Banteay Srei and Kbal Spean

Hi, I%26#39;m planning a morning trip to these two sites. I%26#39;d like to visit Banteay Srei at a time of day when it%26#39;s best for photography and, hopefully, when it also happens to be least crowded. Any thoughts? Is Banteay Srei a good sunrise spot? I need to be back in SR by 1, and from reading previous posts, it sounds like this itinerary is doable. Thanks for any suggestions you may have!

Banteay Srei and Kbal Spean

I visited Banteay Srei 2 years ago, at the crack of dawn, and nobody was there. Very eerie and peaceful, but I think the lighting didn%26#39;t do the place justice between 7 and 8am. Visited again this year, after Kbal Spean and the place was TOTALLY SWARMING with tourists! I was appalled! Buses lined the roads and there were so many booths set up selling stuff that i couldn%26#39;t even find the entrance to the place (I just walked right up to it last time). The lighting was better I have to admit after 9:00am, have a look at some photos here I took just a couple of weeks ago

www.facebook.com/profile.php…

Kbal Spean is best photographed with ample light as well. Thatis a lovely place, you will enjoy it! Bring sturdy hiking sandals/shoes as you have to hike for about 20 minutes to get to the river.

Banteay Srei and Kbal Spean

We also went early in the morning, getting there about 7:15am (we had taken in sunrise at Angkor Wat first). There was no one around when we arrived but as we were leaving the crowds started to arrive. We thought the lighting was fine for us, but we are only amateur photographers. We thought the early morning light highlighted the pinkness of the stone and we were pleased with the results of our photos. Did not get to Kbal Spean.

Thank you, both, for the useful info! Sounds like going to Banteay Srei in the morning is a good way to avoid the crowds.

Maneki-neko, would Keen sandals work for the hike up to Kbal Spean? I want to travel light and not have to bring real hiking shoes.

Finally, does either of you know of some nice, relatively less-crowded spots for either sunrise or sunset in the main Angkor Wat compound? I have read that Phnom Bakheng at sunset is quite crowded, with some travelers suggesting that it may not be worth it. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Keens are great, that%26#39;s what I have! Phnom Bakheng is a zoo, indeed, at sunset. Go for a sunrise instead.

I am planning to go to Banteay Srei too, but I thought it%26#39;s is quite a ways out. How long is it by car from SR?

If we try to see Beng Mealea, Kbal Spean and Bantey Srei, what%26#39;s the best arrangement to avoid the crowds?

The driver will want to take you to Kbal Spean, then Banteay Srei and then Beng Mealea, which is the usual route and makes the most sense, time-wise. It is about 1 hour from SR to Kbal Spean, then back another 45 minutes or so to Banteay Srei, then about another hour out to Beng Mealea. (This is all tuk-tuk time, a car would get you there 20% faster!) No one is ever at Beng Mealea in the late afternoon, it is perfect then! If you have all day with the driver, definitely get him to stop at Akira%26#39;s Landmine Museum after Banteay Srei, it is right nearby, and will give you a good glimpse of what locals are doing to make an effort to clear the area of landmines and UXO. After that it%26#39;ll be lunchtime, and you can head to Beng Mealea after lunch. Have fun!