Voyagner

Off The Tourist Trail in Cambodia

Posted on 22. Aug, 2009 by Dan in Travel

Tourism to Angkor Wat, Toul Sleng (S21) and the Killing fields has grown quickly in Cambodia but there are many temples and natural attractions that are rarely visited by tourists all over Cambodia. In theory it’s not hard to get off the beaten path in Cambodia but doing it independently can certainly prove a challenge at times, but hopefully that doesn’t put you off.

Route 66

Beginning at the temples of Angkor and heading east about 100K to the Temple of Preah Khan. Off the beaten path? The route is still heavily mined and there are rumors of bandits but people ride their trail bikes here every year and often find they are the only visitors to some incredible temples like the pyramid Koh Ker and one of just two other temples to feature the famous heads of the Bayon temple at Angkor, Banteay Chmar. There are approximately 85 temples along the route.

Tonle Bati and Ta Phrom

Tonle Bati is a lake about 30km south of Phnom Penh and is popular with Khmers as a weekend getaway, on the way into the lake is a Khmer temple Ta Phrom from the Angkor period, it takes the same name as a much larger temple in the Angkor park. There is a good chance you’ll be the only barang around so it is a nice escape from the popular tourist spots around Phnom Penh. There is plenty of traditional Khmer food to be had here and it’s a good idea to bring a local along, lest you end up with fertilized duck egg.

Kampot

There isn’t a hell of a lot to do in Kampot but it is a beautiful and quite fishing town, a good base for exploring Kep and Bokor National Park, from Kep you can also visit some beautiful islands. Kampot has a few really good restaurants and cafe/bars which makes it a great place to relax. People do a lot of relaxing here and I personally recommend a distended stomach courtesy of the Rusty Keyhole’s pork ribs. The ride from Kampot to Sihanoukville is on sealed roads which makes it an easy stop on a southern overland route.

Ratanakiri

If you really head out into any province of Cambodia you will quickly find yourself in places not often visited by tourists but Ratanakiri is the least populated and probably least touristed of them all. Ratanakiri is becoming popular with adventure travelers who come for the many waterfalls and gem fields and the “Khmer Loeu”, Cambodia’s hill tribes. Find out more about Ratanakiri here.

I’ll bring you more from Cambodia and Thailand over the new year period when I next visit.

Tags: cambodia