Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Take a fast boat to the hilltop temple of
Phnom Da
, which dates from the pre-Angkori-
an time, and then continue south to the colonial-era town of
Kampot
, which makes a
good base for exploringthis area. From here, visit the seaside town of
Kep
(and nearby
Rabbit Island off the coast) and nearby cave pagodas. It is also possible to make a side trip
to
Bokor National Park
or visit a pepper plantation.
Go west to
Sihanoukville
, Cambodia's beach capital, to sample the seafood, dive or
snorkel the nearby waters or just enjoy soaking up the sun. Choose from the party-central
Serendipity Beach, chilled-out Otres Beach or the up-and-coming islands of Koh Rong or
Koh Rong Samloem.
Backtrack via Phnom Penh to
Kompong Thom
and visit the pre-Angkorian brick
temples of
Sambor Prei Kuk
.
Finish the trip at Angkor; it's a mind-blowing experience with which few sights can
compare. See
Angkor Wat
, perfection in stone;
Bayon
, weirdness in stone; and
Ta
Prohm
, nature triumphing over stone - before venturing further afield to
Kbal Spean
or
jungle-clad
Beng Mealea
.
This trip can take two weeks at a steady pace or three weeks at a slow pace. Public
transport serves most of this route, although some of the side trips will require chartered
transport or a motorbike trip.
