There are many attractive destinations to visit in Cambodia. Below are the major attractions you should not miss if you come to this country.
The temples of Angkor: the eighth wonder of the world
Siem Reap
A two or three hour drive from the Thai border, to the northeast, you will find Siem Reap. The town itself, very small, will not offer much more than a handful of good bars and restaurants. However, a few kilometers away, you will discover incredible sites, the remains of cities built by ancient civilizations: the temples of Angkor. It will take you several days to have a good overview of the many Wat dedicated to the Hindu Gods as well as to the Buddha cult, depending on the time and the regime in place.
The Angkor Wat Temple
A guide is necessary here: each temple has its own architectural specificities and its symbols, its frescos and its history. You will be quickly lost in the maze of stone if you venture there alone. From the temple of Angkor Thom to the one of Bayon, passing by the discovery of the mysterious temple of Ta Prohm drowned in the luxuriant vegetation, without forgetting, of course, the immense Angkor Wat, whose frontage displays the flag of Cambodia, you will not fail to be amazed by the titanic aspect of these buildings and filled with wonder by the light of a sunrise or a sunset falling on the ancestral stones.
Around Siem Reap, you can also discover great pagodas during horseback riding tours, as well as the Tonle Sap Lake and its incredible floating villages built on stilts and home to crocodile farms and unique culinary specialties, such as the famous fertilized eggs!
Phnom Penh: the pearl of Asia
The capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh ("the hill of Penh") was the jewel of colonial Indochina - hence the nickname of the Pearl of Asia. The city takes its current name from the hill on which Wat Phnom ("the temple of the hill") is located, a pagoda which shelters 5 statuettes of Buddha discovered by the nun Lady Penh in a tree trunk washed up on the banks of the Mekong in the 14th century.
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is by far the largest city in the country, but it is also a very pleasant city to live in. After the hazards of traffic and the typical local way of driving, you will discover a paradoxical city, constantly busy but preserving its havens of tranquility. The popular neighborhoods, filled with street shacks and other typical restaurants, offer a cuisine as varied as it is accessible, in contrast to the vast avenues and large pedestrian squares that line the city. Looking for a quiet stroll? The wide sidewalks of Riverside offer breathtaking views of the Mekong River sunset.
Want to move around, meet people? There are plenty of upscale bars and restaurants on Street 51 in the center of the city to suit all tastes!
Museums in memory of the Cambodian genocide
Phnom Penh is also steeped in history, as evidenced by its comprehensive museums and architectural remains of the colonial era that add to the charm of the city. Without forgetting the obligatory passage through the heavy prison S-21 or the visit to the Killing Fields, sites heavy with painful memories of the Khmer Rouge era - sensitive souls, be warned. On a completely different note, your strolls will take you to the countless colorful pagodas with their picturesque architecture (open to the public), as well as the Royal Palace, just as colorful, standing near Riverside. Finally, don't miss a visit to Wat Phnom, the symbol of the city.
Your tour in Cambodia
From Kep to Kampot
Although not as famous as the Thai coastline, Cambodia's beaches offer a good balance between tranquility, outdoor activities and the discovery of local life. Formerly a very popular seaside resort in the early 20th century, you will discover in Kep paradisiacal beaches (spend a night on Rabbit Island to be convinced), but also red pepper farms and the typical cuisine of the Cambodian coast! A few kilometers to the west, you will find Kampot and its picturesque landscape of cliffs and mountains. Don't hesitate to rent motorcycles and the services of a guide in order to tour the region, which has protected parks that are just waiting to be explored!
Cambodia and Vietnam have one thing in common: they are both crossed by the Mekong River. It is therefore a very good opportunity to discover both countries by crossing this river, rich in discoveries along the floating villages and meetings with the populations! An idea of a Vietnam-Cambodia tour would be to start your journey in Saigon, then to go back up to the north by taking advantage of the different treks in Vietnam available on the road. When you arrive in Chau Doc, you can take a boat to Phnom Penh on the Mekong river. From there, the country of the Khmers opens to you, with the possibility of continuing your way up the river towards Battambang and Siem Reap, or, on the contrary, sinking into the luxuriant jungle of the region of Mundulkiri!
