Angkor Conservation is a Ministry of Culture compound that houses more than 5000 statues, lingas (phallic symbols) and inscribed stelae, stored here to protect them from the wanton looting that has blighted hundreds of sites around Angkor. The finest statuary is hidden away inside Angkor Conservation’s warehouses, meticulously numbered and catalogued. While it's not officially open to the public, it is sometimes possible to get a peek at the collection for a fee.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Bayon
4.64 MILES
At the heart of Angkor Thom is the 12th-century Bayon, the mesmerising, if slightly mind-bending, state temple of Jayavarman VII. It epitomises the…
Banteay Srei
16.81 MILES
Considered by many to be the jewel in the crown of Angkorian art, Banteay Srei is cut from stone of a pinkish hue and includes some of the finest stone…
Beng Mealea
25.48 MILES
A spectacular sight to behold, Beng Mealea, located about 68km northeast of Siem Reap, is one of the most mysterious temples at Angkor, as nature has well…
Angkor Wat
2.64 MILES
The traveller's first glimpse of Angkor Wat, the ultimate expression of Khmer genius, is matched by only a few select spots on earth. Built by Suryavarman…
Ta Prohm
4.49 MILES
The so-called 'Tomb Raider Temple', Ta Prohm is cloaked in dappled shadow, its crumbling towers and walls locked in the slow muscular embrace of vast root…
Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary
16.62 MILES
Prek Toal is one of three biospheres on the Tonlé Sap lake, and this stunning bird sanctuary makes it the most worthwhile and straightforward of the three…
Angkor National Museum
0.63 MILES
Looming large on the road to Angkor is the Angkor National Museum, a state-of-the-art showpiece on the Khmer civilisation and the majesty of Angkor…
Artisans Angkor – Les Chantiers Écoles
1.69 MILES
Siem Reap is the epicentre of the drive to revitalise Cambodian traditional culture, which was dealt a harsh blow by the Khmer Rouge and the years of…
Nearby Siem Reap attractions
1. Wat Preah Inkosei
0.14 MILES
This wat north of town is built on the site of an early Angkorian brick temple, which still stands today at the rear of the compound.
2. Bayon Information Centre
0.4 MILES
This exhibition introduces the visitor to the history of the Khmer empire and the restoration projects around Angkor through a series of short films and…
3. Angkor National Museum
0.63 MILES
Looming large on the road to Angkor is the Angkor National Museum, a state-of-the-art showpiece on the Khmer civilisation and the majesty of Angkor…
4. Miniature Replicas of Angkor’s Temples
0.72 MILES
One of the more quirky places in town is the garden of local master-sculptor Dy Proeung, which houses miniature replicas of Angkor Wat, the Bayon, Banteay…
5. Wat Thmei
0.72 MILES
Wat Thmei has a small memorial stupa containing the skulls and bones of victims of the Khmer Rouge. It also has plenty of young monks eager to practise…
6. Cambolac
0.72 MILES
Cambodia has a long tradition of producing beautiful lacquerware, although the years of upheaval resulted in some of the skills being lost. Cambolac is a…
7. Apopo Visitor Centre
0.87 MILES
Meet the hero rats that are helping to clear landmines in Cambodia. Apopo has trained the highly sensitive, almost-blind Gambian pouched rat to sniff…
8. Preah Ang Chek Preah Ang Chorm
0.91 MILES
Located just west of the royal residence is this shrine. Said to represent two Angkorian princesses, these sacred statues were originally housed at the…