Banteay Srei is considered by many to be the jewel in the crown of Angkorian Art. A Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built in 10 century, it's cut from stone of a pinkish hue and includes some of the finest stone carvings seen anywhere on earth. It's one of the smallest sites at Angkor, but what it lacks on size it makes up for stature. It's wonderful well preserved and many of its carving are three-dimensional. Banteay Srei was the first major temples-Restoration undertaken by the EFFEO in 1930 using anastylosis method
Banteay Samre dates from the same period as Angkor Wat and was built by Suryavarman II in 12 century dedicated to Hindu god Lord Vishnu. The temple is in fairly healthy state of preservation due to some extensive renovation work. It's isolate temple hidden behind Preah Dak village, it got very few visitors. It's good place for travelers wish to avoid the crowds, have a peaceful time to enjoy the ruin by yourself.
Preah Khan ( Sacred Sword ) is one of the largest complexes at Angkor - a maze vaulted corridors, fine carvings and lichen-clad stonework. It is counterpoint to Ta Prohm and generally sees slightly fewer visitors. Prreah Khan was built by Jayavarman VII in 12 century, the mighty Buddhist king in Angkor Period. The central sanctuary of the temple was dedicated in 1191AD and a large stone stele tell us much about Preah Khan's role as a centre for worship and learning. The temple was dedicated to 515 divinities and during the course of a year 18 festivals took place here, requiring a team of thousands just maintain the place.
The Buddhist temple of Preah Neak Poan ( Intertwined snake ) is a petite perfect temple built by Jayavarman VII, it was built on the artificial island locate in the middle on manmade lake Jayatataka or north Baray. It has a large square pool surrounded by four square pools. In the middle of the central pool is another circular 'island' encircled by the two Nagas whose intertwined the tails give the temple its name. In the pool surrounded the central island there were once four statues, but only one remains, reconstructed from debris by the French archaeologists who cleared the site. The curious figure has the body of a horse supported by a tangle of human legs. It relates to a legend that Avalokiteshvara once saved a group of shipwrecked followers from an island of ghouls by transforming into a flying horse. The water once flowed from the central pool into the four peripheral pools via ornamental spouts, which still can be seen in the pavilions at each axis of the pool. The spouts are in the form of Elephant's head, a horse's head, a lion's head and a human's head which each one are the symbol of one of the four elements( water,wind, fire and the earth elements )
Ta Som is the satellite temple of Preah Khan so this temple also built by Jayavarman VII,late 12 century. The temple is very small but still worth it to stop for a quick look, at the eastern gate has big head with 4 faces of Lord Brahma style but its the symbol on Buddhist's divine Avalokiteshvara, the lord of compassion, covering by giant fig tree.
Eastern Mebon is a Hindu temple, erected by Rajendravarman II (r 944-68), would have been on an islet in the centre of Eastern Baray ( Eastern water reservoir ) but now have been much on dry land. The temple-mountain form topped off by the now familiar to quincuncial arrangement of towers. The elaborate brick shrines are dotted with neatly arranged holes, which attached the original plasterwork. The base of the temple is guarded its corners by perfectly carved stone figures of elephants, many of which are still in very good state of preservation.
Pre Rup built by Rajendravarman II in the 10 century, is about 1 km south of Eastern Mebon. Like its predecessor, the temple consists of a pyramid-shape temple-mountain with the uppermost of the three tiers carring five lotus towers. The brick sanctuaries were also once decorated with plaster coating, fragments of which still remain on the southern tower. Pre Rup means 'turn the body' and refer to a traditional method of cremation, after burning the body, the priests take the ashes out then flatting it and drawing human figure on it, we believe that if the priest can draw perfect picture for a person who died, that person will get the perfect body next life. Pre Rup is second choice for watching sunset ( optinal )
Angkor Wat built by Suryavarman II in 12 century to honor Lord Vishnu, the Hindu deity with whom he identified. Angkor Wat is the largest and undoubtedly the most breathtaking of the monuments of Angkor, and is widely believed to be the largest religious structure in the world. It is simply unique, stunning blend of spirituality and symmetry, an enduring example of man's devotion to his gods. Relish the very first approach, as that spine-tickling moment when you emerge on the inner causeway will rarely be felt again. It is the best-preserve temple at Angkor. Angkor Wat is unique among the temples of Angkor. The most significant fact is that the temple is oriented towards the west. West is symbolially the direction of death, which once led a large number of scholars to conclude that Angkor Wat must have existed primarily as a tomb.
Phnom Bakheng built by Yasovarman I in early 10 century. Phnom Bakheng claim to being home to the first of temple-mountains built in the vicinity of Angkor. The temple-mountain has five tiers, with seven levels ( including the base and the summit ). At the base are-or were - 44 towers. Each of five tiers had 12 towers. The summit of the temple has 4 towers at the cardinal points of the compass as well as central sanctuary. All of these numbers are symbolic significance. The seven levels, for example, represent the seven Hindu Heavens, while the total number of towers, excluding the central sanctuary, is 108, a particularly auspicious number and one that correlates to the lunar calendar. It is easy hiking place,to the top of the hill, about 20 minutes.
Angkor Thom ( great city ) was the last city of Angkor and was built by Jayavarman VII. At the city's height, it may have support a population of one million people in the surrounding region. Centred on the Bayon, Angkor Thom is enclosed by a jayagiri ( square wall ) 8m high and 12 km in length and encircled by a 100m-wide Jayasindhu(moat). The city has five immense gates, one each on northern, western, southern walls and two in the eastern wall. The gates are 20m in height, decorated with stone elephant trunks and crowned by four gargantuan faces of Avaloketishvara, the Budhissattva of Compassion, facing the cardinal points. In front of each gate stands giant statues of 54 gods and 54 demons, a motif taken from the story of The Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Beside these fabulous things, Angkor Thom has amazing temple Bayon, Baphoun, Phimeanakas and leper king terrace and elephant terrace.
Ta Prohm is undoubtedly the most atmospheric ruin at Angkor and should be high on the hit list of every visitors. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlikely the other monuments of Angkor, it has been swallowed by the jungle, and look very much he way most of the monuments of Angkor appeared when the European explorers first stumbled upon them. Built from 1186 and original known as Rajavihara( Monastery of the king )Ta Prohm was Buddhist temple dedicated to the mother of Jayavarman VII. It is one of the few temples in the Angkor region where inscription provides information about the temple's dependents and inhabitants about 12 thousand people lived within the compound.
We had the most amazing time seeing the Angkor temples with Borey as our guide. He was so knowledgeable of Cambodian and Khmer history, and made the entire tour fun and interesting. He was very flexible and shaped the trip to exactly our needs. And he’s a great photographer! Sunrise at Angkor Wat and exploring Ta Prohm were two unforgettable experiences that shouldn’t be missed.
Borey made the two days such a sensational experience and one we will never forget. Highly recommend Borey and Angkor Heritage Tours.
Mr Hang Borey from Angkor Heritage Tours was the best guide we have had in travelling around the world. He was knowledgeable and very much made sure we experienced as much of Diem Resps temples as was possible in the short time we had. His car was clean and his enthusiasm for the temples was contagious. We cannot recommend Borey highly enough. Spending time with him you will come away with a much deeper understanding of the Cambodian culture, Hindu and Buddhist influences and have a great time doing it. Borey really went out of his way to make our tour memorable and awesome.
If you are on a short stay to Siem Riep (less than 7 days), a private tour guide like Borey excellent for navigating Angkor and accessing Cambodian society. Borey has excellent English, is super passionate about continuing to build his knowledge of the history of the area even though he is already well-versed (he is a lifetime student of Angkor). He grew up in a nearby village and is committed to enhancing the foreign tourist experience and access to Cambodia n culture because he sincerely believes that a positive relationship between foreign tourists and the people of Siem Riep is an important part of improving the opportunities for the local people. He is honest, super trustworthy, and he is happy to engage with all all your questions and also help you interact with local people. My wife, myself, and our teenage American kids spent two days with Borey. We were in Siem Riep for 3 nights (two full days). We spent the first day at Angkor, which was amazing and Borey helped us navigate the crowded temple in a way that avoided the crowds to the extent possible. In the second day we went a local market and a stilt village built upon the lake that Siem Riep is built upon. It was a great way to learn so much about the community and its economy and infrastructure in such a short period. We highly recommend Borey.
Borey is such an incredible guide. He has such a detailed knowledge not just of the history of the temples, but also the cultural and religious contexts of Hinduism and Buddhism. Most of all, however, Borey was such a friendly and charming person. He is the easiest person to have a conversation with (in English) and genuinely felt like a friend by the end of our two days with him. I wish we could have stayed in Cambodia longer just to spend more days touring with Borey. Borey promptly picked us up in his comfortable Lexus (for a family of 4 adults) and was flexible and accommodating to what we were interested in.
We had a great 2 day tour of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and several other temples nearby, each unique and fascinating. Mr Kim was a terrific guide. - his knowledge of the history of the sites and more recent history of Cambodia was impressive and added so much depth to our visit. We would highly recommend this tour.
We had the two-day trip with Mr. Bunleat, who is extremely knowledgeable about everything. This fact made us spend much longer time at each temple than expected/ other tourists, because he was always willing to give us a very detailed explanation of all the questions we asked, be it the sculpture, Khmer history or religion. The restaurants we were brought to were also very tasty. We truly appreciate the chance to visit all the sites with Mr. Bunleat and would recommend him to everyone who is intellectual and wish to know more about Ramayana, Jayavarman VII and Buddhism than an average tourist.
We had a great time! We did a two day tour, one day with Kimhoeun, as Borey was busy, and one day with Borey. Both of them had extensive knowledge of the history of the Angkor kingdom and were very caring and responsive. They also were both great photographers for all the shots we wanted and made sure we had enough water all day! We got to stop at great cafes and restaurants on the way and it truly was a once in a lifetime experience!
Borey was a friendly, incredibly knowledgeable guide. Leading up to the trip he was very responsive to my questions and he was flexible to our schedule. When he saw on Day 1 how much my family enjoyed Ta Prohm he suggested a pivot for Day 2 so that we could visit Beng Mealea, which we thoroughly enjoyed! His car is very comfortable with great cold AC and he provided endless water and cold towels. Our food stops were excellent. He also knows all of the spots to capture awesome photos and he took lots of wonderful photos of our family. Most importantly, Borey is kind and a wonderful conversationalist - we enjoyed getting to know him and learning about his upbringing and his country in addition to the rich history of the Angkor complex. Borey came highly recommended to us and we wholeheartedly agree! I highly recommend Borey and Angkor Heritage Tours and would absolutely book with him again.
perienced. He came recommended and did not let us down on our 2 day tour of the Angkor complex. The car is clean, modern with great aircon. Borey supplies endless cold water. But most important is how knowledgeable he is. We learnt so much. His English is great. Additionally, we had some great conversations about Cambodia, history, cooking tips, nature, spiders, caterpillars, restaurant recommendations, trees and more! Finally Borey is is a skilled photographer and we traded iPhone photography tips. He is a curious, funny, easy going. Book him! I only wish we were here for longer to undertake some additional tips with Borey.
We did a three days of tours with Borey. Very insightful trip of the local regions and it’s history. Highly recommend. Each tour was tailored to our interests, and adapted to our engagement.
Mr Borey is an excellent guide! His family has been in Siem Reap for many generations, providing him with great knowledge about Angkor. His English is great and he knows where to go to provide a great experience for your family. He was always in a good mood, had good information and recommendations and was accommodating of our needs. Although technically you can visit Angkor on your own, you will miss a lot by not having someone knowledgeable to explain the history and take you to the best places. I definitely recommend Mr Borey tô be your guid in this magical place.
We can not rate Borey and this tour highly enough!!! Not only is he a highly knowledgeable & passionate tour guide, he is simply a wonderful human being & a joy to spend time with. We leave Cambodia knowing so much more about this amazing country, it’s people and the magnificent ancient temples in Seam Reap which should be a MUST SEE for all so do yourself a favour and book today :)
Mr Borey is an amazing guide. His knowledge and ability to build the narrative is amazing. He also knew the best places to stop to get amazing views. More importantly he helped pack so much in a day without it seeming rushed. One of the best and friendliest guides w have experienced. And yes he takes amazing photos.....
Borey took us on a two day tour of Angkor Wat and surrounding temples and it made all the difference to our experience. His English is excellent, he is extremely knowledgeable, polite and has a great sense of humour. His knowledge of the area gave us the best photo opportunities. He is a wizard using an iPhone camera! We cannot recommend Borey more highly.
Amazing tour with Borey. We were in a specific situation (had a 6 months old baby with us) which made it sometimes not easy, but Borey was always understanding and helpful in managing this. He was very flexible to change the programs when the situation with the baby required it. Needless to say, his driving was perfectly safe. On the tour part specifically, he is very knowledgeable and always was able to explain to us the history behind the temples. He had a deep knowledge about the carvings in the temple and their meaning, the statues and how/when and who discovered the temples. He knew a lot of the little stories you’d hardly find in the guide books. He is very friendly and funny, and shared with us a lot about Cambodian history, and current culture. I would highly recommend a tour with him. You won’t regret it.
We just finished 2 days with Borey in Angkor Park & will head off to another destination with him Tuesday. He is knowledgeable on a wide range of topics of interest, passionate about Cambodian history and culture, genuine, funny and easygoing. He’s really taken care of us, I’ve had the best conversations with him & he came recommended by a neighbour. Do yourself a favour & book a trained, registered guide.
We would strongly recommend all to take the help of Borey Hang for local tours in Seam reap. He is a thorough gentleman, modest, helpful and kind. His key features are that he is very witty ! His sense of humour is incredible! My teenage kids enjoyed his company. His knowledge is vivid and caters to your needs and tells you whatever you are interested in knowing. You could prefer a quiet journey and he remains quiet too knowing our needs but if you open up, he is a pandora box of knowledge. His colleague Sothorne is also very good. Borey can be contacted on +855 12 725 942 and I would give them both 5 stars !! Par excellence service, punctual and time conscious. We got his referral through a friend and did all our tour plans before we left Australia. Wonderful trip thanks to these two. Borey is a champion and comes highly recommended
Hi Borey. Sorry we didn’t get to meet. We really enjoyed our time and Sothorn was just a fantastic person and guide! We really enjoyed his company. He is so knowledgeable and taught us much about Cambodian culture. I could not recommend him more highly to anyone needing a English speaking guide. Many, many thanks 🙏🏻
Borey gave us an excellent tour, taking us to four temples, explaining the recent and ancient history of Cambodia, all while keeping our 3 and 7 year old entertained
It was very informative and educational. The tour guide had a lot of knowledge about what he was talking about and was able to answer every question.
From my point of view, going to Angkor Wat and not accompanying the tour with a Guide, is like reading a book and leaving it when you have five pages to go. In Angkor Wat there are so many things to see, so many things to learn, so many secrets to scrutinize... that the help of a Guide is almost essential to get all the juice. Especially in these times when precisely what is missing is time... For us Borey has been the person who has helped us to understand and enjoy Angkor Wat in a definitive way. I can only recommend this magnificent Pro, with a thorough knowledge of the Cambodian temples, culture and way of life. Cheerful, flexible, considerate and eurudite.
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