Preah Vihear & Koh Ker temples from Siem Reap: Small group tour

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/24

Duration10h–11h

GroupUp to 6

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

A 700-meter cliff-top temple reached by 4WD, then a pyramid-shaped complex hidden in jungle for over a thousand years.

A full-day small group tour from Siem Reap exploring Preah Vihear temple and Koh Ker temple complex with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, and 4WD transport to the clifftop. The group stays under six people. Hotel pickup runs between 7:00 AM, and the tour departs at 7:20 AM for roughly ten to eleven hours of temple exploration, village glimpses, and stops at Prasat Linga, Presat Kraham and Prasat Pram within the Koh Ker complex. Temple entry passes are paid separately at each site.

10h–11h

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Preah Vihear and Koh Ker temples

Depart Siem Reap city center at 8am
Arrive at Preah Vihear temple
Explore Preah Vihear temple for 2 hours
Take 4x4 ride up the hill
Descend to Koh Ker temple
Explore Koh Ker temple for 2 hours
Visit Prasat Linga 1 & 2 temples
Visit Prasat Kraham temple
Visit Prasat Pram temple

The Experience

You leave your hotel between 7:00 AM and arrive at Preah Vihear temple after the drive north from Siem Reap. The temple sits 700 meters up a cliff, and a 4WD vehicle carries you from the base to the top—the ascent itself is part of the experience, a steep and winding climb that builds the arrival. Preah Vihear is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built during the Khmer Empire in the 9th century, and you spend roughly two hours walking its vast complex. The structures include Gopuras (entrance pavilions) with ornate carvings, and the views from the cliff edge stretch across the landscape below. The temple's intricate design and historical weight sit in the stone itself, not in narration.

After descending, you head to Koh Ker temple, known as the Pyramid temple of Cambodia. This was once the capital of the Khmer Empire, and the complex sprawls across jungle that has grown around it for over a thousand years. You move through its corridors and courtyards, stopping at Prasat Linga 1 and 2 (important worship temples for local villages), Presat Kraham (half-ruined but holding a large Linga in good condition), and Prasat Pram, which means five temples—five towers that have been preserved and reinstalled. Each site carries its own character: some are overgrown, some are partially collapsed, some are carefully maintained. The jungle setting and the age of the structures create the sense of moving backward through time.

The tour includes round-trip air-conditioned transport from your hotel, an English-speaking guide, cold towels and bottled water, and the 4WD ride up Preah Vihear's cliff. Temple entry passes are paid on arrival at each site (US$10 for Preah Vihear, US$15 for Koh Ker). The group maxes out at six people, which means the pace stays manageable and the guide can answer questions without rushing between stops. The full day runs ten to eleven hours, so wear comfortable clothes that cover your arms and shoulders for sun protection, and bring sturdy shoes for uneven temple surfaces.

What’s included

Hotel pickup between 7:00 AM.
round-trip air-conditioned transport.
English-speaking guide.
4WD ascent to the top of Preah Vihear cliff.
cold towels and bottled water throughout the day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Siem Reap Shuttle

Is this one for you?This tour suits travelers with a full day free and the fitness to walk uneven temple surfaces and climb a steep 4WD ascent—the small group size (maximum six people) keeps the pace manageable and the guide attentive, which matters on a ten-to-eleven-hour day. Temple passes are paid on arrival, so you can decide at checkout whether to add them or arrange entry separately. Not suitable for children under 12, those with walking disabilities, or travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.