Cambodia off the beaten track Mention you are going to Cambodia and chances are, you will end up comparing notes on the glorious temples of Angkor, among the most awe-inspiring, mind-blowing monuments ever conceived by the human mind. It is hardly surprising that so many travellers from around the globe dream of gazing upon the towers of Angkor Wat, walking through the root-strangled gateways of Angkor Thom and staring back at the enigmatic smiling faces that have made the Bayon famous. But Cambodia has a great deal more to offer than its headline sights. Travellers at first drawn to the spectacular temples around Siem Reap often end up enchanted and determined to return, thanks to the friendliness of the Khmer people, the sublime beauty of the countryside and the botanical exuberance of the country's still-pristine tropical rainforests. Parts of Cambodia's south coast are fairly well-known to travellers. Beaches, nightlife, restaurants and a backpacker vibe make Sihanoukville, Cambodia's main port, the country's third-most-popular tourist destination. Kampot, with its run-down French-era buildings and mellow spirit, is popular as a starting point for Bokor National Park and the ruins of the grand, colonial-era casino. But head northwest towards the Thai frontier and you come to Koh Kong Province, an area of breathtaking beauty and incredible biodiversity that was almost inaccessible until the completion of Highway 48 just three years ago. As a result, the one-time smugglers' port of Krong Koh Kong is transforming itself into a centre of ecotourism. The deserted beaches of Koh Kong Island are a major draw, as are the mangrove forests lining the coastline and the ecolodges sprouting along the Tatai River. More adventurous travellers can head upriver to the remote hamlet of Chi Phat, home to a pioneering ecotourism initiative, and the truly intrepid can hire a guide to trek deep into the Cardamom Mountains, one of Southeast Asia's last great wildernesses. You can also experience untamed wilderness in Cambodia's far northeast corner, in the highlands bordering Laos and Vietnam. In far-off Ratanakiri Province, the red-earth town of Ban Lung is an excellent place to organise a trek to nearby “hill tribe” villages or to Virachey National Park, home to endangered elephants, gibbons and hornbills. Before you set out, make sure that your guide is both culturally sensitive and ecologically aware (it is a new industry so, unfortunately, not all guides are). Until just a few years ago, the grasslands and forests north of Angkor, up towards Thailand and Laos, were hard to get to in the dry season and virtually inaccessible in the wet. But thanks to a network of new roads -- paved in part because of the ongoing military confrontation with Thailand -- the superb temples of Banteay Chhmar, the former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Anlong Veng, the spectacular cliff-top temple of Prasat Preah Vihear and some remote wildlife sanctuaries can now be reached with relative ease and in reasonable comfort. Before heading to potential hotspots such as Prasat Preah Vihear, however, check with local news sources to make sure the frontier is quiet. Whether you are a first-time visitor to Cambodia or heading back for another encounter with Khmer culture, it is off the beaten tourist track that you are likely to find some of the kingdom's best-kept and most enchanting secrets.
What is the name of the most striking temple? Where can you walk through the root-strangled gateways? Where can you find untamed wilderness? What part of Cambodia's is known for its beaches, nightlife, restaurants and a backpacker vibe?
I like to travel very much. I think that Cambodia is an unusual place for recreation. This article tells about the main attractions of Cambodia. This country is known for its temples and shrines and rich flora and fauna. It would be cool to tell your friends that you were in Cambodia)) If you want to go to Cambodia, you must read this article.
