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An update from Evaneos
Kampong Thom

Kampong Thom (Cambodia)

Practical information about Kampong Thom

  • Encounters with locals
  • Nature, Adventure & Sport
  • Place or Religious Monument
  • Archaeological Site
  • Off the beaten track
3 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
Three and a half hours from both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh by bus / 3 hours from Phnom Penh by bus
When to go
All year round
Minimum stay
A few hours

Reviews of Kampong Thom

Bettina Zourli Travel writer
66 travel articles

Kampong Thom is the closest city to the pre-Angkorian site of Sambor Prei Kuk.

My suggestion:
Stop for a break at Kampong Thom on the long journey (seven hours) from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. The city lies at the halfway point.
Summary:

The city of Kampong Thom is not of any real interest as a place to visit when touring Cambodia. I stopped off here on a bus journey from Siem Reap to Phnom. The city does have a few good restaurants, such as the "Kampong Thom", however, as well as several guest houses. 

These are aimed at tourists intending to visit Sambor Prei Kuk: an archaeological site dating from the 7th century that is genuinely worth going to see if you're in the area. I wouldn't have visited myself if I hadn't found myself obliged to travel along this road.

As well as the temple itself, which is the main reason the place is famous, I still also have strong memories of seeing several beautiful pagodas there and taking a walk along the Stung Sen River, where I got to observe various beautiful scenes of everyday life in Cambodia. 

Kampong Thom Market
Lorette Vinet Travel writer
61 travel articles

Kampong Thom is a visit that's off the beaten track before going to Siem Reap, which will help you to begin to understand how rich the architectural heritage of Cambodia is.

My suggestion:
The town is on the road between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Stay the night there in order to visit Sambor Prei Kuk and fall for the charms of a provincial life without the tourists in this region of Cambodia.
Summary:

The main thing of interest during this stop is obviously visiting old stones. Sambor Prei Kuk is a pre-Angkorian temple site with more than a hundred small temples scattered in the forest. Time has taken its toll and the fine exterior carvings are mostly erased. Don't go there directly after Siem Reap or you might suffer from an overdose of temples, which would really be a shame.

Kampong Thom is not a sought after destination during a trip to Cambodia, but you'll have some peace there and even be a bit pampered if you are interested in making contact with the locals.

Here we like the charms of provincial life. There are fewer tourists and as far as we are concerned, it's great! A pretty stop

The famous Sambor Prei Kup