Journal · 6 min read
What to Bring to Angkor Wat: The Day Bag We Pack as Locals
By Sébastien · July 9, 2026
A day at Angkor is long, hot and absolutely worth it. It usually starts before sunrise, involves more walking and stair-climbing than people expect, and ends with the kind of tiredness you are glad to have earned.
Living in Siem Reap, we go often, sometimes just for a single temple and a coffee. Over the years the contents of our day bag have settled into a short, reliable list. Here it is.
Before you leave the hotel
- Your Angkor Pass, bought in advance. Checkpoints ask for it, so keep it reachable, not buried at the bottom of the bag.
- An early start. The light is at its best and the heat at its kindest in the first hours of the day; by late morning you will be glad you began at dawn.
- Comfortable, already-worn shoes. Temple steps are steep and uneven, and Angkor is no place to break in new footwear.
The non-negotiables
Four things earn a permanent place in the bag:
- Water, more than you think. Vendors sell drinks near the major temples, but there are long stretches with nothing, and the heat is relentless.
- Sun protection: a real hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Much of Angkor is gloriously unshaded.
- Cash in small notes, for coconuts, tips and the little stalls that will not take a card.
- Mosquito repellent, especially for dawn and the jungle-wrapped temples further out.
What to wear
The dress code is shoulders and knees covered, everywhere on the site. Light, loose natural fabrics make that a comfort rather than a constraint; we wrote a full guide on what to wear in Cambodia if you are planning the whole trip's wardrobe.
The bag itself
Skip the heavy backpack. A light cotton tote or a roomy shoulder bag carries a bottle, a scarf and a camera without cooking your back, and slips off easily at every temple entrance. Ours is a krama tote that has done a hundred temple mornings and looks better for it.
In the rainy season, add a thin dry bag or even a simple zip pouch for your phone. Showers arrive fast, drench everything in minutes, and leave as quickly as they came.
The quiet hero: a cotton scarf
If one item earns its place above all others, it is a handwoven krama. In a single temple day ours works as a sweat cloth, a sun shield for the neck, an extra shoulder cover at a shrine, a cushion on a stone step and a lens wipe. Locals have used it this way for generations; five minutes at Angkor and you will understand why.
Leave room for the day
Everything above fits in one light bag with space to spare. That space matters: for the water you buy at noon, and for the moment you stop rummaging and simply stand in front of a nine-hundred-year-old wall, watching the light move across the stone.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a dress code at Angkor Wat?
Yes. Shoulders and knees must be covered for all visitors, across the whole archaeological park. Light, loose cotton or linen keeps this comfortable in the heat.
Can you buy water and food at Angkor?
Yes, vendors and small restaurants operate near the major temples. Between sites there can be long gaps, so carry more water than you expect to need.
How long do you need at Angkor?
One full day covers the famous circuit at a comfortable pace. With two or three days you can add quieter temples and take the mornings slowly, which is how the place is best enjoyed.
