Cambodia guide

Introdution: 

There’s a magic about Cambodia that casts a spell on many who visit this charming yet confounding kingdom. Ascend to the realm of the gods at the mother of all temples, Angkor Wat, a spectacular fusion of symbolism, symmetry and spirituality. Descend into the hell of Tuol Sleng and come face to face with the Khmer Rouge and its killing machine. Welcome to the conundrum that is Cambodia: a country with a history both inspiring and depressing, an intoxicating place where the future is waiting to be shaped.

Overview

Cambodia - Angkor Travel Professional presents information-pack on tours, hotels, air ticketing for Cambodia. Intending to make this site useful to travelers, we have contained many other valuable resources regarding travel in Cambodia such as Khmer Civilization, travel information, news, related articles, flight schedules, maps, photos and many more!

Being a specialist in Cambodia, we have designed various tours for your selection to Angkor Wat and other Khmer Temples; Phnompenh - the capital and other remote destinations such the beach of Sihanoukville, Takeo, Kompong Som, etc. Customized your own tour is possible upon request.

Culture

The south coast is fringed by tropical islands, with barely a beach hut in sight. The next Ko Samui or Gili Trawangan awaits discovery and, for now, visitors can play Robinson Crusoe. Inland from the coast lie the Cardamom Mountains, part of a vast tropical wilderness that provides a home to elusive wildlife and is the gateway to emerging ecotourism adventures. The mighty Mekong River cuts through the country and is home to some of the region’s last remaining freshwater dolphins; cyclists or dirt bikers can follow the river’s length as it meanders through traditional communities. The northeast is a world unto itself, its wild and mountainous landscapes a home for Cambodia’s ethnic minorities and an abundance of natural attractions, including thundering waterfalls and pristine crater lakes.

Transportation

Air travellers enter Cambodia through Phnom Penh’s Pochentong Airport or Siem Reap Angkor International Airport. Both airports are quite modern. The two-storey one in Phnom Penh even offers a First/Business Class Lounge on the first floor at the International Terminal, near to the main boarding gates. Inside is an assortment of services and modern conveniences including wireless internet. Economy passengers can use the lounge for a nominal fee.
 
Pochentong Airport offers plenty of other amenities including lost luggage services in Arrivals at the International Terminal, currency exchange, a post office and a smoking lounge. Restaurants and bars include Caffé Ritazza and Angkor Pub in the International Terminal; Café Select in the Domestic Departure Lounge; and a food court outside the International Terminal. Shopping is light but good, with a bookstore, two duty-free outlets and a Khmer handicrafts shop.
 
The airport serves well over a million passengers annually with a capacity for two million. There are 22 check-in counters and 6 gates, serving 10 international and 3 domestic destinations with 20 airlines. There are 380 parking spaces with parking available for up to 4 hours.
 
Siem Reap Airport is equally impressive. It has capacity to serve 1.5 million passengers and nearly meets this capacity annually. Although tiny and with just one floor, the airport is very pleasant and has a bookstore and a charming boutique selling souvenirs and other goods. There are less than 200 parking spaces, most at the International Terminal.
 
There are plenty of ways to move around Cambodia and the best choice for long distances is by air. There are good and frequent connections between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap on President Air and Siem Reap Airways.
 
Local buses can also provide an exciting means of travel and are good for those on a budget. The popular Mekong Express provides a luxury bus ride for just US$6 between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap every day. There are other companies offering the same route as well. You can also get between the capital and Siem Reap via boat in just 5 hours for about $US25.
 
The best way to see the country at your leisure is to hire a car and driver. You could drive yourself but it probably wouldn’t be as pleasant as having someone else drive you, especially through heavy traffic. Hiring a motorbike is great for short distances and to see rural areas, but be sure you know what you’re doing!
 

Getting around in cities is best done by motorbike or by hiring a cyclo or a taxi. Walking can be fun if it’s not too hot and you know the distances and where you are going. However, many of the sights and attractions in Siem Reap are too far apart for walking.

Practical

Tourism has brought many benefits to Cambodia: it provides opportunity and employment for a new generation of Khmers, has helped to spark a rebirth of the traditional arts, and has given the country a renewed sense of pride and optimism as it recovers from the dark decades of war and genocide. However, not all tourism has been good for the country and there is the dark side of sex tourism, human exploitation and a casino culture. Cambodia is in a great position to benefit from the mistakes of other countries in the region and follow a sustainable road to tourism development. However, it may be that the government is more focused on the short-term gain that megabucks investments can provide. Can Cambodia be all things to all visitors? So far, so good, but a new era is about to begin and the beaches are the next battleground.

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