This is a land of remarkable culture and history, which is gradually revealing its temple wonders to visitors from around the world. These exotic "lost" Temples of Angkor are considered one of the greatest human achievements and stand as present day monuments to the Khmer kingdom which once stretched from Laos to the Gulf of Thailand .
The capital of Cambodia , Phnom Penh , sits astride the Tonle Sap River while the central area of the country features the Tonle Sap Lake which drains to the sea by way of the Mekong River .
Siem Reap, the gateway to the Angkor World Heritage Site, is 30 minutes flying time from Phnom Penh . Our scenic helicopter flights operate from Siem Reap International Airport , just minutes away from the Angkor Temples site. Siem Reap welcomes direct flights from Singapore , Bangkok , Ho Chi Minh. Several flights per day arrive from Phnom Penh .
There are approximately 100 temples that make up the remains of the spectacular Khmer civilization. Built between 900AD and 1300AD when the Khmer Empire was a major power in South East Asia , they subsequently dissolved into the jungle when the Khmer rule became less prominent. As well as the stone buildings and temples that remain today, there were also houses, palaces and public buildings constructed of wood which have long since decayed.
The "discovery" of Angkor was made in the 1840's by the French and created a great deal of interest in Cambodia and worldwide. However, evidence points to Portuguese and Japanese explorers stumbling across the sites earlier. It was in 1907 that the first tourists visited Angkor . Since 1992 Angkor has been under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Heritage Site. International and local efforts work to preserve and reconstruct the monuments.
There is no better way to truly appreciate the splendor of these architectural wonders than from the air. By helicopter you can see the vast expanse of this ancient city spread out beneath you.