There’s a whole lot more to Cambodia than Angkor Wat - trust us!
From bustling cities filled with life, markets and uniquely beautiful architecture, to countryside explorations, island paradises, responsible wildlife opportunities and a myriad of positive tourism experiences, it definitely deserves at least a couple of weeks as a standalone adventure destination or on your south east Asia backpacking route.
We spent just over three weeks travelling in Cambodia, and within this post you’ll find our pick of the best (and most important) experiences to have, and essential places to see in the country where ancient and modern worlds collide and tales of tragedy are never far away.
This is 13 wonderful things to do in Cambodia.
13 wonderful things to do in cambodia
Spend Time on An Island Paradise
Far less known than their counterparts in Thailand, Cambodia’s islands are a little bit of a south east Asia secret.
Sort of.
Certainly, until we visited we never associated this small country with perfect white sands, palm trees, and a desert island lifestyle that holds you tight and won’t let go - and whether you’re visiting for two weeks or more than a month, hopping on a ferry from Sihanoukville to experience a slower pace of life is an absolute necessity.
There are three main islands which you can choose to base yourself on, each offering a different experience to suit varying travel styles:
Koh Rong | The largest, busiest, and most famous, the vast majority of travellers to Cambodia will pick this island to decamp. It is developing a bit of a reputation for its parties and crowds, but lots of people still love it. Outside of the main beach (Koh Touch) it does still offer up more secluded island experiences!
Koh Rong Samloem | Koh Rong's little sister offers up a slower, less busy alternative, and was where we chose to spend our first few days in Cambodia. It's still got a great traveller vibe to it alongside several affordable small resorts which cater more to couples happy to not travel on a shoestring for a few days.
Koh Ta Kiev | Still relatively under the radar and rustic, but there are rumours of a bridge being built between it and the mainland...
All the islands offer up excellent snorkelling, and when the season is right you can also head out at night to see bioluminescent plankton!
Uncover The Colonial Architecture
Whilst many of the beautiful colonial era buildings in Phnom Penh have been demolished to make way for modern skyscrapers (bar of course, the exceptionally well restored Central Market), the influence of 90 years of French rule in Cambodia can be seen throughout towns and cities across the country.
From the stunning Maison de théâtre le Grandeur in Kampot (now a very stylish hotel), to the run down but captivating Psahr Thmey market in Battambang - Cambodia is a joy to photograph, and to explore, with even the most neglected building adding undeniable charm and a unique atmosphere to the country’s cityscapes
Visit Angkor Wat
The place that was probably the catalyst for most of us to book that ticket to Cambodia!
Nearly 1000 years old and spread across 400 acres, the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world and remains a very special travel experience. Set outside the tourist hub town of Siem Reap, every single traveller in Cambodia is going to have at least a day exploring the vast UNESCO World Heritage site from sunrise to (almost) sundown, but some true temple enthusiasts spend 3-7 days discovering every nook, cranny, and detail!
Go Dolphin Spotting
Within the calm waters of the Cambodian Mekong lives one of the rarest mammals in the world, the Irrawaddy dolphin.
Before the reign of the Khmer Rouge, there were likely thousands of these very special dolphins in Cambodia. But in the years of devastating starvation forced upon the citizens under the regime, the rural villagers that lived along the Mekong sought food within its waters, and decimated the dolphin population.
Combined with the irresponsible fishing practices of subsequent decades, the Irrawaddy dolphin has been on the verge of extinction ever since.
Thankfully, in a world where every wildlife encounter needs to come with an ethical asterisk, it is possible to responsibly see these incredibly rare animals in their natural habitat on a boat tour that begins in a small village just outside of Kratie.
That it also allows you to enjoy a scenic glide across this vast south east Asian river during golden hour is wonderfully fortunate bonus - and made this one of our absolute favourite things do in Cambodia!
Discover More
Explore the Countryside on a Bicycle
We adore exploring cities on our travels. The frenetic pace, the streets and alleyways begging to be roamed, and the sense that you could stumble across something or something which could change how you see the world.
However, in countries such as Cambodia - where the vast majority of the population lives outside of these bustling hubs - one must also venture into the countryside to gain a glimpse into how many locals beyond the hubs of the tourist trail live their lives in wooden houses on stilts and multiple generations under one roof, with small plots of land and a few prized animals shaping the daily rhythm.
The best way to do this is on two wheels with slightly questionable suspension!
Read Later | Our Cambodia Itinerary
Bike rental is common across many of the places we visited, with daily costs of around $1 - $2 only. For those on a budget, it’s a fantastic way to explore the country whilst watching the pennies and to work off some of those noodles and cheap beer calories. Motorbikes are also common, but going down the dusty roads slowly affords more opportunities to take everything in and allow for serendipity to arise. We lost count of the friendly smiles and hellos from adults and children alike as we meandered through small villages with the sun on our shoulders and the breeze at our back.
If you’d prefer to be accompanied by a guide or are a little concerned about getting lost, their are also plenty of countryside bicycle tours available too.
Head to the Circus
Cambodia’s answer to Cirque du Soleil, Phare Circus is performance art with ethics.
Formed in 1994 by nine refugees of the Khmer Rouge regime, it first found its home in Battambang, before success allowed a second theatre to be opened in the tourist hot-spot of Siem Reap (which is sold out almost every night!)
Telling uniquely Cambodian stories through theatre, music, dance and acrobatics, these exceptionally accomplished young performance artists entertain as well as educate - with all proceeds supporting a number of social initiatives for the local communities and promoting the arts as a path to development.
Support Good Causes
When we venture to new lands, we have a choice.
We can choose to take what suits us, with little regard as to how those choices affect those that remain long after we have gone, or we can opt instead to try and make a difference.
If you’re visiting for a short while, something as simple as the businesses that you choose to support - whether that be the restaurants that you visit, the tour companies that you use, or the souvenirs that you buy - can make a big difference.
And this is absolutely the case in Cambodia, with countless grassroots social-enterprises scattered across the country. These are aimed at changing the narrative and making sure tourism dollars have a positive overall impact on communities, with businesses either directly offering education or training to marginalised youth and adults, or directing profits towards organisations which focus on socio-economic development and education.
“Travel is not a right, it’s a privilege.”
learn how to travel better in cambodia
Check out a Pepper Farm
Like many things in our hyper-connected globalised world, we all sort of take pepper for granted. It's just always there, hanging out next to the salt.
So, when we say that one of the best things to do in Cambodia is to visit a Kampot pepper farm, you may think that right now is the time to stop reading this post as we’ve clearly exhausted all the options…
But bear with us.
Of course, the farm is interesting on a base level, but the real joy comes with the sampling and the ability to buy as many bags of the world’s best peppercorn as you can carry or afford. We left with $38 USD of different types, immediately regretted not buying more and now have conversations on a regular basis about how we can’t possibly go back to the old stuff now.
It’s that good. Promise.
Where To Seek Out The Pepper
Savour Khmer Cuisine
As most intrepid travellers can probably attest to, one of the pure joys of visiting a new country is the opportunity to sample the traditional cuisine and to become acquainted with authentically local flavours in authentically local eateries.
Unfortunately however, Cambodia was one of the first countries where we found our vegetarian diet a little restrictive. Not so much that we couldn’t always find a dish we could eat - there are countless excellent vegetarian and plant-based restaurants dotted around the country, and most touristic places will have a least a couple of veggie noodle or rice options - but we missed the experiences that come with pulling up a red plastic chair at any small street-side noodle stand and ordering whatever looks good.
And damn, did those big bowls of noodles look good.
Thankfully, a number of popular sweet street food snacks are meat free, a plate of fried noodles always felt delightfully decadent, and we did find a couple of locally run vegetarian places (for locals) that did magic things with mushroom and meat substitutes, places we could happily go back to time and time again. The scents of lemongrass, garlic, and subtle chilli still linger!
Another great way to experiment with Khmer cuisine is through a cooking class in one of Cambodia’s tourist hot-spots. Not only will you have a meal at the end of it, you’ll know how to recreate it when you get home.
Win-win we say.
Excellent Cooking classes and Street Food Tours
LA PLANTATION COOKING CLASS IN KAMPOT
Witness the BAT CLOUD OF BATTAMBANG
Every sunset from a cave above the city of Battambang, hundreds of thousands - if not millions - of bats emerge in search of food. The tentative trickle becomes a deluge as they merge and mingle, writing a symphony score in the pastel skies, rising and falling in harmonious curves and flows.
It is a sight that every single traveller to this country of contrasts needs to see, and definitely one of the most wonderful things to do in Cambodia.
It was utterly spellbinding.
Understand the Brutal History
It’s really difficult to have this section under the title ‘Wonderful Things to Do in Cambodia’.
Indeed, for travellers who take the time to understand Cambodia’s heart-breaking history, a few more appropriate adjectives spring to mind.
Depressing. Emotional. Haunting.
Through the brief yet barbaric actions of the communist Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s, Cambodia was devastated. It's estimated that 1.7 million (or 21 per cent of the population) lost their lives during their genocidal four-year reign of mass torture, starvation, and murder.
Some studies put that figure even higher, at around 2.2 million.
Learning about the dark underbelly of Cambodia's relatively recent past is therefore not simply an optional activity in for visitors here - it is absolutely vital.
Its scars, both seen and unseen, continue to shape the country's narrative, demographics, and its ability to move forward. As a visitor - irrespective of age, background, budget, travel style - we must learn and reflect upon this period during our time exploring Cambodia.
Understanding CAMBODIA’S RECENT past by visiting
THE KILLING CAVES | BATTAMBANG
Spend a Couple of Days in Battambang
You may have noticed that this post is much more about wonderful experiences to have in Cambodia rather than specific towns, cities or villages to visit: there is however one place that we implore you to add to your itinerary.
Battambang - a beautifully crumbling city with a heady mix of old-school French architecture, Khmer charm, and boho cool.
Located halfway between two of the country’s biggest attractions (Phnom Penh to the south and Angkor Wat to the north) it is surprisingly calm, and particularly popular with those that tend to linger between destinations.
Perhaps then, it should come as little surprise that this is also the epicentre of Cambodia’s artistic community, with more creatives calling the city home than anywhere else. Indeed, there are countless galleries, wonderful little artisan shops, the odd bit of impressive street art and plenty of hipster-friendly places to eat drink and be merry.
If we weren’t on a pretty strict itinerary, we could have lingered for weeks and days in Battambang. And not regretted a single minute.
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A CURATED GUIDE TO BATTAMBANG (published soon)
Sunset Cocktails + People Watching in Phnom Penh
For us, a perfect first night or last night in Cambodia is to find the secret entrance to the Sundown Social Club, order a strong happy-hour cocktail, pull up a chair which affords views overlooking the rooftops of the Russian Market, and watch the coming together of old and new Cambodia unfold on the streets below as the sun burns gold and orange and you reflect on the adventures you’ve had, or those which are yet to come.
