CAMBODIA TOURING

The capital city of Phnom Penh is Cambodia’s heart, one that pulses to the unmistakable beat of a lively Asian city. Indeed, Phnom Penh trades on its atmosphere, where the animated locals attract you with warm smiles, urging you to learn more about a city beyond the headlines and history lessons.

A tour of Phnom Penh reveals its beautiful architecture, from the designs of the ancient Khmer era to the inspirations of its more recent French colonisation. Fairly modest modern development means the pastel hues of the latter are still in evidence throughout the city, lending it an attractive air of European grandeur, even before your nose pricks at the distinctive smells of freshly baked baguettes – one of France’s many legacies.

With Travelbag, your tour will include visits to the majestic Royal Palace, which shimmers in the sun with its golden spires, the intricately styled National Museum and Sisowath Quay, a pretty promenade of cafes, shops and restaurants that overlooks the lazy Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers.

Naturally, any visit to Phnom Penh is tempered with a sense of sobriety, the horrors of its history a lasting legacy that remains fresh in the memory for much of its population. The relative recentness of Cambodia’s plight makes educating yourself about it a necessity, an experience you will embark on with Travelbag via a poignant trip to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the infamous ‘Killing Fields’.

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is an imperative stop on any Cambodia visit, authorities having intentionally left the former prison untouched in an effort to display the full gravity of the Khmer Rouge’s atrocious activities. Similarly, The Killing Fields, the location of more than 20,000 mass grave sites, are both moving and incredibly affecting, an emotional journey that will stay with you forever.
North of Phnom Penh brings you to the pretty city of Siem Reap, a popular migration for visitors in search of the magnificent Angkor archaeological site. Often regarded as the ‘Eight Wonder of the World’, Angkor Wat is an extraordinary 12th century temple complex that is distinguished by its distinctive Khmer architecture of ridges, curves and delicate carvings, a man-made creation that has weathered the influence of time well.

Surrounded by verdant countryside, Angkor Wat is beautiful from every angle, though many consider the sight of watching a fiery sunrise slowly bathing it in light every morning to be one of life’s most incredible human experiences. Join a Cambodia tour and you will be treated to an experience you will never forget.

Beyond Angkor Wat, Travelbag offers tours of the greater Angkor Archaeological Park with its plethora of inspiring sites, including Bayon, where many Buddha images have been carved out of stone, and Ta Prohm, where nature has attempted to reclaim the land, creating startling scenes as trees and plants sprout from the buildings that have been built on top of them.

Siem Reap itself is a charming city that has also been blessed with French influence, as denoted by its leafy boulevards and colourful buildings.

Venture to the south of Cambodia and the lesser-known stretch of coastline that fringes the sublime Gulf of Thailand is becoming a popular attraction. Not as busy as those in neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodia’s beaches nonetheless share the same pretty scenery and delicately soft-sands, making them a tempting proposition for anyone keen to soak up the pleasant tropical sun.
Indeed, with its world-class attractions and less-explored reaches, golden beaches and a remarkable heritage to beckon the enterprising traveller, Cambodia may have only recently begun welcoming visitors to its shores, but it is doing it with open arms and much to offer…