Wat Banan

Wat Banan — Quick Facts

What is it?

temple — A Quiet, Climbable "Mini Angkor Wat"

Where?

Battambang , Cambodia

Entry Fee

$3 USD (combined ticket also covers Phnom Sampeau)

Opening Hours

7:00 AM – 5:30 PM daily

Time Needed

1–1.5 hours

Best Time

Morning or late afternoon — the climb is fully exposed and best avoided at midday

Don't Miss

The five towers — Angkor Wat's layout in miniature, with virtually no crowds

What to See at Wat Banan

The Five Towers

Wat Banan’s distinctive five-tower arrangement closely mirrors Angkor Wat’s central quincunx layout, leading to its popular nickname as a “mini Angkor Wat.” The comparison is more about silhouette than scale — Wat Banan can be fully explored in well under an hour — but the resemblance is genuinely striking, especially from a distance.

The Naga Staircase

A laterite staircase flanked by naga (serpent) balustrades climbs the hill from base to summit — 358 steps in total, steeper and more exposed than the equivalent climbs at Phnom Chisor or Phnom Sampeau, but shorter in length.

The Valley View

From the summit, views extend across the Sangkae River valley and Battambang’s rice plains, including sightlines toward Phnom Sampeau to the north — a useful way to get oriented to the wider province’s geography.

How to Get to Wat Banan

Wat Banan is about 25km south of Battambang town, roughly 40 minutes by road.

Tuk-tuk: $12–18 round trip including waiting time, often combined with Phnom Sampeau
Boat: A scenic seasonal option runs along the Sangkae River from Battambang town when water levels allow, landing near the temple base
Combine with: Phnom Sampeau, about 20 minutes away, for a full half-day of Battambang’s hilltop temples

Best Time to Visit

The staircase has little shade, so mornings or late afternoons are far more comfortable than the midday heat. Wat Banan typically sees only a handful of visitors even at peak times, so crowding is rarely a factor in timing your visit.

Practical Information

$3 entry, combined with Phnom Sampeau if visited the same day — keep your ticket
358 steps with naga balustrades but minimal handholds in places — take care in wet conditions
Local children sometimes offer fruit or guiding for small tips at the base — entirely optional but a nice way to support the village
Very limited facilities; bring water

Nearby Attractions

Phnom Sampeau, with its Killing Caves memorial and dusk bat exodus, is about 20 minutes away and the natural pairing for a half-day combining both of Battambang’s hilltop temples.