Get acquainted with the magic of Siem Reap, Cambodia with an Angkor Wat sunrise.

When in Paris, one MUST see the Eiffel Tower. In London, Big Ben is the obligatory landmark. In Siem Reap, Cambodia, the main attraction is the world’s largest religious monument, Angkor Wat. The sprawling complex of incredibly crafted 11th-century temples is truly a sight to behold. Endless temple corridors are decorated with intricate carvings, giant stone heads smile from above, while the roots of ancient banyan trees wind through the grandiosity of it all. And, of course the magical Angkor Wat sunrise starts it all off each day..

Trip Advisor named Siem Reap the most popular destination in Asia, even ranking the city second in the world in 2015, and it’s easy to understand with so many “must see” attractions. One could easily spend a day or three exploring Angkor Wat alone. Add a fun night on Pub Street or the Night Market, maybe a day trip to the Chong Kneas Floating Village, and a journey to Siem Reap, Cambodia is the stuff of lifelong memories…

Angkor Wat sunrise.

A 4AM alarm isn’t typically an ideal start, but today would be different. We walked out the door, stumbling through pitch-blackness to the gate, hopped aboard a tuc tuc, and zipped through empty streets in hopes for an Angkor Wat sunrise.

Dawn approached as we entered the Park, revealing dimmed reflections of an incredible, 650 foot-wide, three-mile moat. We walked the ancient stone bridge, through stone outer walls and across sprawling temple grounds towards the five magnificent towers of Angkor Wat. We found a comfortable space, away from crowded reflecting pools, and waited…

Dark blues gave way to purples, pinks, and deep oranges… The sun peeked above the temple towers, and we saw Angkor Wat for the first time as it was intended, the magic that is an Angkor Wat sunrise.