Cambodia

Places in Cambodia

• Angkor Archaeological Park

  Angkor Archaeological Park preserves temple complexes from successive Khmer capitals. Plan visits around Angkor Wat, Bayon and the wider circuits, allowing time for heat and travel between sites.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$60

  Best months

  Nov–Feb

• Anlong Veng

  Anlong Veng offers an off-the-beaten-path encounter with Khmer Rouge history in a setting of striking mountain scenery. This remote Cambodian town, once a refuge for top Khmer Rouge leaders including Pol Pot and Ta Mok, now provides a sobering alternative to the temple-focused tourism of Siem Reap.

  Atlas entry

• Banlung

  Banlung is a base for the forests, waterfalls and volcanic lake of Ratanakiri. Plan time for Yeak Laom and consider a guided trek in Virachey National Park.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$45

  Best months

  Nov–Feb

• Banteay Chhmar

  Banteay Chhmar Temple is one of Cambodia's most important yet least visited Angkorian-era complexes, built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. The temple bears enigmatic Bayon-style face towers, one of only two sites outside Bayon Temple to feature them.

  Atlas entry

• Battambang

  Battambang offers colonial streets and a lively food culture at a calmer pace than the major tourist centres. Trips outside town reach hill shrines, caves and the bamboo train.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$41

  Best months

  Nov–Feb

• Bokor National Park

  Preah Monivong Bokor National Park is a French colonial hill station perched at 1,080 m above Cambodia's coast, offering cool mountain air and panoramic views that contrast sharply with the humid lowlands. The park's abandoned casino, ruined church, and monarchy-era palace give it an atmospheric, historic character rarely found elsewhere in the country.

  Atlas entry

• Doun Kaev

  Doun Kaev serves as the seat of Takeo Province and offers a quieter alternative to Cambodia's tourist-heavy destinations. The area produces most of Cambodia's silk, and visitors can witness traditional silk weaving in Doun Praev district.

  Atlas entry

• Kampong Cham

  Kampong Cham is a quiet Mekong city with colonial remnants and nearby temple excursions. Crossings toward Koh Paen connect it with stilted village life.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$38

  Best months

  Nov–Feb

• Kampong Speu

  Kampong Speu (also called Chbar Mon) serves as a practical stopover town on the route between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, about 40 km from the capital. The surrounding Kampong Speu Province offers access to the Cardamom Mountains region, with eco-tourism opportunities at waterfalls and mountain parks that contrast with the flatter, more developed areas closer to Phnom Penh.

  Atlas entry

• Kampong Thom

  Kampong Thom is the capital of Kampong Thom Province, positioned halfway between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Most travelers rush through en route between these two major attractions, but the city rewards those who linger with a relaxed atmosphere, access to the UNESCO-listed Sambor Prei Kuk temples, and nearby grasslands teeming with endangered wildlife including the Bengal Florican.

  Atlas entry

• Kampot

  Kampot is a riverside town with colonial buildings, pepper farms and access to Bokor Mountain. Spend time on the water, explore nearby farms and try local pepper with your meals.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$44

  Best months

  Nov–Mar

• Kep

  Kep combines a seaside setting, a crab market and forest trails in the national park. Explore the hills or take a boat to Rabbit Island, then return for seafood with pepper.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$41

  Best months

  Nov–Feb

• Koh Kong

  Koh Kong is a gateway to the Cardamom Mountains and coastal mangroves. Boat excursions and overnight forest trips connect the town with its surrounding habitats.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$44

  Best months

  Nov–Apr

• Koh Rong

  Koh Rong is an island base for beaches, jungle walks and snorkelling. Choose a beach and accommodation area to suit the balance of quiet time and nightlife you want.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$47

  Best months

  Nov–Mar

• Koh Rung Sanloem

  Koh Rung Sanloem combines jungle paths with quieter beaches and a small diving scene. Village stays and walking routes offer a slower island rhythm.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$58

  Best months

  Nov–Feb

• Koh Russei

  Koh Russei (Bamboo Island) is a small green island floating on emerald-blue waters about 10 km off the coast of Sihanoukville. The island offers a pure, unspoilt tropical experience far removed from the developing beach resorts on the mainland.

  Atlas entry

• Kratie

  Kratie is a riverside base for Mekong wildlife and temple excursions. Nearby villages and hilltop shrines add reasons to explore beyond the waterfront.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$41

  Best months

  Nov–May

• Pailin

  Pailin is a remote gem-trading town in northwestern Cambodia known for its unique Burmese-influenced culture and dark Khmer Rouge history. The town sits near the Thai border and was once famous for precious gems and timber, though natural resources are now largely depleted.

  Atlas entry

• Phnom Penh

  Phnom Penh sits at the meeting of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, with a palace, museums and riverside cafes. Its Khmer Rouge memorial sites offer a sobering part of a visit alongside markets and Khmer food.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$59

  Best months

  Nov–Feb

• Poipet

  Poipet serves as Cambodia's primary border crossing with Thailand, linking northwest Cambodia to Aranyaprathet and onward to Bangkok. The town has grown larger than its provincial capital Sisophon due to cross-border traffic.

  Atlas entry

• Pursat

  Pursat is a sleepy provincial capital in western Cambodia that holds marginal interest on its own. However, it serves as a practical base for visits to the Tonle Sap Lake floating villages or the Cardamom Mountains.

  Atlas entry

• Samraong

  Samraong is the Cambodian capital of Oddar Meanchey Province and serves as the main overland crossing point to Thailand via the O'Smach/Chong Chom border. The town functions as a regional hub for travelers heading to or from the Thai border, with the nearest Thai city being Surin.

  Atlas entry

• Senmonorom

  Senmonorom is a cooler highland base for Mondulkiri's waterfalls and rolling countryside. Bunong-guided walks and elephant projects are central to many visits.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$48

  Best months

  Nov–Apr

• Siem Reap

  Siem Reap is a base for the temples of Angkor, with hostels, restaurants and bars in town. Between temple visits, explore Buddhist temples, Khmer food and the Cambodian circus.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$65

  Best months

  Nov–Feb

• Sihanoukville

  Sihanoukville is a coastal city and departure point for Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem. Resorts and casinos have changed the mainland, while island trips and Ream National Park offer beach and nature excursions.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$46

  Best months

  Nov–Mar

• Sisophon

  Sisophon is a small provincial town that almost every overland visitor to Cambodia will unknowingly pass through for at least 15 minutes. It sits at the junction of National Highway 5 (south to Battambang, west to Poipet) and National Highway 6 (east to Siem Reap), making it a practical transport hub.

  Atlas entry

• Stung Treng

  Stung Treng is a small riverside town in northeast Cambodia that feels more like an outpost than a destination. Many tourists only pass through en route to or from Laos, as nearby Banlung and Kratie offer more excitement and activities.

  Atlas entry

• Tatai

  Tatai is a small riverside town in Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains, serving as a convenient stopover on Highway 48 between Koh Kong and the rest of the country. The town is best known for its proximity to Tatai Waterfall and offers jungle expeditions and boat trips on the river.

  Atlas entry

• Virachey National Park

  Virachey National Park is one of Cambodia's largest and most remote protected areas, spanning 3,325 km² across Ratanakiri and Stung Treng Provinces. Established in 1993, it offers intrepid trekkers access to pristine jungle, minority villages, and the legendary Phnom Veal Thom grasslands with jaw-dropping views of the Laos and Vietnam borders.

  Atlas entry