Cambodia travel guide | Threeland Travel

Cambodia travel guide Cambodia is located at the border of Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Formerly known as Kampuchea, its name is derived from the Sanskrit name Kambujadesa. Once the heart of the mighty Khmer empire, Cambodia is almost synonymous with Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cambodia is gifted with waterfalls, national parks, volcanic craters, secluded islands, beaches and rare freshwater dolphins.

When to go? Cambodia has two distinct seasons, the rainy season (June-Oct) and dry season (Nov-Mar). The tropical climate means the temperature is hot and humid with an average of 27°C. The best time for travelling to Cambodia is during the cool and dry season from November to February when temperatures average 23°C.

Getting there

By air There are four commercial airports in Cambodia, the most popular being Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Regional airlines fly from cities like Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Taipei and Hong Kong.

By land Cambodia shares border crossings with Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The most popular land route for travelling to Cambodia is from Bangkok to Angkor Wat. The entire journey takes about 10 hours and involves trains, buses and tuk tuks.

By boat There are daily fast boats from Thailand’s Krong Koh Kong to Cambodia’s coastal town of Sihanoukville. The journey across the Gulf of Thailand takes about 4 hours.

Getting around By air Travelling in Cambodia by air is possible, as airlines like Angkor Airways, Siem Reap Airways and PMT Air all serve domestic routes between the towns of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Ban Lung and Sihanoukville.

By bus Long distance buses are available from Phnom Penh to towns like Siem Reap, Battambang, Poipèt, Kratie, and Preah Vihear. Most are air-conditioned and comfortable.

By boat Boats are a popular means of transport for travelling in Cambodia, especially along the Tonlé Sap, Bassac and Mekong river. The most popular boat route is the 6-hour journey from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap on the Tonlé Sap.

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By cyclo and moto Cyclos are pedicabs which are a cheap and leisurely way of travelling in Cambodia’s cities. Remorque-kangs are similar, but with trailers attached to the back of bicycles. Speedier alternatives are the motos, or motorcycle taxis, which are a quick way of making short hops around town. Remorque-motos are Cambodia’s tuk tuks and are the equivalent of local buses.

By motorbike and car Renting a car or motorcycle is a good way of exploring the countryside and travelling in Cambodia. Drivers can also be hired along with the vehicle and prices range from about US$30 a day.

Sightseeing

Angkor Wat A visit to Angkor Wat, dubbed ‘the mother of all temples’, features on every visitor’s list of things to do in Cambodia. Cambodia’s top tourist site is located in the northern town of Siem Reap. The UNESCO World Heritage Site has magnificent remains of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to 15th century which can take up to a week to fully explore. Don’t miss the Churning of the Ocean Milk sculptures in the east gallery and the gargantuan Bayon-face sculptures in Angkor Thom.

Preah Vihear Temple Complex The temple complex of Preah Vihear is another outstanding piece of Cambodia’s temple architecture. Situated atop a cliff in the Dangrek Mountains near the border with Thailand, the 9th

century Khmer temple bears exquisite carvings and stone ornaments. Start from the north and make your way south past the four gopuras (sanctuaries) and finish at the Preah Vihear Overlook, which is right at the edge of the cliff and has outstanding views of the northern Cambodian plains and surrounding mountains.

Royal Palace The Royal Palace along Sothearos Boulevard in Phnom Penh is a must-see as it is a great example of classic Khmer architecture. Featuring towering spires, ornate gildings and manicured gardens, it is the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoni. Within the compound is the Silver Pagoda, famed for its silver-tiled floors and collection of Buddha statues adorned in crystal, gold and diamonds.

National Museum The National Museum in Phnom Penh is the country’s largest museum, housing over 14,000 items of national and historical importance. Opened in 1920, its collection includes bronze, stone, wood and ceramic sculptures, as well as treasures from the pre-Angkor kingdoms of Funan and Chenla. One highlight is the kinnari box, a lacquered wooden box carved in the shape of a duck with a human head used by elder Khmer women to store betel nut and leaves.

Tuol Sleng Museum In stark contrast, the Tuol Sleng Museum in Phnom Penh is certainly not for the faint-hearted. The genocide museum located on the site of Security Prison 21 catalogues the crimes of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime, which left 1.7 million Cambodians dead from 1975 to 1979. The museum is lined with portraits of victims and features cabinets filled with human skulls and torture cells used to execute victims. A visit is crucial in order to understand the nation’s tragic past and how it affects Cambodian society today.


Killing Fields 14km southwest of Phnom Penh is the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, a memorial to the country’s tragic past where 17,000 people executed by the Khmer Rouge are buried. Guided tours are available to the white stupa which holds almost 9000 skulls and bones of victims, and the trip considered one of the most important things to do in Cambodia in order to understand the country’s deep history.

Where to eat

Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh Phnom Penh is home to delicious food, and many good restaurants can be found along the riverfront which serve Khmer, Asian or French-inspired flavours. Delightful local dishes can be found at Sa Em Restaurant, Khmer Borane Restaurant and Frizz Restaurant. Or else, head to Chiang Mai Riverside for Thai, Pop Café for Italian, Pacharan Bodega for Spanish, or dine at Riverside Bistro, a colonial-style building with riverside dining al fresco.

Psar Chaa, Siem Reap In Siem Reap, the eating area is largely clustered around the Psar Chaa, which is the Old Market, with many options for street food round alleyways. Bar Street and The Alley is home to popular eateries like Soup Dragon, Blue Pumpkin, Red Piano and Khmer Kitchen Restaurant which serve classic Khmer, Asian and international cuisine.

Shopping

Sorya Shopping Centre The eight-storey Sorya Shopping Centre in Monireth Boulevard is an extremely popular shopping destination. Hundreds of retail shops sell everything from clothes and accessories to homeware and electronics. The mall also has food courts, restaurants, cinemas and entertainment centres.

Psar Thmei (Central Market) Located near the riverfront is the dome-shaped Psar Thmei, known also as the Central Market, which sells everything from flowers and food to video games and jewellery. Originally known as the Grand Market during the French colonial days, the market certainly deserves an entire afternoon’s attention with its huge array of clothes, knick knacks and souvenirs.

Psar Tuol Tom Pong (Russian Market) Psar Tuol Tom Pong, or the Russian Market, has a huge variety of clothing, Cambodian silk, handicrafts, designer rejects and replica jewellery. Not to be confused with the Orussei Market, the Psar Tuol Tom Pong got its name from being a favourite among Russian expatriates. Haggling is a must at these markets, but do remember that a smile and some basic Khmer goes a long way.

Night markets

Psar Reatrey, Phnom Penh Phnom Penh’s Psar Reatrey is a weekend night market located by the riverfront off Preah Sisovath Boulevard. Over 150 stalls offer a wide and varied selection of Cambodian handicrafts, silks, art, curios, souvenirs, clothes, ornaments and furniture catering to tourists and expatriates. The market is open from 5pm to 10pm.


Angkor Night Market In Siem Reap, head to Angkor Night Market located off Sivatha Boulevard. Conveniently situated opposite the Old Market, it is a good place to buy handmade souvenirs and support the local communities in nearby villages. Directly opposite is the Noon Night Market, named so because it is open daily from 12pm to 12am. Over a hundred stalls sell ornaments, gifts and souvenirs like clothes, jewellery, CDs, books and artwork.

Nightlife

Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh Phnom Penh has a vibrant nightlife mostly clustered around the riverfront of Sisowath Quay. Located on Street 104 are hostess bars like Barbados, OneZeroFour Bar and Zanzibar, while Monsoon Wine Bar has an intimate and cosy atmosphere. By Golden Sorya Mall along Pasteur (Street 148) is the popular Heart of Darkness nightclub. Allen Bar, DV8 Bar, Pit Stop and Howie’s are all dotted along the same road.

The Alley, Siem Reap The Alley behind Psar Chaa is the main Cambodia nightlife area in Siem Reap, with popular drinking spots like Angkor What?, Warehouse, Molly Malone’s and Linga Bar. Temple Club and Laundry Bar have dance floors and DJs spinning tunes throughout the night. Elsewhere, the Angkor Night Market houses the Island Bar and Brick House Bar in open-air garden settings.

Festivals

Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) Chinese New Year is celebrated with much fanfare and enthusiasm on the streets of Phnom Penh by the large Chinese and Vietnamese communities. The 15-day lunar festival in Cambodia sees dragon dances, lanterns, firecrackers and fireworks displays throughout the streets.

Chaul Chnam (April) Ethnic Khmers celebrate Chaul Chnam, a three-day festival that marks the end of the harvest and the new year according to the Khmer lunar calendar. Homes will be decorated, shrines filled with food offerings to God and Khmers will worship in wats to cleanse their sins and throw water and talc on each other.

Royal Ploughing Ceremony (May) Celebrate the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, a ritual agricultural festival which takes place in a field in the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. The Cambodia festival celebrates the start of the rainy season, when farmers get ready to plough the land to cultivate rice. The highlight of the festival is when the cows are seen to predict the success of the upcoming harvest by choosing which crop to eat from a variety they are given.

Visakha Puja (May/June) Visakha Puja celebrates three important incidents in Buddha’s life - his birth, enlightenment and death, or passing to nirvana. Celebrated on the full moon of the sixth lunar month, the best place to see this is in Angkor Wat, where an evening procession of candlelit monks line the temple complex.


Bon Om Tuk (Oct/Nov) One of the most important festivals in Cambodia is Bon Om Tuk, a water festival that celebrates the epic victory of Jayavarnam VII over the Chams in 1177. During this time, hundreds of thousands of Cambodians flock to the riverfront in Phnom Penh to watch the three-day boat racing competition on Tonlé Sap. In the evening, there are fireworks and a flotilla of boats sailing under the full moon.

Angkor Festival (Dec) The Angkor Festival is a time when dance and music troupes from all over Asia perform epic stories from myths and legends from the Ramayana, an ancient Sanskrit epic. The showcase of performing arts with Angkor Wat as a backdrop makes for a beautiful and mesmerising setting for dance, music and rhythmic interpretations.

History Cambodia’s history dates back to the first century AD when it was ruled by the ancient kingdom of Funan. By the 9th century, a series of small kingdoms formed the mighty Khmer empire, which flourished in the province of Siem Reap. By the 15th century, the Khmer civilisation began to decline due to internal strife and an attack by the Chams. Cambodia’s young king Norodum Sihanouk called for independence in 1953 and the 1960’s became a period of economic growth for the country until the king was overthrown by the military. The Khmer Rouge communist party under Pol Pot took over from 1975 to 1979, but the brutal regime shocked the world with a genocide that left 1.7 million Cambodians dead from torture, starvation and disease. Wars with Vietnam ensued until 1998 when the Khmer Rouge finally came to an end. Today, Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy ruled by the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) under President Hun Sen.

Culture Ethnic Khmers make up 95% of the Cambodian population, alongside the Chinese, Vietnamese and Thais. The country has a diverse minority group living in the countryside, like the Kreung in Ratnakiri and Pnong in Mondulkiri. The official language is Khmer, although English is becoming commercially important followed by French, which many older Cambodians still speak. Cambodian culture is largely defined by the family, with a strong emphasis on communal living and respecting the extended family. Religion and food also play a strong role, with rice being a staple in every meal.

Useful info

Time zone GMT +7

Population 15 million

Capital Phnom Penh

Language Khmer

Currency riel (r), US dollars (USD)

Dialling code +855

Weather 20-38°C all year round
