Traveling in Cambodia

 
Introduction

Cambodia is one of the least touristed countries in the region, with the vast majority of visitors seeing Angkor Wat and nothing else.
 
Outside of a couple of arterial roads, the road network is appalling and in wet season even worse. The capital, Phnom Penh is certainly worth a visit, both for its pretty French colonial riverfront area and for the Khmer Rouge legacy that can be seen in the torture museum and Killing Fields.

The beach side strip of Sihanoukville gets a steady trickle of beach lovers, though the Thai beaches are far better and many choose to opt for the latter.
 
Outside of these three destinations only those with the time or the desire, get further afield — try Battambang, Kampot and Kep if time allows. That’s not to say it isn’t worthwhile spending longer in Cambodia, it is just that few do.
 
How long a holiday in Cambodia?

If you have a spare week, this is the country best suited to a fleeting visit. Allowing for three days at Siem Reap (the base for visiting Angkor Wat) then a day of travel to Phnom Penh and then two days in Phnom Penh means you could cover the two key destinations here in less than a week, but Cambodia has a lot more to offer than these two spots, so those with an extra week can head to the coastal strip of Sihanoukville, Kampot and Kep, while those with another week should consider a trip up to Rattanakiri or Mondulkiri.
 
A few ways to see more in less
Fly, fly, fly

In Cambodia, the domestic flight network is very limited and woefully overpriced, yet, given the condition of some of the roads, many choose to fly, opting for a US$100 flight over a seven to twelve hour bone jarring ride. If you’re planning on visiting Rattanakiri, fly at least one way (if not both). The road to this very remote town is appalling and can be very time-consuming to travel along.