Every year, Tripadvisor announces its winners for its annual Travelers’ Choice “Best of the Best” Things to Do. Formerly the Traveler’s Choice Awards for Experiences, this year’s revamped awards have expanded to include the best activities that are listed on the site.
Topping the Luxury Tours category is Cambodia’s Discovery of Angkor Wat tour by Asean Angkor Guide. The 3-day Angkor Wat tour consists of itineraries that include a visit to the Angkor Wat Archaeological Park, Waterfalls, a Floating Village, and the Banteay Srei Temple.
Tourists exploring the grounds of the Angkor Wat temple.
Located in the northern region of Cambodia’s Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is a sprawling 400 square kilometer complex that’s packed with over a thousand temples that showcase the beautiful culture and architecture of the Khmer Empire, which ruled from the 9th to the 15th century. With impressive temples, monuments, and ancient urban dwellings, the complex is one of the most iconic historical sites in the entire Southeast Asian region.
The best way to explore Angkor Wat is over 3 days, which is what the tour provides. Because the Park is so huge, visitors won’t be able to truly capture the essence of the ancient temples with just one day of exploring. And thus, a 3-day tour is a must to genuinely experience the true beauty of the Park.
An aerial photo of Angkor Wat. Photo: @nevinixavier via Instagram
While 3 days is a relatively short time to discover about a thousand temples and hundreds of different sites, a 3-day tour can allow visitors to experience the highlights of the site. With a pace that presents educational and enjoyable exploration, the tour ensures a private experience that avoids the rush hour of crowds, unbearable heat, and exhausting strolls around the complex.
Some of the highlights of the tour include watching the sunrise and sunset over Angkor Wat, as well as a sunrise view of the world’s largest Hindu temple. Visits to the birthplace of the Khmer Empire are also experienced, as well as cruising along the floating village at Tonle Sap Lake aboard a local boat. Visitors can also explore a local market and experience the real life of Cambodians in Siem Reap around Angkor Wat, as well as to discover the inhabitants of the Park who still remain within and on the fringes of the Angkor Wat complex until today.
Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that showcases the exemplifying art and work of the Khmer Kingdom. Highlighting the cultural, religious, and symbolic values of the civilization, Angkor Wat is the epitome of the region’s architectural, archaeological, and artistic significance, which has remained preserved for hundreds of years, with some of its temples still being used until today.
Tourists on a boat ride to the fishing village.
A typical 3-Day Angkor Wat private tour involves an air-conditioned private vehicle and an English-speaking guide that knows the rich history and cultural significance of the park, as well as the highlights that visitors will explore in the tour.
While Discovery of Cambodia’s Angkor tour is on the top of the list for luxury tours in the world, two other Asian tours are included in the list, which includes the Private Excursion to Floating Market and Ayutthaya World Heritage Site tour in Thailand in 7th place, as well as a Private All-Inclusive Day Tour of the Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, and the Mutianyu Great Wall in China in 8th place.
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Photo credits: Asean Angkor Guide
