The 10 Most Famous Places to Visit in Cambodia

What comes to your mind once you think of Cambodia? An ancient country with the marvellous temples of Angkor to enjoy, a mysterious destination from the movie "Lara Croft - Tomb Raider" (2001) to discover, a country with the painful period during Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime or a developing country with totally authentic and wild landscapes... Whichever appears, it absolutely touches the hearts of all travellers and inspires us to explore one of the most fascinating destinations in South-East Asia. In this article, we make a nice list of the best places to visit in Cambodia to consider for your trip

Things to see in cambodia: top destinations in the “temple” country

1. Siem Reap: dream of the Khmer Empire’s flourishing era

Siem Reap is definitely a place coming to the top of your mind when planning a trip to Cambodia. The province is a perfect combination of modern, Indochine and ancient Cambodian architecture. Let's find out what we can see in Siem Reap.

1.1 Angkor Wat

We cannot define the charm of this masterpiece of human beings. It fascinates everyone with the majestic buildings, known as the largest religious complex on the planet with extraordinary temples. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, also recognised as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is undoubtedly a must-see place once you arrive in Cambodia. Founded in the 12th century as the capital of the Khmer Empire, Angkor Wat was abandoned for a long time amidst dense forests but thanks to the system of trenches wrapped around, it was protected from invasion by vines and trees. However, some temples are still engulfed by the giant trees, the most famous of which would have to be Ta Prohm, the one featured in the 2001 Lara Croft film.

When you visit Angkor Wat, don't miss the very beautiful temples here such as Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom, Beng Mealea, Ta Keo, Banteay Srei, Bayon, Preah Khan, Phnom Kulen, Pre Rup.

1.2 Downtown Siem Reap

The town is attractive to everyone with its bright colours, very clean and well-organised streets. Only about 15km away from Angkor Wat, the breath of modern life makes the town an ideal place for relaxation after the long days among the archaeological relics. The city offers a nice Angkor Museum that helps you understand more about the Wonder of the World, an interesting night market, Angkor Minigolf activities, Cambodia's Landmine Museum, the Butterfly Centre and a variety of cafes, restaurants, hotels.

2. Phnom Penh

Being the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh is a testament to the country's modern urban life, and a testament to a life born out of history. Today the city shows the splendour of the country's most advanced city through the shops, restaurants, high quality services, lit river cruises and tall buildings. However, for those who visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the extermination camps, you still feel the sadness behind.

As Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy, Phnom Penh is the country's most important political centre and home to King Norodom's family. Once in Phnom Penh, don't miss the chance to visit the Royal Palace to learn about the history and royal rituals. It's also a way to put your feet in the living place of the nobility.

Other destinations in Phnom Penh that you can visit are the Silver Pagoda, National Museum, Koh Dach, Toul Tumpang Russian Market.

3. Battambang

As an important centre during French colonisation, Battambang is the second most populated city in Cambodia. The city is full of French workshops that are as well preserved so far as the ancient temples such as Ek Phnom pagoda, Damrey Sor pagoda.

Besides the colonial ambience in the centre, you can also enjoy the local rural life in Battambang. Don't miss taking a ride on a 'bamboo train', a means of transport handmade by locals and used to transport goods in the past. Not far from the 'bamboo train station' is Phnom Sampov, known by the name Bat Cave or even Death Caves for its bloody history. 

Another special thing in Battambang that you cannot exclude is to enjoy a very interesting and typical Phare Circus show. Kayaking down the Stung Sangke River is also an extra-interesting experience for sports enthusiasts.

4. Kratie

Kratie is a small town located on the banks of the Mekong River. It is a must-see place in Cambodia for adventurous souls who want a trip down this famous river in South-East Asia. Kratie is also a place to admire the rare Mekong orcelle, a species of freshwater dolphin. Now the population of this breed is only 66-86, and is listed in the Red Book.

Once you arrive in Kratie, beyond the boat ride to hunt for photos of the special water dolphins, you can take the ferry to Koh Trong Island, a lush oasis on the river where you'll have the chance to see Khmer piles amidst the verdant gardens. It is one of the most poetic and peaceful places to enjoy sunrise and sunset over the Mekong River in Cambodia.

5. Mondulkiri

Located in the east of Cambodia, on the border with Vietnam, Mondulkiri province is one of the least populated areas of the country. Still untouched by mass tourists, here you can enjoy a totally peaceful atmosphere with the unique beauty and life of wild animals. This is the home of the Bunong and Phnong ethnic minorities, so apart from the charm of nature, the country also attracts people who want to discover a new culture. 

The places not to miss in Mondulkiri are Bou Sra waterfall, Chrey Thom waterfall and Memang gold mine.

6. Ratanakiri

Ratanakiri is a province in the north-east of Cambodia and is an ideal destination for nature lovers. It is a nice escape from urban life, allowing you to experience the natural atmosphere and discover the lives of Cambodia's ethnic minorities. The downtown of this province is Banlung, where you will find hotels and homestays, so many tourists only know the name Banlung.

Once you arrive in the province, you will definitely see these places:

• Yeak Laom - The volcanic lake 
• The Virachey National Park
• The Wild Lumphat Sanctuary
• The Veal stone fields
• Waterfalls Ka Chanh, Ka Tieng, Cha Ong

7. Kampot

Kampot is a nice province that offers you many possibilities to visit aspects of the country: national park, pagodas, beaches, countryside, centre with French architecture... Kampot is an ideal place if you want to spend time in a quiet province and experience real life in Cambodia.

If you go to Kampot, don't miss the chance to visit the pepper cultivation (Kampot pepper is highly prized in the world), Kep beach (known for its speciality - crab), Rabbit Island - Koh Tonsay, Bokor national park.

8. Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville is a rather important port province in Cambodia. It is an ideal place for those looking for a beach holiday amidst white tropical beaches. The most beautiful beaches on the coast are Otres, Sokha and Serendipity.

If you want to consider the most beautiful options for your relaxing days by the sea, the pretty islands opposite Sihanoukville are recommended for you: Koh Rong, Koh Rong Samloem, Song Saa, Koh Ta Kiev, Koh Sdach, Koh Russei, Koh Thmei.

9. Tonle Sap

Despite not really being a province, we also list Tonle Sap on the list of the top things to see in Cambodia. Extending to the north-west of the country, Tonle Sap Lake is the largest lake in Cambodia. There are many different types of floating villages on the lake: some on stilts and the others on boats. The lake is very important in the lives of the people living on the river, which provides an abundance of fish. The most beautiful villages on Tonle Sap Lake are Kompong Phluk, Kompong Khleang, Chong Kneas, Mechrey Kampong Luong.

The lake is also a place to admire a myriad of migratory birds, 200 species of fish, crocodiles, macaques. You can also make a stop at the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary on your Tonle Sap Lake visit.

10. Other destinations not to be missed

• Preah Vihear Temple, Preah Vihear Province

• Koh Ker Temple, Preah Vihear Province

• Banteay Chhmar Temple, Banteay Chhmar Province
• Sambor Prei Kuk Archaeological Zone, Kompong Thom Province
• Mount Cardamom, Pusat Province

Cambodia is indeed a very fascinating country for all tourists looking for an authentic destination, rich in culture with wild natural beauty. With this list of the best places to visit in Cambodia, I hope you will already have several ideas for your next trip.