Temple stonework in Cambodia
The other capital

Koh Ker

A second temple day that is nothing like the first

Temples and ruinsType
In short

Koh Ker was briefly the capital of the Khmer Empire in the 10th century, and its signature monument is Prasat Thom - a seven-tiered sandstone pyramid rising abruptly out of flat forest, unlike anything else in Khmer architecture. The wider site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023 and remains very quiet.

Checked

September 2026

Part of Heritage
At a glance

Visiting

Where
Preah Vihear province, about 2.5 hours from Siem Reap
Status
UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed 2023
Ticket
A separate fee applies, not covered by the Angkor Pass
Time needed
A full day, usually combined with Beng Mealea
Note
Stay on cleared paths - demining has been extensive but stick to the marked routes

Questions travellers ask

Can you climb the pyramid?
A staircase has been built on the rear face. Whether it is open varies, so treat the climb as a bonus rather than the reason for going.
Is it covered by the Angkor Pass?
No, it charges separately.
Nearby

Also in Preah Vihear and the north

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Cliff-top UNESCO site

Preah Vihear temple

Preah Vihear is an 11th-century Shiva temple built along a north-south axis on the Dangrek escarpment, ending at a cliff that drops several hundred metres to…

Where
Preah Vihear province, on the Thai border, about 4 hours from Siem Reap
Status
UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed 2008
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Pre-Angkorian brick

Sambor Prei Kuk

Sambor Prei Kuk is a group of brick temple towers in Kampong Thom province, built in the early 7th century as the capital of the Chenla…

Where
Kampong Thom province, roughly midway between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
Status
UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed 2017
Read more