Exploring Angkor Thom on foot

This walk is a fantastic way to experience the best of Angkor Thom and offers a real insight into the size and scale of this ancient city. We begin our walk at the impressive South Gate of the walled city of Angkor Thom. We walk on the immense ancient walls towards the south-west corner where there is a small temple, Prasat Chrung. We continue walking around to the West Gate, where the causeway has collapsed leaving a muddle of stone bodies looking victims of some terrible historic accident.

From the West Gate we weave our way towards the principal temples, exploring the Baphuon, often nicknamed the world's largest jigsaw puzzle, as it was dismantled before the civil war and the Khmer Rouge destroyed all the archaeological records; the Royal Palace complex, which was once home to the God-kings of Angkor; Phimean
Akas , a petite pyramid temple; before finally arriving at atmospheric Preah Palilay, a Buddhist temple overshadowed by huge kapok trees. We then take a long break for lunch within
the walls of Angkor Thom, enjoying some Cambodian food and perhaps a fresh
coconut to boost our energy for the afternoon.

After lunch, we explore the central square of Angkor Thom, starting at the Terrace of the Leper King.

We continue along the Terrace of Elephants, originally used as a viewing gallery for the king to preside over parades, performances and traditional sports. We may cross over the royal
parade ground to take a look at the towers of Prasat Suor Prat, originally believed to have been connected by rope bridges and used for performances.

Our climax is the enigmatic and enchanting temple of the Bayon. At the exact centre of Angkor
Thom, this is an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia’s most celebrated king. These colossal heads stare down from every side, exuding power and control with a hint of compassion, just the mix required to keep a hold on such a vast empire.

What’s Included: