The best of the rest, including culture, nature and the wild

Just as Angkor is so much more than its iconic Wat, so to is Cambodia much more than its famous temples. That said, some of the best sights around Cambodia are… yet more temples… but places like Preah Vihear and Sambor Prei Kuk see far fewer visitors than fabled Angkor. Elsewhere, it is possible to soak up the charm of sleepy riverside towns like Battambang or Kratie, explore the wilds of northeast Cambodia in Mondulkiri or Ratanakiri or take on the ‘Wild West’ and the emerging ecotourism destination that is the Cardamom Mountains and its pristine landscapes.

Highlights Around Cambodia

A real charmer, Battambang is home to some of the best-preserved French-era architecture in the country and has a graceful setting on the Sangker River. Famous for the ‘Bamboo Train’, there are caves and temples to explore beyond the city.

This imposing mountain-top temple marks a dramatic border between Cambodia and Thailand. King of the mountain temples, it sits 600m above the Cambodian plains below, and many consider its location the most dramatic of all the Angkorian temples.

Mondulkiri feels almost like another Cambodia, isolated and windswept, remote and adventurous, home to the indigenous Bunong people. It is where the wild things are, home to Elephant Valley Project, Jahoo Gibbon Camp and the thundering Bou Sraa Falls.

In the far north east of Cambodia is ruggedly beautiful Ratanakiri province, home to ethnic minorities and some of its endangered wildlife. Serenely beautiful and surrounded by jungle, Yeak Lom is a freshwater lake within a volcanic crater and Cambodia’s finest natural swimming pool.

Kratie is a small town on the banks of the mighty Mekong River with some of the best sunsets in Cambodia. North of here, the mighty river is home to the freshwater Irrawaddy Dolphin, one of the rarest creatures in the region and viewing is possible throughout the year.

The capital of Chenla during the 7th Century reign of Isanavarman, Sambor Prei Kuk served was known as Isanapura. It was the first significant temple city constructed in mainland Southeast Asia and has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2017.

The vast Cardamom Mountains are home to the largest remaining rainforest in Southeast Asia and are an emerging frontier for ecotourism adventures. Trek around Khnong Phsar, Stung Areng, Chi Phat and Osoam or climb the highest mountain in Cambodia, Phnom Aural.

One of the largest temple complexes from the ancient Khmer empire, it is also the most remote. Experience a signature Temple Safari here with a pop-up glamping camp and the chance to explore this vast ruin with a traditional flaming torch.

Kirirom is a beautiful, mountainous area of pine forests and waterfalls. It is the most accessible of Cambodia’s national parks, about 140km south of Phnom Penh and is home to the iconic Shinta Mani Wild, the leading luxury ecolodge in the Kingdom.