Things To Do In Cambodia

Cambodia attracts tourists from all around the globe with its eye-catching collection of sacred temples, untouched beaches, vibrant cultural traditions, and unfading ancient ruins. With such an incredible array of places to explore, it only fits that the country offers tourists with several activities to take up when in town. Visitors can cruise through tranquil river waters, take up thrilling watersports, swim with mighty elephants, or ride their bikes through ancient temples. Let us explore the different things to do when touring Cambodia.

Angkor formed the capital of the Khmer regime that ruled over the region around the twelfth century. This temple complex was once the capital of the Khmer kingdom. The Angkor Archaeological Park authorities allow tourists to ride a bicycle or hire a tuk-tuk driver to explore the ancient carvings that prevail within these twelfth-century temples. The most prestigious religious memorial in the world, Angkor Wat is regularly thronged by millions of tourists. These temples are reminiscent of the magnificent Khmer architecture of yore. Several Cambodian God-Kings have their creative memorials ingrained within Angkor.

The Mondulkiri Project consists of an elephant sanctuary that safeguards the local tribal culture and the forests that they thrive in. The authorities allow visitors to hike through the wilderness in the company of four or five majestic elephants. This hiking experience includes patrolling through the jungle to reach the Bunong farms and joining the mighty elephants for a Bath at the nearby waterfall. The project's organizers hire native Bunong inhabitants to impart conservation expertise and concern for endangered elephants to tourists that throng the sanctuary. It is refreshing to sight these gentle giants go about their routine.

Cambodia is famous all over the world as one of the favored destinations for taking up cycling ventures. The majestic ancient shrines that dwell within this country can be easily explored on short bike trips. With pristine coastal waters, impenetrable jungles, the Cardamom mountains, one of the most significant freshwater lakes in Asia, and lush green rice fields, the fantastic vistas of Cambodia are best explored on two wheels. Most parts of the country remain flat and offer bikers with perfect roads to tread through. Tourists usually prefer the cold winters and monsoons of Cambodia to ride through the country.

Cambodia's beautiful shoreline provides those who wish to indulge in snorkeling and scuba diving with warm coastal waters. Beach hubs such as Sihanoukville and Kep offer tourists with pristine waters and colorful aquatic life to explore. If beaches like Sokha and Serendipity provide rocky sea waters for snorkeling, then islands such as Bamboo Island, Koh Tang and Koh Rang promote independent snorkeling ventures. The tiny coral gardens of Rabbit Island can be visited in the company of expert fishermen from the neighboring villages. Visitors can take up scuba diving to catch a glimpse of the aquatic flora underneath.

It is a remarkable experience to cruise through River Mekong, marching from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap along the way. Tourists can catch a glimpse of incredible sunset vistas from their traditional Cambodian houseboats. The river waters are thronged by rare Irrawaddy dolphins, who regularly entertain visitors with their playful antics. Tourists can spend relaxing time aboard these smooth rides, accompanied by friendly and peaceful dolphins. The local authorities organize simple backpacker tours or private houseboat trips for passengers, depending on their preferences.

Tourists who are enthusiastic about theatre, dance, and art must catch a glimpse of the past Khmer performance. This traditional dance show includes a unique blend of old-world happenings from the courts of God-Kings and contemporary proceedings from the modern world. The storyline of the Apsara Show is based upon the enchanting and flexible movements of the artists and their dazzling attires. These excellent performers entertain tourists with their brilliant performances. Several cafes and restaurants around the city regularly host the Khmer performance for visitors.

Popular among the locals as the Killing Caves, the Battambang Bat Caves are situated at the foot of Mount Sampeou. The nocturnal nature of the bats means that they stay within the caves during the day and venture out into the open at night. Several tourists throng the Battambang Bat Caves to catch a glimpse of these mysterious creatures when they flee from the caves and settle atop one of the tree branches present in the vicinity. Local authorities organize bike rides to the caves and back. This unique sighting of these nocturnal mammals provides visitors with a once in a lifetime experience.