Cambodia

From temples to Tomb Raider

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.

 

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.

 

 

Map of Cambodia

Our complete Cambodia map collection.

 

Feature story

The multitude of temples at Angkor represent a true challenge to even a dedicated temple fanatic. Hundreds of temples lie in wait, some buried in growing jungle, while others sit conveniently right off the main road. With so much to see, a seven-day pass is clearly the best choice, buying ample adventure for US$60. While a million various routes exist, we took one that balances chronology with grandiosity, postponing the giants until the third day of the tour. After all, once you've seen Angkor Wat and Bayon, it's a little harder to appreciate sites like Bakong and Pre Rup. ... Cycle Asia: An Angkor cycling guide -- full story

 

More feature stories

» Cycle Asia: An Angkor cycling guide
» Cycle Asia: Of Battambang, bamboo trains and guidebooks
» Sustainable tourism in Cambodia with PEPY Tours
» A Cambodian Eco-lodge at the end of a rainbow
» Travelfish.org's Top Ten Phnom Penh guesthouse picks for 2009
» Exploring Cambodia's Phnom Tamao Wildlife Refuge Centre
» Cheap flights in Asia with the Discovery Airpass
» How do I get from Ko Chang to Phu Quoc Island?
» Five special hotels in Cambodia
» How do I cross the Cambodia to Laos border?
» How do I get from Bangkok to Siem Reap?
» Kompong Cham escape
» The Death Highway
» What is a good guesthouse in Phnom Penh?
» Spas, shopping and seers in Siem Reap
» Angkorian traffic woes
» Sihanoukville's beach lifestyle lure expatriates
» All Cambodia stories

 

 

Recent news from Cambodia

Courtesy of the BBC
Analysis: Defining genocide
Published: Wed, 3 Feb 2010
As the International Criminal Court rules that Sudan?s President Omar al-Bashir could still face genocide charges, the BBC News website looks at what that means.

Obama's honeymoon is over
Published: Fri, 29 Jan 2010
The rose-tinted glasses collectively donned when Barack Obama entered the White House have been removed. But, like Lyndon Johnson before him, don't be too quick to write off a president as disappointing, writes Lisa Jardine.

Returned China Uighurs 'vanished'
Published: Fri, 29 Jan 2010
The US expresses deep concern about the fate of 20 Uighur asylum seekers deported from Cambodia back to China.

Survivors attend Holocaust events
Published: Thu, 28 Jan 2010
Concentration camp survivors are among those marking the 65th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation at UK Holocaust Memorial Day events.

Mekong tigers 'facing extinction'
Published: Wed, 27 Jan 2010
A sub-species of tiger in SE Asia faces extinction by 2022 unless decisive action is taken, environmental group WWF warns.

Cambodia drug clinics 'abusive'
Published: Mon, 25 Jan 2010
Drug users in Cambodian rehabilitation clinics are subjected to "sadistic violence", a Human Rights Watch report alleges.

Timeline: Vietnam
Published: Wed, 20 Jan 2010
A chronology of key events

Why ecstasy is 'vanishing' in UK
Published: Tue, 19 Jan 2010
The BBC investigates a year-on-year drop in ecstasy use - and finds evidence that disruption to the supply chain in the Far East may be responsible.

Tory pledge to war dead children
Published: Sun, 10 Jan 2010
Shadow chancellor George Osborne says the Tories would offer university scholarships to children of troops killed in action.

Cambodia in Rainsy arrest warrant
Published: Fri, 1 Jan 2010
The Cambodian government issues an arrest warrant against opposition leader Sam Rainsy over a border dispute.

 

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