Nestled on the side of the Gulf of Siam, Cambodia is a fascinating country. You will probably be subdued by the wealth of Angkor temples or the diversity of landscapes, but it's perhaps the Cambodian soul, which is both serious and joyful, which moves you the most. This population expiates its painful history, its bubbling youth, smiling to the world, the Theravada Buddhism shapes society and guides the meaning of life and the Mekong unabatedly continues to enhance each monsoon with the Tonle Sap Lake, the cradle of Khmer civilisation.
Upon arriving to Phnom Penh, you will discover a human-sized, dynamic and noisy capital. The heritage of the French protectorate is still evident across architecture, such as the art-deco style central market, but it's visiting the royal palace which enables you to get your feet wet. The S-21 camp and the genocide museum provide a different atmosphere altogether, giving visitors the chance to descend into the hell of the Khmer Rouge.
Moving west, discover Battambang and the NGO Phare Ponleu Selpak, which helps young people to be emancipated by culture and art, get away by visiting Wat Bannan, a very well preserved temple. Stroll around the seaside resort of Sihanoukville or appreciate the authenticity of Kep and the famous pepper of Kampot.
For an end-of-the-world atmosphere, away from tourists, immerse yourself deep into Cambodia by exploring the remote and transforming regions of Môndol Kiri and of Ratanakiri discover the small town of Banlung where a sleeping Buddha temple and the prettiest waterfalls of the country in Bou Sraa await you... There are many wonders to discover!
Stung Treng is the last major town before the Laos border (with Si Phan Don – or "4000 Islands" – lying just 50 kilometres away). It's simply a place at which to make a brief stopover and has nothing of any real interest to offer, except perhaps that it serves as a way to get to Ratanakiri.
A little apart from the other temples, Banteay Srei is an architectural wonder and its decorations are some of the best preserved on the site, so don't miss seeing it during your visit to the temples of Angkor.
Sen Monorom is the capital of the province of Mondolkiri, in the north-east of Cambodia. The majority of its inhabitants are of the Pnong ethnic minority.
Like Kep, Kampot is a charming village where time seems to have stood still, and a place where you can enjoy the star of local cultural heritage: the pepper that made the village famous.
The little town of Kep, nestling along the edge of a beautiful bay, is famous for both its Crab Market and for Rabbit Island, which lies out in the sea nearby.
Kompong Phluk is a floating village located one hour from Siem Reap. It can be visited by boat during the rainy season and on foot during the dry season.
Beng Melea is a Cambodian temple which is part of the enormous empire of temples at Angkor, and not far from Siam Reap. It's one of the wildest temples and one of the most isolated from the usual tourist circuit...magnificent!
Koh Tonsai is somewhere you really ought to go during your trip to Cambodia. Don't miss Kep's crab market and Rabbit Island (what the name "Koh Tonsai" means).