Angkor Wat ToursBeng Mealea: The Jungle Temple East of Angkor
Beng Mealea is a large 12th century temple about 40 km east of the main Angkor group, left largely as it fell, with collapsed galleries, trees and a wooden walkway rebuilt and reopened in early April. It has its own US$10 ticket from the official ticket site, so the Angkor Pass alone does not clearly cover it. This guide covers the temple itself, the ticket conflict, the drive from Siem Reap, and which bookable tours actually stop here, including the Koh Ker and Beng Mealea day trip. For the fuller Angkor picture, see the Angkor Wat tours comparison.
A gallery of Beng Mealea with collapsed blocks and trees growing through the ruin. Photo: Gary Todd, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Quick answer Beng Mealea in brief
Beng Mealea is an early 12th century temple about 40 km east of the main Angkor group, with its own US$10 ticket sold by the official ticket site. Wikivoyage says it is 80 km east of Siem Reap, about 1.5 hours by car. Its wooden walkway was rebuilt and reopened in early April. No tour price in the catalog includes the Angkor Pass.
Key takeaways
- The temple and its collapsed galleries: see the jungle temple guide.
- The ticket conflict and the landmine advice are in Visiting Beng Mealea.
- The Koh Ker and Beng Mealea Temples Tour is titled for both sites and runs 8 to 9 hours, though its itinerary stops list only Beng Mealea.
- Compare every Angkor Wat tour from Siem Reap by price and what the ticket covers.
The Jungle Temple
Beng Mealea is one of the largest temples outside the main Angkor group, and its history is unknown.
Date and Builder
Beng Mealea dates to the early 12th century. It is attributed to Suryavarman II on stylistic grounds, the same king who built Angkor Wat, because no inscription records its history. That attribution is the working theory rather than a documented fact, so treat the royal link as a scholarly reading of the style, not a record (Wikipedia).
Size and Moat
The scale is what makes the site worth the drive. The outer gallery measures 181 m by 152 m, and the surrounding moat measures 1,025 m by 875 m and is 45 m wide (Wikipedia). APSARA restored the eastern causeway in 2024-2025, a structure about 100 m long and 13 m wide, inaugurated on 31 July.
The Collapse and the Jungle
Large sections of gallery have collapsed into piles of carved blocks, and trees grow through the masonry. Wikivoyage describes a visit that runs mostly on wooden boardwalks, with a few places where you must clamber over walls. The 250 m wooden walkway had its first 189 m rebuilt and reopened in early April, widened from 1.30 m to 1.70 m (Wikipedia).
Pairing It with Koh Ker
Koh Ker is usually combined with Beng Mealea on the way back, per Wikivoyage. Koh Ker, the Khmer capital from 928 to 944 under Jayavarman IV, is roughly two and a half hours from Siem Reap by road, and its seven-tier Prang at Prasat Thom rises 36 m on a base 62 m per side. The Koh Ker guide covers the site in full.
Combining both temples in one day is the standard way to see them, because the sites sit on the same route out of Siem Reap.
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikivoyage, Wikivoyage Koh Ker.
Why It Is Called Beng Mealea and Why It Fell
The name is modern and the history is uncertain, which is part of the temple's appeal. Here is what the Angkor research body says.
A Modern Name and a Shared Faith
Sok Visal, a technical officer at the APSARA National Authority, says the name comes from the beng tree (Afzelia xylocarpa) and a mealea flower, and that the original name is unknown. The temple shows Hindu and Buddhist coexistence, and an Avalokitesvara statue once stood at the central tower. The builder may have been Suryavarman II or Dharanindravarman II, and later studies suggest the temple may postdate Angkor Wat, so the old blueprint-for-Angkor-Wat idea is disputed.
Beng Mealea was added to UNESCO's Tentative List on 27 March 2020.
Nature, Conflict and Looting
The collapse came from nature, conflict and looting rather than a single event. Earlier French repairs touched only the naga balustrades and the library, which is why so much of the site still lies where it fell. The outer gallery measures 181 m by 152 m inside a moat of 1,025 m by 875 m and 45 m wide.
Source: Cambodianess, Wikipedia.
What You Will See Inside
Beng Mealea is unrestored, so the visit is a walk through rubble galleries with carvings surfacing between fallen blocks. Here is the route and what to look for.
The Route Through the Ruins
Future Past describes walking the outer wall first, then climbing a wooden stair over the east wall into the interior courtyards. Lonely Planet describes the south entry over chiselled blocks and through dark chambers, with a central tower that has collapsed. Wikipedia lists three enclosing galleries around that collapsed central sanctuary.
The 250 m wooden walkway carries you over the worst of the ground, though Wikivoyage notes a few places where you must clamber over walls.
Carvings and the Library
Look for the Churning of the Sea of Milk and Vishnu borne by Garuda among the lintels, along with some Buddhist motifs. Lonely Planet places a small Churning of the Ocean of Milk carving among the rubble and a well-preserved library in the north-east quadrant. Strangler figs and silk-cotton trees push roots through the walls.
The sandstone was probably quarried at Phnom Kulen, about 7 km away.
Source: Wikipedia, Lonely Planet, Wikivoyage, Future Past.
Visiting Beng Mealea
The practical part: the walkway, the ticket and the safety rule that matters here.
The Rebuilt Wooden Walkway
The 250 m wooden walkway runs through the site, and its first 189 m were rebuilt and reopened in early April, widened from 1.30 m to 1.70 m (Wikipedia). Wikivoyage notes that visitors walk mostly on these boardwalks, with a few spots where you clamber over walls. Wear shoes with grip and expect some uneven steps even with the new walkway.
No official visit duration is published, so budget your own time inside the day.
The Restored Eastern Causeway
APSARA restored the eastern causeway in 2024 and 2025, a stone approach about 100 m long and 13 m wide, inaugurated on 31 July. With the walkway widened from 1.30 m to 1.70 m in April, the approach and the route through the ruin are both easier than a few years ago. Wikivoyage still notes a few places where you must clamber over walls, so wear shoes with grip.
The Ticket, and the Conflict
The official ticket site sells a separate 1-day Beng Mealea pass for US$10 covering 1 temple, with entry from 6:00 AM and closing at 6:30 PM (Angkor Enterprise). Wikivoyage says Beng Mealea is included in the Angkor Pass. The two cannot both be the current rule, so plan for the stricter one: budget US$10 per person and check at the gate.
The official explore page also lists Beng Mealea as one of the separate areas alongside Koh Ker and Kbal Spean, which supports the separate-ticket reading. For the wider ticket picture, see the Angkor Wat tickets guide.
Landmines and Staying on the Path
The FCDO says unexploded ordnance, including landmines, is present in Cambodia's border area, and that mined areas are often unmarked, so stay on main routes in rural areas, including around temple complexes. Applied to Beng Mealea this is simple: keep to the walkway and the marked paths, and never climb over the rubble into the uncleared sections, however good a photo looks from there. The same rule applies in any remote temple area of Cambodia.
How Long You Get and What to Watch
Siemreap-trip budgets 1 to 1.5 hours on site plus about 3 hours of driving round trip, and recommends arriving early for cooler light and fewer groups. The official hours run 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM. On the ticket, Angkor Enterprise sells a separate 1-day Beng Mealea pass for $10.00 (US$10) covering 1 temple, while Wikivoyage says the temple is included in the Angkor Pass, so the two disagree.
Ask your driver or guide which applies on the day. In the rainy season the mossy stone is slippery, so take the boardwalks slowly.
Sources: Angkor Enterprise, Wikivoyage, FCDO.
How Long to Allow and When to Arrive
Beng Mealea is a half-day outing once the drive is counted in. Siemreap-trip estimates 1 to 1.5 hours on site plus about 3 hours of round-trip driving.
Hours and Timing
The official entry time is 6:00 AM and closing is 6:30 PM, per the Angkor Enterprise ticket table. Some blogs print 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM and claim the Angkor Pass covers the temple, which conflicts with that table. Lonely Planet's $5 (US$5) figure is outdated.
Arrive early to beat the heat and the tour groups, and allow a half day in total including the journey. In the rainy season the site is greener but the stone and moss are slippery.
Source: Angkor Enterprise, Siemreap-trip, Lonely Planet.
Getting There and the Tours
Wikivoyage puts Beng Mealea 80 km east of Siem Reap, about 1.5 hours by car, while Wikipedia puts it about 40 km east of the main Angkor group. The way in is a booked tour or a hired car. Several tours in the comparison list Beng Mealea as a stop. None of them includes the Angkor Pass in its price, and the Beng Mealea ticket is a separate US$10 on the official site.
Tours That Stop at Beng Mealea
The Koh Ker and Beng Mealea Temples Tour is the dedicated day trip at $50 per person, 8 to 9 hours, with a group of up to 10. The Angkor Wat and Floating Village 2-Day Tour puts Beng Mealea on day two at $235 per group of up to 10, entrance fees extra. The Angkor Wat 3-Day Tour saves Beng Mealea for day three at $241.75 per person.
Every one of these prices excludes the temple tickets, so add the fees on site.
| Tour | Price | Drive | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koh Ker and Beng Mealea Temples Tour | $50 per person, 8-9 hours | About 70 minutes to Beng Mealea per the listing | Listing is unclear on who pays the fees: Koh Ker US$15 per the listing, Beng Mealea US$10 on the official site |
| Angkor Wat and Floating Village 2-Day Tour | $235 per group up to 10, 2 days | Day 2 covers the 80 km route | Not included, entrance fees extra |
| Angkor Wat 3-Day Tour | $241.75 per person, 3 days | Day 3 covers the 80 km route | Not included, $62 three-day pass added, US$10 Beng Mealea extra |
Combining with Banteay Srei
Wikivoyage warns that combining Banteay Srei, Kbal Spean and Beng Mealea in one day means about 5 hours of travel on rough roads. If Banteay Srei is the priority, the Banteay Srei guide covers that temple separately, and the cleaner pairing for Beng Mealea remains the Koh Ker run.
By Tuk-Tuk and the Dam Dek Turn
Lonely Planet's route leaves Highway 6 at Dam Dek, about 37 km out of Siem Reap, then turns north for the last 31 km. Visittocambodia says a tuk-tuk takes 2 hours or more each way, against about 1 to 1.5 hours by car, so many travelers hire a car or join a tour. Wikivoyage puts tuk-tuk days at about $15.00 (US$15) for the main temples and $20.00 to $30.00 (US$20-30) for outlying temples, which shows the outer-temple premium.
Agree the fare and who pays the temple ticket before setting off.
Sources: Wikivoyage, Angkor Enterprise.
The Drive from Siem Reap
Beng Mealea sits east of Angkor on the road that continues to Koh Ker, so the two temples share one route. Distances differ between sources and are listed below.
The Road Route
Lonely Planet says to leave National Highway 6 at the Dam Dek junction about 37 km from Siem Reap, turn north after the market and continue about 31 km. It puts the temple about 68 km from Siem Reap and one hour by car, and notes the entrance sits just beyond the left turn to Koh Ker. Wikivoyage puts it 80 km east of Siem Reap, about 1.5 hours by car, and Siemreap-trip counts about 65 km from the Old Market at 1.5 hours.
Visittocambodia puts a tuk-tuk at 2 hours or more over this distance, so a car or a bookable tour is the easier choice. Siemreap-trip says Koh Ker is about 45 minutes further on the same road and costs $15.00 (US$15) to enter. Agree with your driver in advance who pays the ticket at each site.
| Source | Distance from Siem Reap | Time by car |
|---|---|---|
| Lonely Planet | 68 km | about 1 hour |
| Wikivoyage | 80 km | about 1.5 hours |
| Siemreap-trip | 65 km from the Old Market | about 1.5 hours |
| Visittocambodia | 65 km | 1.5 to 2 hours, tuk-tuk 2 hours or more |
Ways to Go
The Koh Ker and Beng Mealea Temples Tour is $50 per person. Its title and description mention Koh Ker, but the itinerary lists only Beng Mealea, and the listing shows a Koh Ker fee of US$15. An older Wikivoyage listing gives a Beng Mealea bus tour at about $28.00 (US$28) per person and a private car at about $45.00 (US$45) for 2 to 3 people.
If you prefer a longer itinerary, the Angkor Wat 3-Day Tour includes Beng Mealea on day 3 for $241.75 per person, which the checkout raises to $303.75 once the $62 three-day Angkor Pass is added, and the Angkor Wat and Floating Village 2-Day Tour covers Beng Mealea and the Kampong Phluk floating village on day 2 for $235 per group of up to 10, with the checkout showing US$69 of extra charges on top.
Source: Lonely Planet, Wikivoyage, Siemreap-trip.
A carved lintel at Beng Mealea propped on a wooden support. Photo: Gary Todd, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Dos and Don'ts at Beng Mealea
Do
- Do buy or budget for the US$10 Beng Mealea pass before you go, because the official ticket site sells it as a separate 1-day pass and assuming the Angkor Pass covers it risks a problem at the gate.
- Do stay on the wooden walkway and marked paths, because the FCDO says mined areas in rural Cambodia are often unmarked and tells travelers to keep to main routes around temple complexes.
- Do wear shoes with grip, because Wikivoyage notes a few places where you must clamber over walls even though the boardwalks cover most of the route.
- Do pair the visit with Koh Ker, because Wikivoyage says the two are usually combined on the way back and the dedicated tour's description covers both in one 8 to 9 hour day, though its itinerary stops list only Beng Mealea.
- Do start early, because the official Beng Mealea entry opens at 6:00 AM and closing is 6:30 PM, giving you the coolest walking hours.
Don't
- Don't climb over the rubble into uncleared sections, because unexploded ordnance is a documented risk in remote Cambodian areas and the collapsed piles are exactly where visitors should not go.
- Don't assume any tour price includes the temple tickets, because none of the tours in the comparison includes the Angkor Pass and the Beng Mealea fee is separate on the official site.
- Don't stack Banteay Srei, Kbal Spean and Beng Mealea into one day unless you accept about 5 hours of travel on rough roads, as Wikivoyage warns.
- Don't plan on public transport, because a booked tour or hired car is the way in.
Is It Worth the Drive, and Do You Need a Guide?
Beng Mealea rewards travelers who want a jungle ruin without restoration or crowds, but it asks for a full half day and sure footing.
Who Should Go and Who Should Skip It
Siemreap-trip calls the site a poor fit for visitors with limited mobility and demanding for young children, since parts of the route need clambering over walls. On a short Angkor stay, the main temples deserve the day first. Siemreap-trip compares it with Ta Prohm minus the restoration, and says a guide makes the carved lintels far easier to find in the rubble.
Local guides wait at the entrance.
Food at the Entrance
Lonely Planet lists stop-and-dip food stalls opposite the entrance with dishes at $2.00 to $4.00 (US$2-4), so lunch is easy before or after the walk.
Source: Siemreap-trip, Lonely Planet.
Beng Mealea Questions
Where is Beng Mealea and how far is it from Siem Reap?
Wikivoyage puts it 80 km east of Siem Reap, about 1.5 hours by car, while Wikipedia puts it about 40 km east of the main Angkor group.
How much is the Beng Mealea ticket?
The official ticket site sells a separate 1-day Beng Mealea pass for US$10 covering 1 temple, entry 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM. Wikivoyage says it is included in the Angkor Pass, so the two sources conflict, and the Angkor Wat tickets guide explains the pass rules.
Is the Angkor Pass included in tours that visit Beng Mealea?
No. None of the tours in the comparison includes the Angkor Pass in its price, and the Beng Mealea ticket is separate on the official site. The Koh Ker and Beng Mealea Temples Tour at $50 is unclear about who pays the Koh Ker and Beng Mealea fees, so plan for both.
Which tours stop at Beng Mealea?
Several tours in the comparison list it: the Koh Ker and Beng Mealea day trip, the 2-day floating village tour on day two, and the 3-day private tour on day three, all with temple tickets paid separately.
Can you combine Beng Mealea with Koh Ker in one day?
Yes, and it is the usual pairing, since Wikivoyage says Koh Ker is usually combined with Beng Mealea on the way back. The drive from Siem Reap to Beng Mealea is about 1.5 hours, and the dedicated day tour runs 8 to 9 hours and its description covers both sites, though its itinerary stops list only Beng Mealea.
Is Beng Mealea safe to walk around?
On the marked paths and the rebuilt wooden walkway, yes. The FCDO says mined areas in rural Cambodia are often unmarked and advises staying on main routes around temple complexes, so do not climb over the collapsed walls. The same caution applies on the Koh Ker side of the route.
How long do you need at Beng Mealea?
Siemreap-trip budgets 1 to 1.5 hours on site plus about 3 hours of round-trip driving from Siem Reap, so plan a half day in total. The site is open 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM and the practical details are in the guide to Beng Mealea.
Is a guide necessary at Beng Mealea?
Not required, but Siemreap-trip says a guide makes the carved lintels much easier to find in the rubble, and local guides wait at the entrance. If you want a guided day, the Koh Ker and Beng Mealea Temples Tour lists an English-speaking guide from $50 per person, though its itinerary names only Beng Mealea and its private transport options carry no guide unless added.
Why hasn't Beng Mealea been restored?
Collapse came from nature, conflict and looting, and earlier French repairs touched only the naga balustrades and the library, so most stones still lie where they fell. The APSARA National Authority has instead restored access, rebuilding the wooden walkway and the eastern causeway, as described in the guide to Beng Mealea.
What does Beng Mealea mean?
Sok Visal of the APSARA National Authority says the name is modern and comes from the beng tree (Afzelia xylocarpa) and a mealea flower, and that the original name is unknown. The temple's history and dating are covered in the guide to Beng Mealea.