Situated just 300 meter to the Thai border, this was a disputed area, until the international court of justice intervened on request of the Cambodian government, handing it to Cambodia, in 2008. Subsequently, it was declared a WHS site in the same year. From the top, one can actually see the Thai military outpost, boasting their national flag.

You're brought to the ticket office and transferred to a 4x4 vehicle. As the site is located at 620 masl, the temperatures are slightly more agreeable. when I visited there was no one else on the site. It's basically a giant causeway climbing 100 with 5 buildings/temples, in different states of deterioration/restauration, dating from the 9th to the 12th century. The name means holy pagoda, but is not the original name of the site.

Although big parts of the temples have collapsed and show different levels of deterioration, still, some amazingly hindu and buddha art can be appreciated carved into the locally quarried sandstone, including but not limited to shiva, vishnu, brahma. The views from the top are amazing, too. 

Three countries are actively working on restoration of the site: China, India, USA, but, according to my guide they only communicate indirectly through UNESCO and the local restoration organisation.

Getting there

As of 2025, daily tours can be booked from Siem Reap, visiting both Preah Vihear and Koh Ker in one day for 100 USD.