Cambodia Travel Information and Travel Guide

Cambodia

Our Top Picks For Cambodia

1 Prasat Preah Vihear

Marvel at the stone sanctuaries and the breathtaking views of the ultimate mountain temple, a heavenly reward for a hellish overland trip
2 Koh Ker

Wander the ruins of this long-inaccessible 10th-century capital
3 Temples of Angkor

Encounter the mother of all temples, the world's largest religious building: the one and only Angkor Wat
4 Battambang

Discover architectural clues from eras long forgotten, cycle to nearby hilltop temples, and experience the norry, Cambodia's homemade bamboo train
5 Koh Kong Conservation Corridor

Explore the jungles, mangroves, waterfalls, islands and beaches of the southern Cardamom Mountains

6 Bokor National Park

Wander among the atmospheric French ruins, gaze down a vertical kilometre to the coast and hike in the rainforest
7 Sihanoukville

Bask on the brilliant beaches, scuba dive in uncharted waters, drink in the nightlife and hike in Ream National Park
8 Kampot

Slip into the soporific pace of this pretty riverside town, the perfect base for exploring the caves and pagodas beyond
9 Ratanakiri Province

Swim in a volcanic crater lake, discover sacred forest burial sites and explore Virachay National Park in Cambodia's 'Wild East'
10 Mondulkiri Province

Trek through the jungle on an elephant, cool off under secluded waterfalls and taste a tipple with the local Pnong people
11 Kratie

Float your boat down the mighty Mekong in search of the rare, freshwater Irrawaddy river dolphins
12 Kompong Cham

Immerse yourself in the beautiful landscape of rice paddies, sugar palms, historic pagodas and super-friendly locals
13 Phnom Penh

Enjoy the 'pearl of Asia', which has regained its shine with striking museums, a sublime riverside setting and surprisingly sharp nightlife

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Fast Facts about Cambodia

Annual freshwater fish catch
290, 000–430, 000 tonnes per year
Infant mortality
95 per 1000 births
Number of monks in Cambodia
60, 000
GDP
US$8.3 billion (2007)
Adult literacy rate
73.6%
Number of tourists per year
2 million and rising
Population
About 15 million
Life expectancy
58 years
Number of psychiatrists in Cambodia
20

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Our favourite Cambodia Blogs (beta)

Daily Travel Photo – Tonle Sap, Cambodia

Blog: Everything Everywhere - 26 June 2009

Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Follow me as I travel around the world. [...]

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Upending microcredit: Cambodians use Kiva to lend to U.S. borrowers

Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 12 June 2009

This Wednesday marked a watershed moment for Kiva.org: borrowers from the U.S. made a well-publicized debut on the person-to-person microlending website. It left no doubt that microcredit, seen by many as the province of the poor, had arrived to serve Americans in need. The floodgates are open, and they sluice both ways. Kiva’s launch of lending [...]

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Breaking up the Band

Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 22 May 2009

Over the last three months, four Kiva Fellows (Katie, Julie, Jeff and Drew) have been working and living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We are so lucky to have spent this time together in such a wonderful place. Alas, our time has come to an end but we have put together a video to share both [...]

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Introducing Cambodia

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There’s a magic about Cambodia that casts a spell on many who visit this charming yet confounding kingdom. Ascend to the realm of the gods at the mother of all temples, Angkor Wat, a spectacular fusion of symbolism, symmetry and spirituality. Descend into the hell of Tuol Sleng and come face to face with the Khmer Rouge and its killing machine. Welcome to the conundrum that is Cambodia: a country with a history both inspiring and depressing, an intoxicating place where the future is waiting to be shaped.

Just as Angkor is more than its wat, so too is Cambodia more than its temples. The chaotic yet charismatic capital of Phnom Penh is a hub of political intrigue, economic vitality and intellectual debate. All too often overlooked by hit-and-run tourists ticking off Angkor on a regional tour, the revitalised city of Siem Reap is finally earning plaudits in its own right thanks to a gorgeous riverside location, a cultural renaissance, and a dining and drinking scene to rival the best in the region. And don’t forget the rest of the country: relax in the sleepy seaside town of Kampot and trek the nearby Bokor National Park; take an elephant ride in the jungles of Mondulkiri Province; ogle the Mekong dolphins at Kratie or simply choose a beach near Sihanoukville.

The years of fear and loathing are finally over and Angkor is once more the symbol of the nation, drawing pilgrims from across the globe. Peace has come to this beautiful yet blighted land after three decades of war, and the Cambodian people have opened their arms to the world. Tourism has well and truly taken off, yet a journey here remains an adventure as much as a holiday.

Contemporary Cambodia is the successor state to the mighty Khmer empire, which, during the Angkor period, ruled much of what is now Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The remains of this empire can be seen at the fabled temples of Angkor, monuments unrivalled in scale and grandeur in Southeast Asia. The traveller’s first glimpse of Angkor Wat, the ultimate expression of Khmer genius, is simply staggering and is matched by only a few select spots on earth, such as Machu Picchu or Petra.

Siem Reap and Phnom Penh may be the heavyweights, but to some extent they are a bubble, a world away from the Cambodia of the countryside. This is the place to experience the rhythm of rural life and timeless landscapes of dazzling rice paddies and swaying sugar palms. Spend some time in the srok (provinces), as Cambodians call them, enjoying a dar leng (walkabout) to discover the true flavour of the country.

The south coast is fringed by tropical islands, with barely a beach hut in sight. The next Ko Samui or Gili Trawangan awaits discovery and, for now, visitors can play Robinson Crusoe. Inland from the coast lie the Cardamom Mountains, part of a vast tropical wilderness that provides a home to elusive wildlife and is the gateway to emerging ecotourism adventures. The mighty Mekong River cuts through the country and is home to some of the region’s last remaining freshwater dolphins; cyclists or dirt bikers can follow the river’s length as it meanders through traditional communities. The northeast is a world unto itself, its wild and mountainous landscapes a home for Cambodia’s ethnic minorities and an abundance of natural attractions, including thundering waterfalls and pristine crater lakes.

Despite this beautiful backdrop, life is no picnic for the average Cambodian. It remains one of the poorest countries in Asia and it’s a tough existence for much of the population, as they battle it out against the whims of nature and, sometimes, of their politicians. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP; www.undp.org), Cambodia remains poorer than Mongolia and El Salvador, just scraping in ahead of Mauritania, while Transparency International (www.transparency.org), the anticorruption watchdog, rates the country a lowly 151 out of the 163 countries ranked. Income remains desperately low for many Khmers, with annual salaries in the hundreds of dollars, not thousands, and public servants such as teachers unable to eke out a living on their meagre wages.

Cambodia’s pristine environment may be a big draw, but much of it is currently under threat. Ancient forests are being razed to make way for plantations, rivers are being sized up for major hydroelectric power plants and the south coast is being explored by leading oil companies. All this helps add up to an ever-stronger economy, which is growing at an incredible 10% a year, but it’s unlikely to encourage the ecotourism that is just starting to develop.

Cambodia is like the teen starlet who has just been discovered by an adoring public: everyone wants something from her but not everyone wants what is best for her. The government, long shunned by international big business, is keen to benefit from all these newfound opportunities. Contracts are being signed off like autographs and there are concerns for the long-term interests of the country.

Tourism has brought many benefits to Cambodia: it provides opportunity and employment for a new generation of Khmers, has helped to spark a rebirth of the traditional arts, and has given the country a renewed sense of pride and optimism as it recovers from the dark decades of war and genocide. However, not all tourism has been good for the country and there is the dark side of sex tourism, human exploitation and a casino culture. Cambodia is in a great position to benefit from the mistakes of other countries in the region and follow a sustainable road to tourism development. However, it may be that the government is more focused on the short-term gain that megabucks investments can provide. Can Cambodia be all things to all visitors? So far, so good, but a new era is about to begin and the beaches are the next battleground.

There are two faces to Cambodia: one shiny and happy, the other dark and complex. For every illegal eviction of city dwellers or land grab by a general, there will be a new NGO school offering better education, or a new clean-water initiative to improve the lives of the average villager. Such is the yin and yang of Cambodia, a country that inspires and confounds. Like an onion, the more layers you unravel, the more it makes you want to cry, but these are spontaneous tears, sometimes of sorrow, sometimes of joy.

Despite having the eighth wonder of the world in its backyard, Cambodia’s greatest treasure is its people. The Khmers have been to hell and back, struggling through years of bloodshed, poverty and political instability. Thanks to an unbreakable spirit and infectious optimism, they have prevailed with their smiles intact; no visitor comes away from Cambodia without a measure of admiration and affection for the inhabitants of this enigmatic kingdom.

Cambodia: beaches as beautiful as Thailand but without the tourist tide; wilds as remote as Laos but even less explored; cuisine as subtle as Vietnam but yet to be discovered; and temples that leave Burma and Indonesia in the shade. This is the heart of Southeast Asia, with everything the region has to offer packed into one bite-sized country. If you were only planning to spend a week in Cambodia, it’s time to think again.

Travel Alert:

Landmines are still a real danger in Cambodia, with up to six million live mines dotted around the countryside and near the border with Thailand. Stick to the beaten track - even at Angkor. Check Safe Travel for details.

Last updated: May 21, 2009

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More about Cambodia

Latest headlines for Cambodia

From BBC News

Second Khmer Rouge victim talks

30 June 2009 8:09AM

A survivor of Cambodia's Tuol Sleng prison tells a Khmer Rouge tribunal how guards ripped out his toenails and gave him electric shocks.

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Khmer Rouge survivor testifies

29 June 2009 9:13AM

Cambodia's Khmer Rouge Tribunal hears testimony from one of only three living survivors of the notorious Tuol Sleng prison.

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Cambodia strips MPs of immunity

22 June 2009 8:56AM

Cambodia's National Assembly strips two opposition members of their parliamentary immunity, leaving them open to defamation charges.

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