(Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you click through and take action, I'll be compensated.) If you are also interested in any PRINTS from any of my posts, be sure to check out my store where you can buy prints as posters, in metal frames or on canvas.

If you’re in the neighborhood (as in Southeast Asia or Asia in general) and want to explore a place that you will never forget, please go to Cambodia and don’t think twice about it. With cultural monuments like Angkor Wat, beautiful resorts like Siem Reap, coupled with rich (and often tragic) history of the country, you will appreciate how this country is like no other. You can find a Google map of the places I will discuss at the end of this post. Also, if you have time to explore more of Southeast Asia, I would recommend seeing Bangkok (see blog post), Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai (see blog post) in neighboring Thailand.

Getting here can be done by flying directly into the country’s capital, Phnom Penh (PNH) or into Siem Reap (REP). If coming from Vietnam (as one does), it’s best to come from Ho Chi Minh City where you can take a 6 hour bus to Phnom Penh with a variety of companies (The Sinh Tourist, Mekong Express, Phnom Penh Sorya). If coming from Thailand, the journey by bus is much longer (13 hours). Journeys from Bangkok to Phnom Penh can be taken with Virak Buntham and Nattankan. The bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap takes only 11 hours so it may be worth stopping there first if coming from Thailand. 

Siem Reap is the starting point before seeing the Angkor Archeological Park, home to Angkor Wat, the largest religious complex in the world. The Angkor Archeological Park is home to several buddhist temples, each with their own elegant design and can all be seen in one (long) day, but it’s better to space it to 2-3 days if you have the time. Tickets for the complex can be bought in town (Angkor Park Pass Ticket Country on the Map at the bottom of this page).

Plan your trip by waking up before first light and transiting to the Angkor Archeological Park to catch the morning sunrise at Angkor Wat. You may have to battle with hordes of other tourists doing the same, and even jockey for position with your camera tripod, but the sunrise reflection on the lake is incredible. After the sunrise, the crowds usually dissipate and spread out to other temples. Take this chance to further explore the Angkor Wat temple itself, noting the intricate carvings inscribed on the walls. 

Next make your way to some of the other temples nearby. Here is a small list of the most notable ones:

• Bayon Temple complex - known for the many smiling stone faces carved into the rocks, it was built by Jayavarman VII, and features three levels, each with their own historical reliefs and carvings from the days of the empire. The exact function and purpose of this complex is still up for debate.

• Angkor Thom South Gate - This gate has been restored and is a prominent landmark that lies on the road between Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat.

• Temple Ta Prohm - made famous by the movie Tomb Raider, its most distinctive quality must be the many trees growing out of the structure itself. Indeed, the vast root system of the nearby trees actually threaten the structural integrity of the temple. It symbolizes the inevitable power of nature. The temple features reliefs and maze-like corridors.

• Phnom Bakheng - is a temple mountain dedicated to Shiva, a Hindu deity. It was built two centuries before Angkor Wat, it is a symbolic representation of Mount Meru, home of the Hindu gods. It is one of three hilltop temples in the Angkor region and is therefore popular for viewing sunsets.

• Pre Rup - this temple mountain (also dedicated to Shiva) was the residence of Khmer King Rajendravarman. Since it is partially constructed by brick, it has a distinctive red color to its facade (great for photography). It possesses five towers ordered in a ‘quincunx’ arrangement, symbolic of the five peaks of Mount Meru.

• Preah Khan - built by Jayavarman VII, it is considered his residence. As one of the largest complexes in Angkor, you should allot a few hours to see this entire temple. Many of the original reliefs are still intact.

• Srah Srang - not so much a temple, but a reservoir in the Angkor complex. It is a popular site for sunrise.

After a long day of tomb raiding, relax and check out the night markets in Siem Reap ANM Khmer Market or grab some food and drink on Pub Street, popular for its nightlife.

The Tonlé Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in southeast asia is home to 3 million cambodians who live in or around the lake, often in floating villages and stilted houses. Tours of these lakes can be done through your accommodation in Siem Reap, but be vigilant about who you go with and read reviews, some of the tours are just ploys to get money off of tourists.

At Choeung Ek, you will see a buddhist stupa, the towering memorial to the site as well as some nearby pits of which bodies were exhumed from. Upon walking by one of these pits, there were a pair of red shorts that were protruding from the ground, deeply embedded in the earth. Tuol Sleng (Meaning "Strychnine Hill") was a former secondary school that was transformed into Security Prison 21 (S-21) between 1975-1979. Here you can walk around the classrooms that were re-made into prison cells and read stories of all the events that occured during those four years. Photos are allowed on both of these premises, though I did not believe that it was necessary for me to take any.

If you're into photographing architectural features, look no further than the Royal Palace of Cambodia. This complex of buildings is traditional Khmer architecture with a French touch featuring multiple pavilions, stupas, gardens, and pagodas. Furthermore, you can visit the country's leading historical and archeological museum at the National Museum of Cambodia. This facility houses a large collection of Khmer and Angkor artifacts (which is a great supplement after seeing Angkor Wat as well).

This country has a bit of everything and its proximity in the dead center of Southeast Asia makes it a great destination to travel through en route to Thailand, Laos, or Vietnam.

Related Posts