The Kingdom of Cambodia is one of the world's newest and most exciting travel destinations. After years of isolation, Cambodia opened to tourists in the mid-1990s and tourists numbers have increased every year since - last year the country seeing near two million tourists. Cambodia’s primary tourist destinations - Angkor Wat and the other temples of Angkor near Siem Reap, 
the cultural attractions in the capital Phnom Penh, and the beaches of Sihanoukville - offer plenty of accommodations, restaurants and other tourist services. Other destinations such as the hill tribe areas of Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri, the remote temples of Preah Vihear and Banteay Chhmar, and quaint provincial capitals such as Battambang and Kampot, are just now being discovered by travelers, and all offer unique glimpses of ‘unspoiled’ Cambodia. Cambodia is a land of superlatives. The ancient temples of Angkor Wat, Bayon and other ruins of the Khmer Empire rank amongst the world's grandest and most magnificent World Heritage Sites - easily in a class with Machu Picchu, the Pyramids of Egypt and Teotihuacan. But this magnificence stands in shocking contrast to the Killing Fields, Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and other remnants of Cambodia's more recent history - a time when Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime of the late 1970s committed some of the most horrifying atrocities of the 20th century. Yet, the Khmer people, who make up more than 95% of modern Cambodia's population, impress visitors as some of the friendliest, 'happiest' (sabai), and most gentle people they have ever met. The ubiquitous Khmer smile is legendary, as is traditional Khmer hospitality and openness. Cambodia is truly a land of light and dark, of wonder and of tragedy - awe-inspiring, heart wrenching and completely unique.
the cultural attractions in the capital Phnom Penh, and the beaches of Sihanoukville - offer plenty of accommodations, restaurants and other tourist services. Other destinations such as the hill tribe areas of Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri, the remote temples of Preah Vihear and Banteay Chhmar, and quaint provincial capitals such as Battambang and Kampot, are just now being discovered by travelers, and all offer unique glimpses of ‘unspoiled’ Cambodia. Cambodia is a land of superlatives. The ancient temples of Angkor Wat, Bayon and other ruins of the Khmer Empire rank amongst the world's grandest and most magnificent World Heritage Sites - easily in a class with Machu Picchu, the Pyramids of Egypt and Teotihuacan. But this magnificence stands in shocking contrast to the Killing Fields, Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and other remnants of Cambodia's more recent history - a time when Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime of the late 1970s committed some of the most horrifying atrocities of the 20th century. Yet, the Khmer people, who make up more than 95% of modern Cambodia's population, impress visitors as some of the friendliest, 'happiest' (sabai), and most gentle people they have ever met. The ubiquitous Khmer smile is legendary, as is traditional Khmer hospitality and openness. Cambodia is truly a land of light and dark, of wonder and of tragedy - awe-inspiring, heart wrenching and completely unique.Phnom Penh:
Capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia
A mixture of Cambodian hospitality, Asian exotica and Indochinese charm await the visitor to Phnom Penh. Situated at the confluence of three great rivers - known as the 'Chaktomuk' (four faces) of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers - Phnom Penh is a city of n
early million people, the capital of Cambodia and the country's commercial, economic and political hub. It is also comparatively new travel destination. An adventure destination just a decade ago, the city is now a center of diverse economic and urban development and is quickly morphing an air of edgy chic with bistros and boutique hotels lining the riverfront, smart little silk boutiques and galleries dotting the side streets, a budding arts scene and a heady dusk-to-dawn nightlife.
As the capital city Phnom Penh is fairly young, only rising to the role in 1866, but is still steeped in history and offers several cultural and historical sites. The city was under French colonial control from 1863-1953, flourished in independence in the 1960s, evacuated under the Khmer Rouge in the late 70s and is now revitalized. Much of the central city including the Royal Palace and National Museum was built during the French period. Both are open to visitors. The National Museum in Phnom Penh is the best in the country, displaying important Angkorian artifacts and rare pieces from later periods. Historical sites from the Khmer Rouge period include the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek Memorial. Other historical sites such as the old capital of Oudong and the Angkorian ruins of Phnom Chisor and Phnom Da lie within an easy day-trip of Phnom Penh.
Phnom Penh is also the gateway to Cambodia...the temples of Angkor near Siem Reap City in the west, the beaches of Sihanoukville and coastal towns on along the southern coast (Kampot, Kep and Koh Kong,) the minority peoples, jungles and wildlife of the northeast provinces and a wide-open, unspoiled countryside of rice paddies, little villages and lost temples across the country.
Siem Reap Town:
Gateway to the Temples of Angkor
Nestled between rice paddies and stretched along the Siem Reap River, the sma
ll provincial capital of Siem Reap Town serves as the gateway to the millennium-old temple ruins of the Khmer Empire. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses dozens of temple ruins including Bayon, Banteay Srey and the legendary Angkor Wat whose artistic and archaeological significance and visual impact put it in a class with the Pyramids, Machu Pichu and the Taj Mahal. Unlike many other world class monuments, the ruins of Angkor are as yet unspoiled by over-development. This will not be true in a couple of years. Though the major temples are relatively well touristed these days, it is still possible get away from the crowds, to explore the area and discover Angkor.
Siem Reap Town is where you will stay during your visit to Angkor. The area has
been receiving foreign visitors to the temples for over 100 years. The town is actually a cluster of old villages, which originally developed around individual pagodas, and later overlaid with an French colonial-era center. Note the colonial and Chinese style architecture in the town center and around the Old Market. Nowadays, Siem Reap offers a wide range of hotels, restaurants, pubs and shops including several upscale hotels and dozens of budget guesthouses. Often missed are the many opportunities to experience traditional Cambodia: ‘Apsara’ dance performances, craft shops and silk farms, road tours through rice-paddy countryside, boat trips on the great Tonle Sap Lake to fishing villages and bird sanctuary, and much more.
Sihanoukville (Kampong Som):
Sihanoukville is Cambodia's premier beach town, sporting miles of white sand beaches, picturesque islands and warm tropical waters. Sihanoukv
ille also serves as a travel hub for the coastal towns of southern Cambodia - Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong and beyond. This website is the online version of the print publication - The Sihanoukville Visitors Guide - is Cambodia's first, most comprehensive and widely circulated guide to the beaches, restaurants, bars, hotels, entertainment, transportation and most of what you'll need for your visit to Sihanoukville, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong.
Sihanoukville was founded as a port town half a century ago, but these days is as much a beach town and tourist destination, catering to weekenders from Phnom Penh and a steadily increasing number of foreign visitors. The town sits on a beach lined peninsula jutting into the Gulf of Thailand and the pace of life in this provincial town is very relaxed and unhurried. The beaches offer umbrellas, thatched roofed eateries and bars and a growing number of nearby restaurants, pubs, bungalows and a range of hotels, all making for a laid-back, beachy atmosphere and a great little tropical getaway. Sihanoukville is a place to unwind by the beach, enjoy the fresh from-the-ocean seafood, party at the bars and happenings, take in an island trip or scuba trip and generally slow down, lay back and chill-out.
Sihanoukville has a more than ample supply of accommodations, including a 5-star resort complex on Sokha Beach, several mid-range places downtown and at the beaches, a few 'upscale' three-star hotels, and dozens of budget guesthouses, especially on Weather Station Hill (Victory Hill). Considering the moderate number of visitors to Sihanoukville, the town offers a surprising number and variety of restaurants and bars. Fresh seafood, especially crab, prawns and ocean fish, has always been one of the town's biggest draws, but there is also a wide variety of places offering foreign cuisines - Australian, French, Indian, German, Sri Lankan, British, Italian, pizza places and even a couple of western-style bakeries. And these days Sihanoukville offers a pretty good night life as well with a wide variety of bars staying open well into the wee hours, especially on Weather Station Hill, in the downtown area, and the beach bars on Ochheuteal, ‘Serendipity’ and Victory Beaches.
Now that most of the major roads are in good condition, regularly scheduled air-con buses crisscross southern Cambodia, making travel easy from Phnom Penh and connecting Sihanoukville with the other coastal cities of Koh Kong, Kampot, Kep, each offering its own unique character. And with the recent opening of the Prek Chak crossing with Vietnam and the completion of the final bridges on the road to Koh Kong earlier this year, the coastal traveler's trail from the Koh Kong crossing with Thailand, though the beach towns of Cambodia and on to southern Vietnam and Phu Quoc Island, is now open.
Capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia
A mixture of Cambodian hospitality, Asian exotica and Indochinese charm await the visitor to Phnom Penh. Situated at the confluence of three great rivers - known as the 'Chaktomuk' (four faces) of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers - Phnom Penh is a city of n
early million people, the capital of Cambodia and the country's commercial, economic and political hub. It is also comparatively new travel destination. An adventure destination just a decade ago, the city is now a center of diverse economic and urban development and is quickly morphing an air of edgy chic with bistros and boutique hotels lining the riverfront, smart little silk boutiques and galleries dotting the side streets, a budding arts scene and a heady dusk-to-dawn nightlife.As the capital city Phnom Penh is fairly young, only rising to the role in 1866, but is still steeped in history and offers several cultural and historical sites. The city was under French colonial control from 1863-1953, flourished in independence in the 1960s, evacuated under the Khmer Rouge in the late 70s and is now revitalized. Much of the central city including the Royal Palace and National Museum was built during the French period. Both are open to visitors. The National Museum in Phnom Penh is the best in the country, displaying important Angkorian artifacts and rare pieces from later periods. Historical sites from the Khmer Rouge period include the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek Memorial. Other historical sites such as the old capital of Oudong and the Angkorian ruins of Phnom Chisor and Phnom Da lie within an easy day-trip of Phnom Penh.
Phnom Penh is also the gateway to Cambodia...the temples of Angkor near Siem Reap City in the west, the beaches of Sihanoukville and coastal towns on along the southern coast (Kampot, Kep and Koh Kong,) the minority peoples, jungles and wildlife of the northeast provinces and a wide-open, unspoiled countryside of rice paddies, little villages and lost temples across the country.
Siem Reap Town:
Gateway to the Temples of Angkor
Nestled between rice paddies and stretched along the Siem Reap River, the sma
ll provincial capital of Siem Reap Town serves as the gateway to the millennium-old temple ruins of the Khmer Empire. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses dozens of temple ruins including Bayon, Banteay Srey and the legendary Angkor Wat whose artistic and archaeological significance and visual impact put it in a class with the Pyramids, Machu Pichu and the Taj Mahal. Unlike many other world class monuments, the ruins of Angkor are as yet unspoiled by over-development. This will not be true in a couple of years. Though the major temples are relatively well touristed these days, it is still possible get away from the crowds, to explore the area and discover Angkor.Siem Reap Town is where you will stay during your visit to Angkor. The area has
been receiving foreign visitors to the temples for over 100 years. The town is actually a cluster of old villages, which originally developed around individual pagodas, and later overlaid with an French colonial-era center. Note the colonial and Chinese style architecture in the town center and around the Old Market. Nowadays, Siem Reap offers a wide range of hotels, restaurants, pubs and shops including several upscale hotels and dozens of budget guesthouses. Often missed are the many opportunities to experience traditional Cambodia: ‘Apsara’ dance performances, craft shops and silk farms, road tours through rice-paddy countryside, boat trips on the great Tonle Sap Lake to fishing villages and bird sanctuary, and much more.Sihanoukville (Kampong Som):
Sihanoukville is Cambodia's premier beach town, sporting miles of white sand beaches, picturesque islands and warm tropical waters. Sihanoukv
ille also serves as a travel hub for the coastal towns of southern Cambodia - Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong and beyond. This website is the online version of the print publication - The Sihanoukville Visitors Guide - is Cambodia's first, most comprehensive and widely circulated guide to the beaches, restaurants, bars, hotels, entertainment, transportation and most of what you'll need for your visit to Sihanoukville, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong.Sihanoukville was founded as a port town half a century ago, but these days is as much a beach town and tourist destination, catering to weekenders from Phnom Penh and a steadily increasing number of foreign visitors. The town sits on a beach lined peninsula jutting into the Gulf of Thailand and the pace of life in this provincial town is very relaxed and unhurried. The beaches offer umbrellas, thatched roofed eateries and bars and a growing number of nearby restaurants, pubs, bungalows and a range of hotels, all making for a laid-back, beachy atmosphere and a great little tropical getaway. Sihanoukville is a place to unwind by the beach, enjoy the fresh from-the-ocean seafood, party at the bars and happenings, take in an island trip or scuba trip and generally slow down, lay back and chill-out.
Sihanoukville has a more than ample supply of accommodations, including a 5-star resort complex on Sokha Beach, several mid-range places downtown and at the beaches, a few 'upscale' three-star hotels, and dozens of budget guesthouses, especially on Weather Station Hill (Victory Hill). Considering the moderate number of visitors to Sihanoukville, the town offers a surprising number and variety of restaurants and bars. Fresh seafood, especially crab, prawns and ocean fish, has always been one of the town's biggest draws, but there is also a wide variety of places offering foreign cuisines - Australian, French, Indian, German, Sri Lankan, British, Italian, pizza places and even a couple of western-style bakeries. And these days Sihanoukville offers a pretty good night life as well with a wide variety of bars staying open well into the wee hours, especially on Weather Station Hill, in the downtown area, and the beach bars on Ochheuteal, ‘Serendipity’ and Victory Beaches.
Now that most of the major roads are in good condition, regularly scheduled air-con buses crisscross southern Cambodia, making travel easy from Phnom Penh and connecting Sihanoukville with the other coastal cities of Koh Kong, Kampot, Kep, each offering its own unique character. And with the recent opening of the Prek Chak crossing with Vietnam and the completion of the final bridges on the road to Koh Kong earlier this year, the coastal traveler's trail from the Koh Kong crossing with Thailand, though the beach towns of Cambodia and on to southern Vietnam and Phu Quoc Island, is now open.
More travel trips in Cambodia, please DOWNLOAD HERE.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment