Southeast Asia
Cambodia
The temples of Angkor, life around the great lake, and a country that shares its story openly.
Photo: Sebastian Latorre / Unsplash
Angkor is one of the world's most remarkable archaeological sites, and it deserves several days. Beyond the famous Angkor Wat, the forest hides the Bayon with its hundreds of stone faces, root-bound Ta Prohm and the pink sandstone of Banteay Srei with its delicate carvings.
Beyond the temples is a lively, warm country. In the wet season the Tonlé Sap swells so far that villages stand on tall stilts; in Phnom Penh the Royal Palace looks out over the meeting of rivers; and in the south the pepper farms of Kampot and the crab market at Kep invite a slower pace. Cambodia also speaks openly about its painful twentieth-century history — places we visit with respect and a good guide.
Experiences to consider
- 01
Angkor beyond the crowds
An order of visits planned to reach Ta Prohm or the Bayon at quieter times, with the outlying temples reached by bicycle or tuk-tuk.
- 02
The Tonlé Sap
By boat among stilt villages where daily life — school, market, fishing — rises and falls with the water.
- 03
Phnom Penh
The Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, a morning market and an evening on the riverfront — alongside a thoughtful look at the country's history.
- 04
Kampot and the coast
Pepper farms, the river at sunset and freshly caught crab in Kep.
Ways to travel
Ways to experience it
Ways to travel aren't separate paths — the best journeys often bring several together.
Culture & discovery
Angkor's temples with a guide who knows the archaeology, plus dance and craft traditions in Siem Reap.
Adventure & active travel
Cycling between temples and villages, and journeys by boat across the lake or along the river.
Exceptional stays & escapes
Quiet boutique hotels in Siem Reap with gardens and pools — a refuge after hot days among the temples.
Tailor-made journeys
Cambodia pairs easily with Vietnam or Thailand — we connect the transfers into one journey.
Sample journey
More journey inspiration
11–13 days
By river from Saigon to Angkor
Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, Chau Doc, Phnom Penh & Angkor
Culture & discovery · Small-group adventures
10–12 days
Cambodia beyond Angkor: Kampot, the islands and Battambang
Phnom Penh, Kampot & Kep, Koh Rong Samloem, Battambang & Siem Reap
Culture & discovery · Exceptional stays & escapes
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