Angkor Wat---half or full day tour best?

I'm nearing the end of my 6 month travel adventures and currently in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia but headed to Hanoi & Halong Bay next week followed by Siem Reap and Angkor Wat afterwards.

I have a choice of either a 1/2 for full day tour of the temple and grounds and was unsure if I wanted to commit to 8 hours.

Any experiences one way or the other?

Thanks in advance.

There a number of temples to see from Siem Reap, but Angkor Wat is the best. It all depends on how long you will be in Siem Reap. We did a half day tour and went back a second time to walk around on our own. A full day is a long time for a guided tour. Are you planning to visit other temples or Angkor Thom?

Hi there and thanks for the reply. I'll be in Siem Reap for 4 nights and certainly have time to explore around but depending on heat, humidity, rain, etc---I am not sure I really want to be on an 8-10 hour tour. I like what you did.

I bought a three day pass when I visited because there is so much to see - that was 14 years ago though! The temples cover a very large area and some are really amazing. Ta Prohm is worth a visit on it's own (the jungle and the temple are all intertwined in a really cool way) but you'll need transportation between most of the temples.

I paid a moto taxi driver to drive me around and he'd wait while I explored the individual temples and locations - or I'd arrange to meet him again at a particular location. Rather than busily trying to explore every corner I took my time at each location and enjoyed the place. At Angkor Wat I befriended some local monks and they practised their English on me - in return I played them some music on my headphones! At one point I climbed a less popular but tall temple and sat there right at the top listening to music for about 45 minutes just having a great time enjoying the vistas. But I was travelling alone so other experiences will vary. Anyway the place is HUGE. Half a day gives you only a flavour of it all.

Definitey didn't regret the three day pass. I have better memories of those three days than the two or three days I would have spend in Siem Reap.

What would you do in Siem Reap on the days you weren't at the temples?

Halong Bay and Hanoi are great BTW. Enjoy!

Thank you very much Fiendish Astronaut for an awesome, informative reply to your awesome experiences there.

I will do at least a full day and perhaps more with my time in Siem Reap (but I will have business to take care of also during my down time there before heading to Singapore and back to Australia and New Zealand).

I am more excited now about AK and the other temples.

Thanks again.

PS. This is 3rd trip to Vietnam, 2nd to Hanoi but 1st to Halong Bay and I'm taking a Bhaya cruise for 3 days/2 nights to get the full experience.

I wonder how much it's changed in those 14 years since I went? I just googled the temples (which was a nice trip down memory lane) and it does seem to be a lot more popular than when I went. I think i was very lucky to go when I did as a couple of "lesser" temples I visited I had all to myself! There's a central area of temples which you can go to and walk around without transportation (and I guess will be very busy) but there are many others that require a drive out to. I suppose there will be tours you can buy both individually or as a group from Siem Reap. And if you arrive there independently people willing to sell you their services as a guide - with varying levels of quality. Otherwise you can just rock up and walk around at your own pace. You could do the central bit for a few hours and then head out to one or two of the more distant temples. Up to you I guess what sort of experience you want. I hope it's worthwhile.

Thank you again for great info. I would not expect major changes in 14 years but will see. regardless, I have flexibility in time and depending on weather, etc, I am sure I am really going to enjoy whatever I see and do.

I was there in 2002 and 2012. The first time was during the SARS epidemic so there were not a lot of tourists anywhere in Asia, and most were Westerners. There was a lot more in 2012, with a lot of Chinese and Korean tourists. The biggest change was the addition of wooden stairs for some of the steeper rock stairways. Easier but not as challenging. I recommend touring early in the morning and relaxing in the afternoon. With 4 days, must sees are:

Angkor Wat - The most exotic place I have visited in the world
Angkor Thom - the tall Peminenakus (spelling is wrong) temple is my favorite place if you like climbing temples.
Ta Prohm for the trees
Bantea Srei for the carvings
Phnom Bakheng for the sunset (it will be crowded)

Enjoy but do not wear your self out.

Thank you very much RobT.

Since I am here (now) for 5 days. I am breaking up my touring to 4 different 1/2 days rather than trying to get everything in a short time. Tomorrow I am doing the sunrise tour and hot air balloon and then the other suggestions you have the subsequent days. Can't wait!

Ann--would love to hear about your trip upon your return!