10 Hidden Temples in Siem Reap

One of the largest of the temples outside of the Angkor Wat area, Beng Mealea covers more than 1 sq km, most of which is overgrown by vegetation. While this temple was built with the same style as Angkor Wat, it predates the larger, more famous structure. Some theories suggest that it was a test model.

The fact that it has not been renovated means that access can be a little tricky, and you may have to scramble over ruined walls or climb through windows to explore it properly. This is one of the more popular of the ‘hidden’ temples, though, so there is a wooden walkway for those less physically active. Beng Melea is about 66 km from Siem Reap.

In spite of the fact that Koh Ker was once the capital of the Khmer Empire (admittedly, only for 16 years), the massive tiered pyramid and its striking grounds are now all but forgotten. This is probably partially thanks to its remoteness, being over 100 km northeast of Siem Reap.

It is well worth the journey, though, as the overgrown ruins feature beautiful intricate details and the isolated setting makes visiting quite a moving experience. There are some other interesting sites and temples nearby, so it is worth a day trip to visit the area.

While this temple is sometimes called ‘Banteay Srey’, the translation remains the same either way: ‘citadel of the women’. This relatively recent nickname was given to the 10th-century temple because of the slightly pink colour of the sandstone it is made from, in which you will find beautiful delicate carvings dedicated to the Banteay-Hindu god Shiva.

The structure is well-preserved and shows clear signs of repair and renovation but, being well away from the Angkor Wat complex, this is still a relatively unheard-of place, attracting much smaller numbers of visitors. The temple is 41.7 km from Siem Reap.

Dating from the 7th century, Sambor Prei Kuk is one of the earlier temples around Siem Reap and includes what are thought to be the first large bas-reliefs – a feature of temple design which subsequently became extremely popular in Khmer architecture.

The most striking part of the complex is Prasat Chrey, which is a small tower completely overgrown by a tree, to the point that it just looks like a doorway directly into the trunk. Sambor Prei Kuk is 168.7 km from Siem Reap.

Ta Nei is really close to the Angkor Wat area and is, in fact, right next to the Angkor Zipline attraction. But being about 1 km down a rough, unpaved track, it doesn’t get too many visitors as there are plenty of options nearby which are easier to get to.

One of the many structures built in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII has some really beautiful carvings and bas-reliefs around the flat, Angkor-style structure. Perhaps not as stunning as the larger temples, it has the advantage of being convenient but also quiet and hidden. The temple is 10.5 km from Siem Reap.

Banteay Prei is just off a minor road, slightly north of Preah Khan Temple. While it was built at the same time and in the same style as Bayon Temple, it is a lot smaller and lacks the iconic towers of the more famous structure, making it seem a little like a miniature model.

The temple does have nicely decorated walls and a moat around the inner buildings. Despite its name, meaning “Citadel of the Jungle”, Banteay Prei is now mostly surrounded by grazing land for cattle, meaning you don’t really get the ‘lost jungle temple’ feel as you do with others in the area. The temple is 15.5 km from Siem Reap.

Prasat Chrung is not one temple, but 4! The Khmer word “Chrung” means “corner” and, true to their name, these structures are at each of the 4 corners of the ancient city of Angkor Thom, with Bayon Temple at its heart.

With no roads to any of the towers, the only way to see them is to take a long walk or bike ride along rough tracks. It’s worth the effort as they are nicely decorated and virtually unvisited. The south-eastern one is the best preserved, making it the one most worth the walk. The temple is 8.4 km from Siem Reap.

Phnom Bok is one of the oldest temples in Angkor, and one of the most exciting to visit. Many tour operators and drivers don’t even know about it, let alone where it is, so it's very likely that you could have the site to yourself. The temple is 23.7 km from Siem Reap.

Even the ones that do know about the picturesque, overgrown temple don’t tend to include it in their itineraries because the 600-step climb to the top of the 235-metre hill it stands upon is too tough for most visitors. If you’re planning to visit this unspoilt spot to enjoy the great panoramic view of Angkor and Tonle Sap, make sure to bring plenty of water with you.