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Review: a visit to Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

visit angkor wat cambodia

Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.

I recently enjoyed a wonderful holiday in Thailand (home to my favorite hotel in the world: Soneva Kiri) and the Kingdom of Cambodia. You can read my trip reports here:


Today (27 May, 2020): a tour of the Angkor Wat temple complex (Cambodia).

Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Asia’s most famous archeological site and the principle draw card to the Kingdom of Cambodia for many savvy tourists from around the globe. Angkor stood once at the center of the mighty Khmer empire (9th to 15th century) and grew to become the largest known pre-industrial settlement, spanning a site roughly equivalent to nowadays Paris. The site comprises dozens of iconic temples, including Angkor Wat itself (with its world-famous silhouette, best observed at sunrise); Bayon (a temple famous for its smiling, serene faces carved onto gigantic towers) and Ta Prohm (a magnificent temple ruin engulfed by the jungle).

Angkor Wat features in my top 10 list of the most fabulous archaeological sites in the world.

Have you ever visited Angkor Wat? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.

In this review (more info and photos below my YouTube clip & slideshow):


ANGKOR WAT: HISTORY

Angkor was once the capital of the Khmer Empire, which held sway over territory that includes present-day Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and southern Vietnam. The beginning of the era of the Khmer Empire is conventionally dated to 802 when King Jayavarman II declared himself chakravartin (“king of the world” or “king of kings”). A large series of migrations of Thai people in the 13th and 14th centuries accelerated the downfall of the Khmer Empire, culminating in the Thai Kingdom’s seizure of Angkor in 1431. The remnants of the Khmer people migrated, with the capital moving to Phnom Penh; the empire then faded away, absorbed by newcomers.

In the late 9th century, the ruler Yasovarman founded Angkor, the original name of which was Yashodharapura or “glory-bearing city.” Historians believe that at the time, Angkor was the largest city in the world, rivaling the modern sprawling metropolis of Paris in size. The Angkor temples were constructed at a time when the Khmer Empire reached its peak in terms of cultural and artistic achievements. It was believed that the Khmer king had a divine role, and an appropriate temple had to be constructed by each king to consecrate the symbolic relationship between ruler and divinity. When the king died, his successor initiated construction of a new state temple, which was always bigger and grander than the one built by his predecessor, dedicating it to the religion of his choice. These massive stone temples withstood the test of time as testament to the Khmer Empire’s power a millennium later.


ANGKOR WAT: BEST SEASON TO VISIT

The Kingdom of Cambodia experiences four annual seasons:

The best time to visit Angkor Wat coincides with the northern hemisphere’s winter period, November through February. Days are assurdedly sunny and warm. From March on, the temperature picks up and it can get unbearably hot during the day for a comfortable temple visit; avoid these months unless you can handle heat and suffocating humidity as you explore the ancient temples. From May until October, there is a high risk of showery weather, which may ruin a visit to the temples since most of the temples are open-air.

No matter what time of the year you visit Angkor Wat, always be armed with mosquito repellent, sunscreen, good walking shoes, a hat and bottles of water.


ANGKOR WAT: BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to visit Angkor Wat is the early morning for three reasons:


ANGKOR WAT: BUYING TICKETS

Entrance tickets for a visit to Angkor Wat can only be purchased from the official ticket booth on the road that connects Siem Reap city to the archeological site (online tickets are not available yet)  The ticket office is open from 5.00 AM to 5.30 PM every day, and you can choose from 3 types of tickets:

Some things to keep in mind:


HOW MUCH TIME TO SPEND AT ANGKOR WAT? WHAT TEMPLES TO VISIT?

Although travelers with tight itineraries in Southeast Asia try to squeeze in as many sights as they can in a day, remember that the Angkor complex is actually the largest religious monument in the world and that the entire site features dozens of temples! You’re going to need more time than you think to not end up rushing around. A one-day visit to Angkor Wat allows you to see the highlights of most famous temples but not more. Three days are enough to visit all the major temples and a few minor ones. Seven days are sufficient to really explore the major temples, visit many of the minor structures, experience some activities and take time to explore the countryside and villages as well.

That said, if you are not a culture of history buff like my, you can comfortably visit Angkor Wat’s three most famous temple in half a day:


HOW TO EXPLORE THE TEMPLES?

The temples are too far apart to make foot travel practical. Angkor Wat, the nearest temple, is located at 6.5 km (4 mi) from Siem Reap. There are several modes of transport allowed inside the site, from bicycles to vehicles. Most hotel staffs will be able to assist you with one of the following options:

To smell the forest and listen to birds and cicadas, I recommend you to discover the temples by “3-wheel remork” (tuk tuk) or bicycle. You can also absorb the enormity of Angkor on an early morning balloon flight. Rising before dawn to watch the eeriest of shadows stretch across hallowed temple grounds as the sun rises is a sight to behold, and definitely something to add to your bucket list.


ANGKOR WAT: VISITOR CODE OF CONDUCT


WHAT HOTEL TO STAY AT?

Siem Reap, the city closest to Angkor Wat, features several luxurious hotels. The best one, by far, is Zannier Hotels Phum Baitang − also called ‘the green village’. Set within 8 acres of lush gardens, lemon-grass meadows and rice paddies, this elegant retreat is home to 45 private villas made to resemble traditional Cambodian houses in plantations. The hotel also has two gourmet restaurants, a magnificent pool, cigar & cocktail lounge, and an indulgent spa. You can read my review of Zannier Hotels Phum Baitang here or watch my YouTube clip below:

Other luxury hotels in Siem Reap are:


PHOTOS

TUKTUK TO ANGKOR WAT
SUNRISE AT ANGKOR WAT
SUNRISE AT ANGKOR WAT
SUNRISE AT ANGKOR WAT
SUNRISE AT ANGKOR WAT
SUNRISE AT ANGKOR WAT
SUNRISE AT ANGKOR WAT
ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE
ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE
ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE
ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE
ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE
ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE
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ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE
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ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE
ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE
ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE
ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE
ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE
TUKTUK RIDE TO BAYON
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
BAYON TEMPLE
TA PROHM
TA PROHM
TA PROHM
TA PROHM
TA PROHM
TA PROHM
TA PROHM
TA PROHM
TA PROHM
TA PROHM
TA PROHM
TA PROHM
TA PROHM
TA PROHM
TA PROHM
TA PROHM

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