Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & Elephant Terrace Half-Day Tours

You will get picked up from your hotel in Siem Reap

Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious center since its foundation – first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. It is the world's largest religious building. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology: within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometers (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the center of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs and for the numerous guardian spirits adorning its walls.

Angkor Thom Capital city of the Khmer empire built at the end of the 12th century NameAngkor Thom Datelate 12th century KingJayavarman VII Location North of Angkor Wat, between West Baray and East Baray Near byAngkor Wat, Preah Khan, Phnom Bakheng Angkor Thom is an almost square city surrounded by 8 meter high walls a little over 12 kilometers long with five impressive gopura gates providing access to the city. The city’s name translates to “large city” or “great city”. King Jayavarman VII made Angkor Thom the new capital of the Khmer Kingdom after driving out the Chams , who destroyed the old capital Yasodharapura. He fortified the city by building a high wall around it, in turn enclosed by a 100 meter wide moat.

As we press onward with our tour, our path shall lead us to the majestic South Gate of Angkor Thom. Within its grand expanse lies the renowned Bayon and Baphuon temples, a splendid assembly of 54 towers adorned with 216 serene faces of the divine Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. Throughout the visit, our knowledgeable tour guide shall regale us with the rich historical tapestry of the Angkor Temples and the illustrious Khmer empire, expertly illuminating the intricate architectural masterpieces that grace Angkor landscape. After this we will have lunch and your vehicle will drive pass by both the Terrace of Elephant and the Terrace of Leper King known as the royal viewing platform and the stage of the king’s great audience hall.

The Terrace of the Elephants is one of the many iconic constructions of the Khmer Empire and a key highlight within the walled city of Angkor Thom. The long terrace, also known in some records as the Terrace of Honor, fronts the Royal Palace and has an entrance that once joined a causeway leading to Victory Gate of Angkor Thom which in turn led to the terrace of the East Baray. The terrace is around 340m in length along a north-south axis with the Leper King Terrace to its north and the terrace/entrance gopura of Baphoun Temple to its south. Along its length, the front wall is decorated with near life-size carvings of elephants alternating with a section of garuda and standing lions.

Return to Siem Reap and drop off at your hotel in Siem Reap after tour.