Welcome to Cambodia

Fantastically alluring and intoxicatingly exotic, Cambodia is a small country with a huge amount to offer; fantastic, blissfully uncrowded beaches, genuinely charming people, a subtle and creative culture and, of course, the astonishing temples at Angkor. Cambodia is bordered by Thailand in the north west and Laos in the mountainous north east, Vietnam flanks her eastern boundaries and the glittering Gulf of Thailand stretches along the western coastline, dotted with some lovely remote beaches. For years, Cambodia has been viewed as an add-on to cultural tours around Southeast Asia, but now things are changing for this small country. With luxurious boutique hotels opening all over the country, Cambodia is rapidly blossoming into a destination in its own right with plenty of natural beauty for those willing to explore. Struggling with years of political instability, civil war, bloodshed and poverty, Cambodia has been through hell and high water. But the unbreakable spirit of the wonderful Khmer people only adds to the charm of the country, leaving visitors with nothing but affection and admiration for these truly inspiring people.

Modern day Cambodia is the successor to the mighty Khmer Empire, a powerful kingdom which ruled much of what today is Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and southern Vietnam for over 600 years (802-1431). The Khmers were great builders and over this period they filled the jungle landscapes with monumental temples, huge reservoirs, canal systems, bridges and complex road networks. Siem Reap is the gateway to the ruins of Angkor, and visitors can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site which stretches through the jungle. Crumbling temples are scatted in their various stages of ruin, but it’s Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world and unrivalled in scale and grandeur anywhere else in Southeast Asia, which is the most celebrated and distinguished of them all. Today, the official religion in Cambodia is Theravada Buddhism, however until the 13th century, Hinduism – introduced by Indian invaders – was the religion of the Angkor Kingdom.

Beyond the temples, Cambodia has an urban scene which is bursting with surprising sophistication. To the south of Tonle Sap Lake is the chaotic yet charismatic capital, Phnom Penh, which retains its faded French colonial splendour, with wide, tree-lined boulevards and impressive architecture set amongst the busy traffic and commerce of an emerging Asian city. Siem Reap is as much a destination as the nearby temples and is bursting with buzzing cafes and a diverse nightlife, whilst Battambang is reminiscent of the French colonial past and charms visitors with a thriving contemporary art scene. Between the cities, Cambodia's interior landscape is a verdant and luscious blend of rice paddies, sugar palm plantations and remote jungles. Bordering the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest, Cambodia’s coastline is dotted with beautiful pristine beaches and uninhabited islands, offering something very different from the more built up beaches of neighbouring Vietnam and Thailand. Cambodia beach holidays are stunning, with undeveloped islands and palm-fringed white sand beaches that are untainted by tourism, providing an ideal respite after the dusty temples of Angkor or the bustling traffic-filled streets of Phnom Penh.

Our consultants have travelled extensively in Cambodia and Asia, researching the best hotels, sights and activities. To start planning your tailor-made holiday to Cambodia contact one of our specialists today.

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