Sihanoukville, also known as Kampong Som, is a port city and beach resort on the Gulf of Thailand. The big attraction here are the white-sand beaches and several undeveloped tropical islands. Sihanoukville is a good place to relax and unwind, though be prepared to battle the crows during the high season or a holiday weekend.
The Royal Palace
Unmissable thanks to its glittering golden roofs, the Royal Palace serves as the official royal residence of King Sihamoni, meaning parts of the sprawling palace grounds are closed to the public. However, the Throne Hall and surrounding buildings, as well as neighboring Silver Pagoda, can be visited, and you can take in intricately decorated temples and buildings, among manicured tropical gardens.
Sambor Prei Kuk
This collection of 50 pre-Angkorian temples, which sit between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Kampong Thom province, recently received the coveted title of Cambodia’s third UNESCO World Heritage site. The ancient capital of Sambor Prei Kuk pays testament to some of the country’s earliest architecture and, for now, remains away from the crowds. Looking for Siem Reap Airbnb?
This is outback Cambodia and the endless red-dirt roads of the region, leading to ethnic minority villages, are an intrepid traveler’s delight. For those with an adventurous streak, the province is home to some of Cambodia’s best trekking, from spotting gibbons at Veun Sai-Siem Pang Conservation Area, where overnight trips involve sleeping in hammocks and early rises to track buff-cheeked gibbons, to hiking in Virachey National Park, home to elephants, tigers, and sun bears. There’s more relaxing options on offer as well. The emerald water of Yeak Lom Crater Lake just outside of Ban Lung town is a tranquil swimming spot, while the waterfalls of Chaa Ong and Ka Tieng are fun diversions that provide more opportunities for getting wet. Ratanakiri is a nature-filled reprieve for travelers suffering from temple-fatigue.
Tonle Sap is Cambodia’s most important waterway and Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. As well as being an important source of food and a vital tool for Cambodian irrigation, the lake itself is home to 170 floating villages that depend on fishing for their livelihood, with homes built directly on the water. The houses, shops, churches, schools, and temples of these villages are built on rustic buoy foundations of lashed together barrels and bamboo, and all transport is by boat. They’re a fascinating place to spend a day exploring. One of the most interesting is the sprawling village of Kompong Luong, near the town of Pursat on Tonle Sap’s western shore, although the most popular village to visit is Chong Kneas near Siem Reap.
If you are looking for a serene place that offers you myriad natural attractions under one roof, Tonle Sap Lake, or the “Great Lake” in Siem Reap, Cambodia is the perfect place. Here you can experience the various ecologically rich elements in their full forms. The place is also famous for its floating villages and migratory birds.
Highlights – With a maximum length of 250km, this is the biggest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. During 1997, this place was designated as an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This is probably the only place in Cambodia where you can witness close to 100 types of water birds and 200 species of fishes.
Location – Lower Mekong Basin.
Timings – All through the year.
Price – There are various lake tours available to take tourists through Tonle Sap. Prices differ as per the routes and time covered. A basic lake tour starts from around USD29 onwards.
