3 Places You Just Can’t Miss In Cambodia

There’s a lot to explore in Cambodia: its complicated history, extravagant Khmer palaces, ancient temples, raw jungles and rural communities. Chances are you won’t see all of it, but here are the three places you just can’t afford to miss.

There’s Phnom Penh

Often written off by backpackers and holiday-makers as an ugly metropolis, the Cambodian capital, once the “Pearl of Asia,” has seen some hard times. Nevertheless, it has emerged thriving with a proud cafe culture and choice restaurants. Much of the French colonial architecture and wide boulevards still survive; a stunning contrast to the streaming motorbikes and colourful markets, such as the yellow-pastel Art Deco Psar Thmei, which is only a few blocks away from the riverside National Museum and dragon-detailed Royal Palace.

There’s the Angkor Wat

You can’t pass over the Angkor Wat, situated near Siem Reap, and the largest religious structure on the planet. Initially built over the course of 600 years as a representation of the Hindu inverse, it gradually converted to Buddhism over the centuries and is still a bustling centre of spirituality and home to many monastic communities. Nearby is also the Bayon temple, replete with breath-taking free-standing towers and giant buddha faces carved in stone facing towards the four points of the compass.

 

There’s Tonle Sap Lake

Spanning 16,000 km sq. when the Meking River floods in, this is the largest lake in South East Asia and home to some 1.2million people. The lake can be accessed from most major cities in the area, including Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Kampong Chhnag. It is better visited during dry season, when the lake shrinks massively and is at some points only 1m deep, but the birds and wildlife who live on the lake live in a more concentrated space. Tourists can easily rent a boat and driver to explore the unique UNESCO site and it’s many floating islands.

Above image courtesy of Dennis Jarvis
By Sarah Morland