Test drive - Aerial Angkor showcase

Think Siem Reap and invariably, the magnificent Angkor Wat comes to mind. The temple is part of the Angkor Archeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which contains many extraordinary architectural masterpieces of the Khmer Empire, which ruled the land from the ninth to the 15th century.

Satellite images of the Angkor area, spanning more than 1,000km2, find it to have a complex system of infrastructure that makes it the largest pre-industrial city in the world. One can only explore so much on foot hence Helistar Cambodia’s touring service definitely fills a niche by showcasing the remnants of the Khmer civilisation from a different perspective. The helicopter ride also affords aerial views of South-east Asia’s largest freshwater lake, Tonle Sap, and modern-day Siem Reap.

The tour takes off from the helipad of Siem Reap International Airport’s domestic terminal. New Zealander pilot Dave Taylor, who has clocked in more than 11,000 hours of flying time, walked our group of four through safety procedures before boarding. We then donned our headsets for communication during the flight. I buckled up in the passenger seat next to Taylor while the others made themselves comfortable in the three-seat back row. High-visibility 180-degree windows gave everyone good bird’s eye views of the landscape.

The comfortable flight was even more interesting by Taylor’s excellent knowledge of the area’s history and the Khmer civilisation, which he imparted with gusto while pointing out important landmarks and ancient sites. Touring the Angkor Wat temple complex on foot brings visitors up close and personal with the elegance of Khmer architecture and artistic legacy in all their majestic details. Taking a chopper ride over the ruins presents you with the big picture of the civilisation’s grandeur and remarkable engineering abilities in the pre-industrial age.

I was blown away by the views of the Angkor Wat and other  Khmer temples as well as the perfect geometrical lines of ancient reservoirs, moats, roads and canals. In a charming contrast of old and new, we also spotted farmers planting rice in paddy fields near the town and harvesting crops in plantations near the Great Lake further afield. Partly-cloudy mid-August blue skies were a breathtaking backdrop to Siem Reap past and present.

Helistar Cambodia, founded in April 2009, offers scenic helicopter tours such as the eight-minute Angkor Wat circuit flight. Its explorer tours feature a combined aerial and ground sightseeing programme, ranging from half- to one-day trips. The company operates a fleet of five helicopters – a three-seat Robinson R44 raven II and four Eurocopters (a four-seat EC120, a five-seat AS350 BA and two six-seat AS350 B2 and B3) – each insured under a US$10 million liability with Australia’s QBE Insurance and Allianz. The oldest chopper is five years old.

Fantastic experience of a lifetime. Aerial views of the Angkor Wat and Khmer temples, lush forests, verdant rice paddies, remarkable floating village and charming Siem Reap town are the perfect introduction for first-time tourists and a new encounter for repeat visitors.

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