Siem Reap: Banteay Srei, Beng Mealea & Kulen Waterfall Day Trip

Three Temples and a Waterfall in One Day from Siem Reap

You get picked up early, driven to three separate temples and a mountain waterfall, guided through each one with an English speaker, fed lunch, and returned to your hotel by evening. The tour skips the main Angkor complex and goes deeper: Beng Mealea especially feels less visited. You'll need to buy entrance fees separately, and the day is full enough that it suits people comfortable with a packed schedule and some walking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kulen Waterfall and Temples

• Pick up from Siem Reap hotel
• Drive 2 hours to Kulen Mountain
• Visit Banteay Srei temple
• See Reclining Buddha at Preah Ang Thom
• Explore River of a Thousand Lingas carvings
• Visit Kulen Waterfalls
• Lunch at local restaurant near Beng Mealea or Banteay Srei
• Explore Beng Mealea temple
• Drive back to Siem Reap hotel
• Drop off at hotel around 5:00 PM

The experience

Most people see Angkor Wat and call it done. But 40 kilometers east, Beng Mealea sits half-swallowed by jungle, its galleries collapsed and roots tangled through stone. The kind of place that makes you feel like you're the first one there, even though you're not. The day starts at 7:30 AM with pickup from your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle, then a two-hour drive north through the Cambodian countryside to Kulen Mountain. The landscape shifts as you go, rice fields giving way to scrub, and the air gets thicker.

Your guide meets you there and walks you through Banteay Srei first: a 10th-century temple carved from red sandstone about 25 kilometers north of Angkor Wat. The detail is what stops you. Hindu scenes, lingas, yoni carvings so fine you can see the chisel marks. It's smaller than the big temples, which means you're not fighting crowds the same way. Then you head to Kulen Mountain, where the Reclining Buddha, Preah Ang Thom, sits carved into a boulder, eight meters tall, with stairs and a shelter built around it. Locals come here to pray. The River of a Thousand Lingas runs nearby, 500 meters of riverbed carved with linga and Vishnu figures. The waterfalls come next: two of them, the first about 13 to 16 feet tall and 82 feet wide during rainy season, the second 49 to 66 feet tall. Size depends on when you go. Dry season means less water, but fewer tourists too.

Lunch happens at a local restaurant near one of the temples, depending on timing. You'll get seasonal fruit, bottled water, a small towel. The return drive takes about 90 minutes, and you're back at your hotel between 5:00 and 5:30 PM. The whole thing is 10 hours door to door. Groups stay under 12 people, which changes how it feels. You're not herded. One thing to know: you buy the Kulen Mountain entrance fee ($20 USD) and the Angkor Pass for the temples ($37 USD) on-site or online beforehand. Your guide handles the logistics, but the tickets are on you.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup between 7:30 and 8:00 AM, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional English-speaking guide, entry to Banteay Srei, Beng Mealea, and Kulen Mountain, lunch at a local restaurant, bottled water, fresh towels, and seasonal fruit tasting.
• Hotel drop-off happens in the evening around 5:00 to 5:30 PM.
• Entrance fees for the temples ($37 USD) and Kulen Mountain ($20 USD) are paid separately on-site or online.

Options for this experience

2 options

Small Group TourGuide in English · 07:40This is a small-group option in which the guide and vehicle are shared with other travelers, capped at 12 people maximum. Pickup is included.

Private TourGuide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 09:00A private arrangement well suited to couples and small families, where the itinerary and timing can be flexed and adjusted to suit guests. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 09:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Angkor Buddy Tour

Is this one for you?This works well if you want to see temples beyond the main Angkor circuit and a waterfall in one day without arranging transport, tickets, or timing yourself: the fixed schedule and small group size (under 12) make it possible to cover three separate sites and still have breathing room between stops.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between Beng Mealea and the main Angkor temples?

Beng Mealea is 40 kilometers east of Angkor Wat, built in the early 12th century, and left largely unrestored. Jungle grows through it, galleries have collapsed, and it feels less crowded than the main complex.

Do I need to buy entrance tickets in advance?

The Angkor Pass ($37 USD per person) can be bought online or on-site. The Kulen Mountain entrance fee ($20 USD per person) is purchased on-site. Your guide will direct you, but you pay separately.

How long is the drive each way?

About 2 hours to Kulen Mountain in the morning, and 1.5 hours back to Siem Reap in the late afternoon.

What time does the tour end?

Hotel drop-off is between 5:00 and 5:30 PM.

Can I swim at the waterfall?

Yes. Bring a swimsuit and towel. Changing rooms are available on-site.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, English-speaking guide, lunch, bottled water, towels, and sightseeing at all three temples and the waterfall. Entrance fees are separate.

How many people are in the group?

Maximum 12 participants per tour.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The itinerary includes walking through temples and climbing stairs. If you have lower fitness levels, a private tour option can be arranged instead of the group tour.

What should I bring?

Sunscreen, a hat, comfortable walking shoes, and a swimsuit if you plan to swim. The guide provides bottled water and towels.

When is the best time to visit?

The waterfalls are larger during rainy season (May to October). Dry season (November to April) has fewer tourists but smaller waterfalls. Avoid Cambodian public holidays if you prefer smaller crowds.