This morning you will visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom and the temples of Bayon, Baphoun, Phimean Akas, The Royal Enclosure and the terraces of Elephant and Leper King. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. The whole afternoon will be set aside to visiting Angkor Wat, one of mankind's greatest achievements. Finish the day watching the sunset on top of Bakheng Hill. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Overnight in Rokkhak River Resort, Siem Reap
Meal plan: Breakfast
Angkor Wat, which translates as the "City of Temples" in Khmer, is the largest religious monument in the world. Dating back to the early 12th Century, the complex was constructed by the Khmer King Suryavarman II as a Hindu Temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. In the late 13th Century, Angkor Wat became a Buddhist place of worship, and has remained so ever since. Built on a rectangular man made island surrounded by a 190 metre wide moat, the temple structure is in the classical style of Khmer architecture. The moat helped prevent Angkor Wat from being submerged by the encroaching jungle; the only access is by an earthbank to the east and a sandstone causeway to the west. Angkor Wat is famed for the intricate carvings on almost all of its surfaces - walls, columns, lintels and roofs illustrate miles of scenes from Indian literature; the gallery wall alone depicts almost 1,000 square metres of bas-relief freezes. Detailed decorations include carvings of mythical beasts such as unicorns, griffins and winged dragons, as well as warriors on elephants and dancing girls. Because of its unique architecture, the temple complex has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.