10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN CAMBODIA

Cambodia is a land of wonders. From enchanting temples to magical street, there is never a dull moment when one starts exploring the goodness of this city. Since there are a lot of things to do in Cambodia, we have listed the best ones. Take a look at below 10 best things to do!

• Exploring Siem Reap on a bike
• Immersing yourself in the mysterious Apsara Dance
• Swimming with the elephants
• Watching sunrise at Angkor Wat
• Kicking back on a deserted beach
• Trekking through the jungle
• Sailing along the mighty Mekong River
• Checking out attractive Khmer artwork at National Museum
• Seeing the war preserves at Cambodia Landmine Museum
• Visiting the killing caves in Battambang

Exploring Siem Reap on a bike

Considering that the country is all about lush greenery, pristine temples in Cambodia, and a quiet, relaxed atmosphere, travelers like to keep it that way when they’re exploring it. Cycling tours are thus a convenient way of sightseeing and one of the most popular things to do in Cambodia for visitors.

Riding through quiet trails of the countryside amidst breathtaking natural scenery lets travelers escape the crowd and busy roads These tours typically include sightseeing of Ta Prohm, Elephant Terrace, Bayon, and other prominent Angkor temples. Exploring this wonderful country on a bike is one of the cool things to do in Cambodia.

Immersing yourself in the mysterious Apsara Dance

For the lovers of art, theatrics, and dance; the Apsara Show, or the traditional Khmer performance, is one of the best things to do in Cambodia. This cultural dance form draws its roots from the mythological courts of Kings and Gods, from where it has developed into its modern, unique form that we see today.

The Khmer dance revolves around a story line which it narrates through the attractive, flexible movements of the performers and their colorful, eye-catching attires, which is why it is among the top things to do in Cambodia.

Swimming with the elephants

This is one of the crazy things to do in Cambodia. The Elephant Valley Project at Mondulkiri is a group of dedicated, passionate individuals whose work is directed towards care and conservation of abandoned, injured, overworked, and orphaned elephants.

Popularly known as a place where ‘elephants get to be elephants again’, EVP feeds, protects, and provides shelter to elephants. Travelers can come here with prior booking for a chance to be with these adorable, gentle beings. Visitors can play and swim with these elephants which is anyways better than riding on them and adding to their misery.

Watching sunrise at Angkor Wat

There are many things that come free of cost in the world – laughing, happiness, dancing, and many others. Watching the sunrise is amongst these and also the many free things to do in Cambodia. Head to Siem Reap and experience the spectacular sunrise here. To do this different, head out for a day out to the Angkor region on a tuk-tuk.

While experiencing the local elements, you would be able to catch a spectacular sunrise. Ride through the Angkor Archeological Park and pass through Angkor Wat to experience an amazing amalgamation of nature, architecture, and a spectacular sunrise in the back.

Kicking back on a deserted beach

Cambodia has a pretty cool collection of deserted tropical islands, and the best part is hordes of tourists are yet to discover the majority. Koh Rong is the largest, most developed and popular. The liveliest part of the jungle-clad island is the stretch of beach at Koh Touch, which is packed with guesthouses and backpacker bars. Southwestern Long Beach boasts kilometres of powder white sand, barely any people and the more exclusive Sok San Beach Resort and super-luxurious The Royal Sands Koh Rong.

Koh Rong Sanloem sits about a 10-minute boat ride from Koh Rong and is quickly picking up in the popularity stakes. Saracen Bay is home to a collection of resorts that range from basic wooden huts through to luxury villas. The clue is in the name – Sunset Beach is the best spot to catch mind-blowing sunsets and the small fishing village of M’phey Bei is home to several budget accommodations.

Koh Ta Kiev is slowly starting to emerge with travellers seeking to escape it all. Home to a small smattering of rustic resorts, life on the island is simple, with a few resorts offering camping options for guests wanting to sleep below a sky of twinkling stars.

Trekking through the jungle

Cambodia is home to the Cardamom Mountains, Southeast Asia’s largest remaining rain forest. While the last few decades have seen the jungle pillaged by illegal loggers and poachers, huge efforts are now underway to preserve the endangered and rare wildlife that calls the forest home.

For the adventurous traveler who wants to explore this rugged terrain, several treks take place in the Cardamoms. These vary in length, difficulty and location, depending on what you’re after. It bodes well to remember this is the jungle, a real tropical jungle. There are no hospitals nearby, there are scary insects, snakes and spiders, and you will get eaten by mosquitoes so go prepared.

Sailing along the mighty Mekong River

The Mekong River is a Southeast Asian icon, slicing through six countries as it makes its way from Tibet to Việt Nam. In Cambodia, it enters at the northeastern province of Stung Treng from Laos, passing through Phnom Penh on its way to Việt Nam. Trans-country cruises are available that take passengers along the Mekong from Laos to Cambodia and onto Việt Nam, or a mix of the countries. These tend to span several days, or a few weeks, depending on the itinerary.

Alternatively, a sunset cruise along the Mekong is a must while in Phnom Penh. At dusk, the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers light up with boats of varying sizes hitting the water for an evening of cruising. Many include food and drink options. Kanika Boat is a popular choice. Of course, if there’s a group of you, then there’s the option of hiring a private boat, bringing along your own booze and refreshments and sailing solo.

Checking Out Attractive Khmer Artwork at National Museum

What to see in Cambodia will not be your concern because it offers a lot. The National Museum of Cambodia takes pride in its impressive art collection from the Khmer era, most of which disappeared at the time of the Khmer Rouge due to illegal smuggling.

Some of the finest examples of Khmer artwork on display here include ancient stonework, bronze tools and weapons, attractive bronze drums, ceramics, statues, sculptures, and more items with intricate carvings of Gods and Goddesses on them.

Apart from being visually alluring, the artifacts also provide a deep insight into Cambodia’s history and the lives of its people back then, which is why it holds a prominent place on the list of tourist attractions in Cambodia.

Seeing The War Preserves at Cambodia Landmine Museum

Cambodia Landmine Museum is your place if you are an environment lover. Cambodia has been one of the most mined countries in the world. Due to the several struggles in the history of Cambodia including the brutal Khmer Rouge regime, American bombings, civil war, genocide, and Vietnamese occupation, this place still has many mines buried in its land.

Over the years, many people have lost their lives due to the explosion of these landmines. Thought, a large number of mines have been cleared off the land, a lot of it still remains hidden inside it. These rescued mines have been preserved in the Cambodia Landmine Museum. They also spread awareness among its members regarding the same.

Visiting The Killing Caves in Battambang

Located at the base of Mount Sampeou is the Battambang Bat Caves. Also known as the Killing Caves, this is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Cambodia and also amongst the most unique things to do in Cambodia. Since bats are nocturnal birds, they go out from the caves at night. So, many tourists come here to watch the bats flock out of the cave to the nearby trees and branches.

The sight is interesting and lasts for about 40 minutes. But it is safer to leave the place in 10 minutes. There are bikes that would tow you to the hill and back.