When searching for the Cambodia tour packages, it is easy to get lost in the details. Images of sunrise breaking at Angkor Wat, of orange robed monks in prayer, and tree-lined streets in Phom Phen can flood any traditional search for the right tour. But it is the smaller details that matter most. Cambodia tour packages represent the personal struggles of the country in addition to the glamorous temples. They bring to life places such as the famous Tuol Sleng Prison, now a museum illustrating the atrocities committed by Pol Pot (a dictator politician who led the Khmer Rouge during the 1970s) and the nearby Choeung Ek, aka the "Killing Fields." The buildings at Tuol Sleng are preserved as they were left when the Khmer Rouge were driven out in 1979. The regime kept extensive records, including thousands of photographs. Several rooms of the museum are now lined, floor to ceiling, with black and white photographs of some of the estimated 20,000 prisoners who passed through the prison. Cambodia suffered a great deal during this period of time with the communist party of Khmer Rouge, with over 25% of its population dying due to malnutrition, forced labour, and poor medical care, all of which amounted to a Cambodian genocide. The following years had political instability, with the UN briefly governing and strong influences from Vietnam taking place.

These days, as an area deemed not only safe but a must visit on anyone's bucket list, it is paramount to understand the history of this rich country. A stroll down the old colonial streets reveals its French history, however, gazing upon the magnificent temples of Wat Phnom, the elegant Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda show the true power of this once sprawling empire. The Khmer Empire flourished for 600 years across South East Asia, at its height stretched from Thailand, across present-day Cambodia, to southern Vietnam. During the Empire's reign, superior artistic objects such as sculpture, ceramics, and bronzes were created, however no item represents the Kingdom better than Angkor Wat. It is the best example of ancient Khmer architecture, while also being the largest and most impressive of all Cambodian monuments and generally regarded as one of the finest religious structures in the world. Built in the 12th century, Angkor is a highlight on our Cambodia tour packages and includes an extensive look at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, Baphuon, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. This vast complex, covering several square kilometers, was carefully engineered with canals and reservoirs to control floodwaters and survive droughts. It was once (by some estimates), the largest city in the world, housing as many as one million inhabitants. Although Angkor Wat was built as a Hindu Temple dedicated to Vishnu, similar to the 9th century temple of Banteay Srei dedicated to Shiva, modern day Cambodians are mostly Buddhist. It is not uncommon to find monks in their orange garments performing rituals as one of the thousands of monasteries found within Cambodia. Much like the monks, the beauty of Cambodia is in the quiet moments of reflection amongst the grand temples or the sometimes overwhelming history. It is a country unlike others that must be seen to be understood.