Angkor Wat – the biggest attraction in Cambodia

‍There are many reasons why it is worth choosing to visit and relax in Cambodia. This uniquely authentic and interesting country located in Southeast Asia has been attracting visitors for a long time, mainly due to the spectacular Angkor Wat temple. This is a famous temple complex included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the largest religious monument in the world, covering an area of ​​162,6 hectares. Originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, it gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple in the late 20th century. The entire complex is surrounded by a 400-meter-wide moat. The walls of the temple are richly decorated with scenes from Hindu mythology and epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. You can also see scenes from the life of the king, his ancestors and important historical figures in the history of the Khmer people. There are over XNUMX exquisitely crafted figures immortalized on the walls, each with a different face. Angkor Wat has three levels. In ancient times, only the king and priests had access to the third highest floor. The monuments were built between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, and the entire complex includes stone palaces and temples, parks and water reservoirs. An area of ​​over XNUMX km²; It was once inhabited by a million people.

It is best to visit Angkor Wat in the morning if you want to avoid crowds and high temperatures. During your morning trip to the Angkor Wat temple, you will easily find secluded places, without tourists, and you will also avoid queues to enter the third level. To take full advantage of the attractions that Angkor Wat in Cambodia has to offer, it is best to purchase a three-day entry ticket.

Siem Reap – bustling with life

When visiting the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia, it will be a good idea to stop in Siem Reap. This fourth largest city in Cambodia is located only 7 km from the historic complex. There is an important airport in Siem Reap, where most planes with travelers who want to see Angkor Wat land.

It is a city bustling with life and bustle, filled with souvenir shops, bars and delicious street food. There are several museums in the city: the Angkor National Museum, the Land Mine Museum and the War Museum. Other attractions include an attractively lit night market, dinner in a restaurant with a traditional Apsar dance show and a tuk tuk trip.

There are several very good hotels in Siem Reap, among the best in Cambodia, such as Amansara, Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, Zannier Hotels Phum Baitang and Park Hyatt. These are luxurious hotels for the most demanding travelers, ideal for accommodation both for sightseeing and for blissful relaxation.

Tonle Sap Lake – floating villages

From Siem Reap, it is worth going to Tonle Sap Lake to see floating villages, i.e. settlements of houses on stilts several meters high, and take a boat ride on the water body. Tonle Sap is one of the most fish-rich freshwater reservoirs in the world. The annual catch is approximately 200 tons and it is estimated that the lake feeds 3 million people living in the area. The largest lake in Cambodia, Tonle Sap, is also the fifth largest body of water on the Indochinese Peninsula and in Asia. Regardless of the season, it is one of the most interesting places to visit in this country. The peculiarity of Lake Tonle Sap is its variability in terms of water and surface level depending on the season: dry and rainy. In the dry season, the lake area is approximately 2,5 thousand square meters. km² and the depth does not exceed 1 meter. During the rainy season, the lake's surface area increases to up to 15. km², and the depth can reach 15 meters. The changing water level forces some inhabitants of floating fishing villages to change their place of residence even several times a year.

Tonle Sap is connected to the Mekong River by the Tonle Sap River. Spring in the Himalayas and the beginning of the rainy season mean that water in the Mekong increases significantly. The increased amount of water causes the Tonle Sap River to flow backwards, forcing water, fertile sediment and fish from the Mekong into the lake. The Tonle Sap River is the only river in the world that reverses its course seasonally.

The lake boasts a rich fauna; there are about 300 species of fish, several species of snakes, frogs and wild Siamese crocodiles and pangasius fish, i.e. giant sumai. It is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, which can grow up to 3 meters. There are numerous species of birds at the lake

Individual sightseeing tours around Cambodia

‍It is worth noting that Cambodia is a highly developed tourist country and very friendly to travelers. Individually designed expeditions and trips to Cambodia will be an extraordinary adventure. Whether you plan to travel across the country or just relax on the beach, Cambodia has a lot to offer.

‍Beach holidays – Koh Rong island in Cambodia

Cambodia has access to the Gulf of Thailand and has a large number of seaside resorts. Paradise beaches, incredible peace and access to nature are the main reasons why it is worth going to the island of Koh Rong in Cambodia. At night, in some places around the island, you can observe the phenomenon of bioluminescence - the glow of sea plankton. The best place to observe the luminescence is on beaches away from settlements. Many hotels and local travel agencies organize night boat trips to observe this natural phenomenon.

If you decide to vacation in Cambodia on the island of Koh Rong, you will have access to incredibly white beaches, exceptionally warm, turquoise water and coconut palms swaying over the ocean. Koh Rong is one of the most picturesque places in Cambodia, located about 25 km west of Sihanoukville. There are many accommodation options on Koh Rong, from simple cottages to luxury villas in elegant hotels.

Song Saa – vacation on a private island

If you love learning about another culture but don't want to give up accommodation in luxury hotels, it is worth going on a trip to Song Saa Island in Kabodza. On Song Saa Island you will find a perfect private beach, spacious wooden villas, a professional spa and a well-preserved coral reef for diving.

Holidays in Cambodia are a very good choice regardless of the season. In this part of Asia, you can almost always count on warm weather, which will allow you to enjoy the greatest tourist attractions.

Traveling in Cambodia – which travel agency is the best to go on holiday to Asia?

Visiting Cambodia and neighboring countries such as Laos, Vietnam and Thailand is a great idea for spending your winter vacation. The weather in Asia is perfect for sightseeing and relaxing on beautiful white beaches. It doesn't matter whether you are planning a solo trip (as a single person) around Cambodia or you are planning a joint honeymoon or family vacation. Boutique travel agency CARTER will organize your dream trip to Cambodia, taking into account all your interests and local attractions.

Your individual holidays in Southeast Asia, in the best hotels, with a private driver and guide, do not have to be very expensive. All you need to do is plan your trip to Cambodia well in advance and buy plane tickets in advance. By booking in advance you can save a lot; air fares are then the most attractive, and hotels offer the so-called Early Booking Offers, which means that by booking a given luxury hotel in Cambodia or Thailand in advance, you save and gain attractive bonuses.

If you are looking for the best places in Cambodia, we highly recommend one-day and multi-day trips to Angkor, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Koh Rong island. Organize your individual holiday in Cambodia with CARTER and you will check the difference. What sets us apart is our attention to detail and excellent knowledge of the local climate.

Unique trips around Asia and exclusive holidays in Cambodia are our specialty!

Original programs for individual travelers and tour programs in small groups, incentive trips for companies, romantic honeymoon trips, stay packages for active people and a wide selection of the best five-star hotels in Cambodia, both in cities and on the islands. If you are looking for something unique to culminate your tour program in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia, it is worth considering rest and relaxation in the extremely comfortable, best Six Senses Krabey Island hotel.