Many people travel to Cambodia for the prospect of witnessing its beautiful temples, undisturbed beaches, timeless ruins, and for experiencing its cultural and rich heritage. But very few know that Cambodia has an incredible range of activities for the visitors as it has several scenic attractions to delight travelers. From cruising, doing water sports, swimming with the elephants, riding through temples on the bikes, to taking on an extraordinary shopping spree, there is an encouraging adventure awaiting every type of traveler that visits this ancient kingdom. In fact, with so many best things to do in Cambodia, one tour will not be enough!
Cambodia is a small country part of the Indochina peninsula. Popularized by its ancient temples and sleepy coastlines dotted with the glowing plankton, Cambodia has so much to offer travelers to are willing to go off the beaten path.
Whether you plan on just traveling around Cambodia to see the ancient temples of Angkor or to visit its many historic museums, or even go on the many adventures to do, Cambodia has a bit of everything for everyone.
Best Things to do in Cambodia
Here are some great things to do in Cambodia
Biking
Considering that Cambodia is all about pristine temples, lush greenery, and a quiet atmosphere, travelers like to keep it that that manner when they explore. Cycling tours are the easiest way of sightseeing and one of the best things to do in Cambodia for the backpackers. Riding through quiet trails of countryside amid attractive natural scenery lets the travelers escape the crowd. Typically, these tours include sightseeing of Elephant Terrace, Ta Prohm, and other famous Angkor temples.
Apsara Dance
For those who love art, theatrics, and dance, the Apsara Show, or the traditional Khmer performance is one of the greatest things to do in Cambodia. This cultural dance form belongs to the mythological courts of Gods and Kings, from where it has developed into a modern and unique form that we see currently. The Khmer dance revolves around a storyline that is narrated through the beautiful and flexible movements of the performers and their colorful and attractive outfits, which is why it is regarded as one of the top things to do in Cambodia.
Cruising
Cruising the Mekong is one of the most exciting and best things to do in Cambodia. Sailing from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap on a traditional Cambodian boat is one of the most exciting and fun things to do in Cambodia. Other than the relaxing journey, the attractive views of the sunset that one can see from onboard the cruise looks like a cherry on the cake. During the journey, one can also view the Irrawaddy river dolphins in the water, i.e. the rarest of all aquatic mammals. Observing these friendly and peaceful creatures in their natural place is undoubtedly one of the refreshing things to do in Phnom Penh.
Try Cambodian cuisine
One of the main attractions of Cambodia that attract people to visit this place is its food. A typical Cambodian meal includes a fish item and rice. Often known as the “cuisine of contrasts”, Cambodian food has a lot of variations. When in Cambodia, one must try Fish Amok, Nom Banh Chok, Samlor Machu Trey, Num Anksom Sach Chrouk. Also, with its wide varieties of seafood, Cambodia is one of the great places for seafood lovers.
Watching sunrise or sunset at Angkor Wat
Watching the sunrise in Angkor Wat is a must-do while you are in Siem Cambodia. There is something magical about seeing this city come to life as you watch the sunrise slowly above it. It is better to reach the location early in the morning. You can even pre-arrange a tuk-tuk to come and pick you the previous day.
Experts suggest leaving your guesthouse by 4:45 am so that you get sufficient time to make it to the morning entrance time and find your spot. However, do not be too much engrossed in taking the perfect shot that you forget to enjoy the lovely moment and experience. Naturally, here sunsets are spectacular and worth watching.
Explore the outstanding architecture of Phnom Penh Palace
The star attraction of Phnom Penh built-in 1860 is not simply a shiny palace dominating the city’s skyline, but also a significant reminder of the blood-stained history of Cambodia. The stylish structure is characterized by its crown of towers and stupas, the Silver Pagoda sitting adjacent to it, well-maintained tropical gardens, and the tranquility that exists inside the high-rise walls. With all these and more, the Royal Palace is certainly one of the best Cambodia tourist attractions and one of the best things to do in Cambodia.
Engage with the wild animals in the National Parks
Do not want to visit temples? No problem. Apart from large numbers of temples, attractions also include many national parks in Cambodia and wildlife sanctuaries housing some of the rarest species of the world’s best flora and fauna. Paying a visit to these is one of the funniest things to do in Cambodia for nature lovers and adventure seekers. While Virachey National Park is home to sun bears, elephants, clouded leopards, and different birds, the Ream Park is popular for internationally endangered species of prey, like the grey-headed fish eagle, white-bellied sea eagle, and the Brahminy Kite.
Tonlé Sap Lake
The Tonle Sap Lake in Siem Reap is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Southeast Asia. During the monsoon, between the month of June and October, this lake creates a massive natural environment, including wetlands and flooded forests.
Swimming with the elephants
It is the craziest thing to do in Cambodia. The Elephant Valley Project at Mondulkiri is a group of passionate, dedicated people whose work is wholly directed towards care and conservation of injured, abandoned, and orphaned elephants. Also known as a place where “elephants get to be elephants again”, EVP feeds, safeguards, and offers shelter to the elephants. Tourists can come here with prior booking and spend some time with this adorable animal. Travelers can play and swim with these elephants which is always much better than riding on them and troubling them.
Discover the secrets of Tuol Sleng
The War Museum in Tuol Sleng, though not a cheerful place, is a significant place to visit in Cambodia for its horrific history. Back in the Khmer Rouge era, the school-cum-execution ground was used to torture the inmates. This S-21 Detention Centre today acts as a haunting memento of the genocide of the era. Visiting the museum might not be one of the best things to do in Cambodia, but one must surely pay their respects to the brave people who lost their lives here. Here, you can find some remarkable sights of human activities around the lake, in the form of various floating villages.
Participate in Cambodian Village Cooking Class
There are several free things to do in Cambodia like tuk-tuk ride, cycling, and sailing too. However, some paid experiences would also enrich your experience on a holiday to this lovely destination. Try culinary experiences like learning how to cook authentic Cambodian cuisines. This experience can be learned with the help of a local chef, either in the village or city. If you want an authentic cultural experience, go with the former option. Visit the rural regions and learn cooking from the local chefs.