{"id":7539,"date":"2023-05-20T08:20:53","date_gmt":"2023-05-20T06:20:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/?p=7539"},"modified":"2026-10-28T07:53:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T07:53:40","slug":"backpacking-cambodia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/","title":{"rendered":"Cambodia Travel Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is often snubbed in favor of other destinations in Southeast Asia, but the country has more than a few interesting ones.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Angkor Wat, the largest temple complex in the world as well as the most visited archaeological site in Southeast Asia, the paradise islands in the south of the country, the pristine forests, but also a lot of recent history that unfortunately concerns one of the worst genocides ever. The country really has a lot to offer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I spent two months backpacking around Cambodia. Whether you want to do the same or just do some research and then rely on an organized tour, you&#8217;ll find many valuable tips and information in this guide to help you better plan your trip.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"quick-menu\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Quick menu<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#when\">When to visit Cambodia<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#doc\">Documents and vaccinations to enter Cambodia<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#what\">What to do and see in Cambodia<\/a>\r\n<details>\r\n<summary>Destinations<\/summary>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#phnom-penh\">Phnom Penh<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#battambang\">Battambang<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#siem-reap\">Siem Reap<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#koh-rong-sanloem\">Koh Rong Sanloem<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#koh-rong\">Koh Rong<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#koh-ta-kiev\">Koh Ta Kiev<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#kampot\">Kampot<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#kratie\">Kratie<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#banlung\">Banlung (Ratanakiri)<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#saen-monorom\">Saen Monorom (Mondulkiri)<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/details>\r\n  <\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#iti\">Suggested itineraries in Cambodia<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#how\">How to get around Cambodia<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#costs\">Backpacking Cambodia: costs<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#safety\">Backpacking Cambodia: safety and security<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/#quick-menu\" style=\"position: fixed; right: 18px; bottom: 18px; z-index: 9999; padding: 8px 12px; border: 1px solid #999; border-radius: 6px; background: #fff; text-decoration: none; font-size: 14px;\">\u2191 Menu<\/a>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4845 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09640-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09640-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09640-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09640-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09640-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Angkor Wat at sunset.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"when\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>When to visit Cambodia<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like virtually all other countries in the region, Cambodia has two distinct seasons: dry and rainy. Generally, the best time to visit Cambodia corresponds with the dry season, roughly from November to April. November, December, and January are considered the absolute best, given the absence of rainfall and the low temperatures, which are undoubtedly the most pleasant of the year. Obviously, this period is the peak of the high season, which is reflected in prices, especially for accommodation and some activities.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Starting in March, temperatures and humidity rise considerably until peaking around May, just before the rains. While not the most pleasant, these months remain a good time to visit the country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rainy season, which runs from May to October, does have some advantages, though: the landscape literally turns green, the rice fields finally take on color, and the waterfalls are in full swing. The rains, which come almost daily, tend to be concentrated within a few hours, especially during the first few months of the wet season, while they become much more frequent as the season progresses, peaking in August.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the peak of the rains, some roads may be impassable, making overland travel difficult; many activities, such as hiking and tubing, are practically out of the question. September and October can be good months; there&#8217;s a decrease in rainfall and a drop in temperatures until the transition to the dry season in November.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4783 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0908-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0908-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0908-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0908-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunrise at Saracen Bay, Koh Rong Samloem.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"doc\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Documents and vaccinations to enter Cambodia<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With an Italian passport (valid for more than 6 months), you get a 30-day on-arrival tourist visa from the moment you enter the country (the rules change depending on your nationality, so check yours). The visa is Type &#8220;T&#8221; and typically costs US$30, but some border crossings charge US$35. Some borders also charge $1 over the weekend to process the application; whether this is legitimate or not remains a mystery.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I crossed the border at Ban Laem (where I paid $35), coming from Thailand, and they didn&#8217;t ask me for any passport photos, but from what I&#8217;ve read, they sometimes do. If you wanted, they also accepted Thai baht, but at a very unfavorable exchange rate. I had US dollars with me, so I simply used those.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the past few years, obtaining an online visa (E-visa) has also been possible, but it&#8217;s not accepted at all land border crossings. At the time of writing this guide, even the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.evisa.gov.kh\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is unclear about this and merely mentions that it&#8217;s not accepted everywhere: &#8220;Not all border checkpoints support e-Visa. Please check before you apply. You can apply on-arrival Visa for those checkpoints not supporting e-Visa.&#8221; What is certain is that it&#8217;s accepted at Phnom Penh airport. I encourage you to check, but according to unofficial sources, the visa is also accepted at Preah Sihanouk International Airport, Cham Yeam (Koh Kong) &#8211; Thailand border, Poi Pet (Banteay Meanchey) &#8211; Thailand border, Bavet (Svay Rieng) &#8211; Vietnam border and Tropaeng Kreal Border Post (Stung Treng) &#8211; Laos border. The cost is $36, slightly more expensive than the classic visa on arrival.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4823\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08298-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08298-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08298-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08298-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08298-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunrise at Angkor Wat.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tourist visa (Type &#8220;T&#8221;) I&#8217;ve mentioned so far can easily be renewed for another 30 days. The procedure is really simple, but unfortunately, it takes a week. The only immigration office where you can renew it is the one in Phnom Penh, which is opposite the airport (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/VoC2vEQsrngg9gqs6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). To get there, I recommend taking bus line 3; you can easily find its nearest stop with the official app (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/city-bus-official-app\/id1608841286?l=en\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">iOS<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.camitss.phumiapp\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Android<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). The buses run really frequently, are clean, have air conditioning, and, from my experience, are never crowded. All this for 1500 riel. Just remember to bring the exact amount with you, because they don&#8217;t give change.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the immigration office, you&#8217;re given a form that must be filled out and turned in along with your passport, a passport photo and payment of $30. You receive a temporary document and an appointment to pick up your passport a week later.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">For up-to-date information on visas and so on, I recommend checking your own government&#8217;s official travel advice (for example, the UK&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/cambodia\">Foreign travel advice<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cambodia requires no mandatory vaccinations, but Hepatitis A and B are recommended. Some doctors may also recommend malaria prophylaxis, particularly if you visit the country during the rainy season or venture outside the big cities. Discuss this with your doctor.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4755 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0291-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0291-HDR-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0291-HDR-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0291-HDR-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Kampot salt flats.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"what\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Cambodia<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throughout this guide, you&#8217;ll often find prices expressed in U.S. dollars, but not exclusively. In fact, Cambodia has two official currencies: the U.S. dollar and the Cambodian Riel. You might, for example, pay a $3 bill with a $10 note and receive a $5 note plus the equivalent of $2 in riel, and so on. This system can be a bit confusing at first.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, the Riel is used primarily for sub-dollar figures but also in rural areas, and small businesses seem to prefer it or at least express prices directly in Riel, while larger companies and the tourism sector seem to prefer the dollar or at least express the cost of their services in dollars.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fortunately, the unofficial exchange rate many people use is 1$ = 4000 riel, which makes the math much easier. That said, at least during my stay, the official exchange rate offered by the various currency exchanges was around 1$ = 4100 riel. This meant it was often possible to exploit the unofficial rate by changing your dollars at 4100 riel and then paying at the 1$ = 4000 riel rate, saving about 2.5% per transaction. This little trick didn&#8217;t always work, though, because larger businesses in particular, while happily accepting riel even though their prices were in dollars, rightly used the official exchange rate.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, the destinations described are listed starting from the capital, Phnom Penh, continuing north and then moving west before descending south. If you fly into Phnom Penh, this is probably the best way to optimize travel. But clearly, it depends a lot on where you arrive, in what direction you intend to continue your trip, and what destinations you plan to visit within the country. I, for example, started my trip in Battambang, arriving from Thailand.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4857 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_cosa_vedere.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"886\" height=\"713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_cosa_vedere.jpg 886w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_cosa_vedere-300x241.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_cosa_vedere-768x618.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 886px) 100vw, 886px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">N.b. Several times throughout the guide, you&#8217;ll find links to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/\">https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/<\/a>. If you want to use offline navigation directly from the Alltrails app, you have to upgrade to the pro version. However, you can get around this by downloading the coordinates from the site&#8217;s desktop version in &#8220;Google Earth KML&#8221; format and then uploading them to <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/organicmaps.app\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organic Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which is by far one of my <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/app-travelling\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">favorite travel apps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"phnom-penh\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Phnom Penh<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, compared to other Southeast Asian capitals, isn&#8217;t exactly an interesting destination or a beautiful city, so much so that many travelers decide to skip it altogether. Unless you literally have no days to spare, I think it&#8217;s still worth spending at least a day there to visit some of the landmarks of the terrible genocide that occurred under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Phnom Penh<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I mentioned, I think one day is enough to visit the main sites of interest, namely Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek. Many hostels organize shared tuk tuks to visit both sites. Personally, I walked to Tuol Sleng with another guy and then we shared a tuk tuk to get to Choeung Ek and back.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Tuol Sleng (S-21)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tuol Sleng, also called S-21 (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/MtwA9zMVja83quwu7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), was the top-secret center of a network of about 200 prisons where people were tortured by the Khmer Rouge. Between 12,000 and 20,000 people were imprisoned here. There are only 12 confirmed survivors. Admission costs $5, but if you want the audio guide, you have to pay $10; it&#8217;s also available in Italian, and I strongly recommend getting it. If you listen to all the stops on the audio guide, the visit takes about two hours. From Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 10:15, a documentary is also shown, which I haven&#8217;t personally seen, but it might be interesting to combine it with your visit.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a visit that some may find difficult, almost traumatic. It starts with the rooms where the last prisoners were killed, literally quartered alive to avoid making noise by shooting them since the liberation army was now really close, and the fleeing staff wanted to avoid attracting their attention. The guy I visited the museum with skipped more than a few stops on the audio guide and told me he didn&#8217;t sleep well that night, so if you&#8217;re a particularly sensitive person, plan accordingly. I strongly recommend the visit (with the audio guide) to everyone else.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4851 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09688-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09688-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09688-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09688-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09688-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>One of the rooms where the last prisoners were killed.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Choeung Ek (Killing Fields)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choeung Ek (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/SPQM9iZo7Bxn2vbK8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the best known of the 300 Killing Fields, or extermination camps, in Cambodia. It&#8217;s located about 15 km southeast of Phnom Penh, and it&#8217;s where Tuol Sleng prisoners were taken, executed and buried in mass graves. Today, it&#8217;s a museum and a place of remembrance. Admission with an audio guide costs $6. If you listen to all the stops and visit the small museum, the visit takes about two hours. The documentary lasts about ten minutes or so and is shown repeatedly at the side of the museum; while interesting, it doesn&#8217;t tell you anything that isn&#8217;t already told in the audio guide.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, this is a &#8220;heavy&#8221; visit; it&#8217;s still possible to see bones and clothing surfacing from the ground, especially during the rainy season, and the guided tour ends with a Buddhist stupa filled with human skulls recovered from mass graves. Again, if you&#8217;re a particularly sensitive person, think about whether or not to visit the site. For everyone else, I strongly recommend the visit. As I said before, I recommend taking a tuk tuk at the end of your visit to Tuol Sleng.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4852 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09690-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09690-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09690-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09690-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09690-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Choeung Ek Pagoda.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Royal Palace<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The royal palace (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=Royal%20Palace%20of%20Cambodia&amp;query_place_id=ChIJ42tqxz1RCTER36bOGZOA8fg\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is often recommended during a visit to Phnom Penh. Still, I personally decided not to visit it because it was under restoration and, therefore, only partially visitable. Built in 1886, it&#8217;s considered a fantastic example of Khmer architecture and the current official residence of King Sihamoni. Within the perimeter, besides the royal palace proper, there are other sites of interest, such as the Silver Pagoda and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Admission costs $10. Whether you decide to visit the complex or not, I still recommend taking a walk to the entrance during the evening when it&#8217;s illuminated. It&#8217;s really fascinating, as well as a great way to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city because the area is closed to traffic. The national museum (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/25iK5y6CzPpGQRqc6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), beside the royal palace, is also often recommended, but according to my research, it&#8217;s more of a collection of statues. I decided not to visit it, but I&#8217;m sure some people might find it interesting. Admission costs $10.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4853 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09726-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09726-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09726-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09726-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09726-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The entrance to the Royal Palace.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Wat Phnom<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wat Phnom (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/iru3NgMt3n5vRACZ6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is a pagoda that sits atop a small hill within a park in the middle of the city. Admission for foreigners is $1. It&#8217;s not a lot of money, but honestly, if you&#8217;ve already spent some time in Asia, I doubt you&#8217;ll find the visit particularly fascinating. For me, the best aspect was the peace from the hustle and bustle of the city; there are, in fact, numerous benches where you can sit and read a good book or just spend some time relaxing. In my opinion, the best view for photos is from the south side, and you don&#8217;t even need to go in. I&#8217;m not suggesting you do, but here, you could simply climb over and avoid paying admission. I did it out of laziness when it was time to leave.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4811 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00603-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00603-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00603-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00603-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00603-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Wat Phnom.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Ta Prohm and Tonle Bati<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ta Prohm (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/1ozvWUmktvAt9DjV9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and Tonle Bati (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/BnFN3KXhbeGnGVZA7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) are some of the best-preserved temples outside the Angkor Wat complex. They are located about 30km south of Phnom Penh. Apparently, admission is only one euro, but after spending a week exploring temples, I couldn&#8217;t justify the hour on the road and the visit in general, though for some it might be something interesting.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Silk Island<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Silk Island or Koh Dach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=11.675614,104.946423\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is another often-recommended excursion. However, according to my research, what was once a peaceful island where you could observe rural life has become a classic tourist trap that is absolutely not worth visiting. If you decide to visit it, instead of joining an organized tour, you can simply reach the ferry dock (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/8kW147t8CGFzooGYA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) by tuk tuk and then rent a bike to get around the island.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To conclude, more than a few travelers recommended I try <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Bg5YzevJKyLN7VY5A\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">David&#8217;s restaurant<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8216;s famous homemade noodles, so I decided to do so. Honestly, I didn&#8217;t find them that exceptional, and they definitely charge for their fame. More than the food itself, I think it&#8217;s nice to see the preparation process, but for that, you really just need to stop in front of the restaurant for a few minutes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4810 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00550-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00550-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00550-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00550-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00550-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The staircase leading up to Wat Phnom.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Phnom Penh?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given its central location, Phnom Penh has direct connections from virtually every tourist destination in the country at least once a day. Finding a direct bus or van to Phnom Penh is never a problem. That said, each company has its own private terminal, in some cases slightly outside the center, which means taking a tuk tuk to get to your accommodation. If you decide to stay around the riverfront, as many do, Virak Buntham, Larryta Express, and Giant Ibis have their terminals nearby.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re arriving from the airport, instead of taking a cab or a tuk tuk (obviously, if you want to save money), I strongly recommend bus line 3, which I talk about in detail in the &#8220;Documents and vaccinations to enter Cambodia&#8221; section since it&#8217;s the same bus to take if you want to renew your visa at the immigration office that is literally across the street from the airport. In any case, walking out of the airport, the stop is a hundred meters to the left <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/hAgdcXyjry8hcDNL6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. 1500 riel, no change is given.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Phnom Penh?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I spent one night at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/pooltop.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pooltop Phnom Penh<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which isn&#8217;t bad, but I strongly recommend <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/waterview-guesthouse.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onederz Hostel Phnom Penh<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; it&#8217;s slightly more expensive, but it&#8217;s a really great hostel. Be careful, though, because from what I understand, the 12-bed dorms are across the street in another building, which apparently isn&#8217;t as nice. Booking on the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/onederz.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official website<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is often cheaper.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4813\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07979-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07979-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07979-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07979-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07979-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Wat Kandal Temple, Battambang.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"battambang\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Battambang<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Battambang is the third largest city in the country, often ignored in favor of more popular destinations; I think it can be an interesting place to spend a couple of days, especially for those continuing on to or arriving from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/thailand\/backpacking-thailand\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thailand<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Battambang<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The city is definitely quieter and cheaper than Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. That alone, I think, is an attraction in itself, but there are also a couple of interesting sites to see.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4812 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07968-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07968-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07968-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07968-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07968-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Wat Piphetthearam.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Temples and city tours<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">If you haven&#8217;t been in Southeast Asia for long and you&#8217;re not tired of seeing temples yet, you can do a walking tour of the main ones in the city. Again, nothing unmissable, but definitely a nice way to spend a few hours. In order: Wat Piphetthearam (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Di6av5q6ASRcRMy16\">Google Maps<\/a>), Wat Po Cnong (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/C72e7s3Lys8X5h4F8\">Google Maps<\/a>), Wat Kandal (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/6k3u8cSTkuBpZeY36\">Google Maps<\/a>) and Wat Damrey Sor (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/zQQutF5DJnR5YGfn9\">Google Maps<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Other points of interest you could add to this city walking tour are the Battambang Museum (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/N45VgNHyhFFSGtWG6\">Google Maps<\/a>) and the Governor&#8217;s Palace (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/ZvHVvTYGSZdQaW618\">Google Maps<\/a>). For admission to the museum, they ask for a dollar as a &#8220;donation&#8221;. There are a lot of sandstone sculptures. If you&#8217;re not really into that kind of thing, I think it&#8217;s a short visit, or at least it was for me. The Governor&#8217;s Palace, on the other hand, is a well-preserved example of French colonial architecture; you can&#8217;t go into the building itself, but you can go in and walk around the gardens that surround it. Admission is free.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4815 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07988-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07988-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07988-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07988-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07988-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Wat Damrey Sor.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Wat Ek Phnom<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wat Ek Phnom (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/2hCPQBW18Www2Dd48\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is located about ten kilometers outside the city and is the site of an 11th-century temple, now in ruins but still an interesting place because of its simplicity. Admission costs $1. A beautiful brand-new pagoda has been built in front of the ancient temple, while next to it there&#8217;s a giant Buddha statue.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4819 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08050-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08050-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08050-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08050-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08050-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Wat Ek Phnom.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4773 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0777-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0777-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0777-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0777-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Wat Ek Phnom, Buddha statue and pagoda.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Wat Samrong Knong<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wat Samrong Knong (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/f6Xd1nZ9n1JyjLLY7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is a modern temple located about 5 km outside the city whose visit can easily be combined with Wat Ek Phnom. It&#8217;s a significant site because, during the Khmer Rouge era, the original temple and its surroundings were used as a prison and killing field; over ten thousand people lost their lives here. There&#8217;s a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/e3ZuQMeqCZNu5saS8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">small museum<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that isn&#8217;t particularly interesting and a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/pTHncb5DUictJT7BA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">monument<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where you can read some information about how the prisoners were killed. A donation of 2000 riel is requested to access the area where the memorial is located.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4820 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08065-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08065-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08065-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08065-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08065-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Memorial at Wat Samrong Knong.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Baset Temple and Pagoda<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Baset Temple (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/dH6aBTS8injkRjat6\">Google Maps<\/a>) and the adjacent <a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Z1QUqABM5FStrD9b8\">pagoda<\/a> are slightly more inconvenient to reach. I went there, but personally, I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s worth it. The temple ruins are really unimpressive, and the pagoda is nothing special either, but if you have the time and feel like it, you can definitely include the visit in your itinerary. I wasn&#8217;t asked for anything, but I read about someone being asked to pay a $1 entrance fee; don&#8217;t do it. Admission is free.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Phnom Banan Temple<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dating back to the 11th century, Phnom Banan Temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/xdaEraFhdv6V14gC6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is considered the best preserved Khmer temple around Battambang. Located on top of a hill, it&#8217;s reached at the end of more than 350 steps. Really nice and, at least during my visit, absolutely not crowded. The entrance fee is $2. I haven&#8217;t been there, but if you want, there are caves to visit at the mountain&#8217;s base.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4821 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08071-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08071-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08071-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08071-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08071-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The stairs leading up to Phnom Banan Temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Killing Cave, Phnom Sampov and Bat Cave<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">About ten kilometers south of Battambang, there&#8217;s a mountain with the Phnom Sampov temple (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/k8G7NePqwTZPHwRaA\">Google Maps<\/a>) on top, from where you get great views of the surrounding countryside and Battambang in the distance. You can also visit the Killing Cave (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/QQBnK7mnQ8KucRZh8\">Google Maps<\/a>), where thousands of victims were thrown during the Khmer Rouge era and whose remains can still be seen inside the memorial. Finally, be sure to go down to the base of the mountain before sunset to see the millions of bats that come out of the Bat Cave (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/ZXNC3eGQiZKAQ6EU6\">Google Maps<\/a>) every evening, a truly impressive sight.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The police had a checkpoint at the beginning of the climb leading to the Killing Cave\/temple and charged me $2 for entry without giving me any kind of ticket. I paid without thinking too much about it, but shortly afterward I started having doubts, and on maps.me there was a nice pin saying &#8220;scam police officer&#8221;. Once I got back down, I managed to get my money back, but obviously, I recommend not paying.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In conclusion, to visit all the sites just described, I recommend renting a scooter for the day and visiting Wat Ek Phnom, Wat Samroung Knong, Phnom Banan, Phnom Sampeau and Bat Cave in that order so you can see the bats coming out at sunset before heading back to Battambang. I paid $8 for the scooter directly to the guesthouse. The roads, as everywhere in Cambodia, aren&#8217;t exactly in perfect condition. Alternatively, I know that some hostels organize shared tuk tuk tours, but they usually only visit Phnom Banan Temple, Phnom Sampeau (Killing Cave) and the Bat Cave. Finally, you could simply negotiate a private tour with a tuk tuk driver on the street.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4822 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08103-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08103-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08103-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08103-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08103-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Bats coming out of the Batcave.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Battambang Circus<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Battambang Circus (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/FXWpNRcZRUeoHqBEA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) or Phare Ponleu Selpak (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phareps.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) was a pleasant surprise. Students from the nonprofit art school in Battambang perform, and the performance is really top-notch. Admission costs $14, which isn&#8217;t cheap, but the money goes directly to supporting a great cause. The performance lasts about an hour and is done every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 19:00 (I recommend confirming dates and times on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phareps.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), but you can enter the school grounds from 18:00. There are a couple of rooms with exhibitions to visit and a small caf\u00e9\/restaurant. Recommended. I walked there from downtown Battambang, but I think most people would prefer to take a tuk tuk.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4817 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07997-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07997-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07997-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07997-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07997-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Battambang Circus.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Bamboo Train<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The Bamboo Train (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/MJzYDwYGaLWzPNf56\">Google Maps<\/a>) is considered one of the city&#8217;s most famous attractions; some guidebooks consider it a must-see. Originally a form of transportation used by locals, today I think it can be considered a tourist trap in every sense, so much so that I decided to skip the experience altogether. Although it&#8217;s a bit dated, you can read <a href=\"https:\/\/thatbackpacker.com\/bamboo-train-battambang-cambodia-the-good-and-the-ugly\/\">this article<\/a> or just take a look at some reviews on Google Maps and draw your own conclusions, but basically, you pay $5 for a 40-minute or so round trip aboard some bamboo &#8220;carts&#8221;, with a short break in a village where people hassle you to buy something.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Crocodile Farm<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The crocodile farm (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=Battambang%20Crocodile%20Farm&amp;query_place_id=ChIJYfw7WiVKBTERUITEITdU8vg\">Google Maps<\/a>) is undoubtedly another attraction that divides travelers. For some, it&#8217;s awesome; for others, it&#8217;s a disgrace. Personally, I haven&#8217;t been there, but if you want to observe hundreds of crocodiles up close and hold a baby crocodile, this is the place to visit. Admission is $2.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4816 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07994-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07994-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07994-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07994-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07994-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Battambang Museum.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Battambang?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I got a private room at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/the-blue-guest-house.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Blue Guest House<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, paying about $5 a night; if you want something more social, some guys told me <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/the-dorm.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">THE PLACE Hostel &amp; Rooftop Bar<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> isn&#8217;t bad.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4818\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08032-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08032-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08032-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08032-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08032-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Battambang Circus.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Battambang?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Chanthaburi in Thailand, there are four daily departures (8:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00) to the Ban Laem border; from here, a shared taxi to Battambang costs about $10 or 300 Baht. From Siem Reap and vice versa, there are fairly frequent van connections with <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/vireakbuntham.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vireak Buntham<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and shared taxis for about $10, about 3-4 hours. Similarly, there are frequent connections to Phnom Penh, about 6-7 hours, including some night buses. Finally, there&#8217;s an option to take the boat with <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.angkorexpressboat.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Angkor Express<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that covers the Battambang &#8211; Siem Reap route and vice versa for $30 in about 6-7 hours. If you want, you can book directly on their website, and pick-up is included. I just took the van, but it&#8217;s an experience that some travelers have recommended to me, especially if you aren&#8217;t planning to visit any floating villages in Siem Reap, since by taking the boat, you would get to see some along the way, as the first part of the trip is on Tonle Sap Lake.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4814 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07983-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07983-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07983-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07983-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC07983-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Governor&#8217;s Palace.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"siem-reap\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Siem Reap<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Siem Reap is the crossroads for anyone who wants to visit the Angkor Wat temple complex. The city is only a few kilometers from the entrance to the archaeological park, making it an ideal base for what is undoubtedly Cambodia&#8217;s number one attraction.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Siem Reap<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I mentioned, for many, Siem Reap is synonymous with Angkor Wat, which is absolutely a must-see for anyone in Cambodia, but around the city there are definitely other sites worth considering for those who have time. For those interested, Siem Reap has a noteworthy nightlife, especially along the infamous Pub Street (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/VWXQV5ZrGWjPSRGp9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4839 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09214-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09214-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09214-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09214-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09214-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Pub Street.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Angkor Wat<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After completing 3D aerial laser scans in 2016, it became clear that the archaeological site was not only the largest religious monument in the world, but also a huge city in the heart of the Khmer Kingdom. It&#8217;s thought that 300,000 workers and 6,000 elephants were involved in its construction. Angkor Wat is indeed a vast site. The main temple that appears in most photos and from which the entire archaeological site takes its name is, in fact, only a tiny part of the site that covers an area of more than 400 square kilometers. Of this gigantic city, almost nothing remains today except the impressive temples, which were the only buildings made of stone.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4832 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08742-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08742-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08742-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08742-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08742-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Monkeys at Bayon Temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to buy tickets for Angkor Wat?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three passes are offered for park admission: one day for $37, three days for $62 and seven days for $72. I strongly recommend buying the ticket online at the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.angkorenterprise.gov.kh\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; you don&#8217;t pay any fees if you use a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">card without currency exchange fees<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You then just download the ticket to your phone and show it digitally at the various checkpoints. If, for any reason, you want to buy a physical ticket or pay cash, the ticket office is located <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/uoFuMzWtcMqU4Cem8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personally, I think the three-day pass is the right compromise. I spent five days inside the park and honestly wouldn&#8217;t have minded staying a few more days, but as mentioned above, I think three days is more than enough for most people. If you really don&#8217;t have time or you&#8217;re traveling on an extremely tight budget, spending just one day inside the park isn&#8217;t the end of the world. I&#8217;d also like to point out that the passes don&#8217;t have to be used consecutively. The three-day pass is valid for ten days, while the one-week pass can be used over an entire month.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4841 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09372-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09372-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09372-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09372-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09372-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunrise at Angkor Wat.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to visit Angkor Wat?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you have purchased your ticket, there are several options for visiting the archaeological park, the most popular undoubtedly being tuk tuk, scooter and bicycle. I did two days by tuk tuk, two by bicycle and one by scooter. Especially if you&#8217;re traveling alone, I recommend joining the various tuk tuk tours organized by the hostels. The two &#8220;standard&#8221; tours are the sunrise and sunset tours; the price varies depending on the participants. I did both with three other guys, paying only $5 for the sunrise and $6 for the sunset. By doing these two tours, you basically visit all the main temples. If you have to choose between the two, I recommend the sunrise tour. You have to wake up early, but it&#8217;s absolutely worth it! If you only have one day and want to make the most of it, a private tuk tuk from sunrise to sunset should cost you about $30.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4836\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09031-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09031-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09031-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09031-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09031-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Ta Prohm Temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re willing to put in some effort, biking is a fantastic option; from Siem Reap to the entrance of Angkor Wat is about 25 to 30 minutes, but be aware that even in late December and early January, i.e. the &#8220;coldest&#8221; time of the year, it starts to get quite hot around 10:00\/11:00. I opted for the bike only after doing the two tuk tuk tours, and basically, I&#8217;d go out at dawn, spend a few hours inside the park, return to Siem Reap in the late morning and only go out again in the late afternoon for sunset. Although the roads are in excellent condition and flat, and there&#8217;s plenty of shade, deciding to spend the whole day on a bike can be really tiring, especially if you&#8217;re not at least a little fit.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The last option is to rent a scooter. I did it on my last day so I could explore some of the temples that are far from the main complex, but nothing stops you from using it just for the classic tour.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4838 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09119-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09119-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09119-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09119-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09119-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Exploring the temples.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>What are the main temples in Angkor Wat?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to make your visit more interesting, I recommend reading a few articles online about the history of the various temples or perhaps taking advantage of one of the many guides who offer their services near the bigger temples.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let&#8217;s start with the main temple, i.e. Angkor Wat itself (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/6L1QZbzZEo4v5tyV9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which, at least during my visit, was the only one to open for sunrise at 5:00 in the morning. If you want to secure a front-row seat along the pond at this spot (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/KSsE4jntsCyvhtQb7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), from where you can take the classic photo with the reflection, you have to enter at that time, especially if you want the picture with the towers not covered by the palm trees.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All the other temples are open from 7:30 to 17:30, except for Phnom Bakheng, which closes at 18:30.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bayon temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/7aU31nQAKkWBtrRbA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) dates back to the 12th century and is famous for the many smiling faces of Brahma carved into the stone walls. This is probably my favorite temple.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4831 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08716-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08716-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08716-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08716-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08716-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Bayon Temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ta Prohm Temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Px9NFVuo78g8zL7f8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is often called &#8220;Tomb Raider Temple&#8221; because it was here that some scenes from the movie &#8220;Lara Croft: Tomb Raider&#8221; were filmed. Here, there are a couple of trees that have wrapped around part of the temple, creating some really fascinating views.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Banteay Kdei Temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/6FVvDke185YpGr8S6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) has an architectural style similar to Bayon but less complex and smaller.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ta Keo Temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/wwmfzfUuLQWs58nz9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) has a particularly massive appearance due to the absence of external decoration. It&#8217;s considered an example of the so-called Khleang style.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4843\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09501-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09501-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09501-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09501-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09501-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Ta Som Temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The temples listed so far are commonly visited on the sunrise tour, while the following are those normally visited on the sunset tour.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like Ta Prohm, the Preah Khan temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/BW83KaXgKMeADdm46\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is largely unrestored, with numerous trees and other vegetation growing among the ruins.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neak Poan Temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/T2XnyDvaLcN9uPPB8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is an artificial island with a Buddhist temple on a circular island, which isn&#8217;t particularly impressive, in my opinion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4827 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08486-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08486-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08486-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08486-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08486-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Neak Poan Temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Pre Rup temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/1uaa83PL9rbo3WEGA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) was built as the state temple of Khmer King Rajendravarman. It&#8217;s a temple mountain made of brick, laterite and sandstone.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ta Som temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/uuFyzh4KH5xBnkQF7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is a single shrine surrounded by laterite walls. Like nearby Preah Khan and Ta Prohm, the temple is largely unrestored.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Eastern Mebon Temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/FYWoL1N9JGT85q7o8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Its location reflects Khmer architects&#8217; attention to orientation and cardinal directions. The holes that formerly anchored the stucco are still visible.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4842\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09439-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09439-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09439-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09439-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09439-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Pre Rup Temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Phnom Bakheng (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/JSWvtTYNAwSbckjY6\">Google Maps<\/a>) is the temple where you&#8217;re taken to watch the sunset. It&#8217;s extremely popular, and there are really a lot of people. It&#8217;s not bad, but if you have other sunsets available, I strongly recommend watching it near the bridge leading to Angkor Wat, at this spot (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/5fL8RQjzEXQLXdzr8\">Google Maps<\/a>). With some luck, the last light of the day will illuminate the temple, resulting in a unique sight, in my opinion much better than an anonymous sunset from the top of Phnom Bakheng.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In conclusion, be aware that the food prices within the park&#8217;s confines are extremely inflated, and you don&#8217;t have to play along. When we stopped for lunch during the sunset tour, which starts around 11:00, instead of $7\/8 per meal as per the menu, it took us literally two seconds to get down to $5 for whatever we wanted. I&#8217;m sure you can pay even less, and all the tuk tuk drivers you see sitting down to eat definitely don&#8217;t pay that much.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4828 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08504-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08504-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08504-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08504-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08504-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset at Phnom Bakheng temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4844 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09634-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09634-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09634-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09634-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09634-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The last light of the day illuminating Angkor Wat.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Other temples to visit<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I mentioned, besides the main complex, there are quite a few temples worth exploring. These temples are often ignored and are therefore a great option for anyone who wants to escape the crowds that characterize Angkor Wat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Banteay Srei temple, also known as &#8220;Lady Temple&#8221; (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/55orBVE3RYEwHL2Q8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), is a 10th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. It&#8217;s considered the &#8220;jewel of Khmer art&#8221; because of all its intricate carvings. It&#8217;s just under an hour from Siem Reap, and I recommend combining the visit with the landmine museum I discuss below. Admission is included in the pass to Angkor Wat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4834\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08783-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08783-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08783-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08783-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08783-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Baksei Chamkrong Temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Bakong Temple (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/fJ9RVuuhQ7sjfr6HA\">Google Maps<\/a>) and Preah Ko Temple (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/zyZaPNj19NnrNpGs9\">Google Maps<\/a>) are a short distance from each other and are among the most easily accessible of the noteworthy temples included in the pass from Siem Reap. If you decide to go to Beng Mealea, they&#8217;re literally on the way, and I think it&#8217;s worth a stop.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Beng Mealea Temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/tdeYNh3nymRH1cym6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), also known as the &#8220;Jungle Temple&#8221;, is about an hour&#8217;s drive from Siem Reap. As the nickname suggests, the jungle has taken over a bit, and from what I&#8217;ve been told, only recently have the walkways been built that make it easy to explore its interior. It&#8217;s still an impressive structure, as well as one of the largest Khmer temples ever built. Again, admission is included in the Angkor Wat pass.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4867 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09590-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09590-HDR-Edit.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09590-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09590-HDR-Edit-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09590-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Beng Mealea Temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Koh Ker temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/g1uUEJwympYC5rL4A\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is more than a two-hour drive from Siem Reap, but being on the same road that leads to Beng Mealea (an hour further north), you can easily combine the visit. It&#8217;s an impressive 30-meter-high pyramid nestled in the jungle. Still, even though I was already at Beng Mealea, I couldn&#8217;t justify the additional two-hour drive there and back, not counting the fact that you must pay a separate $15 entrance fee. If interested, you can buy your ticket online at the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.angkorenterprise.gov.kh\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. From Siem Reap, you can join a minivan tour for about $50 per person, which includes a visit to Koh Ker and Beng Mealea.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Preah Vihear temple (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/gp7LE9Exi3g1xLwg9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is located even further north, about a four-hour drive from Siem Reap, literally on the border with Thailand, so much so that for years, there was a dispute over which country was the rightful owner. Located atop a 525-meter-high cliff, it seems to be a really fascinating place, but personally, I couldn&#8217;t justify the long trip. If interested, there are organized minivan tours that leave from Siem Reap; the price varies depending on the number of participants, and admission costs $10.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4825 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08409-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08409-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08409-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08409-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08409-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Tonle Om Gate.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Landmine museum<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Especially if you decide to visit the Banteay Srei temple, since it&#8217;s right on the way, I strongly recommend stopping at the Landmine Museum (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/we8nAcdzATgwyrpt6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), whose official website you can find on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cambodialandminemuseum.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Admission costs $5, and funds raised go directly to support an NGO that clears the land of mines and runs other projects such as building schools (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cambodianselfhelpdemining.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The museum first of all tells the story of the conflict, how landmines came to Cambodia and what is being done to remove them, but also the story of its founder, Aki Ra. Snatched from his family by the Khmer Rouge at the age of 5, in order to survive he spent nearly 35 years fighting for the various factions of the war in Cambodia before dedicating his life to clearing the land of mines.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I arrived at the museum in the afternoon; Aki Ra had just returned from his daily mine-clearing outing and offered everyone a guided tour of the museum. A unique experience. Should you not be as lucky, besides the various explanatory panels, there&#8217;s the option of listening to the audio guide in English. There are a series of QR codes to scan with your phone, and they provide Wi-Fi if you don&#8217;t have a SIM card; I recommend bringing a pair of headphones.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4848 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09670-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09670-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09670-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09670-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09670-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Kompong Khleang floating village.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Tonle Sap Lake and floating villages<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An excursion to Tonle Sap Lake and one of its many floating villages is another popular excursion from Siem Reap. Most people visit the village closest to town, namely <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/JrgrhD5E4Ygh3jrx7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chong Kneas<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which, from what I&#8217;ve read and what other travelers have told me, has become a real tourist trap. The houses have turned into souvenir shops, and the authentic atmosphere is long gone. If you&#8217;re still interested, hostels organize shared tuk tuks for about $10 depending on the number of participants, and once in the village, you can take a boat ride for $20.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4849\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09676-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09676-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09676-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09676-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09676-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset at Kompong Khleang.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personally, I joined the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/8WcYxTte6hhMkqnRA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kompong Khleang<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> floating village tour organized by an agency whose profits go directly to fund a school in the village and other charitable projects. We saw locals drying fish, visited the school, walked around the village and then went to watch the sunset over the lake. All in all, it was a nice experience, but if you&#8217;re traveling on a budget, I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s worth spending $35. In any case, you can find the official website with all the relevant information on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kompongkhleang.org\/\">this page<\/a>. If you want, you can also contact them on WhatsApp. If you&#8217;re heading to or coming from Battambang, you don&#8217;t want to spend the money on a tour, and you absolutely want to see the lake, a good compromise could be the boat trip.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4847 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09666-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09666-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09666-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09666-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09666-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Smoked fish at Kompong Khleang.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Phnom Kulen National Park<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phnom Kulen National Park is about an hour and a half from Siem Reap. The entrance fee is $20. The reviews didn&#8217;t convince me at all, and given the cost of entry, I didn&#8217;t go, but I encourage you to do your research. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/helloangkor.com\/phnom-kulen-guide\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can find an interesting article here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In any case, the main attractions are the two waterfalls, a viewpoint, some temples, and a giant statue of a reclining Buddha.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4833\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08761-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08761-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08761-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08761-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08761-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Phare Circus<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At Phare Circus (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/PjTEtFUiatYPXcsb8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), the performers are students from the Battambang school I mentioned earlier. It&#8217;s basically the same project. You can find the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pharecircus.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> here. Having been to the Battambang circus before, I didn&#8217;t go, but I think it can be an interesting experience for those who aren&#8217;t planning to go to Battambang. The show is every evening at 20:00, and admission starts at $18.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4826\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08473-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08473-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08473-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08473-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08473-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Angkor National Museum<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, a couple of travelers strongly recommended the Angkor National Museum to me (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/3LGey21XfqQ4r5RF6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), but I haven&#8217;t been there, so I won&#8217;t comment. The museum takes you through the history of Buddhism, Cambodia and its people from ancient times to the present day. Admission costs $12, and the audio guide $5.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4850 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09682-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09682-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09682-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09682-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09682-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset over Tonle Sap Lake.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to eat in Siem Reap?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>Some cheap restaurants that serve good food and that I&#8217;d recommend are My Little Cafe (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/noZsineAiWMbteLm7\"><em>Google Maps<\/em><\/a><em>), Khmer Taste Restaurant (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/HCAxWjHbPg97iPNu9\"><em>Google Maps<\/em><\/a><em>) and The Red And Green Curry Angkor Restaurant (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/jcF6Vr2tiYhttr5JA\"><em>Google Maps<\/em><\/a><em>).<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Siem Reap?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I spent a couple of nights at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/tu-casa.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">THE PLACE Hostel &amp; Pool Bar<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which was nothing special, but it turned out to be useful since they organize shared tuk tuks to visit Angkor Wat. However, this is common practice in most hostels, so I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s a deciding factor. I spent the rest of my stay at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/baahu-villa.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baahu Villa<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, one of the few remaining options around New Year&#8217;s Eve, and it turned out to be a great &#8220;hostel&#8221;. They actually have only one dorm, and the rest are private rooms, so absolutely don&#8217;t expect a social atmosphere, but the dorm itself is really comfortable and nice, and the staff is extremely friendly. Finally, <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/one-stop-hostel-siem-reap-angkor-night-market.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onederz Siem Reap<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (booking on the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/onederz.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official website<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is often cheaper) was recommended to me by quite a few people, and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/noni-tree-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Noni Tree Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, though more expensive, had been recommended to me by a close friend.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4842\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09439-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09439-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09439-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09439-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09439-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Siem Reap?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>Siem Reap has very frequent connections to Phnom Penh; I particularly recommend <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/larryta.com\/\"><em>LarryTa Express<\/em><\/a><em>, but the route is served by all the major bus companies, including <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.giantibis.com\/\"><em>Giant Ibis<\/em><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/vireakbuntham.com\/\"><em>Virak Buntham<\/em><\/a><em> and <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/tYF2QzkWvkGGfPaH6\"><em>Mey Hong<\/em><\/a><em>, the latter probably being the cheapest option. To and from Battambang, there are minivans with <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/vireakbuntham.com\/\"><em>Virak Buntham<\/em><\/a><em> and the option to take the boat with Angkor Express, which covers the Battambang &#8211; Siem Reap route and vice versa for $30 in about 6-7 hours. There are also night buses to Sihanoukville and Kampot. To get an idea of the various options, you can take a look at sites like <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/12go.asia\/?z=2634140\"><em>12go<\/em><\/a><em> and <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bookaway.com\/?offer_id=34&amp;aff_id=2496\"><em>Bookaway<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to land connections, Siem Reap has interesting direct flights to many cities in Southeast Asia, which can only increase with the construction of the new airport.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4837 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09096-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09096-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09096-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09096-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09096-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Ta Prohm Temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Sihanoukville<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sihanoukville was for a long time a destination loved by travelers. Still, unfortunately, in recent years, there has been a massive boom in Chinese investment, particularly in casino construction, and many of these facilities haven&#8217;t even been completed because of the pandemic. Now it&#8217;s basically a big construction site: dirty and devoid of any charm.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Sihanoukville<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I really think you&#8217;d be better off skipping Sihanoukville altogether and heading straight for the islands, but if you really want to stop for a few days, Otres Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/R8G5MpSe84ACyTav8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), what was once backpackers&#8217; favorite destination, still seems to be the best option.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Sihanoukville?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I haven&#8217;t spent the night in Sihanoukville, and you probably shouldn&#8217;t either, but as always, I think <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/one-stop-hostel-sihanoukville.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onederz Sihanoukville<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a safe bet. Booking on the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/onederz.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official site<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is often cheaper.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Sihanoukville?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are frequent connections to and from Phnom Penh with all major bus companies, including <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.giantibis.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Giant Ibis<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vireakbuntham.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virak Buntham<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/larryta.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LarryTa Express<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. I usually don&#8217;t recommend booking transportation through your lodging, but at least in the case of <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/waterview-guesthouse.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onederz Hostel Phnom Penh<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the minivans, in addition to the hostel pick-up, take you directly to the pier, where you can take the boat to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem, which is really convenient. There are also night buses from Siem Reap. As always, you can check out sites like <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/12go.asia\/?z=2634140\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12go<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bookaway.com\/?offer_id=34&amp;aff_id=2496\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bookaway<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to get an idea of the various options. If you want, you can also take the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"http:\/\/royal-railway.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">train<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from Phnom Penh and Kampot. Finally, it&#8217;s possible to reach the city from Thailand. There are, in fact, direct buses from Trat to the border (Had Lek on the Thai side and Koh Kong on the Cambodian side) and then direct buses to Sihanoukville.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4778 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0855-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0855-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0855-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0855-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset at Lazy Beach, Koh Rong Samloem.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Cambodia&#8217;s most popular islands<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People often associate Cambodia with Angkor Wat alone. Still, the reality is that the country has more than a few paradise islands to offer anyone who wants to spend a few relaxing days at the beach.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">N.b. There are no ATMs on the islands, so stock up on cash before leaving the mainland!<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"koh-rong-sanloem\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Rong Sanloem<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Rong Sanloem is considered the favorite island of backpackers visiting the country. Honestly, I also really liked the larger and more developed Koh Rong, but without a doubt, the smaller island retains a more authentic atmosphere and is certainly less developed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4785 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0934-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0934-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0934-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0934-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunrise at Saracen Bay.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Koh Rong Sanloem<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I list several activities and excursions assuming you decide to sleep in Saracen Bay, but as I&#8217;ll discuss in the where to sleep section, it&#8217;s absolutely not the only option.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Boat tours<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For $10 to $15, it&#8217;s possible to take part in a pretty nice boat tour. The program may vary depending on who organizes it, but at least in our case, we started by snorkeling and fishing and then went to M&#8217;Pai Bay to watch the sunset. On the way back, we stopped at a bay without light pollution to swim with glowing plankton, which was really cool.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4777 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0837-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0837-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0837-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0837-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>M\u2019Pai Bay.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>M&#8217;Pai Bay<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">M&#8217;Pai Bay is a small fishing village on the island&#8217;s north side. Some travelers prefer it for its more authentic atmosphere, but the beaches around it are certainly not the most beautiful on the island. I was there briefly when I participated in the boat tour and then spent a few days there before continuing to Koh Rong. Some travelers go there for the day by taxi boat, and similarly, I met someone staying in M&#8217;Pai Bay who went to Saracen Bay for the day by taking a taxi boat in the morning and returning by supply boat in the evening.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">At M&#8217;Pai Bay, you could rent a kayak and go snorkeling at nearby Koh Koun (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/66mZMFHbGpxawwiQ7\">Google Maps<\/a>); the northeast side is where they took us on the boat tour. I walked to Clear Water Bay (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=Clear%20Water%20Bay&amp;query_place_id=ChIJs18Y4dnoBzERxEYMEk0BGk0\">Google Maps<\/a>); the trail is mapped on Organic Maps, and the beach is nice and almost deserted. It takes a little over an hour. Finally, at the beach just outside the village (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/qbPnVGz8HhBFGvNm8\">Google Maps<\/a>), you can see the plankton without joining any kind of tour.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4774 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0807-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0807-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0807-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0807-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Clear Water Bay.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Sunset Beach<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To get to Sunset Beach (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/MuUzKxULufwodrzaA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) from Saracen Bay, you have to walk for about half an hour; at one point, the dirt road turns into a real trail through the forest. I did it in flip-flops with no problem, but I&#8217;m sure some people would prefer to have a pair of shoes, especially if you decide to stop for sunset and then come back in the dark. If you have a headlamp, bring it, or at least ensure you have enough battery on your phone. There are at least a couple of bars and restaurants on-site where you can get drinks or food. In my opinion, the beach isn&#8217;t as beautiful as Saracen Bay, but it&#8217;s much quieter and, as the name suggests, the perfect place to watch the sunset.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4775 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0824-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0824-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0824-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0824-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset Beach.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Rong Sanloem Lighthouse and Lazy Beach<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Reaching the lighthouse (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Gr4cWRkkjcL9PySB9\">Google Maps<\/a>) from Saracen Bay takes just over an hour; once there, the keeper charges $1 to go up. The view is really nice. I then recommend continuing along the coast toward what Google Maps calls <a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/ENhqxpizmQfeSNvp8\">Twilight Beach<\/a>, while on Organic Maps it&#8217;s called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=10.550604,103.313044\">Military Beach<\/a>. Walk to the end of the beach, where there&#8217;s a trail through the forest that leads to some really nice stone carvings (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/ZnqYvTUMfdoiEeCn8\">Google Maps<\/a>), and if you continue further, there&#8217;s a really cool viewpoint at this location (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/fvA3i7rWqqNAotJY6\">Google Maps<\/a>). From here, you can turn back and head down to Lazy Beach. Together with a group of guys, we set off very leisurely around 14:30 and arrived at Lazy Beach just in time for sunset. If you want, you could leave early in the morning so you also avoid the heat while walking, and spend the afternoon at Lazy Beach (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Ck7zCXLziGMYvPDo6\">Google Maps<\/a>). I think it&#8217;s a nice way to spend the whole day.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you don&#8217;t feel like doing the whole circuit, I still recommend a trip to Lazy Beach; it only takes about 20 minutes from Saracen Bay. The beach is nice, and you can watch the sunset there.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4855 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09830-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09830-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09830-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09830-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09830-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Lazy Beach seen from the viewpoint.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Freedom Waterfall<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freedom Waterfall (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/F1GZaT4gqRHa51op8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the waterfall at the side of Saracen Bay. Officially, they charge a dollar to go up the short path and use the man-made pool built at the base, although when I went, no one asked me for anything. In early January, as you can see from the photo, the waterfall is really unimpressive, but if you&#8217;re looking for a place to cool off, it&#8217;s not that bad.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Diving in Koh Rong Samloem<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, if you want to dive around the island, a friend did a couple of dives with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/4PVteMAW8FW6NCjZ7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Dive Shop Saracen Bay<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and all in all, he was satisfied, but don&#8217;t expect to see big fish; the unregulated fishing has pretty much wiped them out.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4776 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0834-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0834-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0834-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0834-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset Beach at sunset.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Koh Rong Samloem?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saracen Bay is by far the most popular choice among travelers. It&#8217;s a wide bay of white sand and shallow water, and besides being really nice (in my opinion, the most beautiful beach on the island), it&#8217;s also the most convenient location to reach since all speed boats stop here at one of the two piers.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As usual, I stayed at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/onederz-koh-rong-samloem.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onederz Koh Rong Sanloem<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; there are slightly cheaper options in Saracen Bay, but honestly, I think it&#8217;s worth spending a few more dollars. It&#8217;s a great hostel. Booking on the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/onederz.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official website<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is often cheaper. They have a party every Thursday, so plan accordingly.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re looking for a quieter location, you could sleep at Sunset Beach, where there are more than a few interesting options: <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/sleeping-trees.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleeping Trees<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/kamaku-bungalows.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KAMAKU Bungalows<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/sunboo-beach-bungalows-krong-preah-sihanouk.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SunBoo Beach Bungalows<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you&#8217;re traveling light, getting off at Saracen Bay and continuing on foot is absolutely doable, but as I wrote above, the last stretch is a real trail through the jungle. Alternatively, you could arrange a taxi boat from Saracen Bay or M&#8217;Pai Bay; ask your accommodation what the best option is.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lazy Beach has a similar atmosphere, but at least at the time of writing this guide, there are no hostels. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/mad-monkey-koh-rong-samloem.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MadMonkey<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has a hostel on a secluded cove north of Saracen Bay; I&#8217;ve never been to a MadMonkey (it&#8217;s a chain of party hostels), but if that&#8217;s what you&#8217;re looking for, it might be an option to consider for a few days. If I&#8217;m not mistaken, they hold a &#8220;big party&#8221; once a week.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The last popular option is M&#8217;Pai Bay. I spent a couple of days at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/the-cliff-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cliff<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Hostel<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, M&#8217;Pay Bay<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; the hostel is in a location that is as cool as it is &#8220;inconvenient&#8221; to get to. It wasn&#8217;t a problem for me, but honestly, you could just go there and spend a few hours in the day since the common area\/bar is open to everyone and sleep in one of the two hostels that are located in the center of the small village: <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/bonsai.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bonsai<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/lazy-bones.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lazy Bones<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you decide to sleep in M&#8217;Pai Bay, you absolutely have to go and have breakfast at the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/rDzNFy2FM3i7TVVL6\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seapony Cafe<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4854 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09748-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09748-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09748-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09748-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09748-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset at Sunset Beach.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Koh Rong Samloem?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To reach Koh Rong Samloem, you must go through Sihanoukville, which has several daily departures from the port. In the past, boats departed from the pier near the center, but this hasn&#8217;t been the case for a few years, and some guidebooks are outdated. This is the location of the port entrance (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/pgpEGKiZEJb362aT8\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) from where <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gtvcspeedboatcambodia.com\/en\/transit\/pages\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GTVC<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.islandspeedferry.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Island Speed Ferry<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.buvasea.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buva Sea<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> operate. Generally, one company is as good as another; the round-trip ticket costs $25, about 45 minutes, and you don&#8217;t have to return to the mainland from the same island\/dock or choose a return date. I, for example, did Sihanoukville &#8211; Saracen Bay on the way out but then returned from Long Set Beach in Koh Rong almost three weeks later. Be careful, however, because not all companies make the same stops; some only go to Saracen Bay, while others also stop at M&#8217;Pai Bay. Similarly, some companies only go to Khao Touch Beach on Koh Rong while others also stop at Long Beach. GTVC seems to be the company that offers the most comprehensive options, but to be safe, ask the ticket office for confirmation based on where you decide to stay and confirm return times, because they seem to vary from one day to the next.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A cheaper option is to take the supply boat that shuttles between the mainland and the two islands every day. It&#8217;s a yellow boat, so you can&#8217;t go wrong. I&#8217;m not sure about the departure time, but it should be in the early afternoon since it takes 2-3 hours to reach the pier on the north side of Saracen Bay (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/32K1g8NpCUvNxVB78\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) around 17:00 before continuing to Mpay bay and finally Koh Rong. There&#8217;s no need to bake in the sun; from when it arrives to when it departs, at least half an hour has passed (they have to unload the cargo) so you can safely wait on the beach. The supply boat is in fact also the cheapest way to get from one bay to another or from one island to another, especially if you travel alone. I paid $5 from Saracen Bay to Mpay Bay and another $5 a few days later for the Mpay Bay &#8211; Koh Rong leg (departure at 18:00). I strongly recommend confirming times once on site. Alternatively, you can arrange taxi boats; if you&#8217;re traveling in a group, it might be cheaper and definitely more convenient. From Samloem to Koh Rong, they charge $20, so split four ways, it costs the same as the supply boat.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4788 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0991.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0991.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0991-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0991-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Koh Rong Samloem lighthouse.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Planning your trip? If you still need travel insurance, you can find my <a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/safety\/travel-insurance\/\">guide to the best travel insurance<\/a> here. Purchasing through the links in the guide supports this site at no additional cost to you.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"koh-rong\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Rong<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Backpackers often snub Koh Rong, but I can assure you there&#8217;s no shortage of paradise beaches. That said, if you really have to choose between the two, I can only join the chorus of voices recommending Koh Rong Sanloem.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Koh Rong<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I spent a good part of my days on the island lazing on the beach, and below I&#8217;ll try to list the best ones, but if you&#8217;re interested, I know there&#8217;s a boat tour similar to the one offered on Koh Rong Samloem that includes some snorkeling and the plankton.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>White Beach<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">White Beach or Kaoh Touch Beach (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/bAsJ8Q52Q1Mzv13X8\">Google Maps<\/a>) is the beach of the island&#8217;s main village, where the supply boat arrives and all the speed boats also stop. It&#8217;s by far the busiest area, with lots of bars and restaurants, but the northern part of the beach isn&#8217;t that bad after all.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4781 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0879-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0879-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0879-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0879-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>White Beach.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Long Beach<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Long Beach (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=10.695521,103.251321\">Google Maps<\/a>), as the name suggests, is a very long beach on the west side of the island. White sand and crystal-clear water. The perfect spot for watching the sunset. There are lots of resorts; you can walk along the beach but not put your towel down (the guards will ask you to move). Whether that&#8217;s legal or not, I don&#8217;t know, but the southernmost stretch is considered a &#8220;public beach.&#8221; I walked there on one of the days I stayed at White Beach, but if you want, you can take a tuk tuk or rent a scooter.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">If you&#8217;re feeling adventurous, I took one of the trails mapped on Organic Maps that connect White Beach to Long Beach through the forest. I got lost a couple of times, and the GPS track isn&#8217;t 100% reliable. In places there are yellow ribbons marking the trail, but it&#8217;s absolutely not obvious. It took me about an hour. I strongly recommend a pair of shoes, even though I did it in flip-flops. On the way back, I walked along the road.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4779 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0856-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0856-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0856-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0856-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Long Beach.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>4K Beach<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">4K Beach or Long Set Beach (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/6FkzWKB6bq2aAj8a6\">Google Maps<\/a>) is, in my opinion, the most beautiful beach on the island and where I recommend staying, as I wrote earlier in the where to stay section. If you decide to stay at White Beach, you can walk to 4K Beach. I did it with my backpack when I changed hostels, but be aware that at some point you have to cross the estuary of a small coastal lagoon. At high tide, it can be tricky because the water can easily reach your chest. I had to cross with my backpack over my head.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4782 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0903-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0903-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0903-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0903-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>4K Beach.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Coconut Beach<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Coconut Beach (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/dq9QQrF5DuiAnCb68\">Google Maps<\/a>) is a secluded beach on the east side of the island. If you decide to stay at 4K Beach, you can walk there. It took me about an hour and a half; the route is more or less the one mapped on Organic Maps, but there are a couple of spots where you have to go by instinct. It&#8217;s a nice way to spend half a day. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/coconutbeach-bungalows.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\">Coconut Beach Bungalows<\/a> has an inexpensive restaurant where you can eat, and apparently the snorkeling in the northern part of the beach isn&#8217;t bad.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4784 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0931-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0931-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0931-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0931-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Coconut Beach.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Lonely Beach<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Lonely Beach (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Yiip5KFq3hD8opsP7\">Google Maps<\/a>) is at the far north of the island. I didn&#8217;t go because I&#8217;d have had to rent a scooter, and the last stretch has to be done on foot. They charge $15 a day, gas included. Personally, I didn&#8217;t feel the need to see another beach, but renting a scooter can definitely be a nice way to spend the day, especially if you don&#8217;t feel like walking, and you can definitely combine visiting several beaches.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Koh Rong?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I spent a couple of nights at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/lost-boys.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lost Boys<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> but I don&#8217;t recommend it. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/nest-beach-club.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nest Beach Club<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and especially <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/prf.hn\/l\/Glnzj9o\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Funky Beach Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are located on what&#8217;s probably the most beautiful beach on the island (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/8bnMGTcvUWdVtQwU9\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4K Beach or Long Set Beach<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). I stayed at Funky right after it opened and would have recommended it without a second thought, but from what I read, unfortunately, they seem to have some cleanliness issues. I encourage you to read some recent reviews and decide for yourself, but if they fix the problem, it&#8217;s truly a spectacular location. If you want a more relaxed atmosphere, consider spending a few nights at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/coconutbeach-bungalows.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coconut Beach Bungalows<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/lonely-beach.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lonely Beach<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4780\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0874-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0874-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0874-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0874-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Koh Rong Samloem seen from Koh Rong.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Koh Rong?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What I said in the &#8220;How to reach Koh Rong Samloem&#8221; section applies here too. I&#8217;ll just add that, as far as I know, the two piers where the speed boats stop are White Beach and 4K Beach. If you decide to stay somewhere else, you&#8217;ll probably have to arrange some other form of transportation once you reach your destination. Again, check with the ticket office based on where you decide to stay, and confirm the return times.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4786 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0956-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0956-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0956-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0956-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset at Coconut Beach.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"koh-ta-kiev\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Ta Kiev<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Koh Ta Kiev was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my trip to Cambodia, and although I also really liked Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem, practically all the travelers I met on Koh Ta Kiev who had come from the two more popular islands preferred it by far.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Even though the island is really close to the coast, it has kept that desert-island atmosphere the other two islands lost long ago. There are no postcard-perfect white beaches, but if you&#8217;re looking for a place to escape from civilization for a few days or weeks, look no further.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Part of what made the experience so enjoyable was definitely staying at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/kactus.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\">Kactus<\/a>, a place literally immersed in nature, with basically a private beach since there are no other buildings around, and a nice common area that serves as a bar\/restaurant. There are no other options to eat nearby, and meals cost $4-$6, so not exactly cheap, but the atmosphere is truly unique, and they organize free activities like yoga.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">To get around the island, there are several well-marked and well-maintained trails: you can reach a fishing village on the north side of the island, and after walking for about an hour and a half, there&#8217;s a cliff where you can jump in and, with a bit of imagination, see the silhouette of an elephant, Elephant Rock (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/gsaRgRpeBXe7xsxd6\">Google Maps<\/a>). If you&#8217;re interested, a boat tour to see the plankton is offered every evening, but you could simply walk along the beach away from the lights and have more or less the same experience. In any case, if you&#8217;re feeling particularly active, the staff is more than willing to recommend various activities, but I&#8217;m almost certain you&#8217;ll end up spending your days on the island totally relaxing. I really think it&#8217;s a little gem that deserves a visit; take advantage of it before it&#8217;s too late.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4747 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0034-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0034-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0034-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0034-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The beach where Kactus is located.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Koh Ta Kiev?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There&#8217;s no public transportation to the island, but the various accommodations have a boat that shuttles back and forth to Ream Beach every day. As I mentioned, I stayed at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/kactus.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kactus<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and at least during my visit, their boat left the island at 11:30 and left the mainland at 12:30. Their pier is at this spot (<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/eZgKRU6PCbvGDQ8e6\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). It costs $15 round trip. If you&#8217;re coming from Sihanoukville, you have to take a tuk tuk, while to and from Kampot, shared taxis can be arranged; I paid $15 when I left the island. In any case, when you book, they send you all the relevant information. The other option popular with backpackers, <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/crusoe-camping-island.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crusoe Koh Takiev Island<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, I think works more or less the same way, and their pier isn&#8217;t far away.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Koh Ta Kiev?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I mentioned, I stayed at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/kactus.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kactus<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and I can&#8217;t recommend it highly enough. Don&#8217;t expect a luxurious experience, but it&#8217;s truly a special place that you&#8217;ll have a hard time leaving. I recommend booking in advance because they&#8217;re often fully booked, except for the tents, which aren&#8217;t exactly the most comfortable. The alternative is <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/crusoe-camping-island.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crusoe Koh Takiev Island<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which has excellent reviews, but I wasn&#8217;t particularly impressed when I went there for the day.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4748 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0081-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0081-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0081-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0081-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Floating village at Koh Ta Kiev.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Russei (Bamboo Island) and Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island)<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I haven&#8217;t been to either island, but if you want to get even further off the usual tourist circuits, you might consider them. Koh Russei isn&#8217;t far from Koh Ta Kiev, and in the past there was at least one budget accommodation suitable for backpackers, <a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/cvuPZUKeqQrFG6A48\">Koh Ru Bungalows<\/a>, which doesn&#8217;t seem to have reopened after the pandemic. As of today, there are only extremely high-end accommodations, but things could change in the future.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Koh Tonsay, on the other hand, is only a 25-minute boat ride from Kep and offers at least a couple of inexpensive options to stay, such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/yeah-meng.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;room1=A\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simone Rabbit Island<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/khim-vouch-iay-bungalow.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=1&amp;room1=A\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Khim Vouch ay Bungalow<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; the island looks really nice.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Chi Phat (Cardamom Mountains)<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is another destination I haven&#8217;t visited personally, but it had been recommended to me by a couple of travelers, and I think it could be an interesting option if you want to immerse yourself in nature and support a nice ecotourism project. The Cardamom Mountains occupy a mountainous region with many protected natural areas, including one of the last unfragmented rainforests in Asia.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want more information, I recommend checking the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/chi-phat.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where you&#8217;ll find <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/chi-phat.org\/en\/directions\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">detailed directions to the village<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Another interesting project in the region that you might consider is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cardamomtentedcamp.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cardamom Tented Camp<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but there are many other organizations operating within Botum Sakor National Park and Phnum Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary. These are often not exactly cheap experiences, but at the same time, you&#8217;re supporting some nice conservation projects.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4754 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0265-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0265-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0265-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0265-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset over the Kampot salt flats.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"kampot\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Kampot<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kampot is a relaxed river town in southeastern Cambodia. It&#8217;s the ideal base for Bokor National Park and many other attractions, including the famous plantations where the well-known Kampot pepper is harvested.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Kampot<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The town itself doesn&#8217;t have much to offer, apart from a relaxed atmosphere. There are a few nice colonial buildings here and there, but most of the attractions are outside town, except for the Kampot Museum (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/XBbDBG8gVJRkK3Wk6\">Google Maps<\/a>), which is often recommended but was closed during my visit, so I won&#8217;t comment. Admission costs $2.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">For everything else, I strongly recommend renting a scooter: at $5 a day, I think it&#8217;s by far the most practical way to explore Kampot and the surrounding area, but if you can&#8217;t ride one, you can easily join one of the many organized tours. I rented my scooter <a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/WTDq8y7m7KQ8n3Kf7\">here<\/a>: friendly staff and the bike was in good condition. Be aware, though, that many of the roads around Kampot are dirt roads and not in good shape.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4759 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0380-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0380-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0380-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0380-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Kampot riverside.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Explore the caves<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The karst landscape around Kampot is full of caves, some of which are particularly worth a visit.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Phnom Kbal Romeas Cave (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/u8Hqaoy9xXggFFt6A\">Google Maps<\/a>) is the most accessible from town. You can explore it on your own or rely on the local guides you&#8217;ll find at the entrance. Climbing is also possible: the guys at the entrance have all the necessary gear. Free.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Phnom Chhnork Cave (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/xXhgHxWxkJNjBkju7\">Google Maps<\/a>) is a little further away, and the last stretch of road is extremely bumpy. Inside, there&#8217;s a brick Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva that was built in the 7th century. This part of the cave is easy to explore thanks to a staircase, but if you want, you can go deeper into the inner chambers. I went down on my own but turned back at some point. Apparently, local guides offer a &#8220;full tour.&#8221; Admission costs 5000 riel.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4789 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00161-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00161-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00161-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00161-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00161-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Phnom Kbal Romeas.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Phnom Sorsia Cave (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/br55Wniuy4yd3BDX9\">Google Maps<\/a>) is part of a small Buddhist complex with a temple and a stupa. There are two caves you can easily explore on your own, but as usual, there are local guides willing to show you around. Free.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Water Pond Cave or Kampong Trach Water Cave (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=Kampong%20Trach%20Water%20Cave&amp;query_place_id=ChIJwwJe7p3ICTERiTZzKl78EaE\">Google Maps<\/a>) is about an hour&#8217;s drive from Kampot. At the base of the mountain, inside the cave, there&#8217;s a small natural pool that isn&#8217;t exactly inviting. What&#8217;s worth it are the views from the top of the steep stairs that lead into another cave, where there&#8217;s also a stupa. That said, I honestly don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s worth the hour-long drive.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4790\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00179-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00179-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00179-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00179-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00179-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The view from the cave at the top.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>What I recommend doing in one day is visiting Phnom Kbal Romeas and Phnom Chhnork, then continuing to Brateak Krola Lake, often called &#8220;Secret Lake.&#8221; It&#8217;s nothing special, but I think it&#8217;s a nice place to have lunch and take a break. I stopped at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/dALi5p5nMZkmqQzNA\"><em>Lake Restaurant<\/em><\/a><em> before continuing to the pepper plantations and finally Phnom Sorsia Cave. If you want a less packed itinerary, I recommend skipping either Phnom Chhnork or Phnom Sorsia, or both.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4751 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0161-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0161-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0161-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0161-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Phnom Sorsia.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Pepper plantation tour<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Pepper has been grown around Kampot for hundreds of years, but it&#8217;s not just any pepper: in fact, many chefs claim that Kampot pepper is the best in the world.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Many plantations in the area offer guided tours. I went to La Plantation (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/zzAMbwFVxBztBoNDA\">Google Maps<\/a>) and I recommend it. They offer free tours in both English and French, with a tasting and a small snack included. The whole thing takes about an hour, and the tours seem to start frequently. I waited about half an hour. The on-site restaurant was slightly expensive for my taste, but it has excellent reviews.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Salt flats<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">There are lots of salt flats around Kampot; for convenience, I recommend visiting the ones south of town, as they&#8217;re the most accessible. I drove toward this spot (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/USMEdfKBhCiVpKhx5\">Google Maps<\/a>), but I stopped earlier, as soon as the view seemed pretty enough. Sunset is undoubtedly the best time!<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4752 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0171-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0171-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0171-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0171-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset over the salt flats.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Kayaking on the river and the green cathedral<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">A nice way to spend a few hours is definitely to rent a kayak and explore the so-called Green Cathedral, a navigable canal not far from town whose name comes from the foliage lining the waterway.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I rented my kayak at Bopha Prey Kampot (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/SNa2TihUnV3ixRMa6\">Google Maps<\/a>), a guesthouse literally at the entrance of the canal, so the location is really convenient. They wanted $5 but immediately dropped to $3 as soon as I made a face. It takes about an hour to complete the loop; the route is almost always obvious, but if in doubt, you can always use Organic Maps. If you haven&#8217;t had enough paddling, you can always head up the river.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4753 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0246-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0246-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0246-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0246-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Green Cathedral from above.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Bokor National Park<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Exploring Bokor National Park by scooter is a great way to spend a day in Kampot. The trip takes you over 1000 meters up, to the top of the national park. The road is really pleasant and in excellent condition, there are some nice views, and you&#8217;ll probably see quite a few monkeys. Given the altitude, I recommend putting a sweatshirt in your backpack; the air can get chilly.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4757 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0341-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0341-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0341-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0341-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Popokvil Waterfall.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Before reaching the summit, I recommend stopping at the Lok Yeay Mao Statue (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/q1b89dAUAWndnJKD6\">Google Maps<\/a>); on the other side of the road, there&#8217;s the Black Palace (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/ftxn7zFFjHfMjoFP6\">Google Maps<\/a>), which is completely in ruins but was once King Sihanouk&#8217;s summer palace. At the actual summit, I recommend taking a look around Le Bokor Palace (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/v7Dn65pYQmT7UgZA8\">Google Maps<\/a>), a luxury hotel built in 1925 as a summer retreat for the French colonists in Cambodia, which was renovated and reopened in 2018. Then there&#8217;s the Catholic church (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/EtUjUTcjNrMfb2uM6\">Google Maps<\/a>), built in 1919 by the Catholic missionary Father Bernard, and the Buddhist temple Wat Sampov Pram (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/1vPRYvM2zee4XwYU6\">Google Maps<\/a>), which offers extraordinary views of the coast below, including the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc, haze permitting. Finally, you could visit Popokvil Waterfall (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/wdj8hfdt44s2QHoK9\">Google Maps<\/a>) before heading back down. Admission costs 2000 riel and includes a bottle of water. Keep in mind that by late January it was already practically dry.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4756 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0326-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0326-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0326-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0326-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Le Bokor Palace.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Veal Pouch Waterfall<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Veal Pouch Waterfall (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/BmbZSvo6RcomneG48\">Google Maps<\/a>) is really very pretty, and you reach it at the end of a short walk of about half an hour. I left my scooter in a hotel parking lot for free after asking permission; the &#8220;public&#8221; options charge 2000 riel. Unfortunately, at least during my visit, the amount of garbage along the trail was truly appalling, but I hope the situation will improve in the future.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The road to the start of the trail isn&#8217;t in good condition, but if you have a bit of experience with a scooter, you shouldn&#8217;t have any problems. If possible, avoid the middle of the day, as it can get really crowded, and keep in mind that late in the dry season there might be very little water.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4758 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0363-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0363-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0363-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0363-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Veal Pouch Waterfall.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Kep<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Kep&#8217;s number one attraction is its famous crab market (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/w19VVjP8H2iFLg1E7\">Google Maps<\/a>). The dish to try is undoubtedly crab seasoned with Kampot pepper.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Many travelers, myself included, only visit the market, but if you want, you could also explore the small national park on the edge of town. Admission costs $1, and you can complete a loop of about 10 km, which is described in detail on <a href=\"https:\/\/movetocambodia.com\/kep\/visiting-kep-national-park\/\">this page<\/a>. According to the reviews, it doesn&#8217;t seem to be anything exceptional and it&#8217;s not exactly well preserved, but it can still be a nice way to spend half a day.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4791 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00185-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00185-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00185-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00185-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00185-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Kep market.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>River cruise<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">River cruises are offered just about everywhere. Personally, I didn&#8217;t do one, but it could be a nice way to spend a few hours, especially at sunset. Some options include a few drinks and dinner.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4793 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00223-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00223-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00223-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00223-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00223-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Catholic church within Bokor National Park.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to eat in Kampot?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>Nom Tom Bakery (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/XmbUrs2Nt72chQhH8\"><em>Google Maps<\/em><\/a><em>) is a mobile pastry shop\/bakery run by a Belgian girl. I think they&#8217;re the best baked goods I&#8217;ve ever had in Southeast Asia. Absolutely recommended. If possible, try to go early in the morning, when all the options are still available.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>If you miss good Italian food, drop by Ciao (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/9a2TtMtVCYb3xaot6\"><em>Google Maps<\/em><\/a><em>). Homemade pasta, pizza and lots of hospitality.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Kampot?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Kampot, too, I chose to stay at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/onederz-kampot.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onederz Kampot<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and as always, it didn&#8217;t disappoint. Another popular option that&#8217;s often recommended is <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/monkey-republic-kampot-kampot2.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monkey Republic Kampot<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4750\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0141-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0141-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0141-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0141-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Brateak Krola Lake, often called \u201cSecret Lake\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Kampot?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kampot is well connected to the rest of the country. There are frequent buses to and from Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville; these two routes can also be covered by train, which is slower, though. If you want, there are night buses to Siem Reap. To get an idea of the various options, you can check out sites like <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/12go.asia\/?z=2634140\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12go<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bookaway.com\/?offer_id=34&amp;aff_id=2496\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bookaway<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To and from <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/vietnam-travel-guide\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vietnam<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, there should be direct connections to Ho Chi Minh, but if not, you can simply take a bus to Ha Tien (the border town) and then board the first bus to Kampot. You can find a detailed article on <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bigworldsmallpockets.com\/kampot-to-ho-chi-minh\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this page<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. From Ha Tien, it&#8217;s also possible to take the ferry to Phu Quoc Island.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4794 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00233-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00233-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00233-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00233-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00233-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Buddhist temple Wat Sampov Pram.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"kratie\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Kratie<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">This quiet town on the Mekong River is a pleasant stop to break up the journey to other destinations in Cambodia, especially if you&#8217;re coming from Laos, but also to other places in the country such as Banlung and Saen Monorom.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Kratie<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The town has a few crumbling colonial buildings, but honestly, there&#8217;s nothing special to see. There are, however, some interesting attractions nearby, especially the Irrawaddy dolphins.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Irrawaddy Dolphins<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The Irrawaddy dolphin is an endangered animal: there are fewer than 300 left in the world, and some of them have made the stretch of river north of Kratie their home. They&#8217;re very shy animals, so unless you&#8217;re extremely lucky, you&#8217;ll probably only catch a glimpse of them, but I still think it&#8217;s a nice experience, especially if you decide to join the kayak tour offered during the dry season. It&#8217;s a half-day tour that can be done either in the morning or in the afternoon: you paddle down the Mekong for a couple of hours, take a snack break on one of the many islands that form during the dry season, and end the tour in the area where the dolphins live.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">By far the most popular company offering the tour is <a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/KEcy7k2pgWRHeGhm6\">Sorya Kayaking Adventures<\/a>, which also runs a nice, cheap guesthouse. I, however, did the tour with <a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/XCe19CsxXR8argws8\">Dolphin Kayaking Adventures<\/a>. The office (actually, there are just a couple of brochures with the program and the prices depending on the number of people) is in a restaurant run by an Australian lady who does a favor for Lucky, a local guy who basically organizes a tour exactly like the one offered by Sorya. Just contact him via WhatsApp\/Telegram to arrange everything. I paid $23.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As an alternative to the kayak tour, you can take a tuk tuk to the spot where the dolphins are (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/r1CX5oxVkrPS91Jb6\">Google Maps<\/a>). Here you can spend an hour in a boat watching the dolphins: $10 per person for 1-2 people, $8 for three or more people.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4809 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00514-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00514-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00514-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00514-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00514-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>My best shot&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Koh Trong Island<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Koh Trong is a quiet island located across the Mekong River from the town of Kratie. Known locally as Kratie&#8217;s &#8220;market garden,&#8221; Koh Trong Island offers a window into rural Cambodia and a relaxed atmosphere. The island is easily accessible, just a five-minute ferry ride from Kratie town. The pier where you catch the ferry is at this spot (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/yJ5H74N4NtSdc6Ae7\">Google Maps<\/a>). It costs 1000 riel. Officially, there&#8217;s a schedule, but it&#8217;s very flexible: I took the ferry around 15:00, it was supposed to come back at 18:00, but we left at 19:00. In any case, once you get there, you can rent a bicycle for 8000 riel and ride around the island. I recommend stopping at this small bar (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/6eLQD3E5uBxbd9w3A\">Google Maps<\/a>), the ideal place to sip a coconut with a view of the Mekong.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">This is where my visit to Kratie and the surrounding area ended, but especially if you decide to rent a scooter, there are other attractions you could visit.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4771 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0664-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0664-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0664-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0664-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Koh Trong Island.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Kampi River Rapids<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The Kampi rapids (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Unx91kdmaFcc2wwS7\">Google Maps<\/a>) are a popular spot with locals, especially on weekends. It doesn&#8217;t seem like anything exceptional, but if you want to spend a few hours relaxing and escaping the heat by lazing in a hammock, it&#8217;s definitely an option.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Sambor<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Sambor is 35 km north of downtown Kratie. This is where you&#8217;ll find the Wat Sarsar Mouy Roy temple (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/d7kF5rHsQFF8dUoU8\">Google Maps<\/a>), commonly known as the &#8220;100 Pillar Pagoda.&#8221; Built in the 16th century and destroyed by Pol Pot&#8217;s regime in the 1970s, it was rebuilt in the late 1990s with 116 pillars. Only three pillars remain from the original building, and they&#8217;re displayed in the pagoda.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Sambok Mountain<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">12 km from the center of Kratie is Mount Sambok (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/T6R79Cc38UapyCwy8\">Google Maps<\/a>): at 93 meters high, at the top of 400 steps, there&#8217;s a Buddhist meditation center and a pagoda that offers great views of the Mekong River. It seems to be particularly popular at sunset.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4808 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00496-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00496-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00496-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00496-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00496-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Mekong flooded forest.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Kratie?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I slept at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/sorya-guesthouse.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sorya Guesthouse<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and although there are cheaper options, I recommend it. Dorm with single beds and a nice terrace with a view of the Mekong. A cheaper alternative is <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/silver-dolphin-guesthouse.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Silver Dolphin Guesthouse &amp; Restaurant<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and if you book early, <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/nomad-guesthouse-kratie.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nomad Guesthouse<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has really cheap single rooms.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Kratie?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are direct bus connections from Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Stung Treng and Banlung. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/vireakbuntham.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vireak Buntham<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should cover all these routes, but there are also cheaper local minivans that can be booked through the guesthouses. I, for example, took one of these minivans from Banlung.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>If you want, you can reach Kratie relatively easily from <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/laos-en\/backpacking-laos\/\"><em>Laos<\/em><\/a><em>: many travelers come from the 4000 Islands, from there, there are direct minivans to the border, and once you&#8217;ve crossed, there are more minivans heading to Stung Treng and Kratie.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4772 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0700-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0700-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0700-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0700-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Snack break on the Mekong.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Stung Treng<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The town of Stung Treng is on the Sesan River, near its confluence with the Mekong. It&#8217;s a popular stopover for travelers heading to Laos in the north, Ratanakiri in the east, and Mondulkiri and Kratie in the south.<\/p>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Stung Treng<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I haven&#8217;t personally been to Stung Treng, and in general, as I just said, it&#8217;s a transit town, but if you decide to stop there, you&#8217;ll find some ideas for things to do in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dontforgettomove.com\/what-to-do-in-stung-treng\/\">this article<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Stung Treng?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The only option online seems to be <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/savet-1-guesthouse.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Savet Guesthouse<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Stung Treng?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are direct connections to Phnom Penh, Kratie, Siem Reap, Banlung, and Saen Monorom. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/vireakbuntham.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virak Buntham<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> covers all these routes, but there are also cheaper local minivans, which are easier to find information about on the spot. As I mentioned, there are also minivans to and from the border with <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/laos-en\/backpacking-laos\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Laos<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"banlung\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Banlung (Ratanakiri)<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ratanakiri is a province in northeastern Cambodia. It&#8217;s known for its natural beauty and ethnic diversity. Ratanakiri means &#8220;Gem Mountains&#8221; in the Khmer language. Banlung is the capital of the province.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4765 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0530-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0530-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0530-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0530-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Ratanakiri at sunset.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>What to do and see in Banlung (Ratanakiri)<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Yeak Laom Volcanic Lake<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Yeak Laom (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/snDWKgWqjXrxwUXX6\">Google Maps<\/a>) is a crater lake formed by a volcanic eruption 4,000 years ago; it has a diameter of about 700 meters and a depth of 48 meters. The shore of Yeak Lake forms an almost perfect circle, and it&#8217;s the ideal place for a refreshing swim just a stone&#8217;s throw from town. There are lots of platforms to jump from, but also tables and hammocks to relax in. Admission costs $2.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4770 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0647-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0647-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0647-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0647-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Yeak Laom volcanic lake.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Jungle Trek<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Banlung is the ideal base to organize treks in Virachey National Park. For groups of 4 people or more, $30 per day seems to be the standard price. I organized the trek directly at the guesthouse (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/family-house.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><em>Family house &amp; trekking<\/em><\/a>) with some other guests, opting for something not too demanding.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The guesthouse provided the hammocks and sleeping bags, and we spent the night not too far from civilization after walking for a few hours, first through the countryside and then through the forest; on the second day, we went to a nice waterfall and visited a local village before returning to Banlung.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4805 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00456-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00456-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00456-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00456-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00456-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Waterfall we visited during the trek.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Two enjoyable days, but if you&#8217;re looking for a real jungle experience, I recommend treks of more than two days that take you deeper into the national park, where the chance of seeing animals increases considerably. We didn&#8217;t see anything particularly interesting.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4804 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00453-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00453-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00453-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00453-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00453-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Along the trails of Virachey National Park.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Phnom Svay Mountain<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The mountain (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/7gB1ikrjaytiE9Yv9?coh=178573&amp;entry=tt\">Google Maps<\/a>) is just outside town. At the top, there&#8217;s a big Buddha statue with a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. I recommend going up at sunset and enjoying the view together with the locals. Along the way, there&#8217;s also a small temple with a statue of the reclining Buddha.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4766 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0546-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0546-HDR-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0546-HDR-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0546-HDR-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset from Phnom Svay Mountain.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Waterfalls<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">There are at least four noteworthy waterfalls around town. I rented a scooter directly at the guesthouse together with one of the guys I did the trek with. I think it&#8217;s a nice way to spend the day. Alternatively, you can arrange the same &#8220;tour&#8221; by tuk tuk. The roads are partly dirt roads but in good condition.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Cha Ong Waterfall (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/YZLxVyJRWANnaTZR9\">Google Maps<\/a>), at 18 meters high, is really pretty, and there&#8217;s a platform that lets you go down to the &#8220;back&#8221; of the waterfall, but you can&#8217;t swim there, at least not at the base. Admission costs $1.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4768 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0629-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0629-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0629-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0629-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Cha Ong Waterfall.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Kachanh Waterfall (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/BMNJduPYRKyNUreKA\">Google Maps<\/a>) is, in my opinion, the most beautiful of the ones I visited. At the base of the waterfall, there&#8217;s a large natural pool where you can swim. Admission costs $1.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4806 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00474-HDR-Edit-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00474-HDR-Edit-2.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00474-HDR-Edit-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00474-HDR-Edit-2-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00474-HDR-Edit-2-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Kachanh Waterfall.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Katieng Waterfall (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/kXQBZBzbPw1EbiPJ7\">Google Maps<\/a>) isn&#8217;t far from Kachanh; you can swim here too. Admission costs $1.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">7 Steps Waterfall (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/oPXhFiXFrxLGgtqT8\">Google Maps<\/a>) is the farthest from town. It looks nice, but I didn&#8217;t go because the guesthouse owner told me the road wasn&#8217;t in good condition, and if a local says that, I don&#8217;t dare imagine what it&#8217;s like!<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4807 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00488-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00488-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00488-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00488-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00488-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Katieng Waterfall.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Banlung (Ratanakiri)?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I slept at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/family-house.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family House &amp; trekking<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and I can only recommend it: a modest but clean and welcoming place, and the family that runs the guesthouse is simply adorable. All at a rock-bottom price. If they&#8217;re full, a friend had strongly recommended <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/ratanakiri-homestay.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ratanakiri Homestay &amp; Jungle Trek<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to me.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Banlung (Ratanakiri)?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are direct buses to and from Phnom Penh, Saen Monorom, Stung Treng, and Kratie. For all other destinations, you&#8217;ll probably have to change buses\/minivans. <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vireakbuntham.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vireak Buntham<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should cover all these routes, but cheaper local buses can also be booked through guesthouses<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4803 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00438-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00438-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00438-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00438-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00438-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Night sky during the trek.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"saen-monorom\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Saen Monorom (Mondulkiri)<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">If you want to get off the beaten path, the northeast of Cambodia, and in particular Mondulkiri province, is one of the least visited, most remote and, at the same time, most beautiful areas of Cambodia. Mondulkiri means &#8220;Meeting of the Hills&#8221;; with an average altitude of 800 meters, temperatures are more pleasant than in the rest of the country. Saen Monorom is the capital of the province.<\/p>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Sen Monorom<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">There&#8217;s not much to see in town. There&#8217;s a small market next to the bus station. This is the gateway town to Mondulkiri province, an extraordinary and unique part of Cambodia.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4760 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0401-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0401-HDR-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0401-HDR-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0401-HDR-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset in the forest protected by the Mondulkiri Project.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Mondulkiri Project<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Many people come to Sen Monorom exclusively to take part in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mondulkiriproject.org\/\">Mondulkiri Project<\/a>, a protected forest area that offers unique encounters with elephants. In fact, you can get up close to the elephants as they roam free in their natural habitat. You can feed them, bathe with them and so on. They&#8217;re all animals rescued from terrible captivity situations, and some of them still bear the physical and psychological scars.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4796 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00322-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00322-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00322-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00322-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00322-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Bathing with the elephants.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One-day or two-day tours are offered. The one-day tour costs $50 and allows you to spend the whole day with the elephants, while the two-day tour costs $80 and includes a day of trekking during which you visit some waterfalls. At night, you sleep in the lodge that serves as a base for the elephant visit. I did the two-day tour and, all in all, I recommend it. I know it&#8217;s sometimes done the other way around, but at least in my case, we spent the first day at the lodge with the elephants together with the people doing the one-day tour, then in the evening they left while we slept at the lodge, and the following morning we started the trek. In any case, you&#8217;ll find all the relevant information on their website.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4799 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00341-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00341-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00341-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00341-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00341-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>One of the waterfalls along the trek.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">A similar project worth checking out is the <a href=\"https:\/\/elephantvalleyproject.org\/\">Elephant Valley Project<\/a>. The tours they offer are more expensive, but the accommodation is definitely nicer than the hammocks provided by the Mondulkiri Project.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4797 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00325-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00325-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00325-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00325-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00325-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Two of the Mondulkiri Project elephants.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Trekking<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Trekking is definitely another popular activity in Sen Monorom. There are lots of different options, ranging from a day tour that often includes a visit to a few waterfalls to multi-day hikes through the forest and ethnic villages. As I said, I think the two-day tour with Mondulkiri Project is a good compromise, but if it&#8217;s something you&#8217;re interested in, there&#8217;s no shortage of opportunities.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4800\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00362-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00362-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00362-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00362-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00362-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>A snake along the trek.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Bousra Waterfall<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Bousra Waterfall (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/CohNznGw2YdH8o1E6\">Google Maps<\/a>) is about a 45-minute drive from Saen Monorom and is one of the largest and most impressive in the country. I was there in early February, and there was still a lot of water. They charge 1000 riel for parking and another 10000 riel for admission. I rented my scooter directly at the guesthouse for $7; it probably costs a bit less in town.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4763 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0479-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0479-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0479-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0479-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Bousra Waterfall.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>More waterfalls in and around Sen Monorom<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">There are literally dozens of other waterfalls around town. Some can be reached by scooter, while others require some trekking. Below, I list a few easily accessible options. The day I rented the scooter, I also went to Chrey Thom (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/KsRKbntTKhcf5mxE6\">Google Maps<\/a>). The waterfall is pretty and not very crowded; there were only a couple of local guys during my visit. The pool at the base of the waterfall isn&#8217;t suitable for swimming.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4802 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00392-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00392-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00392-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00392-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00392-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Chrey Thom Waterfall.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Leng Khoen Waterfall (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/p7KqzzDFRpLnmBQU7\">Google Maps<\/a>) and Leng Oung Waterfall are a short distance from each other, and they&#8217;re two of the waterfalls we visited on the second day of the Mondulkiri Project. They seem to be a popular destination with groups doing day treks from Saen Monorom too, but if you want, I think you can also reach them by scooter. The first is a very tall and fascinating waterfall, while the second is perfect for swimming.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Sen Monorom Waterfall (<a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/t4sm24LZEs77zynd6\">Google Maps<\/a>) is the closest to town; I didn&#8217;t go, but if you want, you could even walk there. It&#8217;s not particularly big or impressive.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4762 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0441-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0441-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0441-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0441-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Leng Khoen Waterfall.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Mondulkiri (Saen Monorom)?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I slept at the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/tree-lodge.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tree Lodge<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for convenience, since it&#8217;s run by the same people behind the Mondulkiri Project, but I&#8217;d recommend staying here anyway. The bungalows are nice, and the view from the restaurant terrace at sunset is fantastic. The prices are fair. However, if you&#8217;re looking for a slightly cheaper alternative, I recommend checking out <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/kh\/happy-elephant-bungalow-senmonorom1.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Happy Elephant Bungalow<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to reach Mondulkiri (Saen Monorom)?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I recommend looking at the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mondulkiriproject.org\/getting-to-mondulkiri\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mondulkiri Project page<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which has detailed instructions for reaching the town from lots of destinations.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4798 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00330-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00330-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00330-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00330-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00330-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Leng Oung Waterfall.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"iti\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Suggested itineraries in Cambodia<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Below, I list some possible itineraries. As with any country, there&#8217;s no such thing as the perfect itinerary for a given amount of time. That said, I think any trip to Cambodia should include a visit to Angkor Wat. In any case, take what follows as inspiration and adapt or create your itinerary based on your interests\/budget!<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>One-week itinerary in Cambodia<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">If you only have one week and want to limit long journeys or domestic flights, after visiting Angkor Wat I recommend spending a couple of days in Battambang and finally Phnom Penh, from where it&#8217;s easy to fly out of the country. Alternatively, you could also fly from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville to spend a few days on the islands.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4859 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_1_settimana.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"886\" height=\"713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_1_settimana.jpg 886w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_1_settimana-300x241.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_1_settimana-768x618.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 886px) 100vw, 886px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Siem Reap (3 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 1:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flight to Siem Reap. Visit the temples.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 2:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sunrise Tour at Angkor Wat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 3:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explore the temples outside the main complex and the Landmine Museum. Alternatively, you could visit a floating village.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Battambang (2 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 4:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfer to Battambang. Briefly explore the town. Watch the circus show (check the schedule; otherwise, you should be able to see it the next day, or maybe see the circus in Siem Reap).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 5:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tour of the temples outside town and the Bat Cave.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Phnom Penh (2 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 6:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfer to Phnom Penh. Briefly explore the city.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 7:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit Tuol Sleng (S-21) and Choeung Ek (Killing Fields).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>10-day itinerary in Cambodia<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With three extra days, I&#8217;d personally follow the one-week itinerary I just described and then head to the islands for a few days of relaxing.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4863 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_10_giorni-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"886\" height=\"713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_10_giorni-1.jpg 886w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_10_giorni-1-300x241.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_10_giorni-1-768x618.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 886px) 100vw, 886px\" \/><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Two-week itinerary in Cambodia<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With two weeks to spare, you could opt for a few extra days on the islands or head to Kampot.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4860 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_2_settimane.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"886\" height=\"713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_2_settimane.jpg 886w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_2_settimane-300x241.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_2_settimane-768x618.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 886px) 100vw, 886px\" \/><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Three-week itinerary in Cambodia<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With three weeks, I&#8217;d definitely include Kampot after visiting the islands, and then I&#8217;d start looking east, heading to Saen Monorom (Mondulkiri) or Banlung (Ratanakiri) with a stop in Kratie.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4861 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_3_settimane.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"886\" height=\"713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_3_settimane.jpg 886w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_3_settimane-300x241.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_3_settimane-768x618.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 886px) 100vw, 886px\" \/><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Four-week itinerary in Cambodia<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With a month to spare, if you move relatively quickly, you should be able to visit most of the destinations mentioned in this guide. The exact itinerary depends a lot on how you enter the country, but broadly speaking, I&#8217;d follow the route shown on the map.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4858 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_1_mese.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"886\" height=\"713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_1_mese.jpg 886w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_1_mese-300x241.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/CAMBOGIA_itinerario_1_mese-768x618.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 886px) 100vw, 886px\" \/><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"how\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>How to get around Cambodia<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The infrastructure in Cambodia is undoubtedly among the worst in the region, but fortunately, the roads have improved a lot in recent years, making travel between the main cities less exhausting. That said, especially if you decide to rent a scooter and venture into rural areas, be prepared, because the roads are often dirt roads and not always in good condition.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4840\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09359-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09359-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09359-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09359-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC09359-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunrise at Angkor Wat.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"buses-cambodia\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Buses in Cambodia<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">There are bus connections between the main cities in the country, but most travel is by minivan. Some companies I&#8217;d recommend are:<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/giantibis.com\/index.php\">Giant Ibis<\/a> is considered the most &#8220;luxurious&#8221; company operating in the country and offers connections to all the main tourist destinations; you can book online.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vireakbuntham.com\/index.php\">Vireak Buntham<\/a> is a company that covers lots of routes and basically lets you reach all the destinations mentioned in this guide. The minivans are almost always on time, and you can easily book online. This is by far the company I used the most.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/larryta.com\/\">Larryta<\/a> offers only a couple of routes. I think only Siem Reap &#8211; Phnom Penh is relevant for most travelers. In any case, the value for money is excellent.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">That said, there are dozens of other companies operating, and you can get an idea on sites like <a href=\"https:\/\/12go.asia\/?z=2634140\">12go<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bookaway.com\/?offer_id=34&amp;aff_id=2496\">Bookaway<\/a>, but remember that not all options are online. It&#8217;s also important to point out that, unfortunately, no town seems to have a shared bus\/minivan station: each company has its own office\/garage\/stop. For this reason, especially in big cities, it&#8217;s a good idea to also consider the location of your accommodation when choosing which company to travel with. This is also an issue if you want to save a few dollars by taking the &#8220;local minivans.&#8221; I took a couple of them, booking through the guesthouses, and all in all it went well for me, but they&#8217;re often filled beyond any limit and stop constantly to let people on and off.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4835\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08986-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08986-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08986-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08986-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08986-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Ta Prohm temple.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"trains-cambodia\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Trains in Cambodia<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As I&#8217;ve mentioned a few times in this guide, there are a couple of operational railway lines in the country. Unfortunately, the road option is often faster and not necessarily more expensive, which often makes the choice obvious, so much so that I didn&#8217;t take a single train during my stay. That said, a major investment is underway to upgrade and improve the railway network, so things could change in the future. This is the <a href=\"http:\/\/royal-railway.com\/\">official website<\/a> of the railways.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"tuk-tuk-cambodia\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Tuk Tuk in Cambodia<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">If you decide to buy a SIM card, I strongly recommend downloading Pass app (<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=kh.com.passapp.passenger&amp;hl=en\">Android<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/passapp-taxi-and-delivery\/id1535615747?l=en\">iOS<\/a>). Not only is it much more widely used than Grab (<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.grabtaxi.passenger&amp;hl=en\">Android<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/grab-taxi-food-delivery\/id647268330?l=en\">iOS<\/a>), but it&#8217;s also cheaper. So cheap that on at least a couple of occasions, the tuk tuk driver refused to accept the same price estimated by the app.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"flights-cambodia\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Domestic flights in Cambodia<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The three airports offering commercial domestic flights are Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. The main airlines are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cambodiaangkorair.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cambodia Angkor Air<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vietnamairlines.com\/my\/en\/home\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vietnam Airlines<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4761\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0429-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0429-HDR-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0429-HDR-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0429-HDR-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Mondulkiri Project Lodge.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"costs\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Backpacking Cambodia: costs<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">How much does a trip to Cambodia cost? During my two-month trip (57 days, to be precise), I spent exactly 1697.6\u20ac, or just under 30\u20ac a day.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Obviously, for a short trip where you might move around more often, costs go up, and likewise, not everyone is willing to travel on a budget like I do, but I can assure you I never went without anything, and in general, Cambodia is undoubtedly a cheap destination, like the rest of Southeast Asia. A traveler on a particularly tight budget can easily get by spending even less. On the other hand, if you&#8217;re looking for a bit more comfort and frequent travel, I&#8217;d budget at least 40-50\u20ac a day.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4787\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0978-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"987\" height=\"740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0978-HDR-Edit.jpg 987w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0978-HDR-Edit-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DJI_0978-HDR-Edit-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunset at Koh Rong.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"accommodation-cost\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Cost of accommodation in Cambodia<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Accommodation in Cambodia is really cheap, especially in destinations with lots of competition; you can find a good dorm bed for $5. In any case, even on the islands, I never paid more than $10 a night. In less touristy destinations, I had private rooms and bungalows for less than $10 a night.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"transportation-cost\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Cost of transportation in Cambodia<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Compared to the cost of accommodation, transportation in the country is relatively expensive. As a general rule, expect to pay $2-3 per hour of travel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"food-cost\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Cost of food in Cambodia<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Obviously, it depends on what kind of restaurant you&#8217;re looking for, but if you&#8217;re not too demanding, you can get a good meal for $2-4. On the islands, expect to pay a bit more. That said, if you&#8217;re willing to move away from the tourist areas, I had excellent meals in some local restaurants for 5000\/7000 riel, which is less than $2.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4824\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08319-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08319-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08319-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08319-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC08319-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"other-costs\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Other costs (ATM withdrawals and SIM cards)<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Let&#8217;s start with the cost of ATM withdrawals, which unfortunately, even using the <a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/gear\/best-travel-cards\/\">best travel cards<\/a>, can&#8217;t be reduced to zero. In fact, most banks charge $4-$6 per withdrawal. By far the cheapest is Vattanac Bank: $4 per withdrawal, maximum $500 at a time. Maybank and Canada Bank charge $5, maximum $500 at a time. All the others should be more expensive.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As for SIM cards, if you want the best possible coverage, you have two choices: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smart.com.kh\/\">Smart<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metfone.com.kh\/en\">Metfone<\/a>. I chose Smart and, all in all, I was happy with it; I basically always had a good connection, except at Saracen Bay on Koh Rong Samloem. Metfone should have slightly better coverage but a lower average speed.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">In any case, at least with Smart, once you&#8217;ve registered the SIM at an official store (you need your passport), you can easily buy data packages through the app. I paid $1 for the SIM and, if I&#8217;m not mistaken, another $5 for 40 GB of data.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">If you have a phone that supports eSIMs and you want the convenience of being online right away without having to buy a local SIM, then I recommend using a service like the ones offered by <a href=\"https:\/\/airalo.pxf.io\/c\/1433143\/1268485\/15608\">Airalo<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/go.ubigi.com\/c\/1433143\/2146651\/27303\">Ubigi<\/a>. If you go for this option, though, there are at least a couple of things to consider. First of all, with rare exceptions, data costs much more than it would with a local SIM; secondly, their local partner isn&#8217;t always the one with the best coverage in the country.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Basically, I think most travelers would be better off buying a local SIM (or maybe trying to buy an eSIM from a local provider), but I encourage you to think it over for yourself, as there&#8217;s no shortage of exceptions. For example, when I visited Japan, the plan offered by <a href=\"https:\/\/go.ubigi.com\/c\/1433143\/2146651\/27303\">Ubigi<\/a> was cheaper than any local SIM I could buy without proving I was a resident.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4801\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00372-HDR-Edit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1100\" height=\"733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00372-HDR-Edit.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00372-HDR-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00372-HDR-Edit-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC00372-HDR-Edit-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Bousra Waterfall.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"safety\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Backpacking Cambodia: safety and security<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Is Cambodia a safe country? Traveling in Cambodia doesn&#8217;t involve any particular dangers, and in general, much like the rest of Southeast Asia, it&#8217;s a safe destination. Obviously, you need to use common sense as in any other part of the world, but by <a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/safety\/backpacking-safety\/\">following my advice<\/a>, I doubt you&#8217;ll have any problems.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">That said, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville don&#8217;t have a good reputation at all: drugs and prostitution are common, with everything that comes with them. I&#8217;ve heard a few bad stories, but it was always people in the wrong place, doing the wrong things at the wrong time. Again, use common sense and avoid wandering around the cities at night looking for, or under the influence of, drugs.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Are you planning a trip to Cambodia? Check out these posts:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/gear\/travel-backpack\/\">Which travel backpack to choose<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/gear\/packing-list\/\">What to bring on your trip<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Do you have any questions? Updated information? Feel free to leave a comment or message me on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ilbackpacker\/\">Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Since I no longer run ads, if you found this article helpful, please consider purchasing your <a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/safety\/travel-insurance\/\">travel insurance<\/a> through one of the links on this site. Doing so supports my work at no additional cost to you. For EU and UK residents, I recommend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.truetraveller.com\/?tag=4486\">True Traveller<\/a>. For everyone else, I recommend <a href=\"https:\/\/heymondo.com\/?utm_medium=Afiliado&amp;utm_source=ILBACKPACKER&amp;utm_campaign=PRINCIPAL&amp;cod_descuento=ILBACKPACKER&amp;ag_campaign=INPUT&amp;agencia=3e3e0e90cc3ad100e738962ea2e0b0be8d69\">HeyMondo<\/a>, which offers a 5% discount. Thank you for your support!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=QTBBEQQCE37GA\">For donations\/pizzas and virtual beers<\/a> \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\">Did you like the post? Pin it!<\/h5>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7540\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/UN-VIAGGIO-FAI-DA-IN-CAMBOGIA.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"330\" height=\"495\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/UN-VIAGGIO-FAI-DA-IN-CAMBOGIA.png 330w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/UN-VIAGGIO-FAI-DA-IN-CAMBOGIA-200x300.png 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 330px) 100vw, 330px\" \/><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is often snubbed in favor of other destinations in Southeast Asia, but the country has more than a few interesting ones. Angkor Wat, the largest temple complex in the world as well as the most visited archaeological site in Southeast Asia, the paradise islands in the south of the country, the pristine forests, but also a lot of recent history that unfortunately concerns one of the worst genocides ever. The country really has a lot to offer.","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7274,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48,43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cambodia-en","category-destinations-en"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.4 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Where to go, what to see, itineraries, costs, useful tips and more to plan your trip to Cambodia.\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tr1nCa92\"\/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/backpacking-cambodia\/\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO (AIOSEO) 5.0.4\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:locale\" 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