Discover the Enchantment of Angkor Wat: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Cambodia

Huge temple of Angkor Wat located in Cambodia at the break of the sun TheKamol wonders of stone carving work and green forests near the temple.

 

Dear Reader, Hope this piece takes you to Kamran’s world. If so, then for your real vacation, how about Angkor Wat, Cambodia – a place that has it all – archaeology,architecture and colourful culture. This travel blog is your perfect guide to this temple complex and encompasses why you should visit, what to give your eyes, taste buds, soul, adventurous side to, and how about a practical 7-day budget trip?

Why the Angkor Wat in Cambodia?

 

 

 

A UNESCO World Heritage Site: It remains the largest religious temple in the world by land area that belongs to the world heritage site in Cambodia. The architectural designs involve frieze works that elaborate the history of the Khmer Empire; it is a huge temple.

 

Rich Cultural Heritage: Cambodia is so full of history, and Angkor Wat is its very essence. It opens an opportunity for sightseeing to embrace traditional culture, religious practices, and histories that define this beautiful nation.

 

Stunning Sunrises and Sunsets: What really inspired me was watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat; must-see. The sun rises and rather brightly illuminates reflections of the temple in water which also contributes to the atmosphere rather much.

 

Adventure Awaits: In addition to visiting the temple, Cambodia has other adventures, including justus sky-line and other unexplored temples.

What to Explore: Highlights of Angkor Wat

 

1. Angkor Wat Temple

 

 

 

Description: Angkor Wat is one more well-known temple of Cambodia: its size is rather large; besides, it has beautiful architectural details.

 

What to Do: Therefore, walk slowly round the enormous area and examine complex stuccowork, and go to the central mandapa or tower, which represents Mount Meru in the Hindu mythology.

2. Bayon Temple

 

 

 

Description: Well known by numerous smiling statues on its faces, Bayon Temple is a large structure at Angkor Thom area.

 

What to Do: Get lost in the area and navigate through the remains and arches to be rewarded with amazing views of the faces looking in all directions.

3. Ta Prohm Temple

 

 

 

Description: Ta Prohm : The tourist may recognise it as the temple overgrown with trees where Angelina Jolie and other actors starred or the ‘Tomb Raider’ temple famed for trees which grew through the stone walls and on the roofs of temple.

 

What to Do: Describe and experience how the temple is designed naturally and artificially at the same time. Oh yes, don’t forget to take photos of the tree roots which coil around the stones!

4. Banteay Srei

 

 

 

Description: I have to say it is one of the most sophisticated buildings in terms of carving and it is even called the gem of the Khmer art.

 

What to Do: See the wonderful pink sandstone structure and refined bas-reliefs of tales from the major Hindu epic Ramayana.

Food to eat in Cambodia

 

 

 

Amok Trey: Salt water fish cooked in coconut milk and curry paste and garnished with kaffir lime leaves and served in banana leaf.

 

Khmer Red Curry: A ‘tamer’ version of the Thai curry, and it comes with slowed cooked meat and vegetables, coconut milk.

 

Lok Lak: Fried beef with rice, green vegetables, and a sour sauce for dipping.

 

Nom Banh Chok: A breakfast meal that consists of rice noodles garnished with fish based curry and fresh herbs.

 

Dessert: It would also be wrong not to try Sticky Rice with Mango – sweet and perfect for a dessert.

Tourist Attractions and Cultural Events to Visit in Cambodia

 

 

 

Traditional Apsara Dance: Witness a move in this classical dance with an emphasis of traditional costumes and dietary movements that depict the myths.

 

Visit Local Markets: Visit such liveliness places of the city like Psar Thmei which is also known as Central Market or Psar Chaa which is the Old Market for the local experience and finding souvenirs for the taste of local food and live of the city.

 

Mekong River Cruise: For a relaxing boat trip at the same river, tourist can actually watch and visit some of the floating markets.

Tourism Adventure in Cambodia

 

 

 

Zip-lining in the Jungle: Go on a thrilling 500meter Zipline over forest where one gets to have a glance of nature near Angel Wat.

 

ATV Tours: You can ride across the country on an ATV and travel around some of the villages that are nearby but not missing out on the beauty of the countryside.

 

Cycling Tours: For $12 take a bicycle and rent a bike to go cycling around the complex in order to get to other temples not mentioned in the guides and explore nature.

The 7 Days’ Low-Cost Travel Itinerary to Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 

Day 1: Arrival in Siem Reap

 

 

 

Activity: Arrive in Siem Reap. It is suggested to always organize the 1st night’s hotel, so on arrival you can unpack and make your way to the night markets for dinner.

Day 2: Explore Angkor Wat

 

 

 

Activity: Always start early in the morning to be able to watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat Temple. Venture out and visit as many of the temples as is physically possible – Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm.

Day 3: Tourism Site Include Banteay Srei & Tonle Sap Floating Village

 

 

 

Activity: In Angkor zone, visit Banteay Srei temple in morning then in the afternoon go to the floating village near Tonle Sap Lake.

Day 4: Adventure Day

 

 

 

Activity: If your interests are more daring, then go zip-lining in the rain forest or if you prefer more terrestrial experience go on an ATV ride in the countryside.

Day 5: Culture and Cooking Class

 

 

 

Activity: Enjoy Khmer cuisine through a cooking class and then just relax the afternoon away while getting a taste of some delicious Khmer dishes.

Day 6: Explore More Temples

 

 

 

Activity: Everywhere else additional temple, we look at the complex that accommodates Preah Khan and Neak Pean temples. Spend a lot of time to enjoy the flow of history that is telling here.

Day 7: Departure

 

 

 

Activity: The last day is spent on shopping and the sightseeing of Siem Reap before driving to airport for departure.

Your Journey Awaits

 

If you’re interested in history and culture or just a casual tourist looking for something different, Angkor Wat and the surrounding areas will not disappoint. Cambodia is a place of adventures that can include everything from astonishing temples or mouthwatering food. Are you ready to get out and start your journey? When planning, always use our links to make reservations for your tours and accommodations to grab the best deals and do not forget to always check more from kamranology for more travel guides.

At Kamranology, you can also buy Air Tickets, book Train Journeys, Hotel and Hostel Accommodation, Travel Packages with Tickets, Car Rentals, all at discounted rates with Trip.com Booking.com, Agoda and Tripadvisor. Start your adventure today!

 

Don’t forget to suit up for your trip! Remember to visit our shipping partner Amazon for all your travel gear and travel gadgety needs at a discount. Select the best deal among all the available and have everything prepared for the perfect holiday today!

 

A Journey Through Time: They include; “My Unforgettable Experience at Angkor Wat, Cambodia.”

 

Finally we visited Angkor Wat temple. It is one of those trips that fills your heart begging with amazing wonderful desire. And never did I really feel that way, until I first entered the territory of the Angkor Wat temples, and its mysterious and majestic remains of what once was.

 

It is first recommended that visitors should visit the park early in the morning, within the early hours of the morning, better still when the sun has not fully risen to ensure that besides the cool temperatures the colors of the sky are pleasing with shades of pink and orange. To help me capture the most incredible image I booked a Tuk Tuk for the sunrise photography at Angkor Wat temple. To watch the sun rise over the temple, a beam of light illuminating the vast towering stone walls, was plain amazing. It was very serene and calm and the view nearby was extremely beautiful and was just distracting. If you have been planning your trip, don’t look away when this opportunity comes.

 

It was an exciting experience to learn all of the facts about Angkor Wat history. This worshipping place is not only a modern monument of architecture but also a vivid example of the spiritual and ethnic heritage of the Cambodian people. All together I spent some time in order to find the information about it and its history—as for me it is important to know that it was constructed for worshiping Hindu gods and later became a Buddhist shrine. Horning and heights of carvings in Angkor Wat architecture make them represent the devotion to the divine creations. There are no words to explain how emotional it was to be in such a place and witness how people have been living for more than eight hundred years.

 

Here there isn’t even enough time in a year to do everything, however, I particularly loved visiting the Angkor Wat temple tours. I used these guided tours to get the detailed information about the historical meaning of each temple. Starting from the complex of Angkor Wat up through the great Best temples in Angkor Archaeological Park every day seemed like a new kind of exploration. From Siem Reap to Angkor Wat – it’s just within the hour drive but it makes you feel as though one is in a place surrounded by mystery.

 

Of course, when observing the Angkor Wat tourist dress code, it is imperative when in such areas. Pride is not allowed and thus I wore long sleeves and pants as a requirement at all temples in the region. Anyways dressing appropriately is always the best way to go while at such a special place of worship.

 

The best way of exploring the temples is by making a bicycle tour around the Angkor Wat temple. I also took a bicycle for hire and began probably one of the most exciting experiences I have ever encountered: cycling through the jungles and along the way seeing such sights as complex Temples, beautiful ponds, and giant trees. It felt with cycling I was more part of the scenery and it was fun to sight-see at my own pace.

 

If you will be travelling with your kids, Visiting Angkor Wat with kids is one of the most interesting experiences each child will ever get to have. The huge size and the fairy tale look of the temples will surely make a positive impression on their minds. It is time to have fun: climb the zigzagging ancient stone stairs or take photos of the details of such ornaments as carvings. My kids appreciated the idea of visiting ruins and gaining a few insights into the culture that prevailed in the area.

 

Whether you have a background in history, photo lover, or feel religious, how to get around Angkor Wat is up to you. Some have chosen to roam around the temple without the company of a guide, while the others would like the depth understanding that the local guide gives. No matter which of the ways to go out that you choose, the results will amaze you.

 

I also want to suggest visiting other small temples of Angkor Wat as they are quite as beautiful and less crowded. The less-known areas of the Angkor Wat temple give people a closer touch with the tourist attractions despite the forbidden zone. These less famous temples have their own narratives, and it remains the most enjoyable part of my visit.

 

In total, my experience in Angkor Wat was a trip through one of the most unique historical and architectural landmarks on the planet. Regardless of if you’re taking a Siem Reap to Angkor Wat day trip or are going to be staying in the area for multiple days there are soooo many ways to see the beauty of this UNESCO heritage site. Sunrise photography, biking around the temples of the region, all the time spent at Angkor Wat is a time very well spent. Included below, viewers will get links to our episodes where they can be part of this living history.