I didn’t quite grasp the magnitude of the temples of Angkor until I witnessed them for myself. Guidebooks cannot prepare you enough for the massive scale of which this site encompasses. Before I visited I imagined I would only glance at the most well-known, Angkor Wat, and then be on my way. But Angkor Wat is only one of the many temple complexes and ruins that are spread out over a 400 square km area, comprising the ancient city of Angkor.
Angkor’s sites are atmospherically situated among dense jungle and serene rice paddies. They are part of the landscape. You’ll find locals scouring through the forests around the temples, restoring the stonework, resting on the ruins, and eagerly selling souvenirs to tourists.
Devising a plan to visit Angkor may be overwhelming. Most people divide sightseeing into two classical routes—the Petit Circuit and the Grand Circuit. Some people visit by tour bus and others by hiring a private tuk-tuk for the day. I would recommend taking at least one day to explore the ruins with a bicycle. This will allow you to take however much time you need and encourage riding down random dirt paths and “discovering” ruins of your own. There’s no greater thrill than showing up at an ancient temple with no other tourists in view.
Passes are sold for one-day, three-day, and seven-day. Anything less than the three-day pass is foolish. This was one of humanity’s great civilizations and it deserves your time, effort, and humility. The archaeological park is open daily from 5am to sunset and most visitors arrive for at least one sunrise and one sunset—both equally magical experiences.
Although the temples of Angkor are a sole reason for many travelers coming to Cambodia, there are plenty of other great places to visit. Hitting the beaches around Sihanoukville, visiting the museums of Phnom Penh, and chatting with the friendly folks along the Mekong in northern Cambodia are all worthy destinations as well.
Text and photos by Stephen Bugno
Beautiful photos and just as you said, guidebooks can’t prepare anyone for how incredible the entire site really is. I also didn’t realize how many temples Angkor included until I got there and started cruising around!
Great photos of Angkor! Like the broad selection of the photos, and like the first and the second photo. And the one of Ta Prohm – great lighting. Three days at Angkor Archaeology Part were just not enough.
Awe inspiring pics… They instill a mystic and a heavenly feeling in me!! Just loved them all, will visit your blog more often now Stephan:)
Came through from Mark Wien’s blog.
Have a fantastic day:)
sweet pics from Ankor Wat! That motivates me to post mine – should be up soon. I just posted about snorkeling with Whale Sharks! Both were highlights in my recent ATW trip
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