Cambodia, much like Laos, is often overlooked in favour of its more popular neighbours, but tourism to the country is slowly picking up pace - thanks mostly to the impressive array of temples and the untouched landscapes that retain a feeling of gentile countryside - not yet ravaged by the hands of mass tourism. When planning your journey we suggest a minimum of 1 week, though 2 weeks would allow you greater flexibility - especially important if you plan to visit during the rainy season. Starting in Siem Reap, touring the mysterious Angkor Wat temples such as Preah Khan Temple, Phnom Bakheng, Bayon Temple and Lolei, move on to Boeng Melea Temple and the serene Kulen Mountain National Park. Afterwards, journey onwards to Cambodia’s capital city Phnom Penh, and visit Wat Phnom and the pretty gardens that surround it, the Independence Monument (Vimean Ekareach), and the impressive Ounalom Monastery which sits on the banks of the Tonle Sap River.
Like much of South East Asia, Cambodia has an array of interesting festivals throughout the year. The Khmer New Year or Bon Chol Chhnam Thmei is perhaps one of the most important, and is celebrated each year around the 13th of April. During the festival you can expect the merriment to include countrywide celebrations and a mix of traditional games, including seed throwing (Bas Angkunh) and tug of war. It’s also a good time to see the traditional Khmer dances such as Ran Vong, Saravan and Lam Leav, as they are danced for all to enjoy in the open air. The 15-day long Pchum Ben Day or All Soul Day takes place from the end of September to the beginning of October and is dedicated to the blessing of spirits of the dead. During the festival you can expect to see food offerings at religious temples, offered both as food for the monks and to feed the hungry ghosts that dwell there. Lastly the Water Festival takes place each year in November and is generally celebrated for 3 days. The festival is used to usher in the fishing season and is seen as something of a thanksgiving to the Mekong River. Don’t mistake this with Thailand’s Songkran festival, and celebrates he reversing flow of water between the Tonle Sap and the Mekong River.
