DISCOVER ANCIENT TEMPLES IN CAMBODIA
Head to Cambodia to discover the ancient Angkor Wat and explore the “Tomb Raider” temple!
Starting in the capital of Phnom Penh, said to be the cultural heart of Cambodia, families can spend a couple of days exploring the city. Wat Kean Kleang, a temple with an exterior completely gilded in gold is particularly interesting with an interior filled with brightly coloured handpainted scenes.
Built in the 1860s, the Royal Palace is a fascinating place to visit with multiple temples and quarters, each one seemingly more opulent than the next. The National Museum is less than three minutes away from the Royal Palace and families can catch a tuk-tuk to the Central Market to hunt for artwork and souvenirs.
Head to the province of Siem Reap for a few days by private driver. It is here in Siem Reap that families can tick off a bucket list item by visiting the ancient Angkor Temples. Built in the 12th century, the temples of Angkor represent a sacred religious site to the Khmer people, and as such, the dress should be appropriate with shirts that cover shoulders and long pants or skirts that cover the knees.
Ta Prohm, made famous by the original Tomb Raider movie in 2001, is possibly the most atmospheric ruin at Angkor and has the appearance of being swallowed by the jungle with a vast root system growing in and around the ruins.
Angkor Wat is the best-preserved temple at Angkor and is Cambodia’s national symbol. Surrounded by a 190m wide moat, it has been in use since it was built and was never abandoned to the elements.
There are numerous other temples to discover and explore with some of the more popular being Bayon, Angkor Thom, Sra Srang, Preah Neak Poan and Preah Khan.