Best known as the gateway to the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat temple complex, Siem Reap is a charming town blending French colonial and Chinese architectural influences with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Its crown jewel, the Angkor complex, spans an area larger than Paris and is a labyrinth of intricately carved temples adorned with dancing apsaras, lotus motifs, and five-headed naga (serpent deities). Abandoned for centuries and rediscovered in 1860 by French explorer Henri Mahout, it has since become Cambodia’s cultural and historical highlight. Beyond the temples, Siem Reap offers a vibrant arts and crafts scene, immersive cultural villages that showcase traditional rural life, and a bird sanctuary on the town’s outskirts, providing visitors with a rich mix of heritage, nature, and local culture.