Cambodia Travel Guide
These days, Cambodia has the reputation it deserves as a diverse and deeply rewarding destination, but when we first launched, the only part of it on the South-East Asia tourist map was Angkor Wat, the largest (known) religious monument in the world. This extraordinary complex of jungle-clad temples and ruins is absolutely worth the attention - but so is the rest of Cambodia.
Where to go in Cambodia
Your point of arrival for any Cambodia holiday is likely to be either Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, in both instances you will be well advised to spend few nights in either city. Siem Reap is gateway to the Angkor Temples and a great base for exploring the world class temple site; Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, is a lively city with enough to keep most travellers well occupied for at least a day or two.
Your holiday might take in the exquisite beaches of Kep and Sihanoukville, where you can find secluded low-key luxury that’s perfect for a romantic break or stylish honeymoon. For a taste of Cambodian city life, soak up the singular atmosphere of capital city Phnom Penh, while French-Colonial Battambang offers charm, great architecture and crowd-free Angkor-era temples.
A more natural lifestyle can be found around Tonle Sap, a lake surrounded by stilt-villages and flocks of waterbirds. Koh Kong and the Cardamom Mountains are a nature-lover’s paradise that’s ripe with light adventure. Boats are an interesting alternative way to explore - the Mekong River flows past Kratie, a delightful Colonial town and jumping off point for north-eastern Cambodia, where the trails go dusty and disappear into the forest - perfect if you fancy heading even further off the typical itinerary.
Reasons to love Cambodia
- Friendly, positive people
- So many interesting independently run hotels and guest houses
- Excellent light adventure - from cycling and trekking in the mountains to river kayaking and exploring remote tribal villages
- You can still get off the beaten track here, especially in the north-east
Population: 18.6 million
Capital: Phnom Penh
Currency: Riel
Language: Khmer
Religion: Buddhism
