Cambodia

From temples to Tomb Raider

» For beginners
» Weather
» FAQ
» Visas and immigration
» Accommodation overview
» Getting there & back
» Travelling around
» Border crossings and regulations

For decades off limits to all but the most intrepid tourists, today Southeast Asia's Cambodia is a popular destination for all kinds of travellers: from independent backpackers who roam far off the beaten track to explore the stunning sugar-palm dotted hinterland to luxury tourists who stay in style and see Cambodia's main drawcard of Angkor Wat between massages and exquisite French meals.

The ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat is Cambodia's national treasure. The nearby city of Siem Reap has developed dramatically since the days Angelina Jolie filmed Tomb Raider here and fell in love with the nation.

While some lament the discovery of Angkor by the masses, the site is still breathtaking and Siem Reap offers all the comforts one could wish for on any budget.

Many do simply holiday at Angkor and travel no further, but Cambodia has a lot more to showcase. Consider as well a break on the lazy whitesand beaches of Sihanoukville, a stay at a stylish resort in resurging coastal Kep, or a tour to the atmospheric, mist-shrouded Bokor Hill Station for a taste of Cambodia's 1960s heyday.

Many write off Phnom Penh, yet it's a beautiful city, with a stunning colonial heritage, a gorgeous riverside promenade featuring a glittering palace, and a great selection of restaurants and bars.

Shopping here has taken off: trawl the stalls of the Russian market for "antique" finds, wispy organza fabrics and chic ceramics, stop in a few boutiques for home-grown designer clothes and get some leather shoes handcrafted at a bargain price at one of the city's skilled cobblers.

The reminders of the horrific genocide perpetrated by Cambodia's Khmer Rouge make for harrowing but essential viewing: do see Tuol Sleng and make a trip to the Killing Fields just outside the city for a sobering aside to your travels as you pause to remember the atrocities humans are capable of committing.

Search for accommodation

Further afield, Battambang offers travellers a taste of laid-back rural life. Stop to see Cambodia's first winery and tour isolated Khmer temples, some of which pre-date Angkor.

The former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Anlong Veng is another key stop for the more intrepid and adventurous traveller, where the grave of Pol Pot serves as another reminder of the history Cambodia is struggling to overcome.

Travelfish shows you how to make the most of the popular destinations, points you in the direction of Cambodia's best-kept secrets and equips you with the knowledge you need to make up-to-the-minute decisions throughout your trip to Cambodia.

Travelfish Guides: Bringing together the best of the Travelfish site in a concise, easy to read format.

Buy a Siem Reap & Angkor Wat 2008 Travelfish Guide

Map of Cambodia

Our complete Cambodia map collection.

Feature story

Phnom Penh's French colonial roots coupled with today's plethora of aid agencies based here have conspired to create a glut of accommodation for such a small capital city. Gated old mansions-turned-hotels with saltwater swimming pools and lush vegetation dot the city, while three backpacker hubs lure the budget-conscious: The riverside has rooms ranging from opulent to gritty, with a multitude of mid-range places between, shoestring travellers head lakeside to snare US$3 rooms and the BoeungKeng Kang 1 (BKK1) area, commonly called "NGO-ville", offers slightly more subdued low- to mid-range accommodation within walking distance to plenty of bars and restaurants. ... Travelfish.org's Top Ten Phnom Penh guesthouse picks for 2009 -- full story

Visions of CAMBODIA

Recent news from Cambodia

Courtesy of the BBC
Second Khmer Rouge victim talks
Published: Tue, 30 Jun 2009
A survivor of Cambodia's Tuol Sleng prison tells a Khmer Rouge tribunal how guards ripped out his toenails and gave him electric shocks.

Khmer Rouge survivor testifies
Published: Mon, 29 Jun 2009
Cambodia's Khmer Rouge Tribunal hears testimony from one of only three living survivors of the notorious Tuol Sleng prison.

Cambodia strips MPs of immunity
Published: Mon, 22 Jun 2009
Cambodia's National Assembly strips two opposition members of their parliamentary immunity, leaving them open to defamation charges.

Mekong dolphins 'almost extinct'
Published: Thu, 18 Jun 2009
Freshwater dolphins in the Mekong River are on the verge of extinction, according to the conservation group WWF.

New UN rights envoy in Cambodia
Published: Tue, 16 Jun 2009
The new United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Cambodia makes his first visit to the country.

Cambodia women in health battle
Published: Sun, 31 May 2009
Five women die in Cambodia every day because of poor health care during childbirth - making it a leading cause of death among women of child-bearing age.

Malaria parasites 'resist drugs'
Published: Fri, 29 May 2009
International scientists say research in Cambodia shows the first signs of resistance to the world's best anti-malaria drug.

Fears for new malaria drug resistance
Published: Fri, 29 May 2009
Scientists in Cambodia say they've found the first evidence of resistance to the world's most effective anti-malaria drug.

French school evicts Cambodian locals
Published: Thu, 14 May 2009
The French embassy in Phnom Penh wants a block cleared so the French school can expand, but residents have nowhere to go, writes the BBC's Guy De Launey.

Timeline: Thailand
Published: Tue, 14 Apr 2009
A chronology of key events

The bottom line