After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th Century). Visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
In the afternoon, you’ll visit the most famous of all the temples on the Angkor plain: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th Century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks, while the enclosed wall represent the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat symbolizes the ocean beyond. From Phnom Bakheng (one of two hills dominating the plain of Angkor) you will have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and Angkor Wat. Overnight stay at your hotel in Siem Reap.