Your tour begins with pick-up from your central Siem Reap hotel by tuk tuk. After the short journey to Angkor’s western gate and paying your entrance to the park (not included in tour price), hop out to start exploring Angkor on foot.
Escape the crowds as you stroll through the less-visited part of Angkor Thom and listen as you guide tells the history of the glorious Khmer Empire. A short tuk-tuk ride will then take you to Bayon, one of Angkor’s most photographed temples, after which it’s on to the eastern gate to continue your walking tour.
Learn why the eastern gate is nicknamed the Dead Gate as you clamber to the top, and follow your guide on a 2-mile (3 km) circuit of the ancient city walls. Along the way, stop to see the Victory Gate, through which ancient Khmer warriors marched out of the city to victory, and the temple of Prasat Chrung, in the northeastern corner. On arrival at the Northern Gate, your tuk-tuk will be waiting to take you to lunch.
After a break for lunch at a local restaurant (own expense), continue your tour with a visit to Ta Prohm, nicknamed the ‘jungle temple’ thanks to the twisted trees that have grown amid the atmospheric ruins. Once home to 2,740 monks, Ta Prohm today looks much as it did in the early 1850s, when French explorer Henri Mouhot ‘rediscovered’ this crumbling site.
Of course, you can’t tour Angkor without a visit to the most famous of all its temples – Angkor Wat. Take time to marvel at its magnificent façade, then admire the architectural details up close, as your guide points out the highlights of the 12th-century masterpiece. After posing for photos outside Angkor Wat, it’s time to return to Siem Reap, where your day ends with drop-off at your hotel.
