🛕 Phnom Bok
ភ្នំបូក
Province
Siem Reap
Era
Early Angkorian
Difficulty
🔴 Strenuous
Crowds
😌 Low Crowds
Key Facts
Built: 9th century (late 800s)
Built by: King Yasovarman I
Religion: Hindu
Entry Fee: Angkor Pass
Time Needed: 2–3 hours (including climb)
UNESCO: ✅ World Heritage Site
The most remote of Yasovarman I's three hilltop temples — a 235-meter climb rewarded with solitude and panoramic views.
Phnom Bok is the least visited of the three hilltop temples built by King Yasovarman I (along with Phnom Bakheng and Phnom Krom). Rising 235 meters above the plain east of the East Baray, the summit features three sandstone towers dedicated to the Hindu trinity — Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva — along with lingas and subsidiary structures. The climb involves over 600 uneven stone and earth steps through scrub forest, making it genuinely strenuous but rewarding with absolute solitude (you'll likely be the only visitor) and spectacular 360-degree views over the Angkor plain. A large broken linga at the summit is among the largest found in Angkor.
Highlights
- ✦ Most remote Yasovarman I hilltop temple
- ✦ Complete solitude — likely no other visitors
- ✦ 360-degree panoramic views
- ✦ Three Hindu trinity towers
- ✦ Giant broken linga at summit
- ✦ 600+ steps through forest
Best Time to Visit
Early morning to avoid heat on the climb
Visitor Tips
- 💡 Over 600 steps — bring water and sturdy shoes
- 💡 No facilities at the top
- 💡 Located east of the East Baray — about 30 km from Siem Reap
- 💡 Best for adventurous visitors seeking off-path experiences
Nearby Temples
13.4733°N, 103.9672°E
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