Put simply, the Angkor temples should be on everyone’s bucket lists! Millions of tourists flock to the Angkor temples every year and spend hours, or even days, exploring them. The site is considered one of the greatest man-made wonders in the world. So what are the Angkor temples? And why are we this certain that they should it be on your bucket list? Take a read of the below to find out why….
A small country bordering Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, Cambodia is a stunning place with so many unique experiences to be had. Along with a visit to the famed temples of Angkor Wat, a holiday to Cambodia can include interacting with injured elephants and escaping to a private island, amongst other wonderful and little-known activities. We asked our specialists to think outside the box and come up with the top 10 unique things to experience in this wonderful country…
Deciding on your honeymoon destination is one of the most exciting and diffcult choices to make during your wedding preparations. Expectations are high to craft the trip of a lifetime which suits you both perfectly. With this in mind, our specialists have put their heads together to handpick a selction of properties which are just perfect for celebrating your honeymoon.
Cambodia and Vietnam complement each other beautifully: Cambodia has a more laid back charm while Vietnam is the beating heart of Indochina, with fast paced ancient cities. Even in 10 days, you can combine Cambodia and Vietnam with ease, but we’d recommend a little longer to do these wonderful countries justice. You can even cruise between the two along the historic Mekong River.
This fantastic historical journey through Thailand and Cambodia will take you to some of the most amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Asia, presenting two remarkable ancient civilisations and their impressive capital cities.
Located in the southern part of the Indochina Peninsula, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, a holiday to Cambodia delivers the best of both worlds: cultural splendour and laid back beach life.
Begin your odyssey in chaotic capital, Phnom Penh, the so-called ‘Pearl of Asia’. Explore street stalls, the many buzzing markets and dragon-topped temples. Marvel at the Royal Palace, a compound of nine buildings that includes the dazzling Throne Room and the extravagant Silver Pagoda, home to Buddha statues made from solid gold and Baccarat-crystal.
Journey northwest to Siem Reap, famed as the gateway to the fabled Angkor but trip-worthy in its own right for upscale hotels and charming cafés. The real fun, though, starts at Angkor’s UNESCO-listed temple wonderland. There are some 290 temples here, built in honour of the Hindu god Vishnu and designed to replicate the heavens on earth. Most fabulous is the 12th-century Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument, and the state-temple Bayon with its 216 huge stone-chiselled faces.
Cambodia’s cultural gems are not confined to Angkor. Cruise the freshwaters of the Tonle Sap to sail past hundreds of colourful floating villages, visit the chilling Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, and take a boat trip in Kratie to see endangered Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River. Another highlight is cruising the Mekong River on the Jayavarman, the Heritage Line vessel named after Angkor’s most venerated king.
For a chance to venture from the tourist path, a trip to the northeast to Ratanakiri Province offers lush forests, cascading waterfalls and a melting pot of cultures. You will also encounter elephants and can spot the extremely rare northern yellow-cheeked gibbon.
For beach bliss, you are spoilt for choice. Laze on sparkling white sands at Sihanoukville, savour delicious seafood at Kep, and indulge pampering at the exclusive Song Saa Private Island hotel in the Koh Rong archipelago.
Did you know?
Laser technology has revealed the ruins of medieval cities beneath the tropical forest floor leading archaeologists to believe that, at its prime, the Khmer empire was once the largest in the world.
Did you know?
Cambodia’s national flag is one of two which features a building, depicting the iconic Angkor Wat, the other is the national flag of Afghanistan.