Places to discover

Best places to visit in Cambodia

Nestled on the side of the Gulf of Siam, Cambodia is a fascinating country. You will probably be subdued by the wealth of Angkor temples or the diversity of landscapes, but it's perhaps the Cambodian soul, which is both serious and joyful, which moves you the most. This population expiates its painful history, its bubbling youth, smiling to the world, the Theravada Buddhism shapes society and guides the meaning of life and the Mekong unabatedly continues to enhance each monsoon with the Tonle Sap Lake, the cradle of Khmer civilisation.

Upon arriving to Phnom Penh, you will discover a human-sized, dynamic and noisy capital. The heritage of the French protectorate is still evident across architecture, such as the art-deco style central market, but it's visiting the royal palace which enables you to get your feet wet. The S-21 camp and the genocide museum provide a different atmosphere altogether, giving visitors the chance to descend into the hell of the Khmer Rouge.

Stop off at Kampong Thom, on the road to Siam Reap, to prepare for exploring the enormous city of the Khmer Empire. Take a photo of Angkor Vat during the sunset from Phnom Bakheng, visit Bayon and Ta Phrom but also Beng Mealea or Banteay Srei, a temple dedicated to Shiva.

Moving west, discover Battambang and the NGO Phare Ponleu Selpak, which helps young people to be emancipated by culture and art, get away by visiting Wat Bannan, a very well preserved temple. Stroll around the seaside resort of Sihanoukville or appreciate the authenticity of Kep and the famous pepper of Kampot.

For an end-of-the-world atmosphere, away from tourists, immerse yourself deep into Cambodia by exploring the remote and transforming regions of Môndol Kiri and of Ratanakiri discover the small town of Banlung where a sleeping Buddha temple and the prettiest waterfalls of the country in Bou Sraa await you... There are many wonders to discover!

Angkor Wat is the largest temple at the Angkor site. It is without a shadow of a doubt one of the places that everyone visiting Cambodia really must go and see.
Tonlé Sap is South East Asia's largest lake and a real lifeblood for local Cambodians. as it provides food for almost the entire population in the surrounding area. 
Beng Melea is a Cambodian temple which is part of the enormous empire of temples at Angkor, and not far from Siam Reap. It's one of the wildest temples and one of the most isolated from the usual tourist circuit...magnificent!
The only floating village really worth seeing near Siem Reap, offering a genuine experience of local life and providing a chance to spend a fantastic day on and around the water.
A sacred mountain for the whole of the Khmer people, Phnom Kulen is the ideal place to spend an active day trekking with family or friends.
Banteay Samré is an ancient Hindu temple near Siem Reap that counts as one of the temples of Angkor.
Located in the south-west of the country, the Cardamomsshowcase a diversity of landscapes and an ecosystem unique to Cambodia .
The Bou Sraa waterfalls are the best known and most beautiful in the region of Mondolkiri and are about 40 kilometres from Sen Monorom.
This truly authentic little village is between Battambang and Phnom Penh. Few tourists, few people who speak English but loads of charm.
Chi Phat is a local community that has decided to adapt its village in order to make it accessible to tourists. It's the ideal destination to visit if you want to discover new things and meet lots of new people on your travels.
The Angkor temples are definitely one of the unmissable historic sites in south-east Asia, and are also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Angkor is a very special moment for any travellers taking a trip to Cambodia.
A little apart from the other temples, Banteay Srei is an architectural wonder and its decorations are some of the best preserved on the site, so don't miss seeing it during your visit to the temples of Angkor.
A little quiet town located south of Lake Tonlé Sap.
Like Kep, Kampot is a charming village where time seems to have stood still, and a place where you can enjoy the star of local cultural heritage: the pepper that made the village famous.
Crab sellers in Kep

Kep

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The little town of Kep, nestling along the edge of a beautiful bay, is famous for both its Crab Market and for Rabbit Island, which lies out in the sea nearby.
Kampong Chhnang is a large community of floating houses grouped on the south east banks of Tonlé Sap lake.
Kampong Cham is the third largest city in Cambodia and capital of the region that shares its name. The city extends out along the banks of the Mekong River, to the north of Phnom Penh.
This river, lying close to Koh Kong and the Cardamom River, is a superb place: calm, peaceful and natural, and ideal for boat or kayak trips.
Still a bit of a touristy destination, Koh Kong is ideal for a stay off the beaten path, as a family or with friends.
A place every traveller has to go to during their trip to Cambodia, because Siem Reap is the starting point for visits to the Temples of Angkor.