Biking to Angkor Wat With Kids
Biking to Angkor Wat Route Overview
Total Distance: 3.5 kms (2.2 miles); 2 kms on bike path, 1.5 km along moderately busy road
Recommended age for independent biking: 6 and up
About the Route
From the ticket check point on Charles De Gaulle, Angkor Wat is the closest temple. Is it also the biggest temple in the entire complex (not to mention the largest religious structure in the world). This means that in addition to getting there by bicycle, you and your kids are in for a lot of walking. The walking distance from the bike parking area to the temple is 700 meters (0.5 miles). And during your visit you’ll likely clock in another 2-3 km (1.2-2 miles) exploring the temple before you need to ride back.
Before setting off on this route, really think about the fitness and endurance levels of your kids and then match that with your own patience for potential inevitable whinging and complaining. As Angkor Wat requires a lot of walking and climbing up and down steps, you may be better off taking a tuktuk there. If you are really hoping to explore and experience the temples, a bike ride before and after might not be ideal. However, the ride to Angkor Wat will be suitable for children 6 and up. If you have younger children, consider a tandem bike or a chariot.
If you are certain your family can survive this ride and you have read our tips for how to get ready, here’s how to do it.
The Route
Get yourself to the ticket check point on Charles De Gaulle. You’ll be motioned to stop and have your passes checked by the friendly Apsara staff. You can’t buy tickets here and you need to visit the Angkor Pass Ticket Counters on the corner of Street 60 and Apsara Road. This is best done the day before your visit. We recommend you take a tuktuk to here rather than riding through Siem Reap town to reach this point.
The bike trail starts just behind where the security team is standing/sitting. It’s not marked very clearly, but go to the right side, into the forest and you’ll see the metal railings that denote the start of the path.
Follow this path along for 2 kilometers. You will see the main road on your left side at all times, even when the path winds. The path is paved and mostly flat with a handful of small inclines and hills. These will be easy for most adults but may require your kids to get off their bikes and push them up, depending on their biking skills and strength.
This bike path is shady and takes you through beautiful, thick forest, over a newly constructed concrete bridge. There are two times you will need to stop your bikes and walk them through metal barriers. For children on very small bikes, you will need to give them a hand if they can’t pass underneath or through them.
You’ll also need to be careful of the three small roads you’ll need to cross. There is some traffic along these, and you’ll need to keep your group together and help younger children cross safety. There is no right of way for pedestrians or cyclists here, so don’t expect the drivers to be careful or allow you to go first.
After about 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) the path will veer to the right. The bike path then continues towards Prasat Kravan and away from Angkor Wat. Here you’ll need to turn off the path and head towards the main road that runs along the south side of Angkor Wat. You can easily get your bikes through the forest, although smaller children will need some help. There is a small hut/house here with some chickens and household items laying around.
Cross over the main road that rings Angkor Wat carefully as this can be busy and motos, cars and tuktuks may be moving quickly. Once you are on the road, turn left and follow along on the shoulder until it curves to the right after about 850 meters. Keep going straight ahead, following this road as it will take you to the front of the Angkor Wat temple.
You’ll see a fence and security 350 meters ahead of you from the turn. Cars and tuktuks are not allowed past this point, but you can walk your bikes in. There is a bicycle parking area about 180 meters ahead from the fence, on your left side. You can safely leave your bicycles here even though there are no security guards and no paid, monitored parking.
And you have arrived! Tell us how your trip went in the comments!