With almost 300 ancient Khmer temples to explore, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the wonders of the world.
Every year, a million visitors come from all over the world to experience the mystery and wonder of Angkor Archaeological Park. They come as a visit offers adventure, wonder and a journey back in time to the ninth century. This is when Angkor emerged as a major seat of power which lasted until the capital city was abandoned in the 15th century. Most of the complex that visitors can see today was built in the 13th century, and the 287 temples are in various picturesque states of decay. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is massive, covering 202 hectares, and because of its large size and number of temples, it's worth allowing two or three days here. You can buy a ticket for one day which covers the whole site, but you wouldn't be able to see many of the temples in that time the two or three day tickets are a better choice if you can spare the time.When planning your visit, there are two main routes to choose from: the Small Circuit or the Grand Circuit. The Small Circuit is 17 kilometres long and it covers all the major landmarks. The Grand Circuit is 26 kilometres long and you will see a larger number of temples if you choose to do this. The three most famous temples are Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm, and these are likely to be busy all year round with visitors. Angkor Wat temple is the largest religious landmark in the world: if you can face getting up early, the temple looks particularly atmospheric at sunrise.Cambodia's heat and humidity make it more appealing to visit during the winter season, when temperatures are lower. March is usually the hottest time of year, but be prepared for lots of rain if you visit between June and October.There are many options for getting to Angkor Archaeological Park: you could rent a bicycle, hire a motorbike, take a tuk-tuk or hop on a tour bus. Once you're in the park, you can even hire an elephant to do the hard work for you...
