Angkor Zipline : an unusual thing to do in Siem Reap

You cross the Angkor forest without really seeing it. You ride a tuk-tuk between Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm, you notice those enormous trees on either side of the road, and you move on to the next temple. That makes sense: you come to Siem Reap for Angkor, and the site deserves every hour you give it.

But that forest can be visited too. From above. Angkor Zipline has built a course of ziplines and suspension bridges in the canopy, inside the archaeological park itself, a few minutes from the temples. You spend two hours thirty metres off the ground, in the same ecosystem as the stones you came to see.

I have not been myself. Friends of mine did the course and sent me their messages right after, photos included. Here is what you need to know before you book.

Angkor Zipline at a glance

• Where: inside the forest of the Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap, Cambodia
• What: ziplines, sky bridges and an abseil descent through the canopy
• Departures: 8:00, 8:30, 13:00 and 14:30 (open daily, 7:00 to 16:00)
• Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours in the trees, 3 to 4 hours including transfers
• Price: from $49 per person for the Silver tour, $79 for the Gold
• Age: 5 to 80 years old, minimum height 1 m, maximum weight 125 kg
• Guides: 2 guides for a maximum of 9 people

An unusual thing to do in Siem Reap, in the forest of the temples

Siem Reap means Angkor. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage property, it covers dozens of square kilometres, and two or three days are barely enough to see the essentials. Angkor Wat at sunrise, the roots of Ta Prohm, the faces of the Bayon: this is why you flew here, and nothing on this page replaces it.

What fewer people realise is that the park is not only a set of monuments. It is also a forest, which grew around the temples and sometimes inside them. The temples owe that forest a good part of what moves us on site: the roots gripping the stone, the shade on the Bayon stairs, the silence at six in the morning. Angkor Zipline sits in that same forest, and that is what sets it apart from a regular treetop adventure park. You are not in a leisure park on the edge of town, you are inside the park.

In practice, you ride ziplines between platforms built into the trees, you walk across suspended bridges, and you finish with an abseil descent. A safety briefing opens the session, two guides stay with you from start to finish, and a short walk through the forest closes the visit.

Silver or Gold: which tour should you pick?

There are two main tours. Silver is the short version, Gold the long one. Here is what each one includes, according to the details published by Angkor Zipline.

My advice: if you are travelling with family or this is your first zipline, the Silver is plenty. You get the bridges, the double zipline and the abseil, which covers most of the thrill, without eating your whole morning. The Gold is for people who want length and the fastest lines, with two super ziplines on top. The longest line on site runs about 135 metres.

One detail: the double zipline is nicknamed the Honeymoon and has to be ridden in pairs. If you are travelling as a couple, that is the photo moment of the day.

What my friends said: "so scared when I walk on that bridge"

This is my favourite part, because it is more honest than any brochure. Sopha, who did the course with a group of friends, wrote to me on the way out.

"So scared when I walk on that bridge. Very high, and the bridge is wavy."

The bridge in question is the walkway suspended between two platforms. It is stable, it is secured, and it still moves under your feet. That is what stays with people, by the way: the ziplines are over fast, the bridge lasts. In the photos she sent me, the look on her face is worth more than any review.

The second thing that came up, and I had not asked about it: the guides.

"Two guides, Makara and Sopheak. Very kind, they take care of you, and friendly."

If you get Makara and Sopheak, you are in good hands. On this kind of activity the guide is half the experience: he is the one who clips you on, clips you off, steadies you at the edge of the platform and nudges you when you hesitate. The Angkor Zipline teams are called Sky Rangers, they are trained in first aid, and they work in pairs for a group of nine people maximum.

And the final verdict, after all that stress? "I will go again later." That is about the best review a thrill activity can get.

How much Angkor Zipline really costs in 2026

Here are the official prices listed by Angkor Zipline, per person. I say official because the activity is resold by a dozen online agencies, usually for more.

• Silver Eco-Adventure Canopy Tour: $49 ($39 for Cambodian citizens, with ID)
• Gold Eco-Adventure Canopy Tour: $79 ($49 for Cambodian citizens)
• Gold Premium Package: $99 plus VAT, with transport, a local meal and a gift included
• Sunrise, Soar & Savor: $109 plus 10% VAT, so around $120, minimum 2 people
• Transport: $15 by tuk-tuk, $30 by SUV, $35 by van
• GoPro rental: $25
• Photographer: $37.50 for 1 to 3 people, $47.50 for 4 to 7, $57.50 for 7 to 9

The Sunrise, Soar & Savor package deserves a word, because it is the smartest option if you are short on time. Hotel pickup at 4:30, sunrise at Angkor Wat at 5:00, buffet breakfast at the Citadel Restaurant of the Sofitel around 8:20, Silver zipline at 9:30, back at the hotel by 11:30. You have watched the sun rise over Angkor Wat and crossed the canopy before noon, and your afternoon stays free for the temples.

Do you need an Angkor Pass on top?

This is the question that moves the bill, and the answer depends. The site is inside the park, so:

• If you come under your own steam (your own tuk-tuk, a scooter), you need a valid Angkor Pass: $37 for 1 day, $62 for 3 days, $72 for 7 days.
• If you book the transport offered by Angkor Zipline and you come for the zipline only, no pass is required.

Do the maths: $15 for the operator's tuk-tuk against $37 for a one-day pass, the gap is obvious if the zipline is your only outing that day. If you are pairing temples and zipline, the pass is mandatory anyway and you can travel however you like. It is sold only on the Angkor Enterprise website or at the official ticket office on Apsara Road, never through a middleman.

Is Angkor Zipline a good thing to do in Siem Reap with kids?

Yes, and it is one of its best cards. Children get an activity built for them, parents stay inside the Angkor park, and everyone wins.

• Age: recommended from 5 to 80 years old, in good health
• Minimum height: 1 metre, so the harness fits properly
• Maximum weight: 125 kg
• Minors: the waiver must be co-signed by a parent or legal guardian
• Pregnancy: not advised, the harness is not suitable

For a child, Silver is the right call. There is waiting time between platforms when the group is full, and an hour and a half in the trees is already a lot for small legs. With kids, the zipline is not the sticking point, the suspension bridge is. Warn them beforehand, and send an adult across first.

What to pack

• Closed shoes. Flip-flops are refused on the course, or strapped to your feet, which is not comfortable.
• Insect repellent and sunscreen. You are in the forest, there is shade, but not everywhere.
• A rain jacket from June to October, the rainy season. Ponchos are sold on site if you get caught out.
• A warm layer from mid-November to late February, especially for the 8:00 departure.
• No dangling jewellery and no handbags. Free lockers are available.

Helmet and harness are provided and fitted on site. Insurance is included in the tour price.

The gibbons of the Angkor forest

One detail that has nothing to do with the zipline, but gives the morning some weight: the forest where you are about to spend two hours is home to pileated gibbons, an endangered species. They had disappeared from it. Since December 2013, Wildlife Alliance, the Cambodian Forestry Administration and the Apsara Authority have released several pairs there, rescued from the illegal trade and rehabilitated before going back to the forest. They have bred on site.

You will not necessarily see them. They are wild animals, they are not there for the show. But you may well hear them, especially early in the morning: their song carries several hundred metres. One more reason to take the 8:00 departure rather than the 14:30 one.

Booking and logistics

Booking is not compulsory, but it is strongly recommended. Without a reserved slot you wait for a group to open up, and a group is nine people maximum. In high season, November to February, that can easily cost you an hour.

• Official website: angkorzipline.com
• Phone: +855 96 9999 100
• WhatsApp and Telegram: +855 96 9999 101
• Email: info@angkorzipline.com
• Office: open daily, 7:00 to 22:00

Pay attention to the cancellation terms: up to 24 hours before, you can move your slot within 18 months, but with no refund. Under 24 hours, neither reschedule nor refund. If your plans are uncertain, book the 13:00 or 14:30 slot and keep the morning to see how things go.

How to fit the zipline into your trip

It slides into a schedule easily, depending on how much time you have.

• You have 3 days in Siem Reap: temples on days 1 and 2, zipline on the morning of day 3, and somewhere cool in the afternoon. A pool is exactly what you want after two hours in a harness.
• You only have one free day: the Sunrise, Soar & Savor package settles it, sunrise over Angkor Wat and the canopy before noon.
• You live or work here: the 14:30 slot works nicely after a morning of work. If you are looking for somewhere to set up, I tested Lofi Cafe and listed the coworking spaces open in Siem Reap.

And if you want the exact opposite of a zipline for the rest of your trip, Cambodia is also the country of meditation and silent retreats. Adrenaline one morning, silence the following week, that is a programme that holds together.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Angkor Zipline take?

Count 1 to 1.5 hours in the trees, and 3 to 4 hours in total including hotel pickup, the briefing and the ride back. The duration depends mostly on the size of your group.

Is it dangerous?

The course is inspected every day, cables, trees and obstacles included, and checked regularly by the Cambodian Forestry Administration. Each group of nine is led by two guides trained in first aid, with a first-aid kit on site. You are never unclipped: the guides handle the carabiners at every platform.

What happens if it rains?

The activity runs through the rainy season, June to October. Bring a rain jacket, ponchos are sold on site. In a thunderstorm the call is made by the team on site, so contact them by WhatsApp that morning.

Can you go without an Angkor Pass?

Yes, as long as you book the transport offered by Angkor Zipline and come for the zipline only. If you arrive under your own steam or pair it with the temples, the pass is mandatory.

Do you need to be fit?

No. There is no sustained physical effort: you walk from one platform to the next, and gravity does the work on the lines. What is being tested is your head for heights, not your cardio.

Can you film?

Yes, but nothing in your hands on the lines. Rent a GoPro on site ($25) or take the photographer option from $37.50. Your hands have to stay free.

My verdict

For $49 you get two hours in a World Heritage forest, close supervision, and the kind of memory that comes back up at dinner. It is also one of the few activities in Siem Reap that works as well with children as with grandparents, and it shows you Angkor from an angle nobody photographs: from the trees.

The feedback I got leaves no room for doubt: a lot of stress on the suspension bridge, a lot of laughing afterwards, and the urge to go back. With a special mention for Makara and Sopheak, who came up before the ziplines did. That is usually a good sign.

Book your slot at angkorzipline.com, or message them on WhatsApp at +855 96 9999 101 to check today's availability. Take the 8:00 departure if you want to hear the gibbons.

Prices and schedules taken from the official Angkor Zipline website in October 2026. They can change, so check before you book.