Nestled between rice paddies and stretched along the Siem Reap River, the small provincial capital of Siem Reap serves as the gateway to the millennium-old temple ruins of the Khmer Empire. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses dozens of temple ruins including Bayon, Banteay Srey and the legendary Angkor Wat. It is indisputably the most famous and impressive attraction in Cambodia. Unlike many other world class monuments, the ruins of Angkor remain today unspoiled by over-development. Though many tourists visit the major temples these days, it is still possible to get away from the crowds to explore the area and discover the real Angkor.

From the first independent Khmer kingdom, founded in the 9th century by King Jayavarman II, until the migration of the 15th century, Angkor was the capital of the Khmer state, which covered the major part of Southeast Asia.

Today, Siem Reap is a small town, ideally located to visit Angkor. The town is a cluster of old villages, which originally developed around individual pagoda and later saw the growth of a French colonial area. The different styles of colonial and Chinese architecture create a unique atmosphere to stroll in.

To discover Cambodia, we recommend the following experiences:

  Apsara dance performances
  Craft shops and silk farms
  Road tours through rice-paddies
  Boat trips on the great Tonle Sap Lake (fishing villages, bird sanctuary)