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CAMBODIA TRAVEL GUIDE
Crawling its way back from the ravages of Pol Pot and the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime, Cambodia has done plenty to make a name for itself as a viable Southeast Asian holiday destination since opening its doors in 1990’s. With an infrastructure at a similar level of development as neighbouring Laos and not far behind Vietnam, the country is attracting backpacker and upmarket tourists alike using its significant cultural and historical attractions as its greatest draw cards.
Siem Reap is the most popular tourist destination on account of Angkor Wat, the country’s chief site of historical interest. Phnom Penh, while not one of Asia’s great capital cities, is a not without charm and plenty of interesting buildings left over from colonial French times. When visitors have exhausted the sightseeing trail, a trip along the coast to relax on the beach at Sihanoukville is the perfect way to conclude a tour of this fascinating destination.
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CAMBODIA WEATHER - When to Go
Cambodia’s climate is tropical monsoon in nature and brings only two distinct seasons: wet and dry. The wet season runs from June to October, during which time average temperatures are between 27-35°C. The dry season runs from November through May with the first four months seeing the coolest temperatures of the year and the last three seeing the hottest.
The cooler period of the dry season is the best time to take a holiday in Cambodia as temperatures at this time average from 17-27°C and chances of rain are slim. Should you decide to wait until April to visit, you may have to contend with temperatures in excess of 40°C, especially if visiting Phnom Penh.
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CAMBODIA HIGHLIGHTS - Places to Visit
- Angkor: often referred to as Angkor Wat on account of the name of its most prominent structure, the Angkor Archaeological Park is located close to the city of Siem Reap and is unquestionably the country’s biggest historic and cultural attraction. Covering an area of more than 400 square kilometres, the park is a UNESCO World Heritage site that features the well-preserved remains of a number of cities that once formed part of the mighty Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century.
Arriving at 06:00 to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat is a highlight for many visitors, while perusing the fascinating remains of Bayon, Ta Prohm and Ta Keo is the big thrill for others. Bayon, once a part of the city of Angkor Thom, dates back to the late 12th century and is most notable for the giant faces carved out of its 54 towers, each tower featuring four faces.
The park can be visited on a one-day or three-day pass and if you are an independent traveller, it’s recommended that you employ the services of a motorbike taxi for the duration of your visit as the distances between structures can be quite long.
- Siem Reap: though the city revolves heavily around Angkor, its chief attraction, it’s by no means lacking in other places of interest, many of which can be reached on foot or by a short tuk-tuk or motorbike ride. The temples of Wat Dam Nak, Wat Athvea, Wat Thmei and Wat Bo are all worth a visit, the latter for its excellent collection of late 19th century Buddhist artwork.
For something a little different, Les Chantier Ecoles Silk Farm is a good bet while for the chance to relax, a visit to Tonle Sap Lake, located a short drive outside of the city, is a popular choice. For anyone happy to put themselves in close proximity to some of nature’s most ferocious beasts, a trip to the Siem Reap Crocodile Farm is a must. Siem Reap is easily reached by air from the capital under an hour and by bus the journey takes between 5 and 7 hours. (It is also possible to fly from Thailand’s Bangkok airport or make an arduous full day’s overland travel from Bangkok to Siem Ream and Angkor, which many backpackers do).
- Phnom Penh: a curious mix of attractive colonial architecture and urban slum, Cambodia’s capital is a visually fascinating city. While not as lively as Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City, there’s still a distinct buzz that begins daily from the moment the first cock crows. S-21 (Tuol Sleng) and the Killing Fields, remnants of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime, provide sombre but essential viewing for all visitors while the Royal Palace and Independence Monument offer less harrowing sightseeing. The National Museum located adjacent to the Royal Palace features an impressive collection of Angkorian artworks and is also the setting for the popular annual Royal Ploughing Festival. Phnom Penh is best reached by air from regional Southeast Asian cities such as Bangkok as bus journeys are long and arduous.
- Sihanoukville: after the grim sights of skeletal remains and instruments of torture at some of Phnom Penh’s top attractions, spending time relaxing on the beaches of the coastal city of Sihanoukville is the ideal antidote. About 230kms from the capital, this city offers both coastal beauty and cultural attractions. In the latter category, highlights include the temples of Wat Chotynieng and Wat Utynieng, St Michael’s Church, the Golden Lions Monument and Independence Square. Though the city’s popularity as a seaside resort is on the increase, it’s still possible to find empty and tranquil areas of the beach. Getting to Sihanoukville by air is not possible; however, bus services make the trip from Phnom Penh regularly with a travel time of about 4 hours.
- Battambang: the country’s second largest city can be reached from Siem Reap by boat in about 4 hours or from Phnom Penh by road in 6 to 7 hours. The city is notable for its fine colonial architecture as well as attractions such as the Phnom Sampeu Mountain with its temple (Wat Banan) and historic Khmer Rouge execution site, as well as Wat Ek Phnom, Angkor-style temple ruins. A trip on the norry, the local bamboo train, is considered a must-do activity on a visit to Battambang.
- Other Cambodia Highlights: visitors with extra time and an open itinerary might also want to visit Kompong Thom for its historic ruins, Kratie for its endangered river dolphins and Kampong Speu for Kirirom National Park.
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CAMBODIA HOSPITALITY - Eat, Drink, Sleep
- Food and Eating Out: Cambodian cuisine has many similarities with the cuisine of neighbouring Southeast Asian countries, making use of ingredients such as fermented fish paste, coconut, rice and noodles. Eating out is popular and cheap by Western standards. No matter where you are in the country, there is an abundance of eateries to choose from serving up local favourites like amok, steamed fish coconut curry wrapped in banana leaves, and bok l’hong, spicy papaya salad.
- Entertainment and Nightlife: Most of Cambodia’s popular tourist destinations are home to fairly sedate night entertainment scenes, with the exception of Phnom Penh, known for its bars and nightclubs. However, even in the quieter destinations it’s possible to find a pleasant watering hole where you can enjoy a few cold glasses of Angkor Beer, the country’s tasty national brew.
- Accommodation: Options have improved considerably in the last decade and while there’s still something of a leaning toward budget establishments, there are some excellent upmarket hotels as well, especially in Siem Reap. Outside of the main tourist areas, however, you’ll struggle to find anything other than basic accommodation.
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CAMBODIA FLIGHTS - Flying from the UK
There are no direct flights between the UK and Cambodia.
There are two airports in Cambodia, in the capital Phnom Penh and at Siem Reap, near the Angkor Wat temples.
Flights are available from cites in neighbouring countries to Phnom Penh. So fly first to either Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore before flying on to Phnom Penh.
For the Angkor Wat temples, many tourists buy cheap flights from Bangkok airport to Siem Reap. You can also fly from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap or travel by bus (6 hours) or even boat.
Try Expedia.co.uk, Lastminute.com or ebookers for flight options to Cambodia via Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.
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