However, travellers willing to give a little more time and attention to Cambodia, as a holiday destination of its own merit, will be rewarded with a country more diverse, culturally rich and energetic than many of its better-known neighbours.
In our mind, it is essential to do a little more than just visit the Angkor Temples if you wish to get a true insight into the Khmer people. Nine times out of 10, this means combining Siem Reap with the country’s capital, Phnom Penh. This can be done quickly, in four nights, but more ideal is five. Travelling between the two, you have a few options. It is 50 minutes by air but, taking into account check-in and transfer times, you’re not saving much time compared to driving, the method we favour. It’s an interesting drive that will reveal a different side to Cambodia, away from the cities of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
The other option is to travel across Tonlé Sap, Cambodia’s Great Lake. There is an express ferry, taking five to six hours, however the boats are unreliable and safety standards are not high enough for us to recommend it. However, it’s a personal choice, and we would be lying if we said we hadn’t used it once or twice during our backpacking days. Currently, the only other alternative Tonlé Sap journeys take three days upwards, travelling on board either the Toum Tiou or the RV Pandaw – both sensational cruise experiences but neither of which fit easily into a four- or five-day programme.
At the end of your whistle-stop Cambodia holiday, you can then fly onto Vietnam, Laos,Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore (or connect through to the UK) from either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.
Another great way to expore the country is on two wheels. See this cycling holiday in Cambodia.
This is where it starts to get even more interesting. More complete Cambodia holiday tours will typically last between seven and 14 days, taking you in a circular journey around the Tonlé Sap Lake, along Cambodia’s lesser-visited southern coast and perhaps, if time and will permit, into the north-eastern corner of the country, towards the border with Laos. You can travel in either direction and pick the destinations that best suit your interests and time frame.
Starting from Phnom Penh, you will travel west towards the border with Thailand, stopping at the former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Battambang, a former gem mining town that is surrounded by a number of Angkor-era temples and excellent tourist sites. There are a small number of characterful hotels in the town and also an excellent homestay option, spending the night with a local family on the outskirts of the city. In our mind, Battambang is a highlight of any Cambodia holiday, a must-visit if you have the time.
Your next stop will be Siem Reap, taking the opportunity to travel across the Tonlé Sap Lake, passing by floating villages and the lakeside communities that depend on the lake for their existence. After three or four nights in Siem Reap, visiting the Angkor Temples, you will journey south, either via Phnom Penh to the coast or bearing east and making the long drive to the north-eastern corner of the country. In both cases, you will pass through a number of places of interest en route: the towns of Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom, with their bold Colonial architecture, and lesser-visited temples such as Sambor Prei Kuk and Phnom Sontuk.
If you are travelling to the far north east, you will start to bear north again at the town of Kampong Cham and, for most, the journey will be broken at either Chhlong or Kratie. The latter is famed for its Irawaddy dolphins, although sightings are rare these days as numbers dwindle. Accommodation options in town are limited, but they’re more than adequate for one night, when any bed will be welcome after the drive!
The following day will see you complete your journey to the region of Ratanakiri and the capital of Banlung, where you will check in at the wonderful Terres Rouge. The region is home to a wealth of truly unique travel experiences: riding elephants and visiting waterfalls, swimming in mystical crater lakes and visiting the villages of minority tribes and learning about their ancient cultures. This is the Cambodia holiday you had dreamt of; this is the real experience – you have arrived! We always recommend spending at least three nights in Ratanakiri to ensure you make the most of the opportunities in the area before either travelling back south to Phnom Penh or crossing the border into either Vietnam or Laos to continue your travels.
The southern coast of Cambodia is home to fine beaches, national parks and some interesting towns. It’s fair to say that as a pure beach destination, Cambodia struggles to stand up against its neighbours, Thailand and Vietnam. Having said that, the beaches in and around Sihanoukville are excellent, and the town itself more than warrants a four- or five-night stay. Further east, towards Cambodia’s border with Vietnam, you have the town of Kep. Very much an up-and-coming travel destination (although this has been said for many years now, it seems), Kep is the perfect place from which to explore the south-eastern corner of Cambodia or spend a final night before crossing the border. In the vicinity is the Bokor National Park, with its commanding views over the coast and deserted French villas, the idyllic Rabbit Island and the town of Kampot. Combined, this is more than enough to demand a few days of your attention.
To the far west of the coast, there are the Cardamom Mountains and Koh Kong to explore, ideally basing yourself at the unique 4 Rivers Floating Lodge. This undiscovered corner of the country is perhaps the last up-and-coming destination of Cambodia must-see's and is undoubtedly worth a few days of any wildlife or nature enthusiasts time.
Many will need to cherry pick from the destinations listed above as to include everything requires an extensive period of time. However, it is possible, as you can see in our Complete Cambodia holiday.