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The Cambodia Travel Guide will help you discover one of Southeast Asia’s most enjoyable destinations. Visit Cambodia, and you’ll find plentiful attractions ranging from unspoilt beaches and colonial townscapes through to dense forests and majestic rivers and lakes. The legendary temples of Angkor continue to attract millions of visitors each year. Away from the temples, Cambodia is refreshingly untouristy. Cambodia remains largely unexplored in many places. New roads now bring once remote destinations within easy reach.
If you’re looking for the best place to travel in Cambodia, choosing where to go can be tough. When travelling Cambodia, there is so much to discover including cities, villages and breathtaking beaches. This ‘where to go in Cambodia’ guide gives an overview of the destinations worth adding to any Cambodia travel wishlist.
Siem Reap is Cambodia’s principal tourist town. This city offers a gateway to the temples of Angkor. More than one hundred Angkorian monuments lie spread over some 3000 square kilometres of the countryside around the town. Siem Reap retains its small-town charm despite its popularity. It’s a lively city with many activities and attractions including lively Psar Chas Market, buzzing cafes, bars, boutique shops and plentiful nightlife. It’s also a good spot from which to visit the nearby floating villages on the Tonle Sap.
Laidback Battambang is Cambodia’s second biggest city. It is worlds apart from Phnom Penh’s urban bustle. It has a growing number of ex-pats fuelling the growth of arty cafes, restaurants and bars. It’s also home to impressive colonial architecture. You can take a countryside ride on its quirky bamboo railway.
Kompong Cham is Eastern Cambodia’s largest city. The waterfront is particularly attractive, with a string of colonial buildings lined up along the Mekong.
Ream National Park is 18km east of Sihanoukville. It’s a great place to explore Cambodia’s unspoilt natural environment. The park is evergreen with mangrove forests, sandy beaches, coral reefs, and offshore islands. The riverside town of Kampot with the backdrop of misty Bokor mountains is one of Cambodia’s most appealing towns to add to your Cambodia trip itinerary. 25km southeast of Kampot, Kep is a favourite with ex-pats and Cambodians who descend at the weekend. They are attracted by its delicious, inexpensive seafood, freshly plucked from the ocean.
Tucked away in the forest near the sleepy capital of Banlung in the Rattanakiri province, there is a trio of impressive nearby waterfalls Ka Chhang, Katieng and Chha Ong.
If you visit Cambodia between March and May, the temperatures and humidity are higher. Visiting at this time can still be a good choice if you are hitting the coast. If you are travelling Cambodia to explore the temples, the season between November and February is cool enough for sightseeing. December and January can be the most popular time for tourists.
Travel Cambodia in the rainy season, and you’ll find the countryside at its lushest. Travelling around Cambodia during this season can present some practical challenges and flooding is commonplace. However, the mornings are usually dry as the rain mainly falls in the afternoon. If you do choose to go visit in the rainy season, you’ll avoid the crowds too.
Find out more from our Cambodia Travel Guide about when to go to Cambodia.
It’s also possible to travel overland into Cambodia from neighbouring countries. You can cross the border at several spots in Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.
Find out more Cambodia travel information in Getting to Cambodia.
Roads have seen massive improvements in the past five years, so getting around the country is much easier than it once was. The bus system provides connections between all major towns. The bus offers the cheapest and usually the most convenient way to travel.
Minibuses and ‘share taxis’ are also other options to travel by road. Share taxis are faster than taking the bus, but they do get absurdly packed. You can ask to pay roughly double the standard fare to have a front seat to yourself. You could also pay to hire the entire taxi.
For short local trips, you can hire a motorcycle or ‘moto’ for the day or a tuk-tuk. A tuk-tuk is a passenger carriage pulled by a motorbike. It’s virtually impossible to rent a self-drive car in Cambodia, but you can hire a car with a driver. Three-wheeled cycle rickshaws called cyclos are also available in Phnom Penh for short trips.
You may also end up travelling Cambodia by boat. Boat trips run between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and between Siem Reap and Battambang. In the south, regular ferries and fast catamarans run between Sihanoukville and Koh Rong. Find out more about how to travel to Cambodia in our Cambodia guide to “Getting Around”.
For more places to visit, check out these gorgeous pictures of Cambodia.
The Grand Tour takes in the best Cambodia has to offer including the capital Phnom Penh, the magnificent Angkor temples, floating villages, mountains, jungle and the hedonistic beach islands in the south.
The Wild Cambodia travel tour includes kayaking, forest hikes and jungle trekking to find waterfalls, dolphins, elephants, gibbons, and more. You’ll also explore rivers, lakes and floating villages.
Combining remote locations that are as yet not overrun with tourists is the aim of the Undiscovered Cambodia itinerary, which includes trips to quiet tucked away townships and villages. The itinerary includes a trip to Koh S’dach archipelago which offers an authentic taste of Cambodia’s coastline. You’ll also take in Khmer Rouge history at Anglong Veng and have a lost-in-the-jungle experience in Cambodia’s far northwest.
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for visiting Cambodia
When you plan your Cambodia trip, make sure you have the latest Cambodia travel advice.
Check out the travel essentials section with all the travel advice you need before you go. It will help you to make sure your trip runs smoothly. It covers tips on travelling Cambodia, including keeping healthy, staying safe, money and insurance. Cambodia travel essentials also includes festival and public holiday dates, tips on travelling with children and more.
A tourist visa can be extended once for one month. Many travel agents and guesthouses can help you extend your visa for a commission. You can also buy a business visa, and this can be extended in a variety of ways, and they allow multiple entries. Find out more in the Cambodia guide to travel essentials.
Mid-range and luxury accommodation is usually only found around the tourist hotspots and major towns. Luxury accommodation is widely available in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang, Sihanoukville and Kep. There are choices of five-star chain hotels, chic boutiques and idyllic resorts constructed in traditional Khmer style.
Find out more in the Cambodia guide to accommodation.
Local variations of typical Vietnamese dishes can also be found too. French influences can also be found on the menus here with endless coffee options and French-style baguettes. You can find Khmer street food at markets and on street stalls. You can fill up on noodle dishes, filled baguettes and stir-fries.
Cambodians drink plenty of green tea and fruit shakes. Stalls are set up in towns all over the country from late afternoon. Also available is iced sugar-cane juice and the juice of green coconuts - all very refreshing. Cambodia’s national beer is Angkor, brewed by an Australian and Cambodian joint venture in Sihanoukville. Find out more about food and drink in Cambodia.
Cycling and kayaking are available in the northeast around the Mekong River. Bike trips can be organised at Kratie, Stung Treng and around Angkor’s temples or the Cardamom Mountains.
It’s advisable to avoid any displays of public affection between men and women. Even visitors holding hands can be embarrassing for Cambodians.
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