Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat, the magnificent architecture and the World’s largest religious monument situated in the center of Angkor Geological Park is known as one of the most famous attractions in Cambodia. This temple is among the list of seven manmade wonders of the World designated by UNESCO.

Located about 6km North of Siam Reap, Angkor Wat was built at the beginning of the 12th century by King Suryavarman II as the state temple and political center of his empire. Originally dedicated to Hinduism and to worship the god Vishnu, the temple gradually transformed into a Buddhism worship center in the late 12th century when this religion became the state religion in Cambodia.

This temple is said to be the prime example of the high classical style of Khmer religious architecture, with unique structure and elaborated stone carvings depicting the national history and Hindu mythology. Sandstone blocks were used as the building material for all the temple’s visible parts while laterite was used for the hidden structure and the outer wall.

Unlike other temples in the area and generally in Cambodia, this is the only one built oriented to the direction of the West. The temple is made prominent with its five elevated towers representing 5 holy peaks of Mount Meru, the residing home of the Hindu gods. This is the symbol of the Great Khmer Kingdom and figured on Cambodia's national flag today.

Apart from visiting Angkor Wat on regular Siam Reap day tours, you can also choose to enjoy the spectacular view of this temple by taking the special option of either Angkor sunrise tour or Angkor sunset tour. At sunrise, rays of sunlight right behind the temple creating many magic colors, for sure it will make for a great reflection shot. If you do not want to get up early, the sunset is also fascinating. At that time, the atmosphere is more relaxed as there are much fewer people and you can really touch the mystical charm of Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat in particular and the Angkor Geological Park, in general, is a must-see place when visiting Cambodia and often included in our Cambodia tours. Apart from domestic flights or car driving from Phnom Penh that is 240km away, you can also get to Siam Reap for a visit to Angkor by taking international flights from Bangkok, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and some other destinations in the region.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any information or have a plan to visit Cambodia and make a spectacular trip to this fascinating place.