1. Angkor

The house of the popular Angkor Wat is unquestionably one of Cambodia's must-see places.

Thanks to the famous pagodas and vine-dressed stupas that are tagged by UNESCO, it's also one of the busiest spots in the nation.

Still, it's definitely worth braving the crowds and hopping out of Siem Reap for a spell to see this world marvel.

Included by wetland rice paddies and thick jungles, it emerges from the canopy in a medley of historic Khmer towers and enchanting erstwhile Hindu shrines.

Today, it's the chants of Buddhist monks and gasping travelers that dominates, as they weave in between the elaborate base reliefs and the fantastic sandstone sculptures of mythic monsters.

2. Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville is Cambodia's response to the backpacker beach towns of Thailand simply throughout the gulf.

A broken-down location of tin-roofed hostels and bamboo beer bars spilling onto the sands, it exudes an easygoing ambiance that's a welcome break from the country's other urban.

The beaches are the location to be both day and night, with the facilities of Ochheuteal offering loungers and water sports aplenty.

For something a little quieter, you could likewise make a beeline around the headlands to less-trodden Otres Beach, or pay the entry cost for remote Sokha Beach nearby.

3. Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is a city in flux: a place where barrios of haphazard shack houses join gilded temples of gold leaf and straight-laced highways of the 21st century.

That suggests it's also a great spot to get to grips with the nature of Cambodia as a whole; a country nicely well balanced between the old and the brand-new.

The piece de resistance is undoubtedly the extravagant Royal Palace complex, which sparkles with the spires of the Silver Pagoda at its.

For a taste of regional life, be sure to hit the buzzing Sisowath Quay, which runs along the Mekong in a collection of markets and picnic spots.

And-- of course-- there are the so-called Killing Fields just on the edge of town: sobering and stark tips of the scaries of Cambodia's 20th-century past.

4. Kratie

Defined by the meanders of the Mekong River as it gushes towards the delta and the South China Sea in the south-east, this easygoing area is gradually however definitely raising itself to become one of Cambodia's bona fide backpacker hubs.

It's simple to see why the shoestring travelers like it too-- think cheap wood longhouses and earthy guesthouses, truly old ruins at Sambor and standard craft markets on the water.

But that's not all, due to the fact that Kratie has actually likewise become renowned as one of the top locations to see the Cambodian river dolphin.

Excursions to stalk these stunning mammals in the Mekong leave from the docks every day.

5. Siem Reap

It's true that the majority of people flock to Siem Reap to hop across to the UNESCO marvel of Ankgor Wat.

Thanks largely to the increase of folk coming in current decades, this one has actually established into a fine location to check out in its own.

You can delve into an old town of elegant French estates and charming Chinese stores, all of which are punctuated by the heady fray of Psah Chas market (perfect for sizzling noodle soups!) and countless backpacker bars (search for appropriately-named Pub Street). There are likewise some truly fantastic museums in Siem Reap, like the sobering Cambodia Landmine Museum and the (equally sobering) War Museum Cambodia.

6. Koh Ker

Koh Ker is the smaller sized, lesser-known bro of Angkor Wat.

Located deep in the jungles of northern Cambodia, the spot ruled as the capital of the mighty Khmer Empire for a measly 20 years.

Those two decades of glory still reveal, with fancy stupas extending from the canopies and the 1,000-year-old rises of the stepped Prasat Thom temples soaring more than 30 meters above the ground.

You'll also have the ability to see an elaborate variety of strongholds dating from the 10th century, and falling apart ruins of shrines now practically completely claimed by the roots of huge teak trees.

In short: this one's a fine option to dynamic Angkor.

7. Koh Rong

This eight-shaped island that remains where the waters of the Thai Gulf fulfill the South China Sea is an image of tropical perfection.

It boasts a tremendous 23 specific stretches of sand, all of which are far quieter and untouched than their compadres across the straits in Sihanoukville.

Rustic, salt-sprayed cottages line the coast sporadically, and there are plenty of opportunities for travelling through the forests, or hitting the coral-colored sea for a bout of snorkeling.

Koh Rong is also famous for its bioluminescent waters, which glimmer under the dark skies top holiday destinations at night-- you'll spot them if you aren't too busy guzzling beers in neighboring Koh Tuch Town!

8. Banlung

The provincial capital of Ratanakiri is hardly on the tourist radar at all-- a minimum of for the moment, that is.

Gradually but undoubtedly, increasingly more experience seekers and outdoorsy types are waxing down the walking boots and heading to this remote corner of the country, where macaques satisfy sliding snakes in between the jungle canopies.

The town itself may be a dusty, busy affair, but there are a lot of tour organizers there who can create journeys out to the gorgeous Yeak Laom Volcanic Lake, the colossal cataract of Cha Ong, or the sweeping rubber plantations that surround the province.

9. Kampot

Kampot might seem tantalizingly near the coast for it not to be about beaches, however this river town on the delta waters of the Praek Tuek Chhu provides something absolutely various than just sand, sea and sun.

Start with a trip to the pepper farms that blanket the local flatlands-- they are not only the primary economic driver here, however also accountable for the unique peppercorns of Kampot.

The town is also house to a series of earthy fishing towns, where seafood french fries come doused in chili and lemongrass.

And after that there's the selection of dilapidating colonial builds in the center, together with the rusting shells of old engines in the Kampot railway station.

10. Mondulkiri

Asian elephants stalk the fields and bushlands of distant Mondulkiri Province; water buffalo and wood longhouses sound the wetlands, as peaks of forest-clad rock rise to meet the border with Vietnam.

This eastern jewel is a far cry from the sun-scorched lands and steamy tropical climes that dominate the remainder of the country, and is slowly becoming famed for its second-to-none elephant conservation job.

Cultural encounters with the earthy Bunong tribespeople are likewise possible, and ecotourism of that sort is now the main motorist here.

11. Battambang

Statue-dotted Battambang is possibly something of an uncommon preferred on the backpacking circuit around Cambodia.

Why? Well, there's not really all that much to see in the town itself, and the temples barely measure up to the majesty of Siem Reap.

Still, folk continue to flock to this 2nd city, and we're barely complaining.

Dynamic tourist bars line the streets and there are some excellent hotels to choose from, all of which hide in between the occasional Buddhist temple and the throbbing Central Market.

Around Battambang is where you'll discover the Wat Baydamram (filled with fruit bats) and the spooky Wat Samraong Knong, which was as soon as used as a Khmer Rouge prison!

12. Kep

Poor little Kep is simply a shadow of the jet setter resort for Cambodian dignitaries it was in the early 20th century.

Yep, years of war and Khmer Rouge destruction took its toll on the nation's top seaside retreat, and today residues of that dark age can still be seen in the type of ruined rental properties and burned out hotels along the coast.

However, Kep is rebounding, and today the pretty stretches of powdery yellow sand along the Kep Peninsula live once more with seafood dining establishments and bars.

Oh, and don't leave without tasting the popular Kep crab-- among Cambodia's most legendary staples!

13. Koh Thonsay

Bunny Island (as it's understood in English) is among the jewels of Kep Province, set simply out in the waters of the Thai Gulf from the southern coast of the nation.

Fringed with softly sloping yellow sands and rows of swaying coconut palms, it's got all the tropical charms you 'd expect from a tropical island.

However, Koh Thonsay also features far fewer crowds than its compadres across the waters in the Land of Smiles, and the prices are more affordable too! The best thing to do is strap on the walking boots and hike the seaside routes.

Sooner or later you'll find a secluded cove of glittering coast waters, completely empty save for the periodic bobbing fishing skiff.

14. Koh Kong

The rugged, salt-sprayed rocks of the Koh Kong coast mark the point where the primeval woods of the Cardamom Mountains Jungle waterfall down to satisfy the Indian Ocean.

Undeveloped and untouched by the start of contemporary tourism, the place remains a photo of wild Southeast Asia.

A smattering of gambling establishments and sleazy massage parlors do still stick around on from the days when Krong was a smuggler passage town on the Thai border, but the genuine pulls are undoubtedly the gushing waterfalls, the wild jungles, and-- obviously-- the legendary white-sand beaches of Koh Krong Island.

15. Pailin

Pailin can be found deep in the Cardamom Mountains of western Cambodia.

Surrounded by hills of green bush and dominated by the serrated ideas of the high hills on the horizon,