Cambodia is a must-see for any visitor to Southeast Asia, and its charms go far beyond the country’s many temples.
In February, Cambodia shines with ideal weather, a buzzing environment, and enough to do.
Tour the country from end to end, taking in everything from the ancient Angkor temples and sandy beaches to the quaint towns in the middle of nowhere.
Alternatively, you may go on a tour that is jam-packed with activities like hiking, boating, safaris, water sports, and more.
Fun times are assured on every visit to Cambodia in the month of February. When it comes to outdoor activities, February is not just great.
List of the Cambodia Travel Top 9 Places to Visit in February:
- Angkor’s religious architecture
- Capital of Cambodia: Phnom Penh
- Southeastern Cambodian Islands
- The Sacred Cave of Koh Rong Samloem
- Kampot and Kep
- Ratanakiri
- The Sacred City of Siem Reap
- Battambang
- Kampot
1. Angkor’s religious architecture
The Angkor temples are consistently ranked as the top tourist attraction on best-of lists around the globe.
Angkor Wat, the biggest religious building in the world, and the Bayon, one of the oddest temples in the world with its mysterious collection of carved stone faces, are the most well-known landmarks in the area.
Nature has completely overrun the ancient carved masonry at Ta Prohm.
It’s worth your time to see what the ancient Khmers crammed into an area the size of Los Angeles, as it’s the architectural equal of all the cathedrals in Europe.
2. Capital of Cambodia: Phnom Penh
At first look, Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, might be overwhelming due to the city’s chaotic streets, which are constantly thronged by motorbikes and automobile horns.
Despite being abandoned during the Khmer Rouge’s craziness and left to wither and deteriorate, Phnom Penh has made a remarkable recovery and is now one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant towns.
The city has more trendy cafes and restaurants than anywhere else in Cambodia, making it a top tourist spot.
Beautiful specimens of traditional Khmer art can be found at the Royal Palace, while the Tuol Sleng Museum and the killing fields at Choeung Ek attest to the atrocities committed against the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge.
3. Southeastern Cambodian Islands
The Cambodian coast is dotted with sandy beaches that, while not as well-known as those in Thailand or Indonesia, nonetheless provide the entire tropical hideaway experience minus the wild crowds.
The most visited islands are the ones closest to each other, Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem, thanks to their beautiful beaches and clear, turquoise waters.
More islands can be found off the shore as well, such as the Koh Sdach Archipelago and the vast, practically uninhabited Koh Kong.
Koh Russey, with its high-end resorts, and Koh Ta Khiev, with its low-key backpacker bungalows, are just two of the smaller islands adjacent to sprawling Sihanoukville that you shouldn’t miss.
4. The Sacred Cave of Koh Rong Samloem
In the vicinity of Cambodia’s southern coast lies a group of islands that are every bit as stunning as their Thai counterparts to the west, yet get a fraction of the tourism.
Cambodia’s islands provide a quieter alternative to neighboring Thailand’s more commercialized Koh Samui and Phuket, where the beach and the sun still take center stage and the huge resorts haven’t made their imprint.
Koh Rong Samloem is one of the most picturesque islands because of the dozen or so beach hut resorts that dot its lengthy, sandy Saracen Bay.
Although scuba diving and other water sports are popular, a hammock is the best way to relax here. Sihanoukville is the jumping-off point for excursions to the surrounding islands.
5. Kampot and Kep
If you’re looking for a more well-rounded vacation than the stop-and-flop mentality of the islands, go no further than these two southern provinces.
Whether you’re in town to admire the French colonial architecture, take a paddleboard or kayak out on the picturesque river, or pedal out into the rural countryside, charming Kampot town has a wide variety of budget hostels, riverside resorts, and boutique hotels to accommodate you.
Kep is known for its charming boutiques, beautiful beaches, and proximity to Kep National Park and Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island), an ideal getaway from the city.
Attractions in the countryside range from the winding hike up to the ethereal Bokor Hill Station to trips to rustic pepper farms and cave pagodas dating back to the 7th century
6. Ratanakiri
Visitors who have seen too many temples will find the natural beauty of Ratanakiri refreshing.
The unending red-dirt roads of the region, which lead to settlements inhabited by ethnic minorities, are a delight for the intrepid tourist in this remote part of Cambodia.
The province is one of the best areas in Cambodia to go hiking, with attractions ranging from Virachey National Park, home to elephants, tigers, and sun bears, to the Veun Sai-Siem Pang Conservation Area, where visitors spend the night in hammocks and wake up early to track buff-cheeked gibbons.
7. The Sacred City of Siem Reap
Floating communities on the Tonlé Sap lake, adventure sports like quad biking and ziplining, and cultural activities like cooking workshops and martial arts courses await visitors outside of the town’s main hub.
Visit one of the adjacent traditional villages for a taste of rural life in comfortable, low-key homestays.
Although the COVID-19 outbreak caused many companies to close in Siem Reap, the city has made significant efforts to “build back better” by rehabilitating its roadways, riverside gardens, and bike lanes.
8. Battambang
Some of the most peaceful rural scenery in Cambodia may be found in the rice paddies and quaint villages that surround the city of Battambang in the country’s northwest.
As a result of these factors, the city now frequently appears on the itineraries of vacationers.
The famous Bamboo Train is a single-line rail track where “carriages” fashioned from a platform of wood and bamboo travel between Battambang’s east bank and the little village of O Srav, and a day excursion to the nearby temples of Phnom Sampeau, Phnom Banan, and Wat Ek Phnom is a must for history buffs.
By comparison to the hustle and bustle of the capital, Battambang is a quieter city, yet its historic core is packed with colonial structures.
Those who find Phnom Penh’s frenetic energy too much might relax in the more laid-back atmosphere of Battambang.
9. Kampot
Kampot, a tranquil riverside village, exudes an overwhelming sense of history. The downtown district is a pleasure to stroll around because of the many preserved shophouses.
Kampot’s allure rests in its incredibly laid-back vibe, and many visitors end up staying longer than they had planned because of it.