What is known as Angkor Wat to the world is actually a vast number of temples that formed part of this ancient Kingdom, We begin with the most well recognised “old” and “new” Angkor Wat temples. The first time you see these temples which are one of the Wonders of the World the sheer scale and beauty is overwhelming. We take time to explore these two vast temples with their stunning architecture, statues and carvings.

Following morning tea we continue our exploration of the ancient Kingdom taking in the majestic South Gate and Bayon Temple with its famous stone carvings. Before stopping for lunch we explore the Royal Terraces, comprising of the Terrace of the Elephants to the South and the Terrace of the Leper King to the North which form the Eastern boundary of the ancient Royal Palace grounds. They face the parade grounds where processions, parades and other events were held. The King would watch the events standing on the Elephant terrace, which he also used as an audience hall to listen to the complaints and problems of the citizens of Angkor.

One of the most famous temples in Angkor, the Ta Prohm is known for the huge trees and the massive roots growing out of its walls. The jungle temple also featured in the adventure movie “The tomb raider”; where several shots were filmed in the Ta Prohm. Ta Prohm remains much as it was when it was discovered when Henri Marchal, curator and conservator of the EFEO did some basic clearing work in 1920. Only the most necessary work to prevent further deterioration and collapse was done. The stunning jungle setting and the original state of the temple has made it one of the most visited Angkor temples.

To end our day we travel to the “Roluos Group” of temples which are some of the earliest permanent structures built by Khmer. They mark the beginning of classical period of Khmer civilization, dating from the late 9th century. Some were totally built with bricks, others partially with laterite or sandstone. Consisting of three major temples Bakong, Lolei and Preah Ko along with tiny Prasat Prei Monti. At both Bakong and Lolei there are contemporary budhist monestries where you can observe the monks going about their daily lives.

For those that want to fully experience Angkor Wat then a sunrise visit is a must. Choose your location as each Temple provides its own special qualities at this time of the day. Follow on from this with a picnic breakfast before we head out to continue our exploration.

The temple of Banteay Srei or the Citadel of the Women, boasts superbly well-preserved and highly intricate stone carvings that adorn the pink-hued sandstone of the delightfully small and intimate site. Banteay Srei which was never a royal temple, is thought to have been built by a guru of the king and it is believed that this lack of a royal go-ahead is one of the reasons why it is so small. While small it is still beautiful and it is also worth exploring the surrounding natural landscapes. Some have suggested that the temple was built by women as no man could have created something so beautiful and with so fine a hand. The intricate stone carvings adourn much of the temple’s surface.

We stop along the way to enjoy a local snack for morning tea before heading to another of the smaller Angkor temples, the Banteay Samre takes its name from the Samre people that inhabited the area. The temples pediments and lintels are decorated with very intricate and well preserved carvings of Hindu mythological stories and Buddhist depictions. With little historical records giving information about the founding of the temple it is not known what year the temple was build. Judging from its style and ornamentation, it is likely that the Banteay Samre was build around halfway through the 12th century during the reign of King Suryavarman II. At the start of the 20th century the Banteay Samre was overgrown with jungle. It was restored during the 1930’s using the anastylosis method, that aims to lovingly restore the monument as close as possible to the original.

After relaxing over lunch we continue to explore the greater Kingdom starting with Preah Khan temple located just outside the capital city Angkor Thom which was built in 1191 with its name translating to “the Sacred Sword”. The temple was built by Jayavarman VII, a Buddhist King who liberated Angkor by driving out the occupying forces of the Cham. The King who earlier dedicated Ta Prohm temple to his mother, dedicated the Preah Khan to his father. The statue of Lokeshvara was carved to resemble the King’s father.

we then explore Pre Rup, built by Rajendravarman II, the temple consists of a pyramid-shaped temple-mountain with the uppermost of the three tiers carrying five majestic lotus towers. Pre Rup means ‘Turning the Body’ and refers to a traditional method of cremation in which a corpse’s outline is traced in the cinders which suggests that the temple may have served as an early royal crematorium.

We take in the Buddhist temple of Preah Neak Poan which is an intimate yet perfect temple constructed by Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. It has a large square pool surrounded by four smaller square pools. In the middle of the central pool is a circular ‘island’ encircled by the two nagas whose intertwined tails give the temple its name.

We finsh our time in Angkor Wat visiting the Prasat Kravan which is a fbeautiful example of a early 10th century Hindu monument. It consists of a line of five brick towers built closely together set atop a low platform oriented towards the East.The monument was dedicated to Vishnu, the Supreme God of Hinduism. The Prasat Kravan is one of the few Angkor temples that was not built by a King, but by a high ranking Hindu priest. The towers are of slightly different size, the central tower being the largest, the towers on either side of it somewhat smaller, the outer towers being the smallest. In the interior of the central and Northern tower is a number of beautiful sculptures made directly in the brickwork of the towers, a unique feature in Angkor, which is often found in the Cham temples of Vietnam.