Many years ago, we were in a car in India, dodging cows and camels and cars and bicycles on the road back to Delhi. We hadn’t yet made it to the Taj Mahal, but there was no way we were leaving India without seeing it. Time was tight, but we figured that we could spare 45 minutes. It was a ridiculously short amount of time to see one of the world’s most beautiful, enduring, enchanting structures, but we did it in a mad rush, and barely made our flight. Was it worth it? You bet it was.

Point is, travel must sometimes bend to the reality of scheduling. Sure, an entire day at the Taj would have been magical, but it was 45 minutes or nothing, and it was fantastic.

Doing what we do, one of the more common questions we hear is if Angkor Wat can be done in a single day. That’s a really hard question to answer, because ‘Angkor Wat’ is often used to describe the entirety of Cambodia’s majestic 12^th century temple complex, which is around 400sq.km. You certainly can’t do that in a day. However, ‘Angkor Wat’ is also used to refer to several of the most-visited temples, as well as the single main temple of the complex, which, is technically the only one called Angkor Wat. So, the answer is yes. Probably. If you plan accordingly you can certainly see Angkor Wat (the building) and many of the most important temples with only a single-day pass from the park.

[Tweet “If you plan accordingly you can only see the most important Angkor temples with a day pass.”]

There are a few tips and tricks you’ll want to employ to get the most out of your day. First, you’ll need to rent a tuk-tuk. In Cambodia, these are two-wheeled carts pulled by motorcycles. You’ll get the most bang for your buck if you hire a driver for the whole day, and if you avoid trying to bargain him down to nothing he’ll usually go out of his way to make sure you have a great time. A few bucks goes a long way in Cambodia.

We suggest starting off by watching the sunrise at the main Angkor Wat temple. Yes, it’s crowded and the cameras are clicking away by the dozens, but the place is huge, and there are plenty of vantage points (and more than a few secret spots that your Smiling Albino guide can lead you to). This will be the main part of your day, and can easily take you right up to late morning, when you should treat yourself to a nice meal and a cool drink, as by this time it’s probably quite hot.

Realistically, you’ll probably have time to see about three more locations during the afternoon, as long as they’re not too far afield. There are dozens to choose from – the stoic stone faces of Bayon, the steep staircases of Baphuon, the overgrown majesty of Ta Prohm, the remote but beautiful Roluos, the intricately carved Banteay Srei, and many more. Do some research, ask around, and choose the ones you want to see the most.

By the end of the afternoon, you’ll likely be “templed out”. Let’s be honest – as magnificent as they are, there are only so many temples one can see in a single day before fatigue – both physical and mental – sets in.  While it’s certainly possible to see the key temples in a day, it’s important to stress that the temples are not Cambodia, and though they are found on their flag, there is more to Cambodia then just the temples. For a full Khmer experience, multiple days in the Kingdom are required.

A few quick tips:

Drink lots of water and take plenty of mini-breaks. Some tuk-tuk drivers will even have a cooler that you can stash your own drinks into. Despite having limited time, pace yourself and enjoy it.

If you want to squeeze a little extra time out of your ticket, buy it after 5pm the day before your main trip. These tickets are good for the last few hours of the first day, plus the entirety of the second day.

[Tweet “Get extra time out of an Angkor ticket, buy it after 5pm and get the rest of the day and the next!”]

For more information about Smiling Albino and what makes what we do so special, contact one of our travel enthusiasts today to ask about your next holiday.

The post Angkor Wat in One Day first appeared on Smiling Albino.

Smiling Albino provides insider access experience.

Which would you prefer – front row seats at a Rolling Stones concert, or a fold up chair in the corner where you can only view the band from an oblique angle?

It’s a no-brainer, right? Of course the front row seats are obviously better. That is… unless the fold-up is backstage and you’re sitting next to Neil Young and Bono who are enjoying the show with you.

I hesitate to compare a Smiling Albino adventure with backstage access at a Rolling Stones concert, for we’re far less noisy, however I think you understand the point. Often times, it’s more than just getting off the beaten track that leads to a more memorable experience.

Over a decade ago, when we first started planning our Smiling Albino experiences, we asked ourselves what events in life are truly memorable, and why? What is it that gives an experience impact and value?

We’ve found that in our time of on-the-ground planning and delivering trips for our friends and guests that the best experiences are usually a blend of both visited –  and less-visited – sites woven together into tasty brew of “seeing the sites” and experiencing the culture through the eyes of a local, and with a little creative flair added in, just for the memories.

Some outstanding experiences we have delivered recently:

– a private art tour hosted by one of Vietnam’s former Communist Art Police agents

– family bamboo raft building, then cruising it downriver in Northern Thailand

– A street-food adventure via motor-scooter and tuk-tuk in lesser known corners of Old Bangkok

For some, a holiday is checking items off of someone else’s list of things that they would like to see or do. Smiling Albino adds the insider access that oils the machinery of a great trip and ensures that in addition to those highlights, you also have something quite unique and memorable to bring home with you. Contact us today to find out how we can tailor an experience for you that you’ll be talking about for years to come, backstage, or otherwise.

Daniel B. Fraser

Adventure Highlights

From our Blog: Naypyidaw: Capital City Built from the Ground Up

Naypyidaw: Capital City Built from the Ground Up

Myanmar is a land that’s been essentially cut off from the world for the better part of five decades. Over the past few years, much has been written about its first official steps into the 21st century as the military slowly (sloooowly) loosens control on media, politics, and travel. Read more…

Dan spent a week in Myanmar in July finalizing the finishing touches for our newest tour edition “Asia’s Golden Land”. First adventure will happen this November! See full itinerary here. Contact Smiling Albino for inquiries and questions!

What’s Going On

Expat Entrepreneur Awards 2014

Held for the first time by The Big Chilli magazine and networking community Bangkok Now (BNow), the awards recognise expat-established companies for their creativity, ingenuity, excellence and success. Smiling Albino’s very own Daniel Fraser has been selected as a candidate. Check out his “Nomination VDO” here…

Destination Thailand Coming to Toronto Sept. 14

Destination Thailand is the first Thai Festival to take place in Toronto’s world famous Yonge-Dundas Square this coming September 14. Smiling Albino’s Dan Fraser is honoured to emcee the event which will showcase the best Thailand has to offer to the Canadians and tourists from around the world. The event will feature famous Thai food from local restaurants, Muay Thai, traditional Thai Dance, exotic fresh Thai fruits, Thai handicrafts, authentic Thai massage, world class Thai beer, live entertainments, lucky draws, and much more. Please visit Destination Thailand on facebook at www.facebook.com/DestinationThailandToronto

What’s Coming Up…

Smiling Albino is offering three new and innovative Southeast Asia travel experiences.

Since 1999, Smiling Albino has been crafting memorable travel experiences in Southeast Asia and Nepal by capitalizing on local knowledge and personal connections. This year, Smiling Albino is offering three new and innovative tours for the active, luxury travel market: Multi-transport adventure through Myanmar, Insider’s Access SE Asia, and Luxury Train & Bike Adventures. These new experiences have been made possible by recent travel ban relaxations in Myanmar, new luxury en-suite train cars in Thailand and Smiling Albino’s tireless search for new and interesting local characters throughout the region. The Insider’s Access experiences feature everything from art discovery in Hanoi with a former communist art policeman, to market tours with acclaimed chefs in Bangkok, to walking tours of Phnom Penh with foreign and local journalists, to aerial discovery of outer Angkor with expert cartographers, to name but a few.

Contact Smiling Albino for inquiries and questions!

Connect With Smiling Albino!

Facebook and Twitter: “Like” and “follow” us on Facebook and Twitter and you will get tuned-in to the latest breaking news and hot tips on travel and adventure in Asia. Planet Asia Travel Channel: Subscribe to the Planet Asia Travel Channel and receive expert advice and insider tips on travel in Asia from the team at Smiling Albino and our network of in-the-know locals, expatriates, and travel enthusiasts. NEW on Google+ and Pinterest: Now even easier to connect and stay up to date with us! Contact: Get a hold of us any time.

The post More Experiences with Insider Access! – Albino Smiles August 2014 first appeared on Smiling Albino.