National park · Cambodia
Preah Vihearព្រះវិហារ
Go only if you accept a 3–4 h drive each way from Siem Reap or an overnight at Sra Ehm: climb the 162 steps and the 500 m cliff-top avenue before 10:00, pay US$10 entry plus US$5–25 for the ride up, and check the border situation the day before.Go only if you accept a 3–4 h drive each way from Siem Reap or an overnight at Sra Ehm: climb the 162 steps and the 500 m cliff-top avenue before 10:00 AM, pay US$10 entry plus US$5–25 for the ride up, and check the border situation the day before.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
25 km² (10 sq mi)10 sq mi (25 km²)
approximate
Established
2008
Best months
Nov–Feb
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Cambodia ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra. Some nationalities can also get a visa on arrival.
- Cambodia ↗Angkor Wat and other active temples enforce a dress code: shoulders and knees covered, or you are turned away at the gate.
- Cambodia ↗US dollars are used for most tourist prices; carry clean, undamaged small notes and some riel for change under one dollar.
At a glance
- Country
- Cambodia
- Area
- 25 km² (10 sq mi)10 sq mi (25 km²)
- The protected temple zone is small; the wider Dângrêk escarpment and its forest are not a single mapped park (check).
- Established
- 2008
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Siem Reap
Preah Vihear is a 10th–12th century Khmer temple on a 525 m cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains, on the Cambodian side of the Thai border. It predates Angkor Wat, runs on a long north–south axis rather than the usual east-facing rectangle, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. It is remote: the nearest town with food and beds is Sra Ehm, about 20 km south, and the Thai-side approach has been closed for years. The temple itself and the access paths are cleared, but the surrounding border area is not a place to wander.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2008Temple of Preah Vihear, listed after a contested nomination.
Size and age
25 km² (10 sq mi)10 sq mi (25 km²) · national park since 2008
The protected temple zone is small; the wider Dângrêk escarpment and its forest are not a single mapped park (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Siem Reap.
Why go
- A Khmer temple on a cliff edge, 100 years older than Angkor Wat and built on an unusual north–south axis.
- The 500 m drop at Pei Ta Da Cliff, with Cambodian jungle below and no buildings in sight.
- Five gopuras, naga-lined causeways and courtyards that give a quieter version of the Angkor sequence.
- Rusting artillery and bunkers from the Khmer Rouge years sit beside the ruins — recent history in the same frame.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarGo
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanDry, cooler, clearest cliff views
- FebDry and clear; haze builds late in the month
- MarHot by midday; start at opening
- AprHottest month; little shade on the climb
- MayStart of the rains; slick stone steps
- JunWet; the access road can be rough
- JulWet and muddy; short clear spells
- AugWettest stretch; views often closed in
- SepRain easing; greenest jungle below the cliff
- OctRains ending; ground still soft
- NovDry, clear and cool enough to climb at midday
- DecCool and dry; busiest domestic weekends
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry-season birds over the escarpmentNov–Feb · Early morning is best; the cliff edge gives the widest view. | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Butterflies and flowering forestSep–Nov | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Mud and leeches on the lower pathsJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Siem Reap
Paved road via Anlong Veng, then the access road to the base of the hill; private car or a long day trip.
3–4 h
Open the page →
From Phnom Penh
Air-conditioned bus toward the province, then a local ride to the hill.
8 h
Open the page →
From Anlong Veng
Paved road east; the usual overnight stop on the Siem Reap route.
1.5–2 h
From Sra Ehm
Local transport north to the ticket office at the foot of the hill.
30–40 min
From Thailand
No access from the Thai side; cross at a regular border crossing and continue inside Cambodia.
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Base of the hill | Ticket office, food and drink stalls, a basic guesthouse and the start of the stairway. | Open with a ticket; vehicles park here. |
| Stairway and Gopura I | 162 stone steps, then a short naga-decorated stair to the first pavilion. | On foot only. |
| Avenues and Gopura II–III | Two gently climbing avenues, a large water cistern and the first courtyard. | On foot; the main walking stretch. |
| Main Sanctuary and Galleries | Gopura IV and V, the second courtyard and the sanctuary, now holding a small Buddhist shrine. | On foot; active worship, dress and behave accordingly. |
| Pei Ta Da Cliff | The cliff edge on the left of the sanctuary, with a 500 m drop and a shaded crevice. | On foot; barbed wire marks the limit. |
Sketch map
- 1Ticket office and base of the hill · Gate≈14.391, 104.680Approximate; the stairway starts here.Map ↗
- 2Gopura I · Trail≈14.392, 104.680Approximate, top of the 162 steps.Map ↗
- 3Main Sanctuary · Viewpoint≈14.394, 104.680Approximate; the centrepiece of the temple.Map ↗
- 4Pei Ta Da Cliff · Viewpoint≈14.395, 104.681Approximate; the 500 m drop on the left of the sanctuary.Map ↗
- 5Sra Ehm · Town≈14.220, 104.750Approximate; nearest food and guesthouses, about 20 km (12 mi) south.Approximate; nearest food and guesthouses, about 12 mi (20 km) south.Map ↗
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the temple axis and the nearest town, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple admission | US$10 | person | Identification is required at the ticket office (check). |
| Motorbike or pick-up with driver, up and down the hill | US$5–25 | vehicle | Paid at the ticket office; the upper road is very steep. |
| Long day trip from Siem Reap | US$160 | group | 2026 estimate for a private car and driver, roughly 12 h door to door (check). |
| Guesthouse at the foot of the steps | US$10–15 | room | 2026 estimate; bucket shower, electricity in the evening only (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Temple ticket permit or guide
Vehicle for the upper road permit or guide
Thai-side entry no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$10
- US$5–25
- US$160
- US$10–15
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Temple of Preah Vihear before you go.
Park rules
- Stay on cleared ground
- Land mines remain a danger outside the demined temple area and access paths. Heed red signs, painted rocks and string markers.
- Dress for a shrine
- The Main Sanctuary holds a Buddhist shrine; cover shoulders and knees and do not climb on the carvings.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from the heritage and military authorities; the area is a border zone (check).check
- Photography near posts
- Do not photograph military positions, personnel or border installations.
- Litter and fires
- No fires; carry out all rubbish — there is little collection on the hill.
Where to stay
Near the park
Guesthouse at the foot of the steps
Wooden rooms, outside bucket shower and toilet, electricity in the evening only; very basic but clean.
Near the park
Sra Ehm
A handful of basic guesthouses about 20 km (12 mi) south, from around US$10; the nearest place with a choice of food.A handful of basic guesthouses about 12 mi (20 km) south, from around US$10; the nearest place with a choice of food.
Near the park
Siem Reap
The practical base if you are doing this as a long day trip; hotels of every level.
Safety
Border tension and unexploded ordnance high
Steep, unguarded cliffs high
Heat and the climb medium
Steep upper access road medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The stairway, avenues and courtyards are stone, stepped and uneven; there is no step-free route to the sanctuary.
- The ticket office and the base area are reachable by car, with short walks and stalls on flat ground.
Visiting lightly
- Buy food and water at the base or in Sra Ehm so the villages around the temple see the benefit.
- Take every piece of rubbish back down; there is no collection on the hill.
- Do not pay anyone offering to take you off the marked paths — the cleared area is what keeps visitors safe.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Preah Vihear?
Admission is US$10 per person and identification is required at the ticket office. A further US$5–25 buys a motorbike or pick-up with a driver to take you up and back down the steep hill road. A private day trip from Siem Reap runs around US$160 for the vehicle.
What are the best hikes in Preah Vihear?
There is really one route: the 162 stone steps to Gopura I, then about 500 m of gently climbing avenue to the first courtyard, and on through the gopuras to the Main Sanctuary and Pei Ta Da Cliff. It is 120 m of vertical gain on stone and dirt, hot and sticky, and takes two to three hours at an easy pace with stops.
When is the best time to visit Preah Vihear?
November to February: dry, clear and cool enough to climb in the middle of the day, with the sharpest views from the cliff. March and April are hot, and June to September is wet, with slick steps and a rougher access road.
Can I visit Preah Vihear from Thailand?
No. The Thai-side approach has been closed for years and is not expected to reopen soon. Cross at a regular Cambodia–Thailand border crossing and continue to the temple from inside Cambodia.
Is Preah Vihear safe to visit?
The temple and its access paths have been cleared of mines and are visited daily, but the surrounding border area is not safe to wander. Skirmishes resumed along this border in 2025 and the situation remains volatile; check your government's travel advice and local conditions before you go, and stay on marked paths.
Can I do Preah Vihear as a day trip from Siem Reap?
Yes, but it is a long one: three to four hours each way on paved roads, then the climb, then the drive back — around 12 hours door to door. An overnight at Sra Ehm or the guesthouse at the foot of the steps makes for a far better visit.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go