Private Tour
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
The jungle around Siem Reap still has a lot of surprises for the more adventurous traveller. Two lesser-known temple ruins, Beng Mealea and Koh Ker are among the least sought-after in the whole region yet are must-see essentials for its size and history.
• Explore Cambodia’s jungle outside Siem Reap;
• Gaze at temple ruins, away from the Angkor crowd;
• Wander through the wide galleries of Beng Mealea;
• Admire the 7-tiered pyramid temple of Koh Ker;
• Experience Cambodian rural life, the way it has been.
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
This tour is operated on full private basis with English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request / subject to availability and supplementary charges may apply.
Return transfers for this excursion apply only / are inclusive for customers staying in and inside Siem Reap. Transfers outside these areas, including any accommodation outside this area such as Tonle Sap, Koh Ker, Banteay Srei and Siem Reap International Airport are excluded. Supplements apply for customers who want to join this excursion outside one of these regions.
We will do all possible to comply with any dietary requirements during this excursion; it may not always be possible to confirm your wishes in advance based on the choice of local restaurant.
Part of this excursion includes walking over unpaved roads and paths. This may not suit guests with walking issues. Bear in mind that such paths may turn slippery / muddy after a rain shower. We suggest wearing good walking shoes, preferred closed shoes, when booking this tour.
To avoid any issues pertaining obtaining an arrival visa at the airport, please ensure that your passport contains at least two empty pages. Failure to do so may result in not gaining entrance into the Kingdom of Cambodia.
We always will make efforts to confirm the exact pick-up time upon reservation. For any operational issues in which are not able to confirm the exact pick-up time in advance, we reserve the right to inform you the day before the departure of the tour.
Natural elements of any kind have a destructive effect on electronic equipment. It the customer’s own responsibility to ensure that any camera, mobile telephone or other device is properly wrapped and protected against these elements. We cannot be held responsible in any way for negligence and/or not following suggestions for any damage related to this.
Please ensure that you bring sunglasses, a hat /cap and sunblock with a high SPF factor when traveling with us on this tour – even when it is cloudy, the sunrays still have an immense power.
The protection of the country’s flora and fauna is of immense importance for us. We will not pursue any activities for guests that are not in line with our animal, wildlife and environment protection principles.
It is the responsibility of the customer to provide us with the correct hotel information, should pick-up and drop-off services be included in the package. Any changes in accommodation outside 24 hours will be handled accordingly: changes within 24 hours may be on request.
In the event of no-show or change of accommodation without prior consent and confirmation from us within 24 hours may result in the applicable cancellation charges as outlined in the terms and conditions.
Important note: From 1st January 2020 on wards, Visiting to Beng Mealea temple will require visitors to have a Angkor pass to enter. The ticket pass is included in this price.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
All applicable taxes and service charges
One day pass into the Angkor Archaeological site
Transportation by car / mini-van / coach with professional driver
Lunch at a local restaurant is included (food only)
All entrance and donation fees for visits as mentioned in the description
A full day tour with a professional English-speaking guide.
Personal expenses such as meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, portage fees
Travel insurance coverage for customers (highly recommendable)
Select a pickup point
Prasat Beng Mealea
On this tour, we travel through the thriving countryside, past rice paddy fields and local villages to Beng Mealea temple. Beng Mealea - the “Lotus Pond” Temple from the early 11th Century - was built by Suryavarman II as a Hindu Temple. One of the few accessible temples, hidden in a maze of the jungle - if there is one temple to explore resplendent with jungle engulfing it, it is Beng Mealea. Clambering over large sandstone blocks to reach the inner sanctuary and eerie worship corridor is an exploration to remember. Architecturally, Beng Mealea is known for its innovative, in its time, construction of hallways, it was a large temple with wide galleries foreshadowing Angkor Wat. A picnic lunch will be arranged during the tour.
Koh Ker Temple
Continue with a visit of Koh Ker Temple which represents the remnants of the capital of the Khmer Empire from 928 AD – 944 AD, a very unique period in the Age of Angkor. The premier, dilapidated bastion of the complex is Prasat Thom, an imposing 7-tiered pyramid and temple complex. It was home to Jayavarman IV, the maternal uncle of the two previous kings and a great feudal landholder, who ascended the throne in 928. In only a few years, Jayavarman IV built many colossal sanctuaries dedicated to Shiva, ruling over large numbers of people and in considerable splendour for twenty years until succeeded by his son Harshavarman I. We head back to Siem Reap while we pass remote villages and the dense, untouched jungle behind us. We can assure you that you will look back to this day as an adventurous one.
Pickup included
1 review
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Kevin T,
Jul 9, 2018
- Review from Tripadvisor
These 2 places are out of the city of Siem Reap and as a result, not many tourists visit them. Furthermore, they also take at least 1.5-2 hours to travel and visiting these places would mean a considerable investment of your time in Siem Reap. However, I can assure the ones who are considering these 2 places that they are worth the visit. They are much smaller than the Angkor National Park complex but no less amazing. I would say intimidating, in fact, as the jungle really grows around the temple complexes and particularly in Beng Mealea, if not for the wooden platforms in place, we would not have been able to explore the insides of the temple area. I strongly urge those who want to get away from the city of Siem Reap, away from the bustle of the huge throngs of tourists to visit these 2 places. They may not be as big, as grand or even as well-excavated than the other temples in Angkor, but visiting Koh Ker and Beng Mealea gives you an idea of how hidden these places were when they were first discovered. Jungles all around, trees obscuring your views and the sound of animals doing their own business, you are guaranteed a wonderful Indiana Jones experience. Do visit them, you'll thank me later.
Operated by Asian Trails LTD