 Cambodia lies in the heart of South-East Asia bordering Vietnam to the east, Laos to the north and Thailand to the west. Despite being much smaller that the neighbors Cambodia’s unique Indian-influenced Khmer culture has remained very much intact. For many of today’s travelers the incredible architectural legacy left from Angkorian period of history, the temples of Angkor are without doubt the main reason for visiting Cambodia. The base for discovering the temples of Angkor is the provincial capital, Siem Reap. Being a tropical country, Cambodia is bathed in sunshine almost all year and has a medium to high average temperature. There are two distinct seasons, the dry season and the monsoon rains. The monsoon period lasts from May to October with south-westerly winds ushering in clouds that bring seventy five to eighty percent of the annual rainfall, often in spectacular intense bursts for an hour at a time illuminating the night sky with brilliant lightning displays. The dry season extends from November to April with average temperatures ranging from 27 to 35 degrees Celsius. The coolest and most comfortable climate is from October to January. |
 Siem Reap: Siem Reap is the provincial capital of Siem Reap province. Through this small town crosses a river, which comes from the Kulen Mountains. Siem Reap is the gateway to visit the Angkor Park, which is over 40 km2 and home to more than 100 temples dating back from the 9th to the 13th century. Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese style architecture in the old French Quarter, and around the old market. In the city, there are museums, traditional Apsara dance performances, Cambodia cultural village, souvenir and handycraft shops, silk farms, rice paddy countryside, fishing villages and a bird watching near Tonle Sap Lake. Siem Reap today being a popular tourist destination, has a large number of hotols, resorts and stylist restaurants. |
 Angkor Wat: Angkor Wat is the biggest religious monument in the world and represents the Khmer heritage. It’s stunning base reliefs, massive towers and huge entrance way will simply awe you in every sense. It’s a very special and relaxing day to explore some of Angkor’s most beautiful temples. The temple was built by the Khmer king Soryavarman II in the earlyh 12th century. Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple mountain and the later galleried temple, based on early Dravidian architecture, with the key features such as the Jagati. it is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the Devas in Hindu mythology: within moat and an outer wall 3.6 km long are three rectangular galleries. |
 Angkor Thom: Angkor Thom, which was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. The city is surrounded by an 8m high wall; each side of the city is 4km long. It draws a perfect square on the map and you can access the town through 5 gates; 4 of gate used for exiting the dead out of the city. Ankor Thom also well known as Bayon temple was establised s the capital of Jayavarman VII's empier, and was the center of his massive building programme. One inscription found in the city refers to Jayavarman as the groom and the city as his bride. The last temple known to have been constructed in Angkor Thom was Mangalatha, which was dedicated in 1925. Thereafter the existing structures continued to be modified from time to time, but any new creations were in perishable materials and have not survived. In the following centuries Angkor Thom remained the capital of a Kingdom in decline until it was abandoned some time prior to 1609, when an early western visitor wrote of an uninhabited city " as fantastic as the Atlantis of Plato" it is believed to have sustained a population of 80,000 - 150,000 people. |
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 Ta Prom : was built in the memory of King Jayavarman VII’s mother. When found by the French conservationists at the end of the 19th century, they deliberately left this temple in the same condition as it was discovered; overgrown by strangler fig and silk-cotton trees, giving the temple a mystical and romantic appeal.
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 Banteay Srei: Banteay Srei remains the best preserved temple in Cambodia and offers stunning bass relief and other stone carvings. The temple is only small in size but of huge significance in understanding the Angkorian Era. It is a 10th century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god of Shiva, it lies near the hill of Phnom Dei, 25km northeast of the main group of temples that once belonged to the medieval capitals of Yasordarapura and Angkor Thom. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends ifseft to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today. The buildings themselves are miniature in scale, unusally so when measured by the standards of Angkorian contruction. |
 Kulen Mountain: Phnom Kulen is a sacred place where many Khmers like to hang out in the weekends. However, the attractions are deserted during the weekdays and it is a great treat to discover the “river of a 1000 lingas” and the several Pagoda’s on top of the mountain. |
 Kampong Thom: Kampong Thom is located between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh and is an excellent stopover for those who traveling overland. In this sleepy town lie the temples of Sambor Prei Kuk, date back to the 8th century and are relatively unknown. Tucked deep in the forest and connected by dirt paths, travelers can visit by bike, on foot or by horse cart. |
 Phnom Penh: Phnom Penh is the modern day capital of Cambodia; Phnom Penh considered as one of the most beautiful cities of the orient, it still retains much of its original charm with the exotic roof of Khmer temples contrasting with some classic European architecture from the French colonial years. |
 Royal Palace: Royal Place, which is also the residence of the King and Queen, is set back from the riverfront, but in clear view of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers. The Royal Palace is located between the Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. The gardens and architecture within the compound are astonsihing. |
 Wat Phnom: Wat Phnom is situated near the northern boundary of the city. The original temple was built in 1372 by a rich Khmer lady named "Penh" who found a collection of statues of the Buddha washed up on the river bank and decided to house them on a nearby hill ("Phnom"). The site contains some good examples of Khmer architecture and statues. Wat Phnom is frequented by the locals as a place of worship and a favorite weekend picnic spot. |
 Killing Field: The site of over 100 mass graves containing thousands of the victims murdered during the genocidal Khmer Rouge or Pol Pot regime between 1975 and 1979. A Memorial Stupa erected in memory of this horrific time contains the skulls of thousands of victims. |
 Sihanouk Ville: Sihanouk Ville, also known as Kompong Som, is a beach resort on the gulf of Thailand. This beautiful white sand beach is now beginning to attract visitors in increasing numbers. The province is named after former king Norodom Sihanouk and grew up around the construction of the Sihanoukville Port which began in June 1955 and became the only deep water port in Cambodia.The province is served by Sihanoukville International Airport, 18 kilometres from downtown, although it has a limited commercial operation. The airport currently has limited passenger flight between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh on Cambodia Angkor Air. |
 Kampot: Kampot is a small provincial capital situated on the banks of a river with a relaxing and shady boulevard. There are still many French colonial buildings present in town and it has a truly relaxing atmosphere overlooking the mountain range and sunset over the river. Kampot is well known for its famous black pepper, which is widely available in Cambodia. The fresh climate and soil type of Kampot, as well as the experience of several genetations of pepper farmers make this pepper unique and much sought-after by goumets worldwide. The town is also famous for its Kampot fish sauce and durian. Kampot is base for trips up the Domrei and Bokor Mountains. Stunnig panoramic views over Cambodia and Vietnam can be enjoyed from the mountain tops. Waterfalls, boating and rafting on the river can be enjoyed in town, and popular attractions are the Kampong Trach caves with their ancient ruins and the durian and pepper farms. The small island of Koh Tonsay can be visited from Kampot by boat. Visitors can enjoy long stretches of golden sand and delicious local crab curry. |
 Kep: Kep is a small fishing town with beautiful views over the Gulf of Thailand. If we drive over highway 34 is very quiet and leads through rural villages with many people welcoming you warmly with a big smile and sometimes say hello Mister even you are a woman. |
 Takeo: Takeo is a small town that is truly Cambodian in any sense. The amenities are very basic in town but good enough to provide a comfortable stay. Observing the life in the small city is a must as basically anything beyond your imagination happens here in terms of transportation, market life and business. |
 Kampong Cham: Kompong Cham is the fourth largest province town in Cambodia. The town is experiencing commercial prosperity due to its location on the Mekong River. A new bridge name Kizuna is now built across the Mekong River. Kampong Cham district is the smallest district in Kampong Cham Provice and is surrounded by other Kampong Cham districts. Reading from north clockwise, Kampong Cham shares a border with Kampong Siem District while Tbaung Khmom province (the former Tbaung Khmom district) forms the eastern boundary. To the south of Kampong Cham is Koh Sotin district and Kampong Siem lies on the western border. |
 Kratie: Kratie is a small provincial capital located right on the Mekong River. This place is primarily known for the Irrawaddy Dolphins, a species of dolphins that only lives in the Mekong River. Sambour, 40km from Kratie, highway 7 becomes even more the playground of small kids and animals. Next to all this, the road leads through very interesting scenery and halfway you notice a dramatic change of flora. Just 14km away from Kratie, get on the boat and enjoy an afternoon cruise over the Mekong to see the Irrawaddy dolphins. This unique dolphin lives only in the Mekong and can be seen late afternoon/early evening in a particular spot around Kratie. Kratie is also a great stop on the way to Steung Treng. |
 Steung Treng: Steung Treng is one rural town located on the Laos border. This beautiful town does not have much in terms of sightseeing, but this province offering a relaxing atmosphere and chance to experience the local culture. Steung Treng was first a part of the Khmer Empire, then the Loas Kingdom of Lan Xang and later the Loas Kingdom of Champasak. After the Franco Siamese war of 1893, Steung Treng was administrated by French Lower Laos from 1893-1904. In 1904 the province was traded by French Laos for the exchange for Champasak in French Protectorate of Cambodia which left a small minorities of Laotians in Cambodia. Owing to its border location and forested mountain areas in the noreast of the province, there was much communist guerrilla activity in Steung Treng during Cambodia's recent past. The insurgency lasted from the Vietnamese infiltration in the 1950s until late Khmer Rouge years. |
 Northeast Cambodia, two provinces are worth to discovering, although the roads are not in great conditions, the scenery is wonderful and the trip is rewarding. Rattanakiri province is located near the Vietnam and Laos’s borders, more than ten waterfalls, and great wildlife spotting can be done in Rattanakiri. Yeak Loam is the greatest lake that can be seen in this province. Further east is Mondulkiri province, it is one of the least populated and hill tribe trekking is the most popular activity for tourists. |
Laos: saw its highest tourist number in 2009 and the accolades to go with it. Since featured by the New York Time as one of 2008's list of top places to go, Laos has shed its image as an Asian backwater to become an attractive destination in indochina. Although Luang Prabang remained the number one destination for travelers, this past year saw the Lao tourist map begin to expand. With the constant addition of upscale properties and emerging destinations such as Vientiane and the unexplored south, Laos is drawing a steady stream of travelers seeking exotic landscapes.
Bolikhamxay: A three hour drive from Vientiane, Bolikhamxay province has the country's best wildlife and bird watching opportunities. It is home to Phou Khao Kwai National Park and an extensive wetlands system which forms a significant habitat for unique migratory birds.
Khammouane Province: In central Laos, Khammouane is an ideal stopover on the journey to Vietnam. The region's attractions include Khonglor, a 7000 meter long cave with a river running throught it, and spectacular homestay and trekking opportunities.
Xaysomboun: Characterized by dramatic mountains and high plateau, Xaysomboun is a paradise for adventurous travelers. The region offers hilltribe treks and rafting trips down the Nam Ngum River.
Si Phan Don: This stretch of the Mekong River near the Cambodian border is known as the 4000 islands, or "Si Phan Don" in the Lao language. In addition to hundreds of laidback, car-free islands the region is home to the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin, several waterfalls and the remnants of the French railway.
Boloven Plateau: Nestled between the Annamite Mountains and Mekong River is the Boloven Plateau. A one hour drive east of Pakse, the area is known for its coffee and tea platations, dozens of waterfalls and nomadic hilltribe people. Exploratory day trips or longer in-depth trekking tours are available.
Wat Phou: Inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Wat Phou is one of the region's most important archeological and religious sites. This 11th century temple is nestled in the hills along the Mekong and is a must-see for any visitor to Southern Laos.
Xe Pian Npa: Xe Pian National Projected Area (NPA) stretches east from the Mekong River and down to the Cambodia border and offers bird watching, wildlife tracking, and elephant trekking activities. The NPA is a popular stop on the way to Cambodia or can be visited in an overnight trip from Pakse.
Nong Khiaw & Muang Noi: These small rustic town on the Nam Ou River feature waterfalls, hidden caves and riverside villages. Nong Khiaw is just a three hour drive from Luang Prabang with Muang Noi a further 45 minutes by boat to the north. 
Luang Nam Tha: Surrounded by national parks, rivers and gently rolling mountains, Luang Nam Tha is an outdoor playground. The road journey is long, but rewarding, taking 11 hours from Luang Prabang or 8 hours from the Thai border.
Muang Sing: Two hours north of Luang Nam Tha near the borders with China an Myanmar, Muang Sing is known for its wide variety of ethnic groups. Mainly flat but encircled by distant mountains, the town offers cycling options and treks to the surrounding hilltribe villages.
Sam Neua: Sitting in a picturesque valley in northeastern Laos, Sam Neua makes a good stopover on the road to Vietnam but is a grueling 16 hours drive from Luang Prabang. Travelers can trek in the surrounding hills and visit caves in nearby Vieng Xai, used as hideouts during the Pathet Lao times and later as re-education camps.
