Koh Ker

What to See at Koh Ker

Prasat Thom

The site’s defining monument is Prasat Thom, a stepped pyramid rising 36 metres across seven levels, built to support a giant linga at its summit. It is the largest pyramid-form structure in the Khmer Empire and, unlike most major Angkorian monuments, visitors are still permitted to climb it via a wooden staircase.

Prasat Krahom

Built largely from red brick rather than sandstone, Prasat Krahom (“Red Temple”) sits near the centre of the complex and once housed some of the largest stone statues ever carved in the Khmer Empire — several now relocated to the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh for protection, while looted fragments have been the subject of high-profile international repatriation cases in recent years.

The Wider Temple Group

Beyond Prasat Thom, around 40 temples and structures are scattered through the surrounding forest, including a vast baray (reservoir) — testament to Jayavarman IV’s brief but intensely ambitious building programme during Koh Ker’s two decades as imperial capital. UNESCO inscribed the site as a World Heritage Site in 2023, recognising both its archaeological significance and the distinctive “Koh Ker style” of sculpture it originated.

How to Get to Koh Ker

Koh Ker sits in southern Preah Vihear province, roughly 120km from Siem Reap.

• From Siem Reap: 2.5–3 hours by car, often combined with Beng Mealea (about 1.5 hours from Koh Ker) as a full-day “remote temples” trip
• From Preah Vihear town: About 2 hours south, a natural stop on a northern Cambodia temple circuit
• Organised tour: Widely available from Siem Reap as a long day trip with a driver or small group

Best Time to Visit

Visit in the dry season — the unpaved sections of the access road can become difficult or impassable after heavy rain in the wet season (May–October).

Practical Information

• $10 entry ticket, purchased at the site
• The climb up Prasat Thom involves a steep wooden staircase — take care in wet or worn footwear
• Very limited shade and facilities; bring water, sun protection, and snacks for the day
• Demining has made the core temple area safe, but stick to marked paths throughout the wider site

Nearby Attractions

Beng Mealea, the great unrestored jungle temple near Siem Reap, is the natural pairing for a full day combining two of Cambodia’s most remote and atmospheric Angkorian sites.