Angkor served as the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 14th centuries. As such, it is filled with historic treasures, making it one of the most significant archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. Ruins of a thousand temples can be found scattered over farm lands and rice fields. These include the famous Angkor Wat temple, the world’s largest single religious monument, the Bayon temple at Angkor Thom with its multitude of massive stone faces and Ta Prohm, a Buddhist temple ruin entwined with towering trees. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored, making the huge palace one of the wonders of the ancient world while offering an outstanding look of Khmer history.
Phnom Penh, the largest city in Cambodia, has been its capital since French colonial days. Once known as “the pearl of Asia,” Phnom Penh is considered one of the prettiest of the cities the French built in Indochina though the city is still recovering from war and revolution. French influence can still be found today. Located on the Mekong River, the city actually dates back to the 15th century. Top attractions include the Royal Palace and the National Museum, which contains a large collection of Khmer artifacts. The night market or Phsar Reatrey is a good place to pick up handcrafted items and souvenirs.
Located between rice paddies and flanking the Siem Reap River, the small provincial capital of Siem Reap serves as the charming gateway to the millennium-old temple ruins of the Khmer Empire, Angkor Wat. The town is actually the result of a conglomeration of several small villages built around several pagodas and subsequently united under the French, and Siem Reap's architecture reflects this influence.
Battambang is Cambodia’s second most populous city, and is especially popular with visitors interested in Cambodian history. Established as a trading center in the 18th century, beautiful Battambang is home to wonderful examples of French-Colonial architecture, ornate temples, peaceful pagodas and scenic villages. The town has many Angkor-style temples and Buddhist shrines. Statues, mostly of animals and gods, can be found in most public places, the most famous of which is an ancient Khmer king that is located on the road to Phnom Penh. The Central Market also is worth a visit.
With several white sandy beaches, clear blue waters, and a national park nearby, Sihanoukville is slowly emerging as one of Southeast Asia’s premier beach destinations. Whether its water sports or relaxing spas that you crave, this sleepy southern Cambodian town has just what you’re looking for. Situated in the center of a small peninsula on the Gulf of Thailand, Sihanoukville town is surrounded by several palm tree-lined beaches and filled with things to do. For the ultimate in relaxation, enjoy a massage at one of the town’s luxury spas and bask in the sun at the private Sokha beach. Or, spend the day doing watersports before hitting the lively bar-lined Ochetuel beach at night. Nearby are several uninhabited islands which are easily accessable from Sihanoukville.
Kampong Cham is the capital of the province of the same name and the third largest city in Cambodia. The town itself is quaint and charming with its bustling morning river scene and wide boulevard streets beside the river. Kampong Cham is a mix of the old and the new, with a new temple being built in and around old ruins and the big ferry boats taking people and goods to the other side of the Mekong, right next to the construction of the first bridge ever built here.
Located on a river not too far from the Gulf of Thailand, Kampot is more famous for its peppers than for tourists, though it is gaining more tourists all the time. Kampot’s black peppercorns are famous with gourmet cooks around the world because of their unique flavor. Kampot is the gateway to Bokor National Park, famed for its abandoned French hill station, pleasant climate and lush primary rainforest. Kampot also offers visitors the opportunity to go boating and rafting on the river that winds through town, as well as take in scenic waterfalls along the route.
Kratie is a small town located on the banks of the Mekong River and is dominated by a central marketplace surrounded by old, French colonial buildings. As a home to rare river-dwelling dolphins, amber sunsets and a gorgeous riverfront, Kratie may be small in size but is still a great spot to stop and get away from it all for a few days.
