Welcome to Cambodia

Although Cambodia’s past was unsteady it does now seem to have achieved a measure of stability. It still faces severe economic difficulties—international aid is pouring in to help build roads and improve health care—and minesweepers are still scouring the countryside for unexploded bombs. While safety cannot be guaranteed for travellers, the situation seems stable enough for hotels to reopen and new ones to be built to accommodate visitors back to the country.

From the Angkor temples to a choice of coconut-fringed beaches on the Gulf of Siam the visitor will find many areas of interest in the country. From her past history to its natural beauty Cambodia promises untold adventures and the opportunity to step back in time.

Phnom Penh

Once known as "The Paris of the East", Phnom Penh located on the mighty Mekong River, is a city of elegant boulevards and busy markets. The forced evacuation of the population by the infamous Khmer Rouge in 1975 left it a ghost town for five years but today the city has revived, and now bustles with commercialism, tourism and business ventures and is one of the highlights of a visit to this part of the globe and a natural stepping off point for visiting other areas within this fascinating country.

Siem Reap and Angkor Temples

The majestic temples of Angkor in northwest Cambodia belong to the classic period of Khmer art and civilization. Today, a millennium after they were built, they awe visitors with their perfection and enormity.

From the 15th century, the temples were abandoned, until their "rediscovery" in 1861 by French naturalist Henri Mouhot. The jungle setting and silence enhance the mystery of the temples. Many of the temples remain in surprisingly good condition. Others are under restoration, and visitors can get a first-hand look at the painstaking efforts underway to preserve the relics.

The ruins cover an area of 400 square kilometres in the province of Siem Reap. The area contains more than 100 monuments, including two dozen major temples. Some of the temples, such as Angkor Wat and Bayon, merit repeat visits at different times of days, as the reflections on their walls and labyrinthine interior spaces are transformed by the light.

Warning

Despite the easing of political tensions in Cambodia, sporadic outbreaks of violence still occur. Visitors are advised to avoid demonstrations and political gatherings, and to generally exercise caution. Cambodia remains one of the world's most heavily land-mined countries all waiting to be detonated. The most heavily mined part of the country is the Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap and Kampong Thom provinces, but landmines are a problem nationwide. It's advisable to travel with a local guide in rural areas, and never venture off the path into forest or dry paddy fields - even when you're at Angkor. Avoid solo travel during the day outside provincial towns and in all parts of the country at night.