The 12 Best Things to Do in Cambodia

The temples of Angkor Wat hog the headlines – and for good reason – but there is so much more to see in Cambodia. This once-troubled land has emerged as one of Southeast Asia's most exciting destinations, with wonders all over the country just waiting to be discovered once you escape the gravitational pull of Angkor.

Fringed by beautiful beaches and tropical islands and sustained by the mother waters of the Mekong River, this country packs everything Southeast Asia has to offer into one bite-sized serving. In the mountainous north, national parks protect some of the region's most pristine areas of wilderness, and across the country, the infectious optimism of the ever-welcoming Khmers makes a trip to Cambodia an adventure as much as a vacation.

Adding to the long list of reasons to visit, it's easy to fit in a trip to Cambodia as part of an overland tour through Southeast Asia. Hassle-free border crossings provide access to neighboring Laos and Vietnam, and overland travel between Cambodia and Thailand may resume in the future if the two countries are able to resolve their ongoing territorial dispute over land near the border.

Whether you are drawn here by mesmerizing ancient temples, unspoiled nature, Buddhist culture or idyllic beaches, here are the best things to do in Cambodia.

1. See the Sunrise at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap

When you first set eyes on Angkor Wat, the supreme example of Khmer genius, it's an experience matched by few others on earth. This makes the mother of all temples the definitive spot to take in the sunrise among the many contenders at Angkor.

Simply unique, the temple is a stunning blend of spirituality and symmetry, an enduring example of humanity's devotion to its gods. Get here early from nearby Siem Reap to find a quiet spot to observe the sunrise and consider entering via the "back door," or eastern entrance, to avoid the crowds.

Don't overlook the other temples in the Angkor complex. The Bayon is a fantastical collection of towers adorned with enormous faces of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddhist deity of compassion, while Ta Prohm is an overgrown wonder, with chapels and walkways partly strangled by the roots of enormous jungle trees.

Planning tip: During the March and September equinoxes, the sun rises directly over the central tower of Angkor Wat – this is a particularly popular time to be here, but book ahead for accommodation and transport to Siem Reap.

2. Walk with Jumbos at Elephant Valley Project, Mondulkiri

Travelers in search of an ethical and sustainable way to see Cambodia's beautiful pachyderms should visit this pioneering "walking with the herd" project, which works closely with local mahouts to rehome overworked or injured elephants.

A sort of retirement home for jumbos, this 15-sq-km sanctuary is set in a beautiful mountain valley in Mondulkiri, and visiting is a wonderful way to support sustainable conservation in this remote part of northeastern Cambodia.

Elephant riding is strictly prohibited here, as this is harmful to these enormous animals. Instead, visitors can walk through the forest with the elephants and observe them interacting with the natural environment. You'll learn about elephant behavior, as well as Indigenous Bunong culture and forest ecology.

Planning tip: Elephant walks are very popular, so book well ahead to avoid disappointment. The center is closed on Saturdays.

3. Paddleboard Through the Green Cathedral in Kampot

Stand-up paddleboarding is the perfect way to explore the beautiful Tuek Chhou River, which winds past small palm-fringed islands, mangrove forests and traditional hamlets and fishing villages, in the shadow of a forested ridge at Bokor National Park. Adding to the natural spectacle, this area sees some of the most spectacular sunsets on the South Coast.

Popular with both local and foreign visitors, the area called the Green Cathedral is a narrow channel that offers a stunning paddleboard circuit, weaving through mangroves and stands of aquatic palms, with lots of small guesthouses and resorts providing stops for refreshments along the way.

Planning tip: The Green Cathedral is located around 4km outside Kampot on the river, and many hotels and resorts on the riverside rent out paddleboards.

4. Look for Freshwater Dolphins at Kratie

The freshwater Irrawaddy dolphin (trey pisaut in Khmer) is an endangered species throughout Asia, inhabiting stretches of the Mekong in Cambodia and Laos, and surviving in isolated pockets in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Indonesian Borneo. But Cambodia is one of the best places in the world to spot these gentle cetaceans.

Head to the Kampi dolphin pool, a natural basin on the Mekong River, about 15km north of Kratie. A kayaking trip will take you gliding past secluded sandbars and through haunting flooded forest before culminating at the dolphin pool, where you can get up close and personal with these beautiful but rare mammals – and without any engine noise to disturb them.

Planning tip: The November–February dry season is the best time to see dolphins. Visit early in the morning when temperatures are lower, dolphins are most active, and there are fewer people around.

5. Have a Night Out on Bassac Lane in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is famed for its uninhibited nightlife, which has become increasingly varied in recent years. For a big night out, head to Bassac Lane – the moniker given to a small, eclectic alley that's home to a dozen or more hole-in-the-wall boozers.

The venerable Phnom Penh Yacht Club occupies a strategic corner on St 308, also home to lots of hip restaurants and bars; it's a good place for people-watching during happy hour. Other popular establishments include the White Rabbit speakeasy for impressive cocktails, the Library for studious drinkers, and Spanish-flavored Casa Diego for tapas treats.

Planning tip: Bassac Lane's bars get busy from around 5pm until midnight, particularly at weekends, with many places offering happy hour deals from 5pm to 7pm.

6. Sign up for a Cambodian Cooking Class

Unlike the culinary colossi that are its neighbors, Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodia is not that well known in international food circles, but Khmer cuisine is also pretty special, with a great variety of national dishes drawing on local herbs, spices and produce, all prepared with a unique Cambodian twist.

To learn some tricks of the trade, sign up for a cooking course. This is a great way to introduce your Cambodian experience to your friends back home, and learn to taste the difference between teuk trey (fish sauce) and prahok (fish paste).

Planning tip: There are popular courses available in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang and Kampot, and it's a good idea to book a day or two ahead. Most courses include a visit to a local market, so you can learn to identify the ingredients you'll need when you come to preparing dishes on your own.

7. Go to the Circus in Siem Reap

Don't let the name fool you: Phare the Cambodian Circus is not a conventional circus. This cultural phenomenon in Siem Reap is run by the country's premier performing arts organization, Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS), and its focus is on performance art and subtle social commentary.

Animal lovers will be pleased to note that no creatures appear on the bill. Instead, human performers use theater, music, dance, acrobatics and other circus skills to share uniquely Cambodian experiences through visual storytelling.

Planning tip: Book ahead for the show at 8pm, then come early to enjoy street food and shop for crafts. Stay for a while after the show, when audience members are able to mingle with the performers and learn more about the circus and its mission.

8. Relax on the Beaches of Koh Rong

One of the largest islands in Cambodia, Koh Rong is fringed by some of the country's most beautiful beaches. Despite a major development project to transform the island into a leisure hub, it's still a delightful place to unwind after exploring the rest of the country, and easily reached by ferry from Sihanoukville or Kampot.

Hugging the western shore of Koh Rong is Long Beach, the island's longest unbroken beach – a 7km stretch of tropical bliss. Still surprisingly undeveloped for much of its length, it was previously used as a key location for filming the popular US television series Survivor.

Another top recommendation is Long Set Beach, a stunning stretch of sand on the south coast of Koh Rong. You'll find a handful of hostels and boutique resorts here, but it's still pretty peaceful, and the beach is connected by short paths to more scenic sands at nearby Nature Beach and Koh Tuch Beach.

Detour: If you like the rustic beachcomber lifestyle, consider the 250m-long main beach on Koh Tonsay, known as "Rabbit Island" to locals. It's one of the quieter Cambodian islands, and you can walk around the island to find other isolated beaches. Get here by ferry from Kep on the south coast.

9. Spot Rare Water Birds at Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary

Birders take note: Prek Toal is home to the best-known bird sanctuary in Cambodia, and it's an ornithologist's fantasy, with a significant number of rare breeds gathered in one small area, including huge greater adjutants, milky and painted storks and spot-billed pelicans.

During the peak season (December to February), visitors will find a concentration of birds worthy of a Hitchcock film in this area of wetland beside the Tonle Sap lake. Even the uninitiated will be impressed by the reserve's storks, with their huge wingspan and enormous nests, and the large numbers of egrets, herons, cormorants and pelicans crowding the water's edge.

Trips to the sanctuary will also bring you up close and personal with the fascinating floating village of Prek Toal, a bustling crossroads – or crossrivers? – between Siem Reap and Battambang, where shops and even schools float on the water.

Planning tip: It's easiest to reach Prek Toal on an organized trip by car and boat from Siem Reap. You can visit independently, but with the costs for transport and boat hire, this will often be more expensive than taking a tour.

10. Explore Remote Temples in Northern Cambodia

For the ultimate remote temple adventure, take a road trip deep into Northern Cambodia to visit the king of Cambodia's mountain temples, Preah Vihear, stunningly positioned atop a ridge in the Dangrek Mountains. The temple is about 3 hours by road from Siem Reap, and you can stay nearby in the small towns of Krong Preah Vihear or Sra'aem, visiting the ruins by taxi or motorbike. However, check the security situation, as this area has seen clashes between Cambodia and Thailand.

Cambodia has several other remote temples that are well worth seeking out. The pyramid temple of Prasat Thom, northeast of Siem Reap at Koh Ker, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023, while the giant jungle temple of Preah Khan Kompong Svay is the remotest of all Cambodian temples – reached via a 4-hour drive on rough roads running east from Siem Reap.

Planning tip: Allow a few days to visit any of these temples from Siem Reap – roads are in poor condition, often requiring a 4WD or off-road motorcycle, and the journey will take half a day in each direction.

11. Learn about Cambodia's Landmine Projects in Siem Reap

At the Cambodia Landmine Museum near Siem Reap, established by local deminer Aki Ra, you can see eye-opening displays on the curse of landmines in Cambodia – a legacy of decades of conflict from 1970 to 1998. The collection includes displays of mines, mortars, guns and weaponry, and there is a mock minefield where visitors can attempt to locate the deactivated mines. Proceeds from the museum are plowed into mine-awareness campaigns across the country.

To learn more about how Cambodia is dealing with the landmine problem, meet the hero rats that are helping to clear these deadly weapons. With a visitor center in Siem Reap, Belgian NGO Apopo has trained teams of highly sensitive, almost-blind Gambian pouched rats to sniff out explosives, dramatically speeding up the detection of mines in the countryside. Drop by to see displays giving more background on the work of Apopo and meet the rats themselves.

Planning tip: If you want to help Cambodia's mine-clearing efforts, you can adopt a rat at Apopo, helping to fund the removal of mines planted during the Khmer Rouge era.

12. Discover Phnom Penh's Wartime Story

While engaging with Cambodia's war-torn past can be harrowing, it will help you understand the country's 20th-century journey from French colonial outpost to accidental casualty of the Vietnam War, to fundamentalist Communist state, and finally to peaceful modern nation.

One of the darkest moments in Cambodia's history was the 1975 takeover of Tuol Svay Prey High School in Phnom Penh, which was turned into a prison known as Security Prison 21, or S-21; it soon became the largest center of detention and torture in the country.

Today S-21 has been turned into the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, which serves as a testament to the crimes of the Khmer Rouge. Visitors can walk through the complex to view the prison cells and photographs of the estimated 12,000 people detained here, most of whom perished.

Just outside the capital is the similarly haunting site of the Choeung Ek Killing Fields, where nearly 9000 people – most of them educated residents of the capital – were summarily executed by Pol Pot's guerrilla army. A memorial tower, today a place for thoughtful reflection, stands amid the pits used for mass burials.

Planning tip: If you visit Tuol Sleng, it's worth hiring a guide, as they can tell you more about the people in the photographs. Alternatively, pay for the self-guided audio tour to learn more about the human story of this tragic site.