Cambodia Travel - Hotels, Attractions, Information

Map of Cambodia   click to enlarge

Angkor wat (Siem Reap)is the key tourist attraction of Cambodia. The nearly 900-year-old temple has been described as the jewel of the country, transporting visitors in time and spirit. Since it’s rediscovery in the late 19th century it has been competing with monuments like the Taj Mahal to be listed as the eighth world wonder.

Another popular destination is Kampong Som (Sihanoukville) on the South Coast. Here paradise-like bays and empty white sand beaches lined with palm trees are waiting for you to relax and sunbathe.

Other major cities are Battambang, the second largest city. Kampong Cham, Kandal, Prey Veng, Takeo, Kampung Thom, Svay Rieng and Kampong Speu.

Cambodia has three seasons. The rainy, monsoon season, lasts from May to October. November to April is the dry season, this is split into cold season from November to January and the hot season is from February to April. Temperatures change can be very slight between each season and can range from between 21 to 35 degrees Celsius. For continuing travelers, there are shuttle services between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City. The cost is cheap but the ride is extremely long and uncomfortable until you reach the paved roads of Vietnam. There is at least one land crossing between Laos and Cambodia though foreigners may have an unpleasant time making a go of it.

Cambodia food is closely related to the cuisines of neighboring Thailand and Laos and, to a lesser extent, Vietnam, but there are some distinct local dishes. The overall consensus is that Khmer cooking is like Thai without spicy. Curries, stir tried vegetable, rice, noodles and soups are staples of the Khmer diet. Cambodia is well known in the region for its Prahok, a strong, fermented fish paste used in a variety of traditional dishes.

Phnom Penh is far and away the best place to try inexpensive Khmer cuisine, though Siem Reap also has some good restaurants. One of the easiest and most affordable ways to acquaint yourself with Khmer cooking is to wander into the food stalls found in markets all over the country and simply sample each dish before deciding what to eat. In Phnom Penh you also have the choice of excellent Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, French and Mediterranean cooking.

Rice is the principal staple in Cambodia and the Battambang region is the country's rice bowl. Most Cambodian dishes are cooked in a wok, known locally as a chhnang khteak.

The safety aspect of Cambodia is largely overplayed. Most people are as friendly as any others in SEA. Take sensible precautions, don't wander around looking like a lost tourist, don't flaunt your perceived 'wealth' & don't walk in Phnom Penh after dark. But most of all - relax & enjoy yourself!

Cambodia Tourist Attractions - Phnom Penh is the royal capital located on the West of crossing point of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. The attractions such as Watt Phnom, University of Fine Arts, Royal Palace, Independence Monument, People, streets, etc are unique to the Royal Capital of Cambodia. Siem Reap is a well known authenticity, and it is one of the tourist spot in Asia. It is one of Cambodia's provinces located in North-West part of Cambodia. The growing of accommodations and hospitality industry is rising up so fast. The main attractions of Siem Reap such as Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Preah Sat Srey, Phnom Ku-Len (in English: Mountain of Litchi) with water fall, and thousands of more than 800 years' temples. more ...
 

Siem Reap: Angkor Wat - The Ancient Temples Tour Visit the magnificent Angkor temple complex, built between the 9th and 13th centuries by the Khmer Empire. In the morning, visit the Roluos Temple Group, then return to Siem Reap for lunch. In the afternoon, spend two and a half hours touring majestic Angkor Wat before climbing up to Phnom Bakheng to enjoy a magnificent sunset over Angkor and its surroundings. Click here for more information and Booking Details » More SIEM REAP Sightseeing Tours Events & Attractions

Facts for the Traveler

Area: 181,035 sq km
Population: 13 million
People: 94% ethnic Khmers, 4% Chinese, 1% Vietnamese
Language: Khmer, English, French
Religion: 95% Buddhist, Cham Muslim and Roman Catholic

There are about 500.000 Cham-Malays, descended from the Chams of the royal kingdom of Champa, based in the present day central Vietnam. They now constitute the single largest ethnic minority in the country. They are Muslims and their spiritual centre is Chur-Changvra near Phnom Penh. The Chams are traditionally cattle traders, silk weavers and butchers. The Chinese migrated in the 18th and 19th century to Cambodia, where most of them became involved in commerce. Today there is a population of about 100.000 left in Cambodia. Estimated 200.000 Vietnamese live in the country today. The southern part of Cambodia has always had many inhabitants of Vietnamese decent as well as the area around Phnom Penh.

Religion-Kaitlyn: The Cambodian religions on the whole are strongly influenced by early Indian and Chinese cultures. As early as at the beginning of the Christian era the Indian traders brought – along with their products – their religion to the first Khmer state in Funan. Most of them were followers of Brahmanism (a forerunner of Hinduism), which merged with the existing animistic beliefs into a kind of new religion – hinduistic and local deities existing side by side.

Language: The official Cambodian language, called Khmer, is part of the Mon-Khmer family, enriched by the Indian Pali and Sanskrit languages and influenced by Thai and French. English and French are spoken also - French mainly by some old people, whereas the younger generation learns English.

When to Go

The ideal months to be in Cambodia are December and January, when humidity is bearable, temperatures are cooler and it's unlikely to rain. From February onwards it starts getting pretty hot, and April is unbearably so. The wet season (from May to October), though very soggy, can be a good time to visit Angkor, as the moats will be full and the foliage lush - but steer clear of the northeast regions during those months, as the going gets pretty tough when the tracks are waterlogged. The country's biggest festival, Bon Om Tuk, is held in early November, and is well worth catching.

Events