Angkor Wat, Siem Reap

Such an amazing, wonderful and historic place. This temple complex takes your breath away. It is massive. There are so many little things to discover. The architecture is so lovely. The garden is amazing. Really it is very difficult to describe this unique place. Definitely a must visit on your Cambodia visit!

1. Do your research so you are familiar with the basic history of Angkor Wat. This will help you appreciate it more when you see it in person and free up more time to learn about it in-depth. 2. Be prepared to walk–A LOT. The complex is very vast and a lot of the temples and sights are relatively far apart from each other (and may require a little bit of climbing), so don’t forget to wear your sneakers! 3. Bring a lot of water. It can get very hot and humid, especially from April through May, and you’ll want to stay hydrated during all of the walking and trekking. 4. The best time to visit is before sunrise, which means you should aim to be there around 5 a.m. Many travellers have said that this is the most opportune time to explore the temples, as watching the sunrise is an indescribable experience–it’s also an ideal time for picture taking. Also, you’ll be avoiding the tourist rush and will therefore get the chance to fully enjoy the serenity of the temples. 5. If you’re going during the hottest months, definitely visit the temples before 11 a.m. Temperatures can reach a staggering 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the middle of the day. 6. Don’t miss the reflection of the main temple from the water at sunset–the colour of the sky is one you won’t be able to rid your mind of for years to come. 7. Plan which temples you want to see ahead of time and buy a pass for at least three days to save you a lot of time and stress. Many travellers have noted that three days is enough time to explore the complex, and tickets for entry into the temple are valid for a full week and can be used on any of that week’s three consecutive days. 8. Bring an umbrella when you’re walking around the complex to help block some of the harsh sunrays. 9. Book a hotel that has a pool. You won’t regret if after a full–and oftentimes hot–day of sightseeing!

Such a magnificent piece of history. I'm really glad we had a guide who was able to explain its history. It's the most famous temple, so if you go during high season, it'll be littered with tourists. Luckily I went during low season (June) and was able to enjoy it with much less people. It was also nice to have the overcast to block the harsh sunlight and see the temple in a dark setting that was so magical.

One of the most excellent and amazing place on earth. Should be classified as one of the wonders on earth. Biggest and largest place of worship in earth. Very very ancient and excellent architecture. Very very huge temple when it was created, then later converted to Buddhist monastery . Government should take more effort to maintain this wonderful monument.

I still cannot get my head around how they built all of the exquisite temples all those years ago! It's never ending carvings of pictures from the past and huge pieces of rock! It's a shame that Vietnam own it as I would have hoped my $37 dollar ticket would have gone to helping Cambodia. There is also a lot of sellers everywhere. As soon as the minibus door opens you get swamped which can be a bit intimidating.