Angkor wat

In the 12th century, the ancient Khmer kings of Cambodia packed the equivalent of all of Europe’s great cathedrals into an area the size of Los Angeles, making the fabled Temples of Angkor a veritable Disneyworld for history enthusiasts. 

These majestic temples in northwest Cambodia are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, topping the history hit list for many travelers to Southeast Asia. The ultimate statement of Khmer architectural ingenuity, Angkor Wat is the largest religious building in the world and a perfect blend of religious symbolism and symmetry.

The temple is the heart and soul of Cambodia and a source of fierce national pride – amongst other things, this is the only building featured on a national flag. Almost every inch of this immense complex is covered with intricate carvings and motifs and there's a huge amount to see, so it pays to do a little homework on this most iconic of temples before planning your bucket list adventure to Angkor.

To point you in the right direction, here's Lonely Planet's ultimate guide to Angkor Wat