In the last five centuries, several Khmer capitals were established here, covering a total area of 200 km², between the 9th and 15th centuries. To date, more than 1,000 temples and shrines have been discovered. It is estimated that at the height of the historical kingdom, a million people may have lived in the greater Angkor area.
Day 1 – Grand tour through Angkor
Due to the vastness of the complex, it's nearly impossible to explore it on foot. Siem Reap offers transportation options for every budget: taxis for US$30, tuk-tuks for US$15, and bicycles for US$2 per day. For our second day in Cambodia, we planned to cycle the grand circular route. The day before, we arranged a full-day tour with a tuk-tuk driver for US$13, who picked us up promptly at 8:00 AM from our hotel.
Angkor Thom
Bayon
We bypassed Angkor Wat and after a few kilometers reached the former capital, Angkor Thom (meaning "Great Capital"). The most impressive temple complex here is the Bayon. This state temple, completed in the early 13th century, is especially famous for its towers with faces carved from stone, several meters high. Of the original 54 towers, 37 have been reconstructed. Most of the towers have four faces, aligned with the cardinal directions. We were advised to visit the complex early in the morning. At that time, the sun is in a very favorable position for interesting photographs.
Baphuon
We walked from the Bayon to the monumental Baphuon temple mountain, built in the mid-11th century in honor of the Hindu god Shiva. We reached the pyramid via a 172-meter-long stone walkway. It consists of four levels with a total height of 24 meters. From the top level, we had a fantastic view of the surrounding terraces.
Phimeanakas and the Terrace of the Elephants
Before we met our tuk-tuk driver again at the Terrace of the Leper King, we visited the Phimeanakas and the Terrace of the Elephants.
Preah Khan and Neak Poam
We left Angkor Thom through the north gate and drove to Preah Khan and Neak Poam. We found the relatively well-preserved Buddhist temple complex of Preah Khan very interesting. In contrast, Neak Poam can be visited quite quickly. We could only reach it via a roughly 100-meter-long walkway, only to discover that the actual temple was closed.
East Mebon and Banteay Kdei
After a short lunch break and another temple visit, the East Mebon, we were driven to Banteay Kdei. Many buildings of this monastery complex are interwoven with trees. Due to the predominantly sandstone used in its construction, we found it to be in poor condition.
Sunset at Pre Rup Temple
Our original plan was to experience the sunset at Pre Rup Temple. It's not as crowded with tourists as Phnom Bakheng. Since it was still a bit early in the afternoon for sunset and the clouds were obscuring the view, we simply visited the temple anyway.
Day 2 – Short tour through Angkor
Today we planned to cycle the 17-kilometer short loop. We rented two bicycles in the Old Market area of Siem Reap. Since the roads are mostly flat and often run alongside the forest, cycling isn't a problem even in the hot midday temperatures.
Ta Prohm
After a three-quarter-hour drive, we reached the Ta Prohm complex. We knew this temple complex, which originated in the early 13th century, as a backdrop from the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
Phnom Bakeheng
Since we couldn't visit Phnom Bakheng on our first day in Cambodia due to the crowds, we made up for it this afternoon. We were hoping for a better view of the surrounding complexes of the Angkor Empire. Unfortunately, we were disappointed and could only see Angkor Wat in the distance.
To relax after the tour, we treated ourselves to a full-body massage in downtown Siem Reap in the evening. This one-hour procedure costs just 5 USD here.
