Phnom Penh
Modelled on the central tower of Angkor Wat, Independence Monument was built in 1958 to commemorate the country’s independence from France in 1953. It…
Must-see attractions in Cambodia
Temples of Angkor
The south gate of Angkor Thom is most popular with visitors, as it has been fully restored and many of the heads (mostly copies) remain in place. The gate…
Temples of Angkor
The principal monument at Koh Ker is Prasat Thom. The staircase to the top is open to a limited number of visitors and the views are spectacular if you…
Angkor Wat
The remarkable western section of the south gallery depicts a triumphal battle march of Suryavarman II’s army. In the southwestern corner about 2m from…
Sihanoukville
Not the best beach in town due to the looming backdrop of the Sihanoukville Port development, which has closed off part of Victory Beach. But the part…
Northwestern Cambodia
The largest of the Sambor Prei Kuk temple complexes, Prasat Tor has excellent examples of Chenla carving in the form of two large, elaborately coiffed…
Temples of Angkor
One of three temple-mountains built by Yasovarman I in the late 9th or early 10th century, this peaceful but remote location (about 25km from Siem Reap)…
Sihanoukville
Spectacular views of almost every casino (finished and unfinished) in Sihanoukville and gorgeous sunset panoramas await at Wat Leu, situated on a peaceful…
Siem Reap
Wat Thmei has a small memorial stupa containing the skulls and bones of victims of the Khmer Rouge. It also has plenty of young monks eager to practise…
Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity
Cambodia
Conveniently located at the base of the trail to Kbal Spean is the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity, which is committed to rescuing,…
Kampot Province
The dense rainforests of this 1581-sq-km park shelter an incredible array of wildlife, including the Asiatic black bear, Malayan sun bear, clouded leopard…
Angkor Wat
The southern section of the east gallery is decorated by the most famous of the bas-relief scenes at Angkor Wat, the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. This…
Cambodia
This bird sanctuary is one of only a handful of places in the world where it’s possible to see the extremely rare sarus crane, as depicted on bas-reliefs…
Temples of Angkor
Along the eastern side of Central Square are two groups of buildings, called Kleangs. The North Kleang, dated from the period of Jayavarman V, and the…
Temples of Angkor
Phimeanakas stands close to the centre of a walled area that once housed the royal palace. There’s very little left of the palace today except for two…
Northwestern Cambodia
Santuk Silk Farm is one of the few places in Cambodia where you can see the entire process of silk production, starting with the seven-week life cycle of…
Temples of Angkor
Pre Rup, built by Rajendravarman II, is about 1km south of the Eastern Mebon and is a popular spot for sunset. The temple consists of a pyramid-shaped…
Kampot
This sprawling organic pepper farm offers free guided walks in French, English and Khmer, explaining how several varieties of pepper are grown, harvested…
Temples of Angkor
The temple of Phnom Krom, 12km south of Siem Reap on a hill overlooking Tonlé Sap lake, dates from the reign of Yasovarman I in the late 9th or early 10th…
Angkor Wat
The southern portion of the west gallery depicts a battle scene from the Hindu Mahabharata epic, in which the Kauravas (coming from the north) and the…
Temples of Angkor
Preah Ko was erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century and dedicated to Shiva. In AD 880 the temple was also dedicated to his deified ancestors:…
Battambang
About 4km north of Battambang, Wat Somrong Knong was built in the 19th century on the site of a pre-Angkorian temple complex. The Khmer Rouge used the…
Temples of Angkor
Uninspiring from the outside, the interior brick carvings concealed within its towers are the hidden treasure of Prasat Kravan. The five brick towers,…
Temples of Angkor
Ta Keo is a stark, undecorated temple that undoubtedly would have been one of the finest of Angkor’s structures, had it been finished. Built by Jayavarman…
Kratie
The main attraction in this somnolent riverside town, 31km south of Kratie, is the old governor’s residence, a gorgeous yellow-and-white French colonial…
The Southern Islands
The large island of Koh Thmei is part of Ream National Park. It was once slated for a major development, including a bridge to the mainland, but as…
South Coast
Tatai Waterfall is a thundering set of rapids during the wet season, plunging over a 4m rock shelf. Water levels drop in the dry season, but you can swim…
Northwestern Cambodia
The quiet village of Ondong Rossey, where the area’s famous red pottery is made under every stilted house, is a delightful 7km ride west of town through…
Northwestern Cambodia
Also known as the Killing Dam, Kamping Puoy was one of the many grandiose Khmer Rouge projects intended to recreate the sophisticated irrigation networks…
Northwestern Cambodia
As you arrive at Choam border village, look for a sign for Pol Pot's cremation site on the east side of NH67 (it's 50m south of and opposite the Sangam…
Northwestern Cambodia
Midway between Battambang and Prasat Banan, in an area known for its production of chilli peppers (harvested from October to January), Cambodia’s only…
Temples of Angkor
This petite hilltop temple is actually part of a larger complex that spanned the entire hill. It is relatively under-visited compared with more centrally…
Temples of Angkor
Spean Thmor, of which an arch and several piers remain, is 200m east of Thommanon. Jayavarman VII constructed many roads with these immense stone bridges…
Koh Rong
On the west side of the island is Koh Rong's finest beach, a 7km, almost empty stretch of drop-dead-gorgeous white sand. Sok San village at the northern…
Koh Rong
At the easternmost point of the island, this jungle-clad, white-sand cove is roughly two hours from Koh Tuch on foot along the coast or 30 minutes by moto…
Cambodia
What little remains of Yeay Peau temple, named after King Prohm’s mother, can be found 150m north of Ta Prohm in the grounds of a modern pagoda.
Cambodia
You can really get away from it all at this lush, elevated park a three-hour drive southwest of Phnom Penh. Winding trails lead through pine forests to…
Eastern Cambodia
This serene island in the Mekong River just south of town offers a slice of rural local life, with fruit and vegetable farms and traditional wooden houses…
Kep
This Buddhist temple sits at the foot of Phnom Kompong Trach, a dramatic karst formation riddled with more than 100 caverns and passageways. From the wat,…
Temples of Angkor
The Western Baray, measuring an incredible 8km by 2.3km, was constructed by hand to provide water for the intensive cultivation of lands around Angkor…
