14 Top-Rated Places to Visit in Cambodia

Best known as both the home of the colossal temples of Angkor Wat and for the brutal Khmer Rouge era of the 1970s and later civil war, Cambodian history encompasses both some of humanity's greatest artistic accomplishments and most horrific deeds.

The history is what draws most travelers here, but this Southeast Asian nation has more tourist attractions to offer for those who linger longer than a short temple hop to Siem Reap.

Beyond the temples, Cambodia is a prime destination for Southeast Asia travels that manages to charm all who come.

The coastline of sandy white beaches tempts every sun sloth. The jungle-swathed countryside is geared up for the more intrepid, and the buzzing capital of Phnom Penh envelops visitors in the frenetic pulse of contemporary Cambodian city life.

Plan your sightseeing in this fascinating country with our list of the top places to visit in Cambodia.

 

1. Angkor Wat (Angkor Archaeological Park)
2. Phnom Penh
3. Koh Rong Samloem
4. Siem Reap
5. Ratanakiri
6. Prasat Preah Vihear
7. Battambang
8. Kampot
9. Tonlé Sap Lake
10. Koh Kong Conservation Corridor
11. Kratie
12. Sambor Prei Kuk
13. Banteay Chhmar
14. Mundulkiri

 

1. Angkor Wat (Angkor Archaeological Park)

This temple city is the number one tourist spot in Cambodia.

Accessed from the town of Siem Reap, the temples of the Angkorian period are so ambitious in scale and in the majesty of their construction, that Angkor Wat is rated as one of the world's must-see ancient sites.

Built between 802 and 1432, this was the largest city in the world during the medieval age and the vast powerhouse of the Khmer kings who endeavored to outbid their predecessors in the beauty of their construction.

As the city's wooden dwellings were encroached and then decayed by the surrounding jungle, what remains today, are just those mighty temples.

The temple of Angkor Wat itself, the world's largest religious building, is only one sliver of the site in total, and the sprawling circuit of temples deserves three days to explore if you want to understand the scope of the Angkorian period's architectural achievements.

For those short on time though, the main highlights after Angkor Wat are the tree-root clasped temple of Ta Prohm (which first found international fame as a location used in the movie Tomb Raider), the Bayon Temple for its 216 stone-carved faces, Angkor Thom and Preah Khan.

 

 

2. Phnom Penh

Cambodia's capital is the frenetic heartbeat of the nation; a city of chaotic streets abuzz with motorbikes and car horns that can frazzle at first glance.

 

 

3. Koh Rong Samloem

Of all the islands, Koh Rong Samloem is one of the most beautiful, with the long, sandy Saracen Bay home to a dozen beach hut resorts that offer a welcome respite from the world.
It's really all about hammock-time here, but there's plenty of scuba diving activities on offer for the more active.
You can access these islands from Sihanoukville.

 

 

4. Siem Reap

Siem Reap is usually seen by travelers as among Cambodia's top places to visit due to it being the base for Angkor Archaeological Park, but the town itself offers more interesting attractions beyond the mighty temples.

 

 

5. Ratanakiri

Ratanakiri is a nature-filled reprieve for travelers suffering from temple-fatigue.
This is outback Cambodia, and the endless red-dirt roads of the region, leading to ethnic minority villages, are an intrepid traveler's delight.

6. Prasat Preah Vihear

The temples of Angkor Wat may gain all the glory, but Prasat Preah Vihear wins the prize for the most dramatic location.

Sitting atop the Dangrek Mountains, on an escarpment with dizzying views across the Cambodian floodplains, Prasat Preah Vihear is a monumental temple complex of intricately carved pavilions linked by long causeways, built originally to honor the god Shiva.

The temple is snug against the border with Thailand and has historically been a point of contention between the two nations, who both claim it as their own.

The International Court of Justice ruled in Cambodia's favor in 2013 after border disputes flared up between 2008 and 2011.

Tensions have dissipated in the last few years, meaning this UNESCO World Heritage Site can now reclaim its rightful role on the tourist trail.

Access is from Sra Em, although most visitors come on a day trip from Siem Reap (200 kilometers south).

7. Battambang

The countryside of rice fields and tiny villages surrounding the northwest city of Battambang holds some of the most tranquil rural scenery in Cambodia, and the area is home to swags of historic riches as well.

All this has made the city itself a popular destination on traveler itineraries.

8. Kampot

 

Kampot's charm lies in its exceedingly chilled-out atmosphere, and many a traveler finds themselves waylaid here longer than they expected, having succumbed to its easygoing pace.

 

 

9. Tonlé Sap Lake

Tonlé Sap is Cambodia's most important waterway and Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake.

One of the most interesting is the sprawling village of Kompong Luong, near the town of Pursat on Tonlé Sap's western shore, although the most popular village to visit is Chong Kneas near Siem Reap.

10. Koh Kong Conservation Corridor

The Koh Kong Conservation Corridor stretches across an area within Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains, south of the 

11. Kratie

If you're here for the full Mekong experience, you've come to the right place.

Spread along the banks of the mighty Mekong, Kratie has become a major destination for travelers due to its dolphin-watching tours.

The endangered Irrawaddy dolphins are endemic to the Mekong, and environmental measures have now been put in place to try and help their dwindling numbers.

Tourism has played a good role in trying to protect the dolphins by offering an alternative economy to fishing.

To see the dolphins head to Kampi, just north of Kratie, where there are plenty of boat tours available.

12. Sambor Prei Kuk

This pre-Angkorian temple site dates from the early 7th century when it was the capital of the Upper Chenla Empire.

You can access Sambor Prei Kuk from Kompong Thom.

13. Banteay Chhmar

It was built by the 12th-century Angkorian king Jayavarman VII, and the remarkable stone reliefs along its walls are some of the most intricately detailed you'll see in the country.

14. Mundulkiri

Adventurous travelers beeline to the hill country of Mundulkiri Province in Cambodia's far east for wildlife spotting, village life, trail-bike tours, and the Elephant Valley Project.

The most famous tourist attraction in the region, the Elephant Valley Project offers visitors a chance to walk with the sanctuary's elephants (no riding allowed) while providing an opportunity for local mahouts (elephant keepers) to earn a wage that doesn't involve overworking their elephants.