Exploring the hidden charm of Cambodia

Adsense When planning for tours or vacation to Southeast Asia, most people are often attracted towards the old world attractions of Vietnam and the remarkable hospitality of Thailand. Yet sandwiched between these two magnificent countries is Cambodia. Cambodia is without doubt a spectacular country with an array of attractive features that should not be missed. Whether you are thinking of visiting the world-famous Ankor Wat or exploring the many museums in Phnom Penh, you should definitely expect a memorable and exciting tour of Cambodia.

Before I discuss some of the attractive features and must visit places of Cambodia, It is essential that you get to understand a bit of Cambodian History. Cambodia which was once known as Kampuchea is the land of the Khmer people. Its culture has been influenced by the Theravada Buddhism which is practiced by some minority ethnic group such as Cham, Vietnamese, Chinese and other hill tribes such as the Jarai, Brau and Kavet. It borders Laos to the North, Thailand to the West, Vietnam to the East and the beautiful Gulf of Thailand to the Southwest.

Why Cambodia?

Cambodia offers a perfect destination for travellers who wish to discover somewhere with amazing landscape, culture and history that hasn’t been diminished by overabundance of tourism. It is home to ancient shrines, great cities, magnificent Ankor Wat and the beautiful beaches.

Here is a brief of some of these amazing features.

Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia is the perfect place to start your adventure. Bustling and vivacious, Phnom Penh is located on the banks of River Mekong and is home to numerous attractive features and places to keep visitor and travellers enchanted for days, from museums and markets to street food and palaces.

Among the must visit places here is the Royal Palace which whose tall towers conquers the city’s skylines. A remarkable building, this highly decorated palace has typical Khmer roof and numerous other decorative details. The palace is still the home of the monarch and therefore, you will only be allowed to explore some selected parts of the building e.g. the throne hall.

Ankor

Ankor Wat is ranked the most attractive feature in Cambodia, and it is located in the UNESCO world heritage site of Ankor and covers a region of 400sq Km. Being one of Asia’s popular and most magnificent archaeological site, Ankor is a wide complex of temples and other historical remains from the many capitals of Khmer empire. It is also considered to be one of the world’s largest religious buildings and is adorned with gorgeous symmetry and numerous unique elements

Beaches

While Cambodia is thought to be more of a cultural destination than a beach destination, it is known to have some beautiful stretches of sand. Moreover, the sandy beaches of Cambodia unlike Thailand and Vietnam, attracts fewer tourist and therefore it is an ideal place for those people who like to get off the beaten track and enjoy the peace and quietness. One of the popular beaches here is the Sihanoukville, which was initially established as a deep water port to enhance trade between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Another of the beautiful beaches is found in the beautiful town of Kep, which was originally a seaside retreat for the French colonists. Here you can take a short boat trip to the golden sand of Koh Tonsay.

Tonie San River

For those visitors who love Kayaking, this is the place to be. Tonie San River provides a great opportunity for a kayaking adventure through the jungles of Virachey National Park and also offers a chance to explore the amazing waterfalls and the ruins of Ho Chi Minh Trials.

Other places to explore in Cambodia include; the Yak Loum Crater Lake, the Kalai Jungle, and Tonle Sap, Phnom Sampeu (the hill with the killing caves), Tuol Sleng Prison and The killing fields. Apply for your esta visa today and get to experience the beauty of Cambodia.