{"id":22299,"date":"2018-03-27T13:16:28","date_gmt":"2018-03-27T02:46:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snowys.com.au\/blog\/?p=22299"},"modified":"2022-11-09T11:25:22","modified_gmt":"2022-11-09T00:55:22","slug":"visiting-cambodia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snowys.com.au\/blog\/visiting-cambodia\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Things to See and Do in Cambodia"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2008 I moved to Cambodia for work with a few basic belongings and even less of an idea about the country itself. Since then, I\u2019ve visited again many times for both business and adventures, and have made a real effort to explore more than just the usual tourist attractions.<\/p>\n

Sure, I\u2019ve seen the famous temples including the incredible Angkor Wat, but if you\u2019re considering a visit to Cambodia, there\u2019s much more to see and do than just visit the temples.<\/p>\n

\"Monks<\/p>\n

While Cambodia is so well known for their temples, there is so much else to see and do. <\/em><\/p>\n

Phnom Penh<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The capital of Cambodia is most famous, or perhaps a better word might be \u2018infamous\u2019, for the terrible things that happened there during the time of the Khmer Rouge when an estimated two million, of their less than ten million population at the time, died or were killed as a direct result of that conflict.<\/p>\n

I loathe to call it an \u2018attraction\u2019 but Choeng Ek Genocidal Centre, or \u2018The Killing Fields\u2019 as it\u2019s generally referred to, is certainly a place a lot of people visit. Have I been there? Yes. Did I want to throw up because it was so disturbing? Also yes. Should you go? I really don\u2019t know. If you do, listen to as much of the audio tour as you can stomach, as it\u2019s a good way to get a feel for what the Cambodian people went through then, and are still recovering from now.<\/p>\n

If you think you can handle it, a visit to the \u2018S21\u2019 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is also educational, but equally, gut churning. This is the old, converted school that was used as a prison and interrogation (i.e., torture) centre. Personally, I found this place even more disturbing than the killing fields so I can\u2019t say I\u2019d necessarily recommend it as such.<\/p>\n

\"People-of-Cambodia\"<\/p>\n

The people of Cambodia have been through a lot, so if you are going to visit these places, please be respectful. <\/em><\/p>\n

Outside of those places, things worth considering are:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Central Market<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The market itself is pretty typical of South East Asian markets with everything from food to clothes to electronics to trinkets. But, the Art Deco building itself is pretty cool.<\/p>\n

Wat Phnom<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The historically significant temple in the centre of Phnom Penh.<\/p>\n

\"Wat<\/p>\n

The Wat Phnom temple was built in 1372 and is definitely worth a visit. <\/em><\/p>\n

Wat Ounalom and Langka<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are plenty of other Wats worth checking out including Wat Ounalom, the centre of Cambodian Buddhism and the home to one of Buddha\u2019s eyebrow hairs; and Wat Langka, the oldest pagoda in Phnom Penh where you can even take a free meditation class.<\/p>\n

Koh Dach<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Grasshopper Tours do a nice morning cycling tour over to \u2018Silk Island\u2019 – Koh Dach – where you can see silk being spun. And if you\u2019re not feeling energetic, you can also do it in a Tuk Tuk.<\/p>\n

\"Silk<\/p>\n

If you want to see some of Cambodia by bike, you can book a cycle tour. <\/em><\/p>\n

Oudong and Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Two other day trips worth considering are a trip to Oudong, the old capital, to explore its history and temples, and Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre which is not a zoo.<\/p>\n

This is a centre that actually rehabilitates and takes care of animals that have been rescued from illegal trade. And, Rove Mcmanus even sponsors a tiger there.<\/p>\n

\"On<\/p>\n

The Old capital of Cambodia is a destination to consider as it has a lot of history.<\/em><\/p>\n

Siem Reap<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you haven\u2019t seen the temples before, obviously they\u2019re an absolute must. You can easily hire a guide to take you around and show you the sights and tell you the stories. This can be arranged at your hotel for between USD $20-$50 depending on whether you want an air-conditioned car or are happy to rough it in a tuk-tuk.<\/p>\n

Having done the main temples, (Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, etc.) several times myself, I now try and explore at least one or two new ones every time I\u2019m in the area. Sometimes that involves research and a plan, sometimes it involves stopping at random places.<\/p>\n

\"Ta<\/p>\n

The Ta Prohm temple in Angkor was built in 1186.<\/em><\/p>\n

There are the \u2018famous\u2019 and \u2018must do\u2019 things like sunrise at Angkor Wat, but because they\u2019re famous, you\u2019ll likely be shoulder to shoulder with fifty busloads of tourists which makes the experience a lot less special.<\/p>\n

So, it\u2019s worth considering taking off and making up your own plan. You may not get to tick the \u2018must do\u2019 bucket list box, but there\u2019s every chance you\u2019ll have a much better time.<\/p>\n

\"Famous<\/p>\n

Angkor Wat is by far Cambodia\u2019s most iconic and recognisable temple. <\/em><\/p>\n

South coast<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are three main coastal towns down south, and this is honestly my favourite part of Cambodia. Unless you\u2019re a backpacker looking to party, you probably won\u2019t be interested in the main port town of Sihanoukville, but some of the nearby beach areas are okay, with new ones opening up all the time.<\/p>\n

You can also use it as a base to explore some of the nearby islands. For me, Kampot and Kep to the southeast are epic little destinations with some great opportunities for adventure.<\/p>\n

\"Sunset<\/p>\n

The stunning sunset at Kampot.<\/em><\/p>\n

Kampot<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Kampot is on a river with the opportunity to check out a few waterfalls. Go for a SUP or kayak, or simply kick back on a \u2018houseboat\u2019, and enjoy a cool drink at sunset.<\/p>\n

They even have fireflies, which are pretty incredible but almost impossible to photograph, so you\u2019ll have to take my word for it.<\/p>\n

\"Kayaking<\/p>\n

Kayaking is a great way to explore Kampot by river.<\/em><\/p>\n

Kep<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Slightly further east is the much quieter seaside town of Kep. A walk around, or over, Kep Mountain is pretty cool – \u2018Sunset Rock\u2019 at sunset is usually pretty spectacular. Just be aware the hike down will be in the dark so bring your torch!<\/p>\n

One of the town\u2019s biggest attractions is the strip of \u2018crab shacks\u2019 along the beach with the local crab being quite the speciality. I\u2019d also recommend a trip to the Kep Sailing Club at sunset. Stay two nights and do both!<\/p>\n

In and around Kampot and Kep you\u2019ll find salt farms, pepper plantations, and various caves of varying degrees of difficulty – and safety. Most of these caves wouldn\u2019t pass muster for us in the western world in terms of safety.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll more than likely have an eight-year-old as a guide and want to step and crawl and climb reasonably carefully. For a real climbing and caving adventure that operates to western safety standards, go see the team at Climbodia<\/a>. Truly epic!<\/p>\n

\"Men<\/p>\n

There are caves to explore around Kampot and Kep if you thrive on adventure.<\/em><\/p>\n

A trip up nearby Bokor Mountain is pretty good too. At an elevation of around 1,000m, the weather is usually cooler up there. There’s also a great waterfall during the wet season and a variety of buildings and ruins.<\/p>\n

The famous old French casino and resort ruins used to be really cool to wander through. Now they’re now being restored so we\u2019ll have to see how that turns out.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re craving a cooler breeze, the waterfall at Bokor Mountain is an option. <\/em><\/p>\n

Other places<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Kirirom National Park between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville is worth a visit, especially after the wet season when it\u2019s nice and green. You can do everything from camp in supplied tents, to stay in a swanky hotel there. It’s a great place for doing a bit of hiking and there are opportunities to mountain bike.<\/p>\n

You could probably do this as a day trip from Phnom Penh if you were enthusiastic. It makes a pleasant, cool change from the hot dusty city.<\/p>\n

Mondulkiri in the northeast gets an honourable mention for its waterfalls and elephant sanctuaries, but you\u2019ll need a full day to get there by car. Koh Kong in the southwest towards the Thai border is also worth a look as it remains relatively untouched and undeveloped. This makes it a superb place to spot rare wildlife, trek, relax and soak up nature, or all of the above.<\/p>\n

\"Women<\/p>\n

There are heaps of places to hike that contrast against the bustle of the city.<\/em><\/p>\n

Visas<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As an Australian resident, you can apply for and purchase a Visa online here<\/a>, just make sure you use the official government website and not a lookalike site. And, remember to take a printout with you.<\/p>\n

If you forget, you can always fill in the form at the airport. If you don\u2019t have any extra passport photos handy, they can do that for you as well – for a small fee, of course!<\/p>\n

Tours<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re keen to go exploring but would prefer to do it with someone to show you the way, you can check out the info on our tours here.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Tour<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d prefer an expert to show you the way, a tour is the way to go. <\/em><\/p>\n

Accommodation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s almost always plenty of accommodation options available and the usual travel websites (booking.com<\/a> or Agoda<\/a>) can often offer better prices than you\u2019d get directly. A decent 3-4 star hotel will cost you USD $50-100 depending on the location and your tastes.<\/p>\n

Weather<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s almost always hot there. Wet season (May-Nov) can be tricky as the streets flood easily and it\u2019s not much fun. It’s better to go in the warmer months such as Dec-Jan, as it’s dry and slightly less hot. Feb-May can be extra hot though so keep that in mind.<\/p>\n

\"Standing<\/p>\n

The weather is almost always warm, so prepare for the heat.<\/p>\n

Currency<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Riel is the official local currency, but almost everything is done in US Dollars. The exchange rate is fixed at 4,000riel for USD$1. There\u2019s plenty of ATMs if you want to take cash out on the go.<\/p>\n

Gear to take<\/strong><\/h2>\n