When hearing the name Cambodia, many think of Angkor Wat, but more and more tourists are arriving and discovering the country’s wonderful landscapes.
Cambodia is bordered by Thailand to the west and northwest, Laos to the northeast, and Vietnam to the east and southeast. It has a 443-kilometer coastline along the Gulf of Thailand.
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Best places in Cambodia
Angkor Wat
Located near the city of Siem Reap, it’s one of the world’s most significant temple complexes and a popular attraction in Southeast Asia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It was built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the 12th century, with 50,000 workers, 5,000 sculptors, and stonemasons working for thirty years. The ruler was guided by the Hindu-rooted belief that after his death, he could return to the god Vishnu. All external and internal structures refer to symbols of the Hindu religion.
Interestingly, unlike earlier temples, it’s oriented to the west rather than the east. The main gate of the temple faces the sunset of the spring equinox, which is characteristic of mausoleums.
It’s an important national symbol representing the unity of the former Khmer Empire and today’s Cambodian people. The image of the temple appears on many state symbols, including the Cambodian flag, state coat of arms, and banknotes.
Angkor Thom
The ruined city next to Angkor Wat was the last capital of the Khmer Empire. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992.
The city was built by King Jayavarman VII. The king, who lived at the turn of the 12-13th centuries, was remembered as the Great Builder. This resulted in numerous impressive structures: the Bayon, Ta Prohm, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King or God Yama, Preah Khan, Prasat Suor Prat, and many smaller shrines.
The walls of the city, bringing to life the vision of earthly paradise, are adorned with five monumental gates. The bridges over the moat continue into roads beyond the gates, leading to the interior of the city and its central Bayon main temple. The temple is surrounded by ornate, covered corridors, from the top of which 49 „face towers” rise high.
Phnom Penh
It’s the capital and largest city of Cambodia. The metropolis, once called the Pearl of Asia, is now a popular destination.
Its most beautiful attraction is the Royal Palace in the center. Built in 1866, it’s still the official residence of the royal family. The palace complex encompasses numerous buildings, including the wonderful Silver Pagoda, named after the more than 5,000 silver tiles covering its floor. It houses several important Buddhist statues, including the famous Emerald Buddha and a gold Buddha statue.
The markets are not to be missed! As I usually say, if you can’t buy it here, it doesn’t exist. Two markets should be highlighted: the Central Market (Psar Thmei) and the Russian Market (Psar Toul Tom Poung) both await visitors with plenty of goods.
The Choeung Ek Memorial Museum presents a terrible period. In the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, tortured and murdered many people. This place was created in their memory. Its central element is a stupa with glass walls full of skulls.
Koh Rong
It’s one of Cambodia’s most popular islands in the Gulf of Thailand, located off the southwestern coast. It’s becoming increasingly popular among tourists.
It’s primarily known for its beautiful beaches. We can enjoy the good weather on the fine, white sandy beach stretching for more than 43 kilometers along the island’s coastline. The most famous of these are Long Beach, Sok San Beach, and Koh Toch Beach.
One of Koh Rong’s special natural phenomena is the bioluminescent plankton that can be observed glowing in the water at night. These tiny lights can be best observed in the more secluded parts of the island.
Kampot
The city on the banks of the Preaek Tuek Chhu River in southwestern Cambodia is known for its pepper plantations and colonial buildings.
High-quality pepper has been one of the main products of local agriculture for centuries. Many pepper plantations can be visited around the city, where visitors can learn how it’s grown and processed.
In the downtown area, there are numerous well-preserved or restored French colonial buildings that were erected in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Bokor National Park
Located 40 kilometers west of Kampot city, it’s part of the Bokor Mountain Range, established in the early 20th century.
Its most famous site is the once-thriving Bokor Hill Station, which was a mountaintop resort complex during the French colonial era: a hotel, casino, church, and royal residence. It was abandoned in the 1970s during the Pol Pot regime, and today the remains of a ghostly, abandoned settlement can be visited.
One of the park’s most beautiful natural attractions is the Popokvil Waterfall, which offers a particularly impressive sight during the rainy season when the water thunders down between the rocks.
There’s an old Buddhist pagoda in the park area, Wat Sampov Pram. Its specialty is five large boulders embedded in the rocky environment, reminiscent of a ship. This is where its name comes from. It offers a wonderful view of the surrounding landscape.
Battambang
Cambodia’s second-largest city is located in the northwestern part of the country, along the Sangker River.
One of its main attractions is the well-preserved French colonial buildings. The French architectural style mixes with the local Khmer style, providing a unique sight. Examples include the Governor’s Residence, Wat Damrey Sor temple, and Psar Nath market.
A special tourist attraction is the bamboo train, or Norry. This traditional, improvised railway vehicle consists of a simple bamboo platform and a small engine that runs on a single-track railway line. For tourists, this is a unique experience traveling through the country’s agricultural landscapes, while the device is quickly dismantled and reassembled if another bamboo train comes from the opposite direction.
Phnom Banan
The temple, located about 25 kilometers south of Battambang, sits atop a 400-meter high hill. It’s often called a smaller version of Angkor Wat.
It was built at the end of the 11th century during the reigns of Khmer kings Udayadityavarman I and Jayavarman II. The temple was a Hindu religious sanctuary and was dedicated to the deity Shiva. Its central element consists of five towers arranged around a foundation, forming a lotus flower. Its walls and towers are decorated with carvings depicting Hindu gods, mythological figures, and floral motifs.
Approaching the temple itself is a great challenge: you have to climb 358 steep steps to the top of the hill. However, it’s well worth it, as the view of the surrounding landscape is also wonderful.
Ratanakiri
The province on the border of Vietnam and Laos is famous for its pristine rainforests, beautiful waterfalls, and unique geographical features.
One of its most famous attractions is Yeak Laom crater lake, a volcanic origin lake with crystal clear water. The round, approximately 7000-year-old lake offers a stunning sight, and it’s surrounded by lush jungle, which is perfect for easy hikes. It’s considered a sacred place for local people, with many legends associated with it.
There are several spectacular waterfalls here as well. The most famous is Cha Ong, an 18-meter high cascade. Two others worth mentioning are the Ka Tieng and Kachanh waterfalls, which are also popular.
Preah Vihear
The temple near the Thai border is a UNESCO World Heritage site in northwestern Cambodia.
It played a central role in the religious life of the Khmer empire, as it was one of the main sites for Shiva worship sanctuaries. It was built on a 525-meter high rock on the edge of the Dangrek Mountains, which also gave it strategic importance.
Its architecture is an outstanding example of the classical Khmer style. It consists of five main sanctuaries arranged in a straight line behind each other, gradually rising towards the mountain top. The path from the entrance to the main sanctuary leads through several gates.
Tonle Sap Lake
It’s Cambodia’s largest and one of Southeast Asia’s most important freshwater lakes.
It has a unique water system: the area and water level of the lake change significantly seasonally. During the monsoon season, due to the rising water level of the Mekong River, the Tonle Sap River reverses direction and leads water back into the lake. At this time, the lake’s area can increase up to five times. In the dry season, the water flows back into the Mekong, and the lake’s area decreases dramatically.
Its attractions include floating villages. The houses, schools, temples, and markets of the residents stand on boats or stilts, and transportation is also solved by boats. Due to its proximity to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, it’s becoming increasingly popular among tourists.
Kratie
The city in northeastern Cambodia, on the banks of the Mekong River, is famous for a rare species of dolphin.
The Irrawaddy dolphins living in the river are one of the world’s most endangered freshwater dolphin species. They can be observed mainly during the dry season when the river’s water is lower.
One of Kratie’s most important Buddhist temples is Wat Rokar Kandal, one of the city’s oldest religious buildings. The temple is in 19th-century architectural style and has special carvings. In addition, the city is full of French colonial buildings.