Overview
This is a short report on four easy to access, uncrowded, Angkor era sites that can be done as a single day trip from Siem Reap.

If you look at Google Maps, there are many sites not included in the classic 3 day touring programs. I chose four of these lesser sites based mostly on obscurity since I was hoping to find them uncrowded.

We encountered no tourists at any of these sites. Only Tonle Snguot was known to my guide, who has years of experience in the area, so a certain amount of wayfinding may be needed even if guided. Don’t assume roads marked on Google Maps are passable by car, especially in the rainy season.
Banteay Sra
Banteay Sra is the least impressive on the ground, located in the middle of a square, seasonally dry moat at approximately 13.467375, 103.695416 in an area of rural fields. It’s approximately 23km to the east of Siem Reap, near the town of Puok, off Highway 6.

Free parking off is available at the dirt road intersection at 13.467312, 103.691336, west of the site. No Angkor Archaeological Park ticket is required

A dirt, sometimes muddy path leads east to 13.467869, 103.694523, which seems to be the greatest concentration of stone blocks at a very low mound, though there’s no structure visible.

Of the four sites discussed, this is the least interesting, especially since it’s farthest from Siem Reap. It’s hard to appreciate from ground level with just some scattered blocks, though the setting when viewed using overhead imagery is impressive with a baray (ancient reservoir) to the east.



Path/road from parking area

Low mound with some scattered blocks

Another perspective on the low mound

A few blocks on the low mound


Dry moat with a boat
Ta Oun Temple
Ta Oun is northwest of the major Angkor Thom sites. Access is on a dirt road from the north. Informal, free parking is at 13.462215, 103.840847.

An Angkor Archaeological Park ticket may be required, though checking is not consistently enforced on site. If a ticket checker sees you driving in the area or heading to the site, he may go there, check your ticket, then leave.




Banteay Thom Temple
Banteay Thom is north of Ta Oun. The easiest access is from the East. Informal. free parking is at 13.472416, 103.844251. It’s also subject to Angkor Archaeological Park ticket checking.






Tonle Snguot
Tonle Snguot is currently being stabilized with scaffolding and most of its features aren’t easy to discern. Access is from the east. Free parking is at a clearing adjacent to the east entrance. It’s also subject to Angkor Archaeological Park ticket checking.




Practicalities
These sites can be visited as a day trip from Siem Reap, though passage on dirt roads may be difficult after prolonged rain.

There was no apparent UXO (unexploded ordnance) hazard on our visit, though we were careful to stay to worn paths.

Toilet facilities at the sites are non existent. There were no food or drink vendors at the sites.
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