Siem Reap is the former capital of the great Khmer Empire and is now a burgeoning cultural hub of Cambodia, brimming with breathtaking ruins and archaeological sites.
The iconic temples of Angkor were built over a 600-year period, dating between the 9th century to the 13th century, and the star is the magical temple of Angkor Wat, built in the 12th century.
An unmissable site, Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world, the oldest temple in Cambodia and a revered UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nestled within a mystical tropical forest, the grand ruins tower high into the sky.
The walls are woven with enchanting trees, and lotus flowers blossom on the mossy water moat. The architectural detail is astonishing, and the temple is adorned with stunning carvings depicting historical and mythological events.
The Angkor complex also houses the magnificent Angkor Thom, an ancient temple holding the city’s most significant monuments. The site is encircled by a wall that is eight metres high and 13 kilometres long, with a 100-metre-wide water moat.
You’ll visit other highlights of Angkor, including Ta Prohm, where giant trees spread their roots across the ruined temples, and Banteay Srei, a beautiful pink sandstone temple famed for the most intricate of all carvings to be found in Angkor.
Our expert guides will bring these incredible ruins to life with vivid stories about the empire and interesting insights into the significance of the temples. You can enjoy the sites with a bike tour or take private transport to avoid crowds.
Beyond the temples, Siem Reap is a humming city lined with French colonial and Chinese architecture, local artisan wares, luxury spas and world-class wining and dining.
Our guide will show your around town, suggesting the best dining options, from international restaurants to hidden Cambodian culinary gems, or take a cooking class to learn the best of Khmer cuisine.
Take a boat cruise down the Tonlé Sap River and the floating village of Kompong Phluk. The river is the home to many Cham and Vietnamese communities living in floating villages, and it is a peaceful area void of tourist crowds.
Visit the Land Mine Museum, a small self-guided museum offering a fascinating insight into Cambodia’s war-torn past and the ongoing problems with unexploded land mines.
A charming city and the gateway to awe-inspiring Angkor, it’s easy to see why Siem Reap is an essential stop on any trip to Cambodia.
