Angkor Wat
From your hotel in Siem Reap you can quickly get to the gate of Angkor Wat, the icon of Cambodia. The title of 'largest religious edifice in the world' takes on meaning when you approach the imposing main temple via the wide stone path. Walls tell myths and stories from the past in bas-relief, a stone picture book with no end.
Angkor Archaeological Park
The main temple is part of a vast area of more than 400km2, with relics from all periods of the Khmer Empire. In the hinterland of Siem Reap there are more than a thousand temples and temple ruins, in various styles and states. Many temples have collapsed, overgrown by giant trees and covered with a blanket of moss. It is wonderful to cycle around here, a few hours, a day, or even several days with overnight stays on the way. The route to the temples leads along small paths and rice paddies, through villages, and especially a lot of jungle. A good impression of the size of the archaeological park can be seen from a hot air balloon or helicopter. The helicopter can take you to remote temples if you wish!
Great diversity
Elsewhere in Cambodia there are many more temples and pagodas that deserve attention as well, and where it is usually much quieter. Monuments in dilapidated or in glorious condition, with multicolored statues and ornaments covered with a layer of gold leaf. If there is a Buddhist ceremony going on, stand still for a moment and listen to the sermons and chants of the monks.
But don't let a temple be the only purpose of your journey. The surprises also hide in the details as you travel, in the smell of roasted corn, the taste of fresh sugar cane juice, and the sound of horse hooves on a dirt road.
