Koh Ker & Beng Mealea
Duration
1 day
Pricing
From $75
Tour Type
Adventure
A full day to the remote pyramid temple of Koh Ker, 120 km north of Siem Reap, the O Thmor Dab sandstone quarry and the jungle-invaded Beng Mealea.
For Booking:
Tour highlights
- Koh Ker, the seven-tiered pyramid state temple of King Jayavarman IV.
- O Thmor Dab quarry, where Khmer ancestors cut the sandstone for the temples.
- Beng Mealea, the 12th-century temple invaded by the jungle, 77 km from Siem Reap.
Prices & options
Private A/C car 4 seats, round trip — Beng Mealea & Koh Ker
$150
Private A/C car 4 seats, round trip — Beng Mealea only
$75
English-speaking tour guide
$50
Tour includes
- Transfers and tours mentioned in the itinerary by private A/C vehicle
- Free drinking water and cool towel during your visit every day
- English-speaking licensed tour guide
- All the services mentioned in the itinerary
Tour excludes
- Koh Ker pass US$15 p.p
- Beng Mealea pass US$37 p.p (uses the Angkor Wat pass)
- Meals
Itinerary
- 08:00am — Koh Ker group
We pick you up from your hotel and drive to the remote archaeological site of Koh Ker in northern Cambodia, about 120 kilometres from Siem Reap. Koh Ker was likely the state temple of Khmer King Jayavarman IV — vertically oriented as a pyramid with seven tiers and numerous shrines.
About 300 metres to the west is Kampiang, or Koh Ker temple. From a distance it looks like a small hill because it is covered by forest; up close it is a 35-metre-high sandstone stupa of seven levels, each about 5 metres above the other, with a 55-step staircase to the top.
At the top are large statues of garudas supporting the Shiva lingam Treypuvanesvara. From there visitors have an excellent view of Phnom Dangrek, Phnom Tbeng and the Kulen district. To the north is the heavily damaged Damrei Sar temple, and to the north east the Lingam temple.
- Afternoon — O Thmor Dab quarry & Beng Mealea
Lunch at a local restaurant, then a stop at O Thmor Dab, the quarry of all the temples in Cambodia, where you can still see the traces of Khmer ancestors cutting sandstone.
We continue to Beng Mealea, the mysterious 12th-century temple invaded by the jungle. Built as a Hindu temple, some of its carvings show Buddhist motifs. It is largely unrestored, with trees and thick brush thriving amid its towers and courtyards.
Its architectural style is identical to Angkor Wat, so scholars assume it was built during the reign of Suryavarman II. Its outer gallery measures 181 m by 152 m and it once stood at the centre of a town surrounded by a moat 1,025 m by 875 m and 45 m wide.
We take you back to your hotel to say goodbye to your guide and driver.
Good to know
Angkor park passes
Angkor archaeological park — 1 day
US$37 p.p
Angkor archaeological park — 2 or 3 days
US$62 p.p
Angkor archaeological park — 1 week
US$72 p.p
Tour guide fees
English-speaking guide
$40 / day
French-speaking guide
$55 / day
German-speaking guide
$65 / day
Spanish-speaking guide
$65 / day
Chinese-speaking guide
$55 / day
Japanese-speaking guide
$50 / day
Additional activities
Apsara Dancing & Bokator Dinner Show
An evening of traditional Cambodian dance with a set menu at Kanell, open every night from 07:00pm to 09:30pm. Asian Fusion Set US$29 p.p, Asian Fusion Deluxe US$36 p.p. We can book it in advance for you.
Phare, The Cambodian Circus (Phare Poleu Selpak)
Siem Reap’s most unique, top-rated evening entertainment (TripAdvisor & Lonely Planet), 8:00pm to 9:00pm. Seat A: US$38 adult / US$18 child (5–11). Seat B: US$28 / US$15. Seat C: US$18 / US$10. Infants 4 and younger free with no allocated seat.
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