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Photo Essay: The Temples of Angkor

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Visiting Angkor, a few kilometers outside Siem Reap is a highlight for most visitors to Cambodia and Southeast Asia.

The complex covers a vast area, however, there are three main temples everyone visits: Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm.

Heading to Angkor Wat? Book a top-rated hostel here

Cambodian children try their best to sell visitors their trinkets.
Cambodian children try their best to sell visitors their trinkets.

The many faces of Bayon temple.
The many faces of Bayon temple.

The mysterious Bayon smile.
The mysterious Bayon smile.

Renting a bicycle to visit the temples is a popular option for visitors.
Renting a bicycle to visit the temples is a popular option for visitors.

Amongst the ruins of Ta Prohm, where scenes from the movie Tomb Raider were filmed.
Amongst the ruins of Ta Prohm, where scenes from the movie Tomb Raider were filmed.

The growth of a large tree slowly takes its toll on the stone walls at Ta Prohm.
The growth of a large tree slowly takes its toll on the stone walls at Ta Prohm.

A pair of visitors take a break from exploring.
A pair of visitors take a break from exploring.

Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat

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About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 68 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Comments

  1. Adam says

    Great pics. I have many from some of the exact same areas, and it really takes me back. I hope to visit again one day. Even though we spent three whole days exploring, we still missed a good portion of it. That's the one thing that really surprised me about Angkor; I honestly had no clue at the ridiculous size of it all. We could have spent a week there with relative ease.

  2. Matthew Kyhnn says

    Beautiful pics Dave. I'm considering a trip to Cambodia in the coming months and these pictures might get me there sooner.

  3. Juno says

    Amazing!! I'm planning to go Ankor in Sep. Had ticket already. I've heard so many great things about Ankor but so much horrifying stories about Siemreap too. But this pictures are just making me forget all bad things. :)
    Nice pics!

  4. Dave says

    Matt - I had a great time in Cambodia, and Angkor wasn't the main reason! My favorite experiences involved riding around on the back of motos through rurual villages, and seeing the countryside.

  5. Locationless Living says

    This is really cool. I am usually not one for ancient ruins but can't imagine skipping this.

  6. Dave says

    Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider temple) was my favorite in Angkor, but overall, I had a greater sense of awe at Tikal in Guatemala for some reason. Maybe because there were less people, and the main complex of temples weren't spread so far apart. There weren't any pestering kids either.

  7. Cynthia U says

    Great pictures of the temples. It's such a lovely place and being there feels otherworldly at times.