XXPLORE
CAMBODIA
DESTINATIONS
WHY TRAVEL
TO
CAMBODIA?
Get a taste of ancient Southeast Asia on your trip to Cambodia. The Khmer empire boasts of stunning landscapes, pristine beaches and exotic temples. Cambodia has a lot to tell you; it’s complicated (and worthy of more than a flash blurb). Its past isn’t even past.
The ancient history is draped purposefully in a fog and there is a new youth coming of age, the median age being 27 years in country. It is a place that is starting again for the first time, and the excitement is palatable, which for us, is exactly what we are looking for.
Cambodia’s biggest draw is, of course, Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world. To Cambodians, it’s a symbol of immense national pride – apart from Afghanistan, it’s the only country in the world to carry the image of a building on its national flag.
You don’t have to step far off the tourist path to experience serious poverty, and the brutal Khmer rouge history is not far in the past. The forward thinking of the locals is incredible, however, and you’ll find their optimism for the future infectious.
In Cambodia, gender norms remain heavily rooted in society, creating inequality between men and women and depriving women of their basic rights. Empowering girls to exercise their rights is critical to reducing poverty and advancing development. In Cambodia today, there are still fewer girls than boys who complete school. The level of education often correlates to a woman’s power to be able to exercise her reproductive rights (eg the right to decide the number and spacing of her children, when to get married and when to have children).
THE WEATHER
The ideal months to visit Cambodia are from November to March with average temperatures at round 25C. The heat and humidity rise steadily from March onward, giving way to mon soon season in June.
THE NATIONAL LANGUAJE
The official language is Khmer or Cambodian, but in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh English is widely spoken.
THE CURRENCY
Cambodian Riel
THE TIME ZONE
Cambodia Standard Time is 7 hoursahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+7)
TOP THREE ACTIVITIES
1. Watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat
2. Off roading through the Cardamom mountains. Be the first!
3. Glamping on a remote Island in Koh Kong
TOP DISHES TO TRY
Signature fish amok and beef lok lak, crab and Kampot pepper – plus the mass of noodle and rice dishes that are eaten on a daily basis – make exploring the flavours of Cambodia a foodie nirvana. Feeling adventurous? How about sampling popular snacks such as deep-fried tarantula, crickets and other local grubs?
Travelling
as a women
in Cambodia
Is it safe? In short, yes! While Cambodia might have a bit of checkered reputation it’s actually very safe to travel, is and politically stable. According to the UN, Cambodia is actually ranked higher for safety than countries including Thailand, Portugal and Nepal. In recent years the emphasis on tourism in Cambodia has only grown, and Khmer people are very friendly and helpful, if any even shy. Their hospitality is one of the reasons that visitors fall in love with Cambodia, and a quality that makes it ideal to travel solo or within a group of women!
BEST PLACES
TO VISIT IN
CAMBODIA
Phnom
Penh
Phnom Penh still retains its charm as the leafy capital city of Cambodia with its palaces and wats, French colonial houses, colourful market and honking horns. Tour the city before heading down to the riverside promenade to watch the city go by with a beer in hand.
Kep
The old colonial beach resort of Kep is just a short tuk-tuk ride away from Kampot and is worth a visit. The quiet beach side resort is a perfect place to relax and enjoy a slower pace of life. The sunsets are amazing, as is the food – expect an abundance of fresh prawn, fried squid and the famous Crab with Local Pepper will have the foodies amongst you in raptures!
Battambang
Battambang is Cambodia’s secondmost populous city, and is especially popular with visitors interested in Cambodian history. Established as atrading center in the 18th century,Battambang later became part ofFrench Indochina, with some colonialbuildings still in existence.
Siem
Reap
When the morning light washes over the overgrown temples and ruins of Angkor Wat, a simple Siem Reap sunrise becomes a profound event. The temple complex and the 12th century Angkor Thom royal city are considered the main reasons to visit Siem Reap. Get a lesson in national history at the Cambodian Cultural Village, and a lesson in bargaining at the Angkor Night Market, a bonanza of shopping stalls, food vendors, and bars.
Koh
Kong
Koh Kong lets you escape to a lesser-explored region on Cambodia’s west coast. It’s considered one of the country’s greenest provinces, with the lush and hilly slopes of the Cardamom Mountains meeting swathes of mangrove forests. You can boat out to the namesake Koh Kong island for an even more remote getaway.
