For all its well-deserved UNESCO World Heritage fame, the traditional temples of Angkor are removed from being the one causes to go to the Kingdom of Cambodia. With its fabled historical past, distinctive tradition, pleasant folks, dazzling seashores, verdant jungles, punchy delicacies and distinctive emphasis on sustainability, it’s certainly one of our favorite nations within the area to advocate to guests in search of an offbeat vacation or journey. To study why, listed below are 9 compelling causes to enterprise past the temples of Angkor to uncover a few of the nation’s unbelievable hidden gems. To dive proper in to some superb excursions that go to these locations, go right here.
Siem Reap
There’s merely no avoiding it: most guests to Cambodia could have one factor on the high of their thoughts: Angkor Wat. Whereas we’d by no means discourage anybody from experiences its wonders firsthand, the aim of this text is to tell them of what else there’s to expertise within the Kingdom; and guests received’t need to go very far to search out out.
Though it’s used primarily as a launching level for journeys into the traditional temple advanced of Angkor, Siem Reap has emerged as a world-class vacation spot in its personal proper through the years, because of its very good choice fo eating places, cafes, bars, boutique and excessive finish resorts and extra. Enterprise only a bit exterior of town heart and visitors will also be handled to picture-perfect scenes of Cambodian rural communities, pleasant locals and extra. And with a spread of different points of interest not a lot additional afield reminiscent of Tonlé Sap Lake, one may simply fill a whole vacation in and surrounding Siem Reap with out ever visiting the temples of Angkor and have a fantastic time.
Tonle Sap Lake
Proper on the doorstep of Siem Reap is certainly one of Southeast Asia’s most unusual pure and cultural points of interest: Tonle Sap Lake. When it’s at its fullest, it’s the biggest freshwater physique of water in Southeast Asia, stretching some 250km throughout northwest Cambodia. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it hosts some 300 species of freshwater fish, 11 of that are globally endangered, and quite a few uncommon and endangered birds, crocodiles, and monkeys, making it a veritable paradise for lovers of nature. Tonle Sap can be dwelling to quite a few floating villages reminiscent of Kompong Phluk and Kompong Kleang that are excellent examples of rural life in Cambodia.
Battambang
With streets lined with outdated French shophouses, Battambang is taken into account certainly one of Cambodia’s best-preserved colonial period cities. Internet hosting the whole lot from fair-trade cafes and eating places to artwork galleries, historic temples and the superb Phare Ponleu Selpak, a world-renowned NGO that trains performing artists whereas lifting them out of poverty, Battambang is small in measurement however packs a giant punch with distinctive issues to see, do and expertise. For visitors seeking to expertise genuine Cambodia with out the crowds of Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, Battambang is a straightforward pencil-in.
Kampot & Kep
These twin southern provinces on the coast of Cambodia provide an ideal mixture of consolation, character and uniqueness for these looking for a extra nuanced seaside journey to search out interesting over typical flop-and-drop getaways. World-renowned for its distinctive Kampot pepper, Kampot provides a number of charming riverside and boutique resorts for visitors to chill out at in between jaunts via the city whereas absorbing the French structure or strolls by paddleboard or kayak via painterly riverside environs the realm has to supply. Visitors are additionally inspired to take to the countryside on two wheels to find the realm’s simple cultural allure.
Close by, Kep is a well-known beachside city providing a surprisingly wide selection of points of interest and actions to simply fill the area of a number of days. Highlights embrace mountain climbing in Kep Nationwide Park, a go to to Koh Tonsay or ‘Rabbit Island’, a winding ascent to Bokor Hill Station to find hidden cave pagodas from the seventh century, and visits to rustic pepper farms and an iconic Crab Market.
Koh Rong
Anybody who has ever ignored Cambodia as a seaside vacation spot can be reminded of their follies with one take a look at Koh Rong, a stunning imaginative and prescient of paradise marked by azure waters and white sands which are at dwelling on any publish card. With a number of unbelievable seashores and tonnes of supporting actions to fill in no matter time is leftover between snorkeling and sunbathing, Koh Rong simply certainly one of Cambodia’s high must-see locations.
For the entire grandeur above the water, there’s equal pizzaz under it with an entire host of marine species that may be readily seen with snorkelling journeys across the island. Lovers of extra sporty actions will really feel at dwelling with ample alternatives for kayaking, zip-lining and extra.
Phnom Penh
To not be forgotten, the capital of Phnom Penh is eager to remind guests that, whereas it could not have the traditional temples of Siem Reap, it has greater than sufficient historical past and intrigue to maintain guests’ curiosity piqued, whereas its superfluous abundance of meals, drink and leisure merely can’t be outdone throughout the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Having skilled one thing of a renaissance in recent times, town is now dwelling to a number of hotspots for cool cafes, bustling bars, fascinating museums, feel-good NGO visits, CSR actions and extra. Merely put, Phonm Penh is completely certainly one of Cambodia’s premiere tourism locations and shouldn’t be ignored as such!
Cardamom Mountains
Thought-about by some to be certainly one of Southeast Asia’s final nice wilderness areas, the distant Cardamom mountains spans some 4.4 million hectares throughout southwestern Cambodia and is dwelling to the area’s largest contiguous rainforest. All through this huge wilderness is an astonishing range of uncommon and unique creatures reminiscent of clouded leopards, and solely about 25,000 folks, lots of whom are ethnic minorities. Closed off to the world as a consequence of its remoteness and rugged panorama for time immemorial, solely considerably not too long ago has the realm develop into possible to go to because of cautious growth of tented camps and customer infrastructure. For lovers of nature, it’s no doubt certainly one of Southeast Asia’s most sought-after and unbelievable locations.
Mondulkiri
Whereas a lot of Cambodia is characterised by countless rice fields and sugar palms, Mondulkiri has a decidedly extra ‘wild’ look with verdant rolling hills and luxurious jungles. Situated within the jap a part of the nation, Mondulkiri can be a nature-lovers dream. House to the indigenous Bunong folks, who nonetheless comply with animism and ancestor worship, visitors can study their tradition and distinctive Phnong homes. Mondulkiri has additionally develop into synonymous with accountable elephant tourism, with tasks permitting visitors to ‘stroll with the herd’ as an alternative of driving them. There are additionally loads of nature excursions permitting guests to identify langurs and gibbons whereas trekking via Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, or discover speeding waterfalls.
Different highlights embrace Bou Sra and Chrey Thom Waterfalls and the Memang Gold Mines.
Preah Vihear
Exterior of Angkor Wat, Prasat Preah Vihear is arguably certainly one of Cambodia’s most spectacular temples. Perched majestically atop the Dangkrek Mountains, the heavily-forested ridge alongside the border between Cambodia and Thailand has breathtaking views throughout northern Cambodia.
The temple is a three-dimensional illustration of Mt Meru, the middle of the universe in Hindu mythology, and took almost 300 years to assemble, a time period that makes evident how carvings and sculptures developed within the nation over time. Though it’s a bit off the crushed path, most guests will agree that the hassle in getting there’s nicely price it.
Kratie
Kratie is the launching level for journeys to identify uncommon freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins on the Mekong River. Though in recent times it has develop into more and more tough for visitors to see these elusive creatures, the city’s distinctive colonial allure and arguably a few of the greatest Mekong sunsets within the nation make it a worthwhile stopping level via their Cambodia journey however.
Close by Koh Trong Island is a soothing place to expertise genuine Khmer hospitality or discover by rented bike. North of Kratie lies the Mekong Discovery Path, with a number of adventures and experiences, together with community-based homestays, bicycle rides and boat journeys.
Feeling impressed to guide a visit to Cambodia that explores a few of its ‘different’ unbelievable wonders? Our specialists on the bottom there would like to put collectively a customized itinerary for you. Be happy to succeed in out to us at [email protected]
