Angkor Wat

Shortly after 4 a.m., we were already waiting in the hotel lobby for our driver, who – as always – was very punctual. We had booked a tuk-tuk tour to Angkor Wat for sunrise.

Still sleepy but excited, we drove through the dark streets of the city. After about half an hour, we reached the temple complex. We had already purchased our tickets in advance for €37 per person.

Once we arrived at the temples, we sat down on the grass and waited for the sunrise.

Opinions differ on whether the sunrise is worth it considering the crowds. I say “yes.” It’s true that there were lots of people, but it still wasn’t a problem to find a good spot. And as the outlines of these iconic sanctuaries slowly became more visible in the light of the rising sun, we could feel the magic of the place.

By around 6:30, the spectacle was over, and at that time the temple officially opened its gates.

The complex, once the center of the Khmer Empire, is vast. Endless corridors take visitors on a journey into a long-forgotten time. The temple, with its five towers, is almost 1,000 years old, and it's hard to imagine how such a monumental structure could have been built with the means available at that time. The intricately carved sandstone reliefs make the experience complete.

After exploring Angkor Wat, we had breakfast at a café within the temple grounds. You shouldn’t expect too much here. The food was, at best, average – but the coffee was okay. This place caters to day tourists; regular customers are not a thing here.

Next, we continued to Bayon Temple, which I personally found even more impressive than the famous main temple. This temple also features countless towers, and over 200 giant faces are carved into the stone – they almost seem to be watching the visitors.

Here, you also meet the famous monkeys for the first time, which roam freely around the temple. Be sure to hold on to your belongings – tourists are often robbed by these cheeky creatures.

Very close to Bayon Temple, we reached Baphuon Temple by crossing the “Terrace of the Elephants.” After climbing numerous steep steps, we arrived at a kind of viewing platform that offered a beautiful panoramic view over the entire area.

Baphuon was also built almost entirely from sandstone and is one of the most fascinating works of Khmer architecture. What I especially liked about this temple was that it felt even more original than the others – and there were far fewer people there.

Lastly, we headed to the famous Ta Prohm Temple, where Angelina Jolie once searched for a lost relic in Tomb Raider.

Thanks to the movie, this is one of the most visited temples in the entire complex – but that doesn’t make it any less interesting.

Here, nature has reclaimed much of the structure. Majestic trees rise up in the middle of the still remarkably well-preserved ruins, often growing so closely into the walls that they’ve become one with the stones.

You can also admire fine carvings here – and the atmosphere is absolutely unique.

Angkor completely captivated us. Every single temple radiates something special, something unique. Rarely have I felt so close to a long-lost culture as I did on this day.

When we arrived back at the hotel that day – tired and hungry, but incredibly happy – we immediately headed to the pool. We ordered some food from the hotel restaurant and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing.

In the evening, we went to a fantastic restaurant just one alley over from our hotel and enjoyed authentic Cambodian cuisine at a very fair price.

Exhausted, we fell into bed that night, full of impressions we will never forget.