The crown jewel of Siem Reap’s Angkor Archaeological Park, Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious monument and one of its greatest ancient wonders. Translating as ‘temple city,’ Angkor Wat marks the pinnacle of Khmer craftsmanship and is a beloved national icon featured on the Cambodian flag and currency.

Covering around 210 hectares (518 acres), Angkor Wat presents a monumental spiritual masterpiece. Constructed in the 12th century, it signifies an earthly representation of Mount Meru, the ancient Hindu Gods home and sacred five-peaked mountain of Hindu cosmology – symbolised by five conical spires. Unlike other Angkor temples, Angkor Wat wasn’t abandoned to the elements and continued as a significant religious centre. This, along with its vast moat keeping the encroaching jungle at bay, may explain why it has remained remarkably well preserved.   

Angkor Wat is also famous for its exceptional carvings covering its walls and pillars; especially the 2,000 or so exquisite depictions of Apsaras (heavenly nymphs) and Devatas (Hindu deities).

Few sights compare to the sun rising over Angkor Wat, which you can experience for yourself on an Emerald Cruises included tour. At dawn, marvel as the sun’s golden rays cast a glow on the Angkor Wat’s iconic five spires and moat. Then post sunrise, make the most of the cooler temperatures as you explore this compelling complex.  

Just north of Angkor Wat, at this other architectural wonder you’ll explore with Emerald Cruises , the clue is in the name: ‘Angkor’ means ‘city’ and ‘Thom’ means big. Actually, Angkor Thom was one of the most remarkable royal cities of the Angkor period and the last and most enduring capital of the Khmer Empire. Founded and designed in the late 12th century by the first Buddhist King and prolific architect, Jayavarman VII, this fortified city was once populated by an estimated one million residents at the height of its power, remaining the Khmer capital until eventually abandoned in the 16th century.  

The home of numerous temples and historical sites, as part of your included tour, you’ll visit several prominent places within this royal capital. Most notably, the Bayon (covered below), but also, ‘Tonle Om Gate’ or South Gate, the most famous and best preserved of the five city gates and Leper King Terrace, a former royal cremation site, decorated with meticulously executed bas-reliefs.  

As the sun sinks over the jungle, join an exclusive Emerald DiscoverMORE excursion and cruise the moat surrounding Angkor Thom’s ancient city walls on a private gondola boat, enjoying sparkling wine and delicious canapés.  

Submerged in jungle, the Bayon may not look impressive from afar, but once exploring the galleries and passageways within, you’ll understand why this mesmerising temple is one of Cambodia’s most iconic. Bayon’s strategic position at the heart of Angkor Thom, with all roads leading here – representing the intersection of heaven and earth – further underlines its importance. 

Mystery surrounds Bayon, even in its name, but it is acknowledged as the state temple of the devout Buddhist monarch, Jayavarman VII and built in the late 12th century. Bayon is best known however for its 216 serene, sculpted stone faces, placed at varying heights on each of the upper terraces’ 54 towers; around a dozen or more of the gently smiling faces are visible at any one time. Depicting the all-knowing state of inner peace, these are believed to represent Avalokitesvara, the earthly manifestation of the Buddha Amitabha, although some scholars think they resemble Jayavarman VII.  

The lower two terraces’ stonework come adorned with some of Angkor’s most remarkable and well preserved bas-reliefs, featuring more than 11,000 figures. Besides impressive historical, mythological and battle scenes, the tableau of mundane everyday life, including cockfights, meal preparations and markets, is a rarity for Angkor. 

After Angkor Thom, explore nearby Ta Prohm: with its beguiling jungle setting, richly decorated Khmer architecture and surreal appearance, this is arguably one of Angkor’s most atmospheric and popular temples. Ta Prohm is, of course, instantly recognisable as the location for the ‘Tomb Raider’ film. Constructed in the late 12th century by, yet again, the industrious Jayavarman VII, Ta Phrom was a former monastery and university for Mahayana Buddhists.  Following the Khmer Empire’s fall in the 15th century, this was eventually abandoned to the jungle before rediscovered by French archaeologists in the early 20th century. 

A sprawling complex of towers closed courtyards and narrow corridors under UNESCO World Heritage status, unusually, restoration projects have only partly kept the jungle at bay. This has protected Ta Prohm from irreversible damage yet maintained its iconic ‘apparent neglect’ look: overgrown roots of trees and wild vegetation bursting through the masonry and lichen and creeping plants smothering carved bulging walls. Tree leaves cloaking this once immaculate Buddhist temple in dappled shadows and an ethereal, greenish hue only adds to the other-worldly experience

Despite some 32-kilometres (19-miles) northeast of Siem Reap and one of Angkor’s smaller temples, impressive Banteay Srei is worth the journey: ranked as one of the most beautiful and best preserved of Cambodia’s temples and with its remote location, lending a more intimate and spiritual experience.

Constructed with fine-grained rose sandstone (which shimmers in the sunlight), this ‘Art gallery of Angkor’ boasts some of the most intricate carvings of the Khmer era; bas-reliefs here are regarded as some of the world’s most exquisite. Considering these are more than a millennia old – the temple built between the 11th and 13th centuries – they present a remarkable state of preservation. Banteay Srei appropriately translates as the ‘Citadel of Women.’ The construction was commissioned by a female Brahmin rather than a Monarch, which is unusual for Angkor. Locals claim that the near-perfect techniques and incredibly delicate reliefs carved into the malleable sandstone were undertaken by women, as it’s believed larger male hands couldn’t achieve such fine detail.

One of Angkor Archaeological Park’s largest temple complexes, Preah Khan pays homage to King Jayavarman VII’s father on the site of his victory over invading Chams – the temple’s name translates as ‘Holy Sword.’ 

An important centre for worship and spiritual education fusing Buddhist and Hindu spirituality, scholars estimate around 100,000 resided here, including the King himself, awaiting Angkor Thom to be completed.  

Concentric rectangular galleries enclose a Buddhist sanctuary, with several Hindu satellite temples encircled by a moat, while a curious amalgamation of styles and influences extend to a two-storey, Grecian-style structure. With its maze of vaulted corridors, fine carvings and lichen-clad stonework, Preah Khan bears similarities to Ta Prohm. However this temple welcomes fewer visitors and thanks to ongoing restoration efforts, is in a reasonable state of preservation.  

Combine your visit to the park’s northern fringes with neighbouring Neak Pean, a minuscule temple set on an island in an artificial body of water believed to represent the mythical Anavatapta Lake and dedicated to healing.

Located 10-kilometres (6-miles) east of Angkor Thom, Banteay Kdei was designed in similar architectural style as Bayon, Ta Prohm and Preah Khan. However, Banteay Kdei offers a more tranquil experience compared to these illustrious temples, while its solitude and air of mystery offers an authentic gem for adventurers.

This sprawling complex was originally a Buddhist monastery, but after centuries of neglect, fell into ruin. Cleared from jungle overgrowth by conservationists in the 1920s, inferior construction methods have meant ongoing restoration programs have required epic efforts to return this ‘Citadel of Chambers’ to its former glory. However, you can still enjoy exploring a fascinating labyrinth of chambers and treasure trove of sculptures and bas-reliefs: notably, The Hall of Dancers, decorated with remarkable Apsaras and a seated Buddha and the Four Faces of Avalokiteshvara (a Jayavarman VII recurring themes).

Pair your visit with Sra Srang (‘Pool of Ablutions’) located opposite, an ancient bathing pool once reserved for the King and his consorts.

Similar to Banteay Kdei, Hindu temple-mountain Pre Rup may not be the grandest and in the best of conditions, yet its crumbling charms, magnificent structure and atmospheric beauty amid the Cambodian countryside, are difficult to ignore. Again, as a lesser-visited temple, you may appreciate the relative peace and quiet.  

Built as the state temple of Rajendravarman II in the 10th century, Pre Rup translates as ‘Turning the Body,’ referencing an ancient Cambodian funeral ritual – tracing a rotating corpse outline in cinders – suggesting it may have served as a giant royal crematorium. Mainly due to construction methods failing to stand the march of time, much of Pre Rup lies in a ruinous state. However, this unorthodox temple reveals some hidden architectural masterworks, including the pyramid-shaped design and five lotus towers reminiscent of Angkor Wat and brick stonework emanating a striking reddish hue in the early morning and late afternoon light.

Under-the-radar temples like Beng Mealea gives you the chance to unleash your inner Indiana Jones spirit. Hidden in jungle along an ancient royal route, Beng Mealea presents one of the more mysterious of the Angkor collection – not to mention, one of its largest.  

Originally built as a Hindu place of worship, Beng Mealea followed the same architectural blue-print as Angkor Wat. Although little restoration work has been carried out at this once mighty 12th century temple, some of the dense foliage and encroaching vegetation has been hacked back in recent years, creating a surreal ‘Ta Phrom’ effect. Adventurous souls may relish clambering over piles of fallen masonry amid an ethereal scene of hanging vines, plants and roots strangling finely-chiselled sandstone walls and passageways. The wooden walkway originally built for filming on location ‘The Two Brothers,’ set in 1920s French Indochina, still provides access to the temple’s decayed central area and outer galleries. 

Watching the sun set over ancient temples is another ‘must-do’ and one of the best places to end your day on a high note, literally, is Phnom Bakheng. 'Phnom' translates to 'hill' or 'mountain' and this Hindu-Buddhist temple, rising 67-metres (219-feet) above the surrounding plains was one of the first temple-mountains built in the Angkor vicinity. Preceding Angkor Wat by two centuries, historians believe in its day, Phnom Bakheng was the principal Angkor temple.  

Given its strategic setting, Phnom Bakheng is one of the most popular sunset vantage points, albeit attracting so many visitors, numbers are now restricted. After climbing the steep path up Bakheng Mountain, you’ll be rewarded with incredible views across Angkor Thom and   Angkor Wat’s iconic spires in the distance, bathed in intense sunset hues before fading in the dusk glow. An alternative is the relatively more serene Phnom Krom, another Angkor hilltop temple located 12-kilometres (7.5-miles) south of Siem Reap; the summit here reveals panoramic views across Tonlé Sap Lake, villages and rice paddies.

Emerald Cruises offers an exciting opportunity to combine one of our unforgettable river cruises on the legendary Mekong and through Southern Vietnam and Cambodia, with a handcrafted land journey further north in Siem Reap – your gateway to the incredible Angkor Archaeological Park.  

During your enthralling three-night stay in Siem Reap, you’ll experience the major Angkor temples on guided tours, but also have time at leisure to explore more ancient archaeological wonders and the modern charms of this vibrant provincial town.