Mindful Dress Code: What To Wear Appropriately for Angkor Wat Temple?

Cambodia weather is generally cool and hot all year. Travelers love to put on a tank top and a short whilst exploring the country of temples, particularly in the hot season (Mar-Jun) when the heat and humidity are extreme. However, dressing a tank top and a short you will be definitely refused to access Angkor Wat.

For years, the Angkor Archaeological Park’s dress code was loosely applied. However, since mid-2016 the dress code has been more rigidly enforced after multiple incidents of nude photography.

See more: Weather in Cambodia by month and How to travel properly?

Angkor Wat Dress Code

Angkor Wat is a must-visit place in any Cambodia tour. It welcomes all travelers to come and explore the mighty of this World Heritage Centre. Keep in mind that Angkor is a place of worship, and one of which Cambodians are extremely proud of.

Therefore, visitors should dress appropriately during their visit to the park, it means they are showing respect to Cambodian sacred temples, culture, and Cambodian women’s values in any Cambodia tours to temples. 

What to wear in Angkor Wat

Remember this Angkor Wat dress code updates that will put you in the safe zone. These rules apply to both men and women, particularly for women:

• Cover up your shoulders and upper arms: this means no tank tops, no straps, and not even t-shirts with sleeves too short. Even though you have a scarf or a shawl over your shoulder to cover yourself up, still be refused. 
• Cover your knees: no above-knee shorts or skirt. Long skirts cover knees are allowed.
• The safest attire is ankle-length pants or skirt with a long-sleeve top.
• You do not have to remove your footwear in the Angkor temples

It would be a long walk through Angkor Wat in Cambodia tours and you're going to be spending lots of time in the sun, particularly in the hot season. So how to wear appropriately for easy walking and complying with the park’s dress code alike:

• Wear something lightly with breathable material that you’ll feel cooler than a heavy fabric.
• Wear comfortable footwear such as trainers or trekking sandals as you'll be doing lots of walking with many staircases.
• For ideal photography, wear brightly-colored clothes as they will contrast best against the grey and orange stone backgrounds, you will stand out. Moreover, the sun is absorbed better by darker colors so avoid dark-colored outfits.
• DON’T wear revealing clothes as they are considered being disrespectful at the religious sites.
• A sarong is fine but not a good idea because the stairs are steep, narrow and high risers, and most are worn and uneven.
• Leggings are appropriate attire if they cover your knees. However, you may find them very hot later.

Note: In an emergency, you can buy pants at the temples during the tours but it will cost you a lot than buy at the market. So get prepared beforehand before heading to the Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat Etiquette

Angkor Wat Visitor Code of Conduct

Besides the temple dress code, Visitor Code of Conduct at each temple is important also:

• Notice and respect all signs: For your safety, remember to strictly follow all the signs at the temple entrance and inside the temples as there are many temples are under construction and renovation.
• Do not touch the monuments: Touching, leaning, climbing or sitting on the temples structures is strictly prohibited.
• Watch out for the monkeys: Monkeys are around the temple grounds and in some of the temples. They are very cute, but the cheeky monkeys. They will grab your food, your sunglasses, your cameras, and even unzip your bag to get things inside. For your safety, don’t feed them or be very on guard when taking a photo with monkeys because they will steal your food given the chance, and they have become increasingly aggressive due to being fed by tourists. It’s a lot more harm than good.

Children in Angkor Wat

• Do not give children money and candy:  There are so many posters and signs to prohibit this action in front of many tourist sites in Cambodia. In Angkor Wat, you will come across many children selling small souvenirs or begging for money to help them buy supplies for school. However, actually giving children money encourages them not to go to school, keeps them stuck in a cycle of poverty.
• Do not litter
• Do not smoke: Angkor is also an entirely smoke-free site,
• Respect the monks: You will see monks at some of the temples. Before taking their photos you should ask them. Do not put your arms around them even for photos or you just try to be nice. Women are not expected to sit or stand close to the monks as monks are not allowed to touch women
• Do not make lousy noise: As Angkor is a sacred site, loud conversation and noises and other inappropriate behavior in Cambodian culture is considered to be offensive and may disturb other visitors.

Checklist what to pack for Angkor Wat visit in Cambodia tours:

• Your tickets!
• Camera 
•  Sunscreen and Insect repellent
• Snacks/Lunch and Water
• Sunglasses and Hat
• Cash (there are stalls outside the temple with many things to buy)

So there you have it, a practical guide on what DO and DON’T about Dress code and Temple Etiquette in Angkor Wat. Keep it in you and don’t let some stupid things ruin your epic trip to Cambodia.

We would love to answer any questions you may have once you plan any Cambodia tours or visit the Angkor Wat. Contact us at [email protected] to get free and instant support. 

Read more:

- Vietnam tour packages

- Bus from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon, Vietnam) to Phnom Penh. Is it safe?

- Weather in Cambodia by month and How to travel properly?

- Three lesser-known temples in Angkor Complex that you should not miss

- Our exclusive tips when travelling to the 3 most favorite temples in Angkor Complex