These Places You Should Never Miss When Traveling Cambodia

Cambodia is an awesome destination, and the country is filled with things to see and do for everyone, from solo travelers to family groups with kids and seniors.

But even with all of these amazing things to do and see, there are certain attractions in Cambodia that are top of many travelers’ lists, and these are the places that you really don’t want to miss visiting. So here is the best list of the top places not to miss when traveling in Cambodia.

Angkor Wat - the Symbol of Cambodia

One of the 7 Wonders of the World, Angkor Wat, with its beauty and astounding preservation, is an attraction to rival the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Wall of China, and even the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Filled with an artistic distinctiveness as fine as that on the Taj Mahal, this 12th-century example of ancient Khmer temple architecture, which was once the capital of the Khmer Empire, is the best example of complete religious temple ruins in the world, and the single most popular destination in Cambodia.

A miniature replica of the Buddhist universe, Angkor Wat not only represents an earthly model of the cosmos, but is also the most photographed temple in the world, and is the symbol of the Khmer people and culture.

Tonle Sap Lake - the Largest Freshwater Lake of Southeast Asia

Translated to mean “Fresh River”, Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, and one of the most outstanding attractions in Cambodia.

Tonle Sap Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.

Not only is the lake one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the planet, providing more than 60% of Cambodia’s freshwater fish, the area of the lake has its own unique culture, with the local residents living on floating villages and trading on floating markets due to the vast water level changes in the different seasons.

This unique lake, which has some 1.2 million inhabitants living around its shores, is an amazing place to visit, and you can explore the floating villages and buy the freshest fish in Cambodia in the markets.

Phnom Penh - the Capital of Cambodia

The modern capital of Cambodia since the 15th century, Phnom Penh was once renowned as the pearl of Asia before the time of the Khmer Rouge. The city is slowly regaining its stunning stature, and with the shimmering spires of the Royal Palace still gleaming in the sunlight, this modern capital is now fast becoming one of Asia’s most vibrant cities.

And the city has dozens of its own attractions for visitors to explore, from the National Museum of Cambodia, the Silver Pagoda, Psar Thmei, the Ramayana Mural, and the stunning Royal Palace to more somber attractions from its warring period such as the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek.

Sihanoukville - the Most Popular Beach Resort in Cambodia

Located on the short Cambodian coast, Sihanoukville is the single most popular place in Cambodia for beach holidays, and while it won’t win any prizes for prettiest town, this still remains the place to discover some of Cambodia's whitest sandy beaches and cool castaway islands.

Sihanoukville is a seaside town featuring Cambodia's best-known beaches.

The Serendipity beach is an area popular with backpackers, who are renowned for their parties through the night, while the nearby Otres Beach is more relaxed, and combines bohemian guesthouses with swanky boutique resorts and cheap bamboo bungalows.

And for now, this part of Cambodia’s beautiful beaches is still relatively clear of the commercialization that often happens to the best beaches in the world, and still allows opportunities for relaxed sunbathing and lazy days on the beach.

Kratie - See Rare Dolphins in the Mekong River

The small town of Kratie, which is located in Kratie Province in south-central Cambodia, is renowned as being the best place to see the unique and rare Irrawaddy Dolphins. Every year, thousands of visitors flock to this small riverside town to catch a glimpse of one of the most endangered species of dolphins in the world.

To see the unique and rare Irrawaddy Dolphins in Kratie.

Found only in small families in Asian coastal regions, the Kratie groups are said to be the largest in the world, and yet they still only have less than 100 dolphins. The dolphins are not typically playful, and do tend to stay submerged, surfacing only to breathe, but it is an amazing sight to spot one off the bow of your boat in the Mekong River.

Battambang - The Most Underrated City of Cambodia

One often-overlooked part of Cambodia is Battambang province, with its capital city of Battambang, the third largest city in Cambodia. First founded in the 11th century as part of the Khmer Empire, this ancient region was once a major commercial hub, Battambang has a sleepy persona, with a bubbling undercurrent of artistic creativity.

With its arty boutique hotels, quirky local cafes, and mostly artistic expat residents, Battambang is actually home to some of Cambodia’s best restaurants, has some outstanding countryside that is ideal for cycling around, and is filled with history, including being a major site of the Khmer Rouge prisons and killing caves. It also has some of the most artistic and stunning temples in Cambodia, most of which are still in use today.

Koh Rong - the Island Paradise with Serene Beauty

Located on the coast of Cambodia not far from Sihanoukville, Koh Rong is one of Cambodia’s outstanding island paradises, and is famed for its simple serene beauty. This spectacular island boasts some of the world’s most pristine white sand beaches, and is surrounded by crystal-clear warm ocean waters.

Walking along the astounding beaches on the island of Koh Rong.

And the hot tropical climate only adds to the allure of this simple paradise. There are a number of astounding beaches on the island, and they cater to all types, from the vibrant party atmosphere of the main tourist beach at Koh Touch, to the more up market Saracen Bay, and the family-friendly Sok San Beach Resort. But for that true desert island paradise feeling of being a lost castaway, Lonely Beach on the isolated northern side of the island has it all.

Kampot - Known for World-class Pepper

Kampot, in southern Cambodia, is one of the least-known tourist destinations in Cambodia, unless you are a huge fan of pepper. A wonderful little town filled with incredible sights and stunning landscapes, Kampot is a place that every tourist should stop and see.

Lying on a huge river, Kampot has some of the most amazing cave systems, and is renowned in the climbing world as having some outstanding places to climb. And for those that came for Kampot’s famous pepper, you can also take a trip out to the pepper farm, taking a side trip to visit the Secret Lake on the way.

Conclusion

While Cambodia does have a lot of places to see, these outstanding destinations are ones that any traveler should stop and visit. And as the most famed, most renowned, most stunning, or most peppery attractions across the country, these must-see attractions will make your Cambodia trip more than worthwhile.