Best Photo Spots in Angkor That Aren't Crowded

Less crowds. No filters. Just jaw-dropping photos your friends will beg you to share!

Social media-friendly content that offers value beyond the obvious photo locations.

Looking for the best photo spots in Angkor without fighting crowds? These 12 hidden places will give you amazing shots no one else has. Skip the tourist rush and find places where you can take your time setting up perfect photos.

Take jaw-dropping temple photos with LESS crowds – these secret spots are just steps away from the tourist traps!

These 12 places let me take my time, set up perfect shots, and snap photos that got more likes than anything I’ve ever posted. The best part? You can find all these spots without special maps. Your Angkor photos will stand out in a sea of same-old temple shot

Quick Tips for Your Angkor Photo Adventure

Visit temples at sunrise or late afternoon when most tour groups are gone
Buy a 3-day pass to spread out your visits and hit spots when they’re empty
Bring a tripod for low-light shots inside temples
Pack a wide-angle lens for architecture and a zoom lens for details
Wear shoes you can easily remove (you’ll need to at many temples)
Carry water and snacks – hunting for great photos takes time

Why Angkor Is a Photographer’s Dream

The Angkor Wat sunrise photography experience tops many travel wish lists, and for good reason. Built between the 9th and 15th centuries, these stone temples sit half-claimed by jungle, creating a perfect mix of human craft and wild nature.

What makes Angkor special for photographers is its variety. You’ll find massive main temples, tiny hidden structures, faces carved in stone, tree roots growing through walls, and light that changes everything hour by hour.

Cambodia’s warm weather means you can visit year-round, though the rainy season (May-October) gives you dramatic skies and fewer tourists. The jungle temples of Angkor look their best right after rain when colors pop and stones glisten.

Related Travel Options

Want to find all these amazing spots? Try these tours:

Get the Best Sunrise Photos Without the Crowds – Skip the tourist crowds and get that perfect morning light.
Sunset Magic at Angkor’s Quiet Spots – The warm evening sun makes stones glow gold. You’ll have space to set up your tripod.
See Both Temples and Jungle in One Day – This mix of nature and old buildings gives you totally different kinds of photos.
Pink Temple Morning Tour – The pink stone at Banteay Srei looks amazing in photos. Most tours don’t spend enough time here.
Hit All the Best Spots in One Day – Perfect if you’re short on time but want great photos.
Empty Ta Prohm After Sunrise – See those famous tree roots with no one else around!
Try a Different Sunrise Spot – Pre Rup gives you stunning morning views without fighting crowds.
Mix City and Temple Photos – Get both old temples and cool city shots on one trip.

The 12 Best Photo Spots in Angkor Without the Crowds

1. East Gate of Angkor Wat

Everyone rushes to the west entrance for sunrise, but the east gate offers equally stunning views with almost no one around. The morning light hits the ancient Khmer architecture perfectly, and you can capture the temple with its moat without elbowing through crowds.

This spot works well for both sunrise and early morning shots. The stones glow orange in early light, and with no one around, you can take your time setting up the perfect shot.

Why visit with a guide: Local guides know exactly when the light hits the east gate best. The Private Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour includes this spot and other crowd-free locations.

2. The Third Level Gallery at Angkor Wat

While most visitors stay on the lower levels, climbing to the top tier of Angkor Wat puts you in a world of fantastic carvings with much more breathing room. The Angkor Wat Instagram spots everyone fights for are down below, leaving you space to work.

The third level gives you great views looking down on the complex and close-ups of detailed carvings. Morning light creates dramatic shadows across the stone faces and figures.

Pro tip: Bring a wide-angle lens to capture the tight corridors and a medium zoom for carving details.

Private Angkor Wat Sunrise tour – Private Sunrise Guided Tour [Go to Angkor Wat early and avoid the crowds]

3. The Hidden Faces of Bayon

The Bayon temple faces draw big crowds, but most visitors stick to the main paths. Walking around the outer sections of the temple lets you photograph these massive stone faces without people in your shot.

The north and east sides see much less traffic. Late afternoon light casts a golden glow on these faces, bringing out their texture and mysterious smiles.

The faces work well in both color and black and white. Try different angles – looking up at faces creates a sense of awe, while straight-on shots capture their calm expressions.

4. Back Entrance to Ta Prohm

The famous Ta Prohm tree roots usually have lines of people waiting to take photos. But entering through the less-used east gate lets you reach stunning root structures with hardly anyone around.

Visit around 3 PM when most tour groups have moved on. The light filters through trees at this hour, creating magical rays between roots and stones.

The Early Bird Ta Prohm Tour After Sunrise takes you here when the morning light is perfect and before the big crowds arrive.

5. Victory Gate of Angkor Thom

The Angkor Thom South Gate gets packed with tuk-tuks and buses, but the Victory Gate on the east side offers the same impressive carved faces with almost no one around.

The massive gate makes for striking photos, especially in early morning when the sun lights up the stone faces. You can even stand in the middle of the road for a centered shot without traffic problems.

6. The Quiet Halls of Banteay Kdei

Banteay Kdei sits just east of Angkor Wat but gets way fewer visitors. Most tourists skip it for bigger temples. The back parts of this temple stay empty most of the day.

Morning light (around 9 AM) makes the stone walls glow orange. Broken doorways frame perfect shots of trees and ruins. You can take your time setting up tripods without anyone walking into your frame.

This temple has long hallways with repeating doorways. These make great leading-line photos that pull viewers into your image. Bird calls echo through empty rooms, adding to the peaceful feel.

The Journey Through Time and Nature tour stops here when most visitors are at lunch. You’ll have plenty of time to find special angles most people miss.

These temple photography tips will help you make the most of your visit!

Time of Day	Best For	Challenges	Tips
Early Morning (5:30-8am)	Soft light, reflections, fewer people	Can be dark inside temples	Bring a tripod, use a high ISO
Mid-Morning (8-11am)	Good light for details, jungle shots	Growing crowds	Focus on hidden areas, use telephoto for details
Midday (11am-2pm)	Interior shots	Harsh light outside	Photograph inside temples, look for light beams
Afternoon (2-5pm)	Warm light on stone, fewer crowds	Can be very hot	Bring plenty of water, focus on shaded areas
Sunset (5-6:30pm)	Golden hour light, dramatic silhouettes	Rush to exit before park closes	Have transport waiting, know your exit route

7. The Inner Sanctuary of Banteay Srei

The delicate pink Banteay Srei carvings attract many visitors, but they typically cluster around the entrance. The inner sanctuary has equally amazing carvings with fewer people blocking your shots.

Visit first thing in the morning (be there when it opens at 7:30 AM) or last thing before closing. The warm morning light makes the pink stone glow, bringing out tiny details in the carvings.

The detail here demands a macro lens if you have one. Focus on small areas of intricate design rather than trying to capture whole walls.

The Banteay Srei Tour takes you here with perfect timing for photos and includes other nearby temples most tourists skip.

8. Pre Rup Instead of Phnom Bakheng

Sunrise at Phnom Bakheng draws massive crowds, but Pre Rup offers similar stunning sunrise views with a fraction of the people. The temple’s upper levels provide a perfect spot to watch dawn break over the jungle.

Arrive 30 minutes before sunrise to set up your equipment. As the sky changes from dark blue to pink and orange, you’ll have plenty of time to capture the changing light.

The Pre Rup Sunrise Tour gets you here at the perfect time and includes breakfast while you wait for the perfect light.

9. Ta Nei Temple in the Jungle

While everyone crowds into the main temples, Ta Nei sits almost forgotten in the jungle. This small temple offers authentic jungle temples of Angkor vibes without the tourist traffic.

The temple looks best in morning light when sun rays cut through the trees. The stone and jungle create perfect texture contrasts, and you might have the whole place to yourself.

Bring bug spray – the real jungle experience comes with real jungle mosquitoes!

10. The North Pond at Angkor Wat

Everyone knows the Angkor Wat reflection pond in front of the main entrance, but the north pond offers similar reflections with virtually no one around. The water mirrors the temple towers perfectly on still mornings.

Visit at sunrise or just after for the best reflections. If there’s been recent rain, small pools throughout the complex also create mirror effects worth hunting for.

The Angkor Wat Sunset Tour includes stops at these alternative reflection spots when the light is perfect.

Private Angkor Wat Sunset Tour | Guided Full-Day Temple Tour [with Phnom Bakheng sunset]

Editor’s Note: This article is a gift for photographers who hate crowds. It cuts through the noise and hands you 12 clear spots that deliver standout shots—without the tourist mess.

11. Bayon at First Light

Instead of fighting crowds for Angkor Wat sunrise photography, head to Bayon when it first opens. The morning light on the stone faces creates a golden glow, and you’ll have the temple largely to yourself for at least an hour.

The 1 Day Angkor Wat Grand Loop Private Tour includes Bayon with timing that avoids the major tourist waves.

12. Royal Palace Area Inside Angkor Thom

Near the famous Bayon but often overlooked, the Royal Palace grounds offer peaceful settings for photos of stone platforms, small structures, and jungle views without crowds.

Visit in late afternoon when the low light casts long shadows across the stone terraces. The elephant statues here make for great foreground elements with trees and sky behind.

Exclusive Angkor Wat Tour Experience | Private Guided Full-Day Temple Tour [with Banteay Srei – Ta Prohm and Angkor Wat Sunset]

Planning Your Perfect Angkor Photo Trip

To truly capture the best photo spots in Angkor, you need at least three days. This gives you time to visit major sites when crowds are thinnest and find the secret spots most miss.

The temples are about 20 minutes by tuk-tuk from Siem Reap town. Many photographers stay in town and head out for sunrise, return to their hotel during midday heat, then go back for afternoon shooting.

Thailand and Cambodia: A Photographer’s Journey

Many travelers combine Cambodia’s Angkor temples with a trip to Thailand. These neighboring countries offer amazing photo chances that work well together.

Thailand’s grand palaces and busy cities make a striking contrast with Cambodia’s ancient temples and rural scenes. Starting in Bangkok, you can photograph gleaming gold temples and busy markets before heading to Cambodia’s more weathered, jungle-wrapped stones.

Thailand’s beaches in the south also pair well with Angkor. You can capture sunrise over ancient temples, then sunset over the ocean all in one trip. Many travelers fly into Bangkok, visit Angkor, then finish at Thai beaches like Krabi or Phuket.

Siem Reap to Bangkok by Road with Private Transfer [Your Bangkok to Siem Reap or Siem Reap to Bangkok Routes]

Why a Guide Makes All the Difference

While you can find some quiet spots on your own, local guides know exactly when and where to go for the best photos without crowds. They can:

Time your visits perfectly to avoid tour groups
Show you spots most tourists never find
Tell you the stories behind what you’re photographing
Handle transport while you focus on your shots
Adjust plans based on lighting and weather

My Siem Reap Tours specializes in taking photographers to the right places at the right times. Their private tours mean you set the pace and can wait for perfect shots without rushing.

Final Thoughts: Your Angkor Photo Journey

Taking great photos at Angkor means planning, patience, and knowing where to go beyond the main spots. The magic happens when you step away from crowds and find your own angle on these amazing temples.

Ready to capture your own stunning Angkor photos? Pack your camera gear, wear comfortable clothes, and prepare to wake up early. The best photo spots in Angkor reward those willing to go the extra mile.

For the most stress-free experience, book a private photo tour with experts who know all the secret spots. Contact us to plan your perfect Angkor photo adventure today.