Angkor Archaeological Park

Buy Angkor passes at the Angkor Enterprise ticket office for at least three days. One pass per person. USD62 for 3 days, USD72 for 7 days.

Bayon Temple

Prasat Bayon is a richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor in Cambodia. Built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII, Bayon stands at the centre of Jayavarman's capital, Angkor Thom. It is well known for the distinctive feature is the numerous serene and smiling stone faces on the towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak.

Baphuon Temple

Baphuon is located in Angkor Thom, northwest of the Bayon. Built in the mid-11th century, it is a three-tiered temple mountain built as the state temple of Udayadityavarman dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva.

Ta Prohm Temple

Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple. It is built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara. Located approximately one kilometre east of Angkor Thom and on the southern edge of the East Baray, it was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university. It is best known for the large trees than have grown on the ruins and whose roots intertwine with the masonry. It was featured in the Tomb Raider movie starring Angelina Jolie.

Terrace of the Elephants

The Royal Terraces, comprising of the Terrace of the Elephants to the South and the Terrace of the Leper King to the North, form the Eastern boundary of the Royal Palace grounds. They face the parade grounds where processions, parades and other events were held. The King would watch the events standing on the Elephant terrace, which he also used as an audience hall to listen to the complaints and problems of the citizens of Angkor. Both terraces contain extensive sculptings of Devatas, Apsaras, mythological animals and demons. The Elephants terrace and the Leper King terrace were restored during the 1990’s and 2000’s.

Angkor Wat

After lunch, we continue to the main attraction of the day, Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is a temple complex and is the largest religious monument in the world, on a site measuring 162.6 hectares. Originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century. It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura, the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum.

Phnom Bakheng

Phnom Bakheng is a Hindu and Buddhist temple in the form of a temple mountain. Dedicated to Shiva, it was built at the end of the 9th century, during the reign of King Yasovarman (889-910). Located atop a hill. It is nowadays a popular tourist spot for sunset views of the much bigger temple Angkor Wat. Their is a limit of 300 persons at the top and so we must go early to see it and then wait. We try to arrive back in town at 6:30pm.

Angkor Wat

We revisit Angkor Wat to see the famous sunrise. afterwards, we return to the guest hotel so they can have breakfast.

Preah Khan

Afterward breakfast, we visit Preah Khan, Neak Poan, Ta Som and East Mebon temples. All are clustered together.

Banteay Srei

After lunch, we head out to Banteay Srei (often called the ladies temple) which is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Located in the area of Angkor, it lies near the hill of Phnom Dei, 25 km north-east of the main group of temples that once belonged to the medieval capitals of Yasodharapura and Angkor Thom. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today. On the way we stop at a village to see palm sugar being made (or alternatively, we can visit the landmine museum).

Banteay Samre

Banteay Samré is located 400 metres to the east of the East Baray. Built during the reign of Suryavarman II and Yasovarman II in the early 12th century, it is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat style.

Banteay Kdei

Banteay Kdei, meaning "A Citadel of Chambers", also known as "Citadel of Monks' cells", is a Buddhist temple. It is located southeast of Ta Prohm and east of Angkor Thom. Built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries AD during the reign of Jayavarman VII (who was posthumously given the title "Maha paramasangata pada"), it is in the Bayon architectural style, similar in plan to Ta Prohm and Preah Khan, but less complex and smaller.

Kompong Phluk

Kampong Phluk isa collection of villages largely built on stilts on the Tonle Sap. The name means "Harbor of the Tusks". The community largely depends on fishing for survival, spending Cambodia's wet season (May - October) fishing. During the dry season (November - April) as the river thins due to receding water, many turn to farming to supplement their income. Guests tour the village by motorised boat.

Roluos Temples

Among the "Roluos Group" of temples there are some of the earliest permanent structures built by Khmer. They mark the beginning of classical period of Khmer civilization, dating from the late 9th century. Some were totally built with bricks, others partially with laterite or sandstone. At present it is composed by three major temples: Bakong, Lolei, and Preah Ko, along with tiny Prasat Prei Monti. At both Bakong and Lolei there are contemporary Theravada buddhist monasteries.

Phsar Leu Thom Thmey

On the way back we take a look at Phsar Leur (the top market), Phsar Chas (the old market) and Artisans d Angkor.