The ancient capital of the Khmer kingdom, Angkor is probably the most popular tourist destination in Cambodia, so is a great choice for our latest Focus On holiday review and destination guide.
Most people associate Cambodia with the mighty Angkor Wat, the three-peaked temple that is just as stunning early morning as the Taj Mahal, if not more so. However there is much more than the iconic Angkor Wat to explore and enjoy. The park stretches over 400 km2, including forested areas, and contains over 1000 ancient sites. Temples remain from as early as the 9th century. Other than Angkor Wat itself, the most famous other temples include Bayon, Ta Phrom, Preah Khan and Phnom Bakheng.
Here are our tips to get the best out of the temples of Angkor.
Don’t try and cram in too much. Visitors can choose from a one day, three day or week pass. Do some background research to see which areas you want to visit and go from there. Most people think three days is a perfect amount of time to visit the main sites but one week is ideal if you want to relax a little, perhaps hire a bike for one day and see a different side to the area or to enjoy a temple you visited before.
Decide upon your mode of transport. You will be inundated with tuk tuk drivers offering you a private taxi service. Don’t dismiss them – if you’re lucky you’ll get yourself your own private tour guide as well as transport too. Cambodia gets extremely hot in the day so walking or cycling can get tiring. However, cycling can prove the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of the main temples and give you a more laid back insight into the spiritual side of Angkor. Other options include hiring your own motorbike.
You will be pestered by young children to buy t-shirts, bangles and postcards. There’s no easy solution to what your reaction should be. On the one hand, this is a country still struggling to come to terms with its desperate history and the stark truth is families need money to survive and there is not the schooling system there is in the UK for children to attend. However through giving to children, tourists are continuing to feed the cycle of begging – money doesn’t always (if ever) go to the child, but to a lead adult who does what he will with the income. There are many needy projects in Siem Reap that will benefit directly from your money should you wish to give. They include: http://www.greengeckoproject.org/; http://angkorhospital.org/.
The peak time for visitors is early morning and dusk – for the sunrises and sunsets. And most people will choose to go to either Angkor Wat or Phnom Bakheng. Use this knowledge and work out a different route. However, one thing NOT to miss is watching sunrise at Angkor Wat.
Take time to just sit at one temple and reflect. Many people make the mistake of rushing round trying to see as much as they can. Some of the best places are those that aren’t as touristy and therefore do not have as many people milling around – Preah Khan is particularly spectacular as are many of the lesser known smaller temples further out.
Try and visit Bayon, Angkor and Ta Phrom on different days at different times – not only will you appreciate the temples in different lights but you’ll also notice things you didn’t spot before such as further intricate carvings, monks milling around, tree climbers closing in on ancient brickwork.
Please be respectful and, at the least, cover your shoulders and knees when entering temples. The amount of tourists seen wearing skimpy tops and shorts is quite embarrassing and more attention needs to be paid to where you’re travelling. Choose white, loose clothing; take a hat, sun cream and sunglasses as it’s hot and often humid. The temples are a drive away from the main town – Siem Reap, so take what you need with you for the whole day. Sarongs are perfect for women (and men!) as you can remove them whilst not in temples.
Finally, Angkor is a photographer’s dream but don’t forget to ask if you want to take someone’s photo close up.
Have you been to Angkor or any other destination in Cambodia, why not submit a review and share your experience.
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