Angkor Wat

I was in Siem Reap in early June 2007 for a 3 days 2 nights trip and I highly recommend this amazing destination to everyone. I was blown away by the architecural marvel of something that was built so long ago and yet still stands today with the same majestic brilliance and grandeur as it stood centuries ago.

The best place I've been to. If posible I would give it 50 out of 10.

My wife and I are just back from Angkor Wat. It was a wonderful experience, what with the grand sunset view of the temple in a gloden glow. And there was a beautiful double rainbow the evening we watched it!



Needless to say, a visit is a must. But be sure to do justice to more than the Angkor Wat. For instance, the famous "face" is from the Bayon, which is the centre of the citadel of Angkor Thom. Spend your dollars there but remember to try and give some custom to local businesses, be it the tuk-tuk, guides, food outlets, etc. Everything helps.

What can I say that hasn't been said yet? Angkor defines greatness of achievement in both the arts and architecture - and it made for an unforgetable part of our honeymoon trip. Angkor Wat brings forth a sense of mystery, of the sensuality of love and harmony between architecture and nature. Like the popular saying goes: "Go to Angkor my friend, to its ruins, to its dreams."

I have been to the Far East four times (visiting Bangkok, HongKong and KL) and nothing prepared me for Angkor - an absolutely mind- blowing, truly magical place. Easily the best travel experience of my life. Wonderful people, very good food - I could not fault the place. Thre was lots to do in Siem Reap, so you will not get bored and could easily spend a week there.

I visited the temples back in the spring of 2001, and I was absolutely delighted by the experience. This trip, coupled with visiting some places in Thailand, stands out as one of the top three that I've ever experienced. I was struck by the magic of this site; it was an incredible feeling to watch the sun rise on these magnificent temples thrusting up out of the surrounding jungle, with monkeys and orange-robed monks wandering around. One of the larger temples is overgrown with jungle, making it feel like a real-life version of an Indiana Jones movie. Absolutely incredible.

"Go to Angkor my friend, to its ruins, to its dreams." - P. Jennerat de Beerski, 1924.



This is one of the greatest trips I have ever taken. for those who want to step into an ancient culture of a "lost city" there is nothing greater.

Beautiful. Magical. Breathtaking. Stunning. Awe-inspiring. A picture is worth a thousand words, but Angkor Wat is worth ten million.

Go early, catch the sunrise, it gets very hot later, also you can stay one step ahead of the baseball capped flag following throngs that arrive from the massive 5 star chain hotels later in the day. Ta Phrom and the Bayon (which for a time we had to ourselves) are just as amazing as Angkow Wat, what a city it must have been

Angkor Wat is the greatest structure ever made on earth. Not only its huge size the carving is perfect.

I love this temple so much, it is totally wonderful and I want everybody in the whole world to come and visit!

Angkor Wat is the best place there is in the whole enitre universe. I'm a traveller and I been all over the world and nothing amused me more than Angkor Wat. There is no word to describe the view of the temple. It's gorgeous. Also, while you are in Cambodia, go around Angkor Wat and you'll see a huge tree that has it's own life form. It's trulely one of the best experiences ever.

I had the pleasure of visiting Angkor Wat in October 2004 and it was a fantastic experience. My advice to all that go there is to take your time and rent a bicycle for a few days to do the small circuit. The temples are amazing and almost all deserve the visitors full attention as they are all pieces in a very large puzzle. Visit no more than 4 temples per day (yes, that does mean you have to stay for over a week is you want to see them all) and even go back to some of the more interesting ones at different times of the day. For instance Bayon in the morning (cool and very busy) is very different to Bayon during lunch time (when it is very hot and deserted by all tourists and guards and tranquil). The angle of the sun also makes a big difference on how well you can see the relief’s and sculptures. For any art-lover Angkor Watt and all its surrounding temples are a joy. For active people there is a good supply of bicycle rental so you can come and go when and where you like. And as long as you approach the vendors with a sense of humor and are able to ignore their 'amazing bargains' once in a while), stay far away from Japanese tourists that travel in great numbers and by bus, and enjoy the hospitality Cambodians offer in abundance, you are in for a magnificent treat.

Angkor Wat and the complex of temples is one of the most inspiring and exotic places imaginable. The sense of history and what the Khmer civilisation had achieved in the 12 century is intricately portrayed on the extensive and well preserved carvings and bas reliefs in Angkor Wat itself and in the temple of Bayon. Bayon is a must, with the huge stone statues of Buddha - take time to study the carvings, which show everyday activities, such as farming, fishing and schooling.



The recent history of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge stand in stark contrast to the refinements of 800 years ago. The bullet holes and shell cracks are there for all to see on the facade of Angkor Wat itself. Go early in the morning to avoid crowds, especially to Ta Prohm, the temple still covered by jungle, with large trees growing from the temple stones. Stay until sunset and climb the hill overlooking Angkor Wat to see the effect on its stones. Watch the DVD of The Killing Fields before you go to get some idea of what this remarkable country and its people have suffered in recent history.

I visited Angkor in February 2001 and it truly is an awesome wonder to behold. I remember being amazed by the intricacies of the engravings in the stone walls, of the bizarre fusion of Hindu and Buddhist imagery. Many of the statues had body parts missing or had been shatttered completely during Pol Pot's attempts to rid the country of literature and religion.


I did find my visit a little frustrating at times, because every time I began to get a sense of the power of my surroundings, I would be approached and harrassed by various freelance "guides" in designer clothes.


After leaving each temple, an army of women would run toward me screaming "COLD DRINK! COLD DRINK! TWO CAN OF COKE ONE DOLLAR!"


I am glad I visited Angkor Wat, but it wasn't the highlight of my visit to Cambodia.

Truly one of the most amazing places to visit in the world - I'd give it 12 out of 10 if I could. The Angkor complex is situated a few miles from the town of Siem Reap which is where most people stay. You can get to Siem Reap by boat, travelling from Phnom Penh along the Tonle Sap (Cambodia's biggest lake), by air, flying in from Bangkok or better still Phnom Phen, or by 4 wheel drive car. Due to the time restrictions we had to fly, but talking to a number of other people the boat ride is great too. Most people recommend taking the 'speed' boat as the slower ferry services can take a lot of time and do tend to stop at random places along the way.



On your first visit to the temple complex you will need to buy an entry pass for which you need 2 passport photos. It is well worth buying a 2 or 3 day pass as to see the area properly you will need at least two solid days. Travelling around in the Angkor complex can be done by bicycle, tuk tuk or taxi. I would highly recommend getting an experienced guide who can explain all the history and an air conditioned car as it does get rather hot during the day.



Angkor Wat is the most magnificent of all the temples but while you are there I would recommend seeing other temples. The absolute 'must-sees' are the Bayon (amazing carved faces of Buddah - see the attached photo), Banteay Srei (built out of pink stone) and of course Ta Prohm which was made famous by the film Tomb Raider and has huge trees literally growing out of, on top of and through the temple building.



While in Cambodia I would strongly recommend spending some time in Phnom Phen too. While there it is worth going to Wat Phnom, the King's palace and the Killing Fields. The recent history is very moving but I think very important for people to know about and remember.