The Kingdom of Cambodia has been one of the primary Southeast Asian destinations for both budget backpackers and luxury travelers. Much of this is due to the still rising popularity of the world famous Angkor Wat temple complex and the surrounding Angkor Archeological Park. The architectural structures and ancient history should be enough to draw you in, but there’s so much more. In the later part of the twentieth century, Cambodian citizens experienced one of the most tragic genocides in modern history and there is a great deal to learn from the experiences of the victims of these atrocities and those in government who enforced these policies. The country is also rich with lush jungles and beautiful beaches making it a great destination for nature lovers and anyone who’s a fan of outdoor activities. Finally, the country is experiencing a major economic boom that is resulting in easier/faster transportation, an increase in accommodations, and the best part is the country is affordable. If Cambodia is not on your travel list it should be!
Late afternoon at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Summer 2015
During the summer of 2015 I returned to Southeast Asia for the third time in five years. If you are interested in reading about the first leg of my trip throughout central Vietnam make sure to check out my Summer 2015 Vietnam Itinerary. After 10 days of solo travel I boarded a plane to Phnom Penh where I met a friend and continued the adventure. Below is the Cambodia portion of my 2015 itinerary:
- Day 10 – July 12 – Depart HCMC, Vietnam for Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Afternoon & Evening Exploration of Phnom Penh
- Day 11 – July 13 – Phnom Phen – Historical Sites & the History of a Genocide – The Killing Fields & S-21 Prison
- Day 12 – July 14 – Travel Day – Bus to Kampot (Food, Lodging & Transportation Guide)
- Day 13 – July 15 – Kampot – Rain Delays = Lazy Days (Top 10 Things to Do in Kampot)
- Day 14 – July 16 – Kampot – Bokor National Park Tour
- Day 15 – July 17 – Travel Day – Bus to Sihanoukville; Explore Sihanoukville
- Day 16 – July 18 – Exploring the Beaches of Sihanoukville
- Day 17 – July 19 – Travel Day – Flight to Siem Reap; Afternoon & Evening Exploration
- Day 18 – July 20 – Day Trip to Preach Vihear
- Day 19 – July 21 – Siem Reap – Morning at the Roluos Group & Afternoon at Angkor Wat
- Day 20 – July 22 – Siem Reap – Sunrise at Angkor Wat & an Afternoon of Temple Hunting
- Day 21 – July 23 – Siem Reap – “The Big Loop” – Angkor Thom, Bayon, Preach Khan & Many More; Invitation to Embassy Restaurant for Dinner
- Day 22 – July 24 – Siem Reap – Angkor Golf Resort
- Day 23 – July 25 – Lazy Day in Siem Reap
- Day 24 – July 26 – Depart Siem Reap, Cambodia for Yangon, Myanmar
My time may have ended in Cambodia, but that doesn’t mean I headed straight home. To find out more about the next country I visited make sure to check out some of my articles and travel itinerary to Myanmar.
Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Conclusions
Cambodia was an amazing country and I would like to go back at some point in the next few years to see even more. Despite my deep love for history, you can only explore so many temples for so long before it becomes a bit too “same same” and there were a number of temples that I did not have the time to visit. The same can be said for a number of cities including Battambang, known for its access to the bamboo trains, as well as islands like Koh Rong that poor weather prevented me from exploring. So if you like history, nature and aren’t looking to break your bank consider visiting Cambodia at some point soon! Happy Trekking!
Rice fields on the way to Prasat Pre Rup, Siem Reap, Cambodia