The blend between Hinduism and Buddhism, a sophisticated architecture and a strong symbolism gives this place a special type of energy. Hosting hundreds of temples and structures, Angkor is considered to be the largest complex of temples in the world.

It is definitely the iconic image of Cambodia and this is the reason why you cannot leave this amazing country without visiting Angkor. No matter which temples you decide to visit it is very important to be well-informed. In case you are looking for a perfect experience in Angkor, I made a list with 5 useful tips:

1.Angkor covers an area of more than 400 km² and my advice is to spend at least 3 days there, in order to have enough time to admire the beauty of the entire place. It would be a real loss not to fully enjoy the greatness of Angkor.

2.You should know that you can buy a one day ticket, a three days ticket or a seven days ticket. The higher the number of days is the more convenient the price will be. Another important aspect you should know is the fact that if you buy a three days ticket or a seven days ticket you are not forced to use them for three or seven consecutive days. The three days ticket is valid for a week and the seven days ticket is valid for a month.

3.It is important to know that you can choose from a variety of means of transportation in Angkor: buses, cars, motorbikes, bicycles, electric cars, tuk tuks or even helicopters and hot air balloons. If you decide on one of them, you should take into account the fact that it is cheaper to rent it in Siem Reap than in Angkor.

4.In my opinion the presence of a local guide is a necessity. It is true that you can visit the temples on your own, but it will not be the same without all the explanations and the details that a prepared local guide could offer you. The history of the temples is very interesting and a guide will help you better understand the importance and the significance of the places that you are visiting.

5.Dress properly! You won’t be allowed to enter some of the temples in case you are wearing miniskirts, shorts or any type of clothing that leaves your shoulders or knees uncovered. It’s important to choose appropriate clothing in order to avoid embarrassing situations.

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Situated at about 5,5 kilometers from Siem Reap, Angkor is a magnificent ancient city that hosts the remains of different Hindu temples, Buddhist temples and hydraulic structures. Built between the 9th and the 15th centuries, the spectacular remains belong to the Khmer Empire, the predecessor state of modern Cambodia.

The Khmer Empire was defined by an impressive culture and art, a sophisticated architecture, a developed sense of aesthetics and strong religious convictions. This is the reason why this complex of temples has a strong cultural, religious, symbolic and architectural significance.

Angkor covers an area of more than 400 km2 and it is considered to be the largest complex of temples in the world. Being such a large city, Angkor gives you the possibility to choose from a variety of means of transportation: buses, cars, motorbikes, bicycles, electric cars or tuk tuks. If you like adrenaline you can choose a helicopter flight or a hot air balloon flight. This will be for sure a memorable experience.

In my opinion the best way to visit all these temples is on foot because this will give you the opportunity to admire the temples and their surroundings. The thing I liked the most about this place is the fact that it is situated very close to the mountains and the scenery is lovely. Angkor is surrounded by the Cambodian jungle and by tiny settlements, where people still live in a rustic and simple way.

Don’t be scared if in the jungle you will find a few locals, dressed in Khmer style, that play ancient instruments in order to entertain the tourists. It may sound commercial but it is really entertaining and interesting. As I have already said, Angkor hosts the largest complex of temples in the world and it will take you about three days to visit all of them.

If you have enough time my advice is to spend at least three days there and visit all those spectacular temples. If you cannot spend a few days in Angkor and visit all the temples, you should at least visit the most important ones: Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm. These temples are in my opinion the most representative and interesting and also the ones that I liked the most.

Once you enter Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire, a different world will be lying in front of your eyes. Angkor Thom or “The Great City” was a fortified city that hosted buildings used by important people in that time and also different administrative buildings.

This ancient settlement is the materialization of the Buddhist cosmology. From the multitude of temples and structures that you find there I would definitely choose the Bayon Temple and the Terrace of the Elephants.

Located in the center of Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple is an impressive Buddhist temple due to its 216 giant stone faces. This temple is made up of 54 towers and each of them is embellished with four stone faces. The Terrace of the Elephants is dedicated to Buddhist culture and presents a variety of elephants carved in stone and ridden by servants and princes.

Leaving Angkor Thom behind, you should definitely make a stop at Ta Phrom. This Buddhist temple, which is one of the largest monuments in Angkor, includes 260 statues of gods and 39 towers. The Jungle Temple, as it is called, has a strange beauty highlighted by the combination between wood and stone.

The fact that some trees seem to grow in those stone structures makes this place really unique. Another magnificent temple is Angkor Wat, the most famous temple in Angkor and also the world’s largest single religious monument. You should definitely not end your day without visiting it. This Hindu temple is the best preserved temple in Angkor.

It is also considered one of the finest monuments in the world, a miniature stone replica of the universe representing an earthly model of the cosmic world. You might not know but Angkor Wat was listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

As I have already said this impressive complex of temples is worth visiting and you should take your time to do it, especially that it is very easy to get there. Angkor is situated at about 20 minutes by car or bus from Siem Reap, an important tourist attraction in Cambodia.

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