Exploring Angkor Wat

Dating back to the 12th century, this UNESCO World Heritage Site gives a glimpse into the Khmer kingdom which once ruled the country, with a mix of Hindu symbolism and later Buddhist artwork, intricate carvings and magnificent central towers. The highlight of a visit to ancient Angkor, it’s the start of an introduction to Khmer culture and heritage, along with the temples of Bayon and Ta Prohm, plus quieter sites such as Banteay Srei and Preah Khan.

• Marvel at Angkor Wat’s iconic spires, symbolising the home of the Hindu gods

• Explore Bayon Temple’s serene stone faces and Ta Prohm’s jungle-clad ruins.

• Discover hidden gems like Banteay Srei and Preah Khan for intricate carvings and history.

• Immerse yourself in Khmer culture with local markets and Apsara dance performances.

Covering 400 acres and full of symbolic architecture and decoration, Angkor Wat is a truly astonishing site, deservedly named one of the New Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But with so much to see in and around Angkor Wat, visiting this iconic landmark and understanding the intricate details can be difficult to do alone. Visiting Angkor Wat with Saga removes all the stress of planning a visit, with expert guides who know the site and can explain its significance, as well as providing all your transport and transfers in our escorted tours of Cambodia - not to mention our chauffeur service before and after your flight. All you need to do is sit back, relax and marvel at this spectacular temple complex in comfort.

• Expert guides on hand

• All tickets and transport included

• Tour manager to help plan your free time

The symbol of Cambodia, Angkor Wat is the highlight of a visit to the ancient Khmer capital of Angkor. The world’s largest religious structure, Angkor Wat isn’t a single site, but a 12th century temple complex covering 400 acres and part of the greater city of Angkor Thom. Close to the modern-day city of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat was originally designed as a Hindu site before being transformed into a Buddhist temple. You’ll still see Buddhist monks offering blessings here today, as well as links to its older Hindu past with costumed performers acting out scenes from the Ramayana depicted on the temple walls. Constructed to be the state temple of the Khmer Empire, it was also designed as the tomb of King Suryavarman II and is considered to be a masterpiece of Khmer architecture.

Angkor Wat was designed as an earthly representation of Mount Meru, the home of the gods according to Hindu mythology, with its architecture and layout symbolising various aspects of this sacred paradise. The moat represents the cosmic oceans, with the concentric galleries doubling for the continents and worlds around the central peak. The five main towers of Angkor Wat in turn symbolise the five peaks of Mount Meru, considered to be at the centre of the universe, with the highest tower historically reserved for royalty and priests.

Within the temple complex, you’ll also see a series of intricate bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics, as well as Hindu gods and scenes of Khmer life. After Angkor was sacked in 1177 by the Cham people (from modern-day Vietnam), King Jayavarman VII lost faith in the Hindu gods and dedicated his new capital Angkor Thom to Buddhism, converting Angkor Wat into a Buddhist shrine and replacing many carvings and statues with Buddhist art.

Some of the other highlights to look out for at Angkor Wat include the Hall of Dancers, with thousands of carvings of apsaras, or celestial dancers.

Sunrise over Angkor Wat

One of the most photographed sights in Asia, visitors flock to Angkor Wat just before dawn to capture the first rays of the sun gleaming above the temple’s spires and illuminating the reflection pool. While Angkor Wat at sunrise is certainly a spectacular experience, the ever-growing number of visitors looking to soak up this early morning sight means that this is one of the busiest times of the day.

If you have multiple days in Siem Reap, it’s a magnificent memory to treasure but if your time is short, arriving after sunrise can often be a better experience, as many people return to their hotels. Alternatively, swap sunrise for sunset, with a chance to see the towers of Angkor Wat glow gold at the end of the day. Whenever you visit, this temple complex is truly unforgettable, so there’s no need to feel that you’re missing out if a dawn start is impractical (or the early start simply doesn’t tempt you).

Angkor Wat is only the beginning of what you can see in the entire Angkor complex, with a string of other sites in and around Angkor Thom, the ‘Great City’. The temples of Bayon and Ta Prohm are two of the best-known, but you can also spot the carvings of the Terrace of the Elephants, the imposing statues lining the approach to the South Gate, and less well-known sites such as Preah Khan and Banteay Srei.

There’s far more to the kingdom of Angkor than Angkor Wat alone, even if this is (deservedly) the most famous site in the historic Khmer capital. The city of Angkor Thom itself covers 3.5 square miles, with the 12th century Bayon Temple sitting at its heart. Also known as the face temple, Bayon’s towers and facades are covered with 216 enigmatic smiling faces. It’s thought the serene carvings were modelled on the face of King Jayavarman VII, with experts debating whether they were designed to represent Hindu god Brahma, Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, or the monarch as both god and king.

One of the best-known temples of Angkor, Ta Prohm is famous partly for its appearance in the Tomb Raider video games, but also for the way the jungle has reclaimed the historic buildings. Located slightly outside the walls of Angkor Thom, the temple remains are interwoven with the twisting roots of strangler figs and silk cotton trees, some of which are now an integral part of the stone edifice. While preservation work has ensured this popular site is less overgrown than some other quieter temples, it’s an atmospheric reminder of the power of nature.

Ta Prohm

One of the largest complexes at Angkor, the temple of Preah Khan is still one of the quieter sites to visit. Built by Jayavarman VII in the 12th century, it’s thought to have been the king’s residence while Angkor Thom was constructed. The temple is best known for its vaulted corridors, as well as some lovely carvings including a depiction of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, a quest for immortality told in the epic Mahabharata. Once dedicated to 515 divinities, the eastern entrance is now dedicated to Mahayana Buddhism, while the other points of the compass are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.

While there are plenty of spectacular sites around Angkor Thom, travel around 45 minutes from Siem Reap and you can discover one of the less-visited jewels of the area. Banteay Srei dates from 967CE, and despite being one of the smallest sites, it’s considered one of the crowning achievements of Angkorian art thanks to its intricate carvings in the pale red sandstone. The name translates as Citadel of the Women, carrying the suggestion that this elaborate decoration was too fine to have been done by a man. Almost every inch is covered in carvings; look out for delicate figures of women holding lotus flowers, as well as detailed depictions from the Ramayana.

A stay in Siem Reap is also the perfect opportunity to discover more about Cambodian culture and heritage beyond the temples, as part of Saga’s curated experiences. Many of the country’s traditional crafts date back to the days of the Khmer empire, including silk weaving, silversmithing, lacquerware, wood- and stone-carving, plus pottery. More than 50 artisans work at SATCHA Cambodian handicraft centre, with modern and classic creations on sale, along with bamboo workshops. Or enjoy an Apsara dance performance, modelled on the sculptures of these celestial dancers at Angkor Wat and incorporating traditional Khmer dances, as well as a visit to Phare Cambodian Circus, which uses drama, dance, live music and some astonishing acrobatics to tell stories from Cambodian history, folklore and present-day scenes.

The winter months of November to early March are the coolest and driest part of the year to visit Cambodia, so this period has some of the best weather for exploring. However, it’s also the most popular time for holidays in Cambodia, so these are the most crowded months to explore Angkor Wat. April and May are best avoided as temperatures soar into the high 30Cs and often as hot as 40C. The rainy season, or green season, runs from June to October which means the ancient sites are much quieter. While you won’t escape wet weather, you can normally expect short, sharp downpours in the afternoons rather than day-long rain so it’s possible to plan your sightseeing around them. Whatever the weather, you will be expected to dress appropriately in the temples of Angkor Wat, with shoulders and knees covered.

Earlier morning and late afternoon tend to be the most comfortable for exploring, as Siem Reap is hot year-round. Sunrise at Angkor Wat is spectacular but also the busiest time of the day (usually from 5.30am-6am). With the majority of sunrise visitors returning to their hotels for breakfast, arriving at around 6.30-7am can often be quieter, but combines gentle morning light for photos with cooler temperatures. By late afternoon, the golden light is also perfect for photos, although you can expect the temples to be more crowded by this point.

Ta Prohm in the Angkor complex

There’s so much to see at the Angkor temples that trying to cram everything into one short visit is likely to leave you feeling tired and overwhelmed. Tickets cover multiple sites and allow re-entry, so even if you have a single day ticket, you can avoid the hottest part of the day and return later on, while three-day tickets enable you to make multiple short visits. Although Angkor Wat is the undoubted highlight, it’s well worth visiting the smaller temples too, such as better-known sites like Bayon and Ta Prohm, but also quieter locations where you’ll avoid the crowds such as Beng Mealea and Banteay Srei. Visiting with a guide is also well worth doing, as it’s hard to understand the history and symbolism without an expert to explain what you’re seeing.

No visit to Cambodia is complete without exploring Angkor Wat, an iconic site that’s as much artwork as landmark. From its intricate carvings to the five symbolic towers, as well as the other key sites from the former Khmer capital, this New Wonder of the World doesn’t disappoint. For your chance to experience it first-hand, check out our holidays in Cambodia.