Since Cambodia re-opened itself to the world 10 years ago, tourism has exploded in the town of Siem Reap. When the civil war ceased, travelers were eager to rediscover the grand Angkor temples of the ancient Khmer Empire, but it is only in very recent years that 5 star hotels have started to move in.
I’m proud to announce that we did it! Our family just returned from the beautiful country of Cambodia with our 3 kids (8, 5 and 3 months). While grand images of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, have long captured our imaginations, Brennan and myself certainly had apprehensions about whether a trip to Cambodia would be best attempted when our kids were a little older.
Looming serpent heads, towering ancient stone walls, the steepest set of stairs ready to be raced up by two rambunctious boys, monster trees eating up a temple, and tales of gods and demons locked in battle. This is what our 8 and 5 year old boys will remember most about the temples of Angkor Archeological Park.
Other than temple hopping, Siem Reap has some other great experiences to offer families that your kids will arguably enjoy more than visiting temples.