Not to rag on other countries – but the fact of the matter is they can be very one note. But that is certainly not the case with Cambodia – its diverse offerings guarantee an exciting experience for every traveler.
Cambodia, offers ancient Angkor temples and a touch of rich and even tragic history. Then you also get to see its artistic, young and hip culture that is a testament to innovation. But the fun doesn’t end there – Cambodia boasts lush jungles, stunning beaches, and rare wildlife worth experiencing! All in all, there are loads of things to see and do in Cambodia! Here’s a glimpse to whet your appetite for the real adventure! Let’s talk all things “what to do in Cambodia!”
Explore Angkor Wat: witness the majesty of Cambodia’s iconic temple
Looking for the best things to do in Cambodia? Prepare to be amazed by Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious temple! The majestic towers and intricate carvings of this temple are a masterpiece testimony of Khmer craftsmanship. As you wander through the vast complex, you will feel the ancient echoes of the powerful empire of Angkor.
Visiting Angkor Wat at sunrise: a magical feeling! As the first sun rays illuminate the towering spires, painting the sky in pink and orange, a deep serenity washes over you. With the temple’s reflection shimmering in the lake, it feels like stepping into a dream! And thanks to the incredible beauty of this peculiar moment, you might just end up falling in love!
Visit the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh: a glimpse into Cambodia’s royal heritage
Enter into a world of gold and royalty visiting the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh! This incredible palace, the King‘s official residence, dazzles with golden roofs and a striking comet-shaped peak. Basically, everything in this palace complex is a gem and a reminder of Cambodia’s past grandeur.
Make sure to pay a visit to the Silver Pagoda, one of the most beautiful spots in the palace! Home to over 5.000 silver tiles, each weighing 1 kilogram, this pagoda continues to amaze. Do enter to discover wonderful Buddha statues, including an Emerald Buddha, considered the country’s most sacred religious artefact. Roaming the splendid gardens, you might also admire the impeccable finishing of Khmer architecture. In two words, it is simply magical!
Relax on the beaches of Sihanoukville: tropical paradise awaits
Craving sun, sand, and sea? Sihanoukville is your dream tropical getaway and is one of the cool things to do in Cambodia! With powdery white beaches and turquoise waters, it offers both relaxation and adventure. Picture yourself in a hammock under coconut trees, lulled by the ocean—pure paradise!
Otres Beach is a must-visit paradise in Cambodia, renowned for its breathtaking views and relaxed vibe. Fancy some lazy beach time? Enjoy warm waters, vibrant coral reefs for snorkelling, and soft sand perfect lounging with a good book. Plus, you have the lazy hammock under the shade of palm trees. Don’t forget to hop on a boat to see some outlying islands – you can hike, swim and find a secret hidden lagoon – the perfect relaxation.
Discover the temples of Angkor Thom: ancient city of the Khmer Empire
Get ready to step back into history’s pages with a visit to Angkor Thom, the final capital of the Khmer Empire! Enforced by walls and a wide moat, this grand city is steeped in historical and cultural significance. The renowned site is anchored by the magnificent Bayon Temple – a wonder to behold, with 216 enigmatic stone faces that smile down on you with all-knowing beatitude. You’ll find the faces of the compassionate Bodhisattva of Avalokiteshvara, representing introspection, meditation and contemplation of enlightened nature!
As you wander the site, check off the Terrace of the Elephants from your list. The walls are intricately lined with bas-reliefs of Khmer history. The grandeur of Angkor Thom will keep you shouting “wow” as you discover its mysteries. Imagine yourself walking amidst this incredible ode to the past and vibrant life that exists in these once majestic temples. This is an adventure you would not want to miss!
Experience local life in Battambang: Cambodia’s artistic hub
Beyond that metaphorical emerald and literally green carpet of a horizon, Battambang is the kind of a city that simmers to its opulent art, colonial grandeur and surprises of bamboo. Stroll around on its core-throbbing streets and get a taste of the new-old city’s savoir-faire in a visual of classic buildings and temples with a contemporary twist. If you are an art lover or an art-friendly traveller on the go, don’t miss out on the most avant-garde way of expressing yourself and a chance to rub shoulders with the creative kind. Bamboo Train, is it? Because there’s an art to riding it too!
Whisk your way in the almost hilariously sounding Bamboo Train through those verdant sceneries, racing on the steel routes threaded amongst those perpetually green landscapes. Looks like a shanty Bamboo platform, huh? It’s the most artful piece of homemade engineering. Immerse into art in Battambang art galleries and gape at the vast collection of art pieces done up by the local artists where you can observe the strokes and colours in a beautiful album of Cambodian art! And before you know it, you just found yourself a souvenir to carry back home from Cambodia!
No, Battambang attractions are not seasoned with flair city alone but entwined in a string of temples each narrating the ancient sagas of Cambodian mythology and we humbly request you to take in a slice of Cambodian history with every step you take in those tiny alleyways meant to tone down pesky tourists. Make your stopover not simply a fun one but also a dumb-founding one!
Cruise the Mekong river: encounter the irrawaddy dolphins
Hop on a scenic river cruise down the course of the mighty Mekong River and meet a nostalgic species of dolphin called the Irrawaddy dolphin. Imagine yourself sailing on the still waters of the Mekong through a balmy mid-day, dark riverine jungle and suddenly you spot one of them, the rare and playful Irrawaddy dolphin with a short round-shaped forehead and no beak. An endangered sight in the region, these dolphins will pop their heads up from the water with endearing grace.
Head on over to Kratie – your starting point into this underwater cosmos. A slow and sleepy town surrounded by miles of farmland and several floating villages along the Mekong River. Journey across the edge of the river with an authentic mud bank empty of people and wanderer’s pace of life or watch kids playing in the water as mothers chat around mini-street markets selling fresh fruit and veg and smiling rural rolling countryside peppered with water buffalo and lazy riverside fishermen on a hollow bellied kayak. You will even be able to see fishermen paddle down the Mekong to see what they can catch on the day!
The views here pretty much look like real live paintings with boundless blues and greens to ease the soul. Just breathe it all in – all parts of the journey! Also, these views are the sort of thing you want to capture and keep outside your mind – so pack your camera; the Mekong and the setting sun reflecting on the water make for the kind of backdrop one can’t photograph enough.
Trek in the Cardamom Mountains: adventure in untouched wilderness
Now, let’s go to the surreal landscape of the Cardamom Mountains to experience some of the most beautiful natural wonders on Earth and one of the best destinations in Cambodia. The remote and untouched habitat of wild rainforests and spectacular mountain ranges in this natural wonder, one of Southeast Asia’s prominent jungles, will surely make you want to adventure into its untamed and wild surroundings – teaming with a collection of diverse ecosystems.
Catch a glimpse of wildlife in the wild! Hold onto your hats – and get ready for something exciting! As you walk through a dark and winding trail under the green canopy and through colourful tropical plants, don’t forget to look around. There are plenty of Cardamom Mountains wildlife spread around. A beautiful and proud wild elephant, munching on young bamboo stalks, could cross your path or a rainbow-coloured butterfly that looks like jewellery flying in front of you.
Now, if you really want to get a feel for a place – you want to meet the people. Along your way, you will also encounter established and warm Indigenous communities eager to greet and meet outsiders in an arranged person-to-person experience. These people are the custodians and guardians of the land – basically employing the “If ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy when it comes to taking care of the land they and the generation before them have employed!
Explore the floating villages of Tonlé Sap Lake: a unique way of life
This is the place where you can go and see for yourself the existence of symbiosis between man and nature. And it doesn’t hurt that this is one of the best places to see in Cambodia!
The magic of its surrounding areas takes the form of ever-floating and supported by traditional buoyant homes. It is essentially the Tamriel of the real world. There is a lot going on here and it is one the best sights in Cambodia – bucket loads of people hanging out in close quarters to shops, vegetable carts, hay storehouses and sewage, all hovering over the sparkly, aqueous podium of this great spot!
Each floating house, school and market offer you a unique and piercing insight into a way of life that coexists with the rise and fall of water levels. In summer, the lake shrinks – and in monsoon – it swells, creating an extended rhythm for the people who dwell in the peculiar life source. Behold fishermen throwing their nets, children playing, families sharing meals and all the while, their homes perform balled-like pirouettes.
Bright colours of the houses, sounds of joyous lives and smells of local food, add a multi-sensory experience for you. Relish the fish caught fresh from the lake or the local speciality prepared in the most authentically Cambodian kitchens. Meet local artists who may hold Kantha (Embroidery) or Chappur (woodwork on floating homes) workshops – enriching your experience and adding cultural tapestries to this watery wonderland.
Visit the killing fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum: reflect on Cambodia’s history
In the centre of Phnom Penh, you will encounter an important part of the history of Cambodia. And if you love the culture of this nation – this is a must-stop when visiting Cambodia. It is important to acknowledge this to deeply appreciate the resilience of humanity. The Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Museum bring you up close and personal, with how depraved humanity can be if unchecked – reminding you how deep the pain goes and how cruel humankind can be, just a few decades back.
Then, make your way to Tuol Sleng, a previous high school turned into a prison, where Cambodians were subjected to their darkest realities. Walkthrough the scary and dark building complex and the remnants that this place holds. All the stories are narrated through detailed placards, photographs and personal tales.
Savor Cambodian cuisine: a culinary journey through khmer flavors
Now, let’s set the table and dig in on savouring the sumptuous flavours of Cambodian cuisine! There is nothing quite like it.
Close your eyes and taste Amok, a bowl of creamy coconut curry so full of flavour, that dances in your mouth. Amok is a classic Khmer dish that is often served in banana leaves and is made from fish, chicken or tofu, along with an explosion of herbs and spices: it caresses the palate with each spoonful. You simply have to taste it to believe!
Lok Lak is a Khmer stir-fried beef that is marinated to a T and comes with a salad and rice on the side. A unique zest of lime juice and black pepper is the secret sauce hidden in the tasty layer of this easy-to-love dish.
But, let’s not stop there! To fully immerse yourself in the world of Khmer cuisine, why not sign up for a cooking class? Cook up a storm and learn how to make real Cambodian food from the best chefs in town. …Nothing like a hands-on educational experience to fully pick up on the subtleties of Khmer cooking! Additionally, it comes with a side of stories and cultural insight: be ready to mix, stir, chop and get inspired at the same time.
Really and truly, in this kitchen caper, you’ll literally be cooking up a storm. Bask in the energy of the rich and vibrant culture that comes with Cambodian cooking…who knows? You may even take a bit of Cambodia home with you in your heart and to your kitchen!
Embark on Your Cambodian Adventure
Cambodia is a veritable hotchpotch absolutely laden with significance – from historical landmarks, great delicious food, culture – and sights like jungles and beaches to behold with great wildlife and plant life to sweeten the deal. And for that reason, it would behove any self-respecting traveller to explore this great nation at least once in their lifetime for an unforgettable experience. If you are looking for “where to go in Cambodia” and for a seamless and enriching experience, consider joining our organised group tour through Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, where you’ll explore the highlights of Cambodia and beyond. Why not whip out that credit card and that passport and get yourself to Cambodia!?
