While conducting some preliminary research before heading to Siem Reap, I couldn’t seem to figure out what exactly to wear to Angkor Wat. I knew I needed to wear temple appropriate clothing, but I didn’t know how strict it would be.

Well, I’m here to tell you that the dress code for Angkor Wat and surrounding temples is not a suggestion; it’s strictly enforced. 

I saw one woman being refused entry into a temple based on her outfit, and another refused entry to the top of Angkor Wat even though she had a scarf over her shoulders. Unlike many temples across Thailand and Indonesia that rent or let you borrow sarongs and other items you can properly cover up with, Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples do not. If you’re not dressed appropriately, you don’t go in.

Can you imagine traveling all the way to Cambodia to experience Angkor Wat, only to find out that you can’t go to the top of the temple just because of what you’re wearing?! 

I wrote this post to ensure that this DOES NOT happen to you! Based on my experience, I think I have some pretty good tips that will help you when deciding what to wear for this bucket list trip to Angkor Wat. Read on to find out the DO’S and DON’TS of choosing what to wear to Angkor Wat, as well as a list of the top 4 outfits that will put you in the safe zone!

The DO’S of what to wear to Angkor Wat:

+ Light, airy, breathable fabric: The lighter and breezier, the better! You’ll feel cooler than if you’re wearing a heavy fabric!

+ Bright colors: Because the majority of Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples are grey, bright colors really stand out. I wore a dark blue dress while exploring one of the temples, and regretted it in photos later!

+ Forgiving, loose shapes: The flowy-er the more comfortable you’ll be! When we get hot, we bloat. Best to wear something you’re comfortable in so you can enjoy your day of exploring to the fullest!

The DON’TS of what to wear to Angkor Wat:

X Long sleeves: It’s hot as hell ladies. Don’t wear sleeves, they will be drenched in sweat within 30 minutes of exploring in the scorching hot sun, I promise.

X Revealing clothing: As stated in the paragraphs above, this is a religious site and you have to respect the code of conduct.

X Dark colors: First off, the sun is absorbed better by darker colors so avoid dark colors so you don’t fry! Secondly, and this is just purely opinion, I think bright colors look a lot better against the stone tones. Trust me you’ll thank me later when you’re reviewing photos!

X Jumpsuits/Rompers: You won’t want to be dealing with a onesie if you need to go to the bathroom at one of the squat toilets (which you have to pay to use, by the way). Welcome to Southeast Asia.

Here are 4 outfits to wear to Angkor Wat:

OUTFIT #1: FLOWY BOHO DRESS

To me, wearing a flowy bohemian style dress that covers the shoulders and hits below the knees is your absolute best bet. It’s easy, it’s light, and best of all, it’s only one item of clothing to worry about. Pictured above I wore a dress that went all the way past my ankles which I would probably avoid if I were to go back. If you can find a dress that goes just below the knees, that is the sweet spot! 

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OUTFIT #2: FLOWY BOHO SKIRT & SHORT SLEEVE TOP

This outfit comes in at #2 only because it involves packing another item to complete the look. On the contrary, I also like the idea of having two pieces that you can mix and match for the rest of your trip. The outfit pictured above is a little more scandalous than it probably should have been, but I didn’t receive any grief from the security guards. I may avoid slits this high just to avoid any problems! I’d go with a nice maxi skirt that hits below the knees and a blouse that covers the shoulders. Done.

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OUTFIT #3: SKINNY STRAP DRESS & SHRUG

If you already have your eye on a dress that has skinny straps, have no fear, you can get away with wearing it by pairing it with a short sleeve shrug. One thing I want to make clear is that they really frown upon using a scarf to cover the shoulders. They’ll let you, but as soon as it slips off of the shoulders, they’ll be telling you to cover up (trust me, I know from experience).

Additionally, as I briefly explained in the intro of this post, you are NOT ALLOWED to enter the temple on top of Angkor Wat if you only have a scarf to cover your shoulders. It has to be an actual piece of clothing. That woman waited in line for an hour just to be told that she couldn’t go to the top. (What a bummer.)

As you can see in the photo above, I’m wearing a long sleeve shrug which I would not recommend seeing as I was sweating like a turkey on Thanksgiving. If the shrug had been short sleeves, it would have been the perfect outfit!

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OUTFIT #4: FLOWY PANTS & SHORT SLEEVE TOP

The only reason I put this outfit at number 4 is that I personally think it’s just too darn hot to wear pants. Pants are simply not as breathable as a dress or skirt and I really can’t explain to you just how hot Southeast Asia is. The more airflow to the skin, the better! If you aren’t comfortable wearing a dress or skirt though, this could be a good option for you. I just like to avoid pants whenever possible while in Southeast Asia because the sweat is REAL. Also, I realize the above photo does not show me in a pair of flowy pants, but that’s because I didn’t even bring pants to Cambodia. Besides a pair of leggings for the plane ride, I see no need to bring them…

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So there you have it, a full (practical) fashion guide on what you should and should not wear to Angkor Wat (with hand-picked items by me!) I really hope you found this post helpful when deciding what to wear for this epic trip. I’d love to know if anyone has any other suggestions about practical fashion tips and advice when it comes to choosing outfits for religious temples. Let me know in the comments below!

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Wander On,

Wanderluluu xx