The 10 most beautiful places to visit in Cambodia

Are you planning to visit Cambodia? Discover our selection of incontournables to enjoy the many wonders of the country of smile!

Rare are the countries as authentic as Cambodia. Less visited than its neighbours, the Thailand or Vietnam , he knows today a true development after the dark episode of the Khmer Rouge.

These are its landscapes with raw beauty, its rice fields with sugar palms, the majestic vestiges of its ambivalent history and the incredible kindness of its inhabitants who make the salt of the country.

Without waiting, we present you the most beautiful places to discover to visit Cambodia in all its subtlety!

1. ♪ temples of Angkor

Symbols of the country, temples of Angkor to Siem Reap are vibrant witnesses of the greatness of Khmer Empire dominated medieval Southeast Asia. Angkor ("the city") is the capital of the empire and counts at its peak 750,000 inhabitants: it is then one of the largest cities in the world.

Angkor Wat is undoubtedly the most emblematic of the temples of the site. Considered as the eighth wonder of the world, it is dedicated to Hindu deity Vishnou. We advise you to come early to admire the sunrise on the temple. The view is splendid... Other remarkable temple, Ta Prohm is swallowed by vegetation. The cheese trees, which house gibbons and parrots, love themselves on ancient stones: it is as if the visitors discovered the places as they were left centuries earlier.

The alliance between Khmer architecture and the wild jungle brings a very special atmosphere. The site is huge and you can schedule your visit for 1, 3 or 7 days. For visit the temples in Angkor and avoid the crowd , don’t hesitate to explore the most famous temples of the Angkor complex.

2. Phnom Penh

Northeast of the archaeological site of Angkor, Phnom Penh is a massif that peaks at 487 meters above sea level. It houses the sources of the rivers that bathe the ancient city. Its microclimate makes it grow delicious fruit, renowned throughout the country. It is a place of pilgrimage for the Khmers, who consider Phnom Kulen as a sacred place.

The visit of the massif allows to see archaeological vestiges that have the particularity of mixing with the water of the sources. The river with a thousand lingams is covered with bas-reliefs and Kbal Spean is an incredible carved river bed. At the top of the mountain is a small temple that houses a coated Buddha. You can also swim in majestic cascades, an opportunity to mingle with the local population, very large here.

3. The Tonlé Sap

The Tonlé Sap means a river and a large lake located in the center of the country. Rhymed by the seasons, its flow regime is unique in the world: the water is empty and fills with the harvests. During the rainy season, the river Tonlé Sap changes its meaning and the surface of the lake is multiplied by four! The Cambodians then celebrate the feast of water, or Bon Om Touk .

But the great peculiarity of Lake Tonlé Sap is that it is inhabited. Indeed, several communities, mainly Vietnamese, have formed and live in what is called floating villages. The shops and dwellings of these out-of-the-ordinary villages move on the lake according to the seasons. Visiting Cambodia is an opportunity to explore them and to observe the curious daily life of its inhabitants.

4. Koh Rong Island

The Gulf of Thailand houses several paradise islands in Cambodia. Among them, Koh Ron g is renowned for its dream beaches and its festive atmosphere.

Taste delicious cocktails, enjoy a dive session to admire the seabed, pre-launched on white sand beaches and swim in turquoise and crystalline water... What is Koh Rong's most beautiful beach? Long Beach is a little more difficult to access than others, but will offer you a real landscape of postcard.

Nearby, the island of Koh Rong Samloem is even more beautiful. Isolated and small, it is lined with limpid water. The accommodation is more expensive, but you will benefit from a wild environment, and especially quieter than Koh Rong once the night falls.

5. ♪ Cardamomes

The Cardamomes mountains are ideal for those who want to visit Cambodia through a wide variety of landscapes: jungle, pine forests, rice fields and green hills are on the programme. In trek or motorcycle, the Cardamomes allow you to really get out of the beaten paths and sleep in the jungle, bent by the singing of birds and gibbons.

During the journey you can stop in many local shops. Visit Koh Kong , very pleasant city surrounded by abandoned beaches. Koh Kong Bay on the Gulf of Siam is sprinkled with rivers and waterfalls.

In addition, the village of Chi Phat is an experience to live to visit authentic Cambodia. This community has built its village to welcome tourists and make them discover their customs.

6. Phnom Penh

Visiting Cambodia is also going to discover its history and culture. For this, the capital is a destination of choice. Although she has a bad reputation in the eyes of tourists, she is full of treasures that offer visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in Cambodian life. Its arteries, curled by the thousands of motorcycles circulating there, its markets filled with noises and smells, its many monuments that testify to the tense or dark periods of the country’s history... Better worth letting yourself be carried by the current to appreciate the city.

When you pass through Phnom Penh , do not miss visiting the essentials , like the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. Nearby, the National Museum exhibits an impressive collection of Khmer objects and offers traditional Khmer dance shows. The Tuol Sleng Museum is a must-see that helps to better understand the painful period of the Khmer Rouge. Finally, you can lose yourself at the Phnom Penh Central Market, the largest in the country.

7. Kampot

This charming town is known for the famous pepper Kampot . A tranquility bracket for those who want to visit Cambodia, she was able to maintain a certain authenticity despite her tourist development. Its quiet streets are regularly built to accommodate different markets. A small secret for those who want to experience a timeless experience, without tourists: get up at the dawn to go to the fish market on the banks of the river, held by the Muslim community came.

Rent a bike or a bike to lose you around the city. Visit the fish and its pretty fishermen's houses swept with red soil, the many lakes of nenuphars, the salt marshes and the coastline that has a very special cachet.

20 kilometers from Kampot, Bokor Park , is a colonial ghost town worth the detour.

8. Kratie

They say Kratie that it contains the Khmer soul. This small town in northeastern Cambodia is surrounded by the arms of Mekong. In this region, you may have an invaluable chance to see the dolphins of the Irraway, which resemble belugas and bathe in the fresh waters of the river. This animal is unfortunately threatened and it is increasingly rare to cross it.

The city of Kratie has a particular colonial architecture. On site you can visit the Buddhist temple Phnom Sambok overlooking a hill with lush vegetation. The steps to access the pagoda are decorated with many large statues of colored monks. Once at the top, you can admire a magnificent view of the Mekong.

9. Ratanakiri

The Ratanakiri , or Rotanah Kiri , is a region of the northeast, among the most beautiful and remote in the country, which houses the Virachey National Park. Its dense forests cover 80% of its area, which you can browse during treks and excursions, thus enjoying the welcome freshness of the region. An opportunity for nature lovers to observe the very rich biodiversity of Cambodia, particularly dense in this mountainous province. Discover its lush jungles, stunts, wild animals, but also its villages that house a mosaic of ethnic minorities.

Admire the Lake of Yeak Lom, a true jewel of nature: its translucent waters are set on a volcanic crater, and the Cambodians give it a sacred character. He would be inhabited by protective spirits... Don’t forget to pass through Banlung, nicknamed the red city because of the color characteristic of its land. The market is worth a visit, just to meet its warm inhabitants.

10. Pursat

If you want to visit Cambodia while fleeing more tourist areas, Pursat is a destination made for you. Small country town renowned for its stone tailors and marble work, it is a beautiful destination to meet the Khmers and make discoveries outside the traditional circuits. Don’t miss the delicious traditional Cambodian dishes. Not far from there, you can take a canoe to navigate the Sap Tone and visit the fascinating floating village of Kompong Luong, and why not spend the night there!

Another interest in Pursat is Bamboo Train , on which you can make a little bit of a path. It is composed of bamboo platforms, loaded with goods, which move on track using an engine. A very good opportunity to meet the locals while watching the beautiful Cambodian countryside scroll under your eyes.