The Ta Prohm Temple (and its famous Angkor Wat tree) is one of the most photogenic temples in Cambodia.
Itโs known as the โTomb Raider templeโ for being featured in the 2001 Angelina Jolie movie, and if youโre into travel (or history), then chances are youโve seen pictures of this place before.
If you visit the Angkor Wat, this temple should be near the top of your to do list!
The ruins have an atmosphere that is just amazing. Ancient Buddhist carvings and crumbling walls have been decayed by time and swallowed up by giant jungle roots, and the resulting impression is nothing short of epic.
This travel guide will explain how to get there, and everything you need to know before you go!
Where Is Ta Prohm?
The Angkor Wat is located on the outskirts of Siem Reap, in northwestern Cambodia.
The closest airport is Siem Reap International Airport (REP), which is served by a bunch of airlines. AirAsia often has $30 USD flights from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Siem Reap.
You can shop for flights to Cambodia at Skyscanner. You can also travel to the Angkor Wat overland from Thailand.
History Of Ta Prohm
The history of Ta Prohm temple dates back to the 12th century, when Khmer kings built many of the temples in the Angkor area.
At one time more than 10,000 Khmer people lived at Ta Prohm, but it was abandoned in the 15th century after the fall of the Khmer empire, and became deserted for hundreds of years.
Ta Prohm temple was featured in a creepy scene in the 2001 movie โLara Croft: Tomb Raider,โ where Angelina Jolie is shown exploring the surreal temple ruins and the floor suddenly collapses under her feet.
Today, Ta Prohm is easily one of the most visited temples in the Angkor complex. It draws in thousands of tourists per day, so you might have to fight the crowds to get those bucket list photos youโre wanting!
How To Visit Ta Prohm
You can tour the Angkor Wat by car or by tuk-tuk, and all tours are divided into two routes โ small circuit or grand circuit. Ta Prohm is part of the small circuit tour.
Klook has private Angkor Wat small circuit tours (including Ta Prohm) or shared tours which are a bit cheaper. Both of these tours have good reviews, and the prices are competitive!
More Angkor Wat Travel Tips
Looking for more information on the ancient temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia?
Check out my full Angkor Wat Travel Guide with free tips, maps, photos, and more.
Best Angkor Wat Tours
If you're looking for a good Siem Reap driver/guide to show you around, Klook has shared day tours starting from $12 USD.
If you plan to do the sunrise tour, which I highly recommend, they also have a private Angkor Wat sunrise tour by tuk-tuk for $19 USD or a shared sunrise tour for $12 USD.
We've used Klook for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they're great! Highly recommended.
Book Now: Angkor Wat Shared Tour / Private Tour
Hotels At The Angkor Wat
The town of Siem Reap is just a 5 minute drive from the Angkor Wat, and thatโs where youโll want to book a hotel during your stay.
There are lots of great restaurants, hotels, and massage places in Siem Reap for very affordable prices.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at the 4-star La Residence Blanc D'Angkor in Siem Reap. It was $18 USD per night for a clean double room with cold A/C, work desk, refrigerator, wardrobe, and more. There's also an on-site restaurant and pool.
The staff there is amazingly friendly, and I love the epic wall art showing scenes from the Angkor Wat. It sets the mood for exploring some Cambodian temple ruins.
Prices may fluctuate from time to time, so just keep an eye out for a good deal.
We stayed at this 4-star hotel in Siem Reap for $18 USD
This was the pool at our hotel
See Also
- Angkor Wat Cambodia - Complete Travel Guide
- 4-Day Cambodia Itinerary - Angkor Wat Temples & Siem Reap Tour
- Cambodia Travel Guide โ Tips, Info & Photos