The Magnificent Temples of Angkor

Today you enjoy a full day of sightseeing in and around the site of one of Asia’s most magnificent archaeological ruins which were part of one of the most powerful kingdoms to rise in Southeast Asia.

Morning: Angkor Wat temple
This morning, start your Angkor exploration with Angkor Wat – the mightiest Khmer temple and the world’s largest religious monument. The religious citadels of Angkor Wat are the “crowning jewel” of Khmer architecture and one of Asia’s most magnificent archaeological ruins. Constructed under the reign of Suryavarman II (1113-1150), Angkor Wat is covering an area of 480 acres encircled by an enclosure wall nearly four miles long. Angkor Wat is a representation of Hindu cosmology and is dedicated to the god Vishnu. The five towers of Angkor Wat are the representation of the five peaks of Mount Meru, home of the gods and the center of the Hindu universe. The temple’s greatest sculptural treasure is its 1-mile-long bas-relief that wraps around the walls of the outer gallery along with the 2000 figures of Khmer Devas and Apsaras.

A private picnic Khmer lunch near Srah Srang “The Royal Baths”
Enjoy a traditional Khmer lunch at the beautiful traditional Khmer wooden house overlooking the royal bathing pool of Srah Srang regarded as the quintessential Angkor experience. In a serene setting amid the rural village atmosphere of Angkor, the traditional wooden house is the perfect private escape from the crowds and to wind down during the heat of the day while exploring the temples.

Afternoon: The magical Ta Prohm & Angkor Thom Complex — the Great City of Jayavarman VII
Later this afternoon, continue to discover the amazing jungle-entwined Ta Prohm also known as the “Kingdom of the Trees” or “Tomb Raider Temple”. Climb over its crumbling stonework and marvel at the tree roots dripping down the temple’s walls and see weathered Buddha faces appear in bas-relief and giant tree roots seem to flow over stone walls. Once home to 600 exquisite dancers, Ta Prohm is a wondrous site, with giant fig and kapok trees strangling the ancient stonework in a photogenic interplay of man and nature. This temple was built by King Jayavarman VII (1181-1219) as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university. It has been featured in several Hollywood movies such as Tomb Raider, Indiana Jones, and Two Brothers.

Continue to discover the ancient fortified city of Angkor Thom, built in the 10th century by the greatest of the Khmer rulers, King Jayavarman VII (1181 – 1201). With a population in excess of one million inhabitants, Angkor Thom covered an area of 10 square kilometers and was larger than any city in Europe at the time. You travel to the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom. Walk along the 8m-high laterite wall (500m) of the ancient city to the relatively unvisited and magical East Gate. The crematoria built against the outside of the city wall are best seen from up on the wall and give rise to the popular name of ― Gate of Death. You take another 1.5 Km walk to Bayon temple “The Giant Smiling Faces temple”. We start exploring the lower levels with bas-relief carvings and gradually make our way to the inner walls where unfinished carvings were later completed during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. The structure of the giant faces of Bayon temple is staggering in its construction and most Angkor specialists agree that it is one of the finest examples of classic Khmer architecture. Its third level is stunning – 49 towers are adorned with 172 smiling faces of the omnipresent Avalokitesvara. Sixteen chapels inside the structure indicate its religious importance, while on the outer perimeter over 1,200 meters of exquisite bas-relief record scenes of daily life from 11th century Angkor.

Move on to visit the nearby Terrace of the Elephant, and the Terrace of the Leper King to view their detailed stone carvings. From there walk through the shaded parkland to visit the triple-tiered mountain temple of the Baphuon, also known as the Pyramid temple in Angkor. As the sun begins to set, walk to the Ta Kav Gate (West Gate of Angkor Thom) to view the beautiful sunset over the rice fields and the reflection of the golden light over the city gate.