ker | $15 day ticket | 06:00–18:30 | Ask your operator for the pickup time | A remote Khmer capital |
For most first-time visitors, Beng Mealea is the easiest of the three: the shortest drive, a clear walkway and a ruin that looks very different from the temples inside the park. Choose Phnom Kulen if you want cooler air and water, and Koh Ker if you have an extra day and care about the less visited sites.
Beng Mealea, Phnom Kulen and Koh Ker in detail
Beng Mealea
A sandstone temple with heavy collapse, trees growing through the walls and a wooden walkway for visitors. The single ticket is $10 for one day. If you already hold an Angkor Pass, ask at the ticket check whether you need to pay again.
Beng Mealea guide →Phnom Kulen
A sacred mountain with a river, carved lingas in the riverbed, a reclining Buddha and a waterfall that falls in several steps. The access fee is around $20 per foreign visitor. The narrow road up is used for ascent only before 11 a.m., so agree the timing with your driver.
Phnom Kulen guide →Koh Ker
Koh Ker was the sole capital of the Khmer Empire from 928 to 944 under Jayavarman IV and joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. Its day ticket costs $15 and is valid for one day. Whether you can climb the stepped pyramid on your day can change, so ask before you go.
Koh Ker: what to know before you go
The farthest of the three trips.
Koh Ker has its own ticket, which is not part of the Angkor Pass. The day ticket is $15, valid for one day, with hours of 06:00 to 18:30. Because the site is remote, book a driver or a tour that states the pickup time and the return time. Take water, sun protection and cash for small costs on the way.
Koh Ker is a day on its own. Do not plan to add Beng Mealea or Phnom Kulen to the same day. Ask your operator how long the drive takes from your hotel and what the price includes, such as the ticket, lunch and a guide.
Safety, paths and respect at the temples
The US State Department advisory of 15 September 2026 lists Cambodia at Level 2, and Siem Reap province under increased caution because of unexploded ordnance. It lists the area within 50 km of the Thai border at Level 4. The German Foreign Office has advised against travel in the 20 km strip along the border since 18 August 2026, and the border crossings to Thailand remain closed. Stay on marked paths at every temple and in the forest.
Temples are religious places. Cover shoulders and knees, do not climb on loose stones, do not touch the reliefs, and ask before you photograph monks. Do not feed or approach monkeys.
Plan the rest of your trip
Day trips from Siem Reap: frequently asked questions
Does the Angkor Pass cover Beng Mealea, Phnom Kulen and Koh Ker?
Not as a rule. Koh Ker has its own $15 day ticket and Phnom Kulen charges its own fee of around $20. Beng Mealea sells a $10 single ticket. Ask at the ticket check whether a valid Angkor Pass covers it before you pay a second time.
Can I visit all three in one day?
There is no standard route that links them. The drives are long, so choose one per day.
Which day trip suits a first visit?
Beng Mealea has the shortest drive and an easy walkway. Phnom Kulen suits you if you want a waterfall and cooler air.
How much do these trips cost?
The entry fees are $10 for Beng Mealea, $15 for Koh Ker and around $20 for Phnom Kulen in 2026. The tour price on top depends on transport, group size, guide and meals, so compare what is included.
Is this site official?
No. It is an independent guide, not connected to the APSARA National Authority, Angkor Enterprise or any ministry. Always confirm fees and opening times on the day.