Asia
Angkor's ancient temples, the Mekong, quiet beaches and a warm, resilient welcome.
Photo: Satdeep Gill · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cambodia is a country of rice fields, rivers and ruins, home to the temples of Angkor, built by the Khmer Empire between the 9th and 15th centuries. The great temples draw most visitors, but the country also has colonial towns, quiet beaches and rural landscapes.
Its modern history includes the horrors of the Khmer Rouge years, which are remembered in memorials in Phnom Penh. Visiting these sites is moving, and Cambodians today are warm, resilient and proud of their culture, with a growing arts scene and tourism industry.
Travel is easy and cheap, with buses connecting main cities and tuk-tuks everywhere. Siem Reap is the usual starting point, then Phnom Penh, with side trips to Battambang, Kampot and the islands. The dry season from November to February is the best time to go.
Where to go
Ordered roughly by how strongly we would recommend them for a first visit.
Siem Reap Province, north-west Cambodia
A UNESCO World Heritage Site covering over 400 square kilometres, with Angkor Wat, the faces of the Bayon, the jungle-wrapped Ta Prohm and dozens of other temples.
Don't miss Watching the towers of Angkor Wat emerge from the dark at sunrise.
Explore Destination — Angkor Archaeological ParkSiem Reap Province
A relaxed city with Pub Street, the Old Market, Phare circus, Royal Gardens and trips to the Tonle Sap floating villages.
Don't miss Eating fish amok in the old market after a day among temples.
Explore Destination — Siem Reap and Tonle SapPhnom Penh Municipality
A busy riverside capital with the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum, Central Market, Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek and a growing food scene.
Don't miss Watching the sun set over the river from a rooftop after a day of palaces and markets.
Explore Destination — Phnom PenhBattambang Province, north-west Cambodia
A relaxed provincial capital with French architecture, a contemporary arts scene, the bamboo train, Phnom Sampov bat cave and temples.
Don't miss Riding the rattling bamboo train through green fields.
Explore Destination — BattambangKampot and Kep Provinces, southern coast
A relaxed southern coast with colonial architecture, Kampot pepper, river cruises, Bokor Hill, Kep crab market and Rabbit Island.
Don't miss Floating down the Kampot river at sunset, then eating crab in Kep.
Explore Destination — Kampot and KepPreah Sihanouk Province, Gulf of Thailand
Two islands with beaches, snorkelling, jungle trails and a relaxed beach vibe, reached by ferry from Sihanoukville.
Don't miss Swimming through glowing plankton at night on a quiet beach.
Explore Destination — Koh Rong and Koh Rong SamloemKratie Province, north-east Cambodia
A riverside provincial town with Irrawaddy dolphins at Kampi, Koh Trong island, sunsets over the Mekong and French-era buildings.
Don't miss Watching Irrawaddy dolphins surface in the golden light of the Mekong.
Explore Destination — KratieMondulkiri Province, eastern Cambodia
A cool highland province with Sen Monorom, Bunong culture, waterfalls, elephant sanctuaries and wild forest.
Don't miss Walking with rescued elephants through the hills of Mondulkiri.
Explore Destination — MondulkiriPreah Vihear and Siem Reap Provinces
Two remote Khmer sites: Beng Mealea, a half-collapsed temple swallowed by the jungle, and Koh Ker, a 10th-century capital with a dramatic pyramid.
Don't miss Climbing a seven-tier pyramid in the forest with almost no one else around.
Explore Destination — Koh Ker and Beng MealeaSiem Reap Province
A day trip north of Angkor: the delicate Banteay Srei, the River of a Thousand Lingas at Kbal Spean, and the sacred Kulen Mountain with waterfalls.
Don't miss Examining carvings so fine they look like lace, at the "citadel of women".
Explore Destination — Banteay Srei and Kulen MountainExperiences
The experiences that recur across the country and are worth planning around.
Sunrise at Angkor Wat, the Bayon and Ta Prohm.
Tip Buy a multi-day pass.
At sunset in Phnom Penh or Kratie.
Tip Book a local boat.
Make fish amok in a class.
Tip Book in Siem Reap.
Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek.
Tip Go with respect.
In Battambang.
Tip Short and fun.
Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem.
Tip Dry season is best.
Noodles, baguettes and fruit shakes.
Tip Look for busy stalls.
Food and drink
Khmer food is milder than Thai, with sour, salty and sweet flavours, built on rice, freshwater fish and fragrant herbs.
Fish steamed in coconut curry paste, traditionally in banana leaf.
Where to try it Restaurants across the country.
Stir-fried beef with a lime and pepper dipping sauce.
Where to try it Local restaurants.
A noodle soup eaten for breakfast.
Where to try it Street stalls.
Rice noodles with green fish curry.
Where to try it Morning markets.
Crab stir-fried with local pepper.
Where to try it Kep.
A crunchy snack for the brave.
Where to try it Markets.
Before you go
The essentials, current for 2026. Cambodia is welcoming and straightforward, but check official sources before travelling.
Excludes international flights. Figures are typical rather than absolute — cities and peak season run higher.
When to go
The dry, cool season from November to February is best for temples and sightseeing.
Cool, dry and sunny.
Hot and humid.
Green and rainy, with fewer visitors.
Water Festival in Phnom Penh.
Worth planning around: April and May, when heat can be intense.
Trip length
Cambodia is small, but travel is slow. Three or four bases work well.
Getting around
Buses and minivans are cheap and frequent. Flights save time between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Tuk-tuks are everywhere.
Sample route
Temples, the capital, the coast and the east.
Culture
Cambodians are polite, gentle and respectful of hierarchy and religion. The traditional greeting is the sampeah, palms pressed together, and keeping face matters.
Palms together, a slight bow.
Cover shoulders and knees at temples.
At temples and homes.
Women should not touch monks.
Raised voices cause loss of face.
Especially of monks and people.
Travel tips
The things that most often catch visitors out in Cambodia.
FAQ
Generally yes, with normal care against petty theft.
Ten to fourteen days.
Most do. Check e-visa options.
November to February.
Yes, one of the cheapest in the region.
Yes, widely.
The full travel guide covers routes, budgets, regional differences and how to string these ten destinations into a trip that actually works.
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