Cambodian Bucket List
Cambodia is a country on the Indochinese mainland of Southeast Asia, full of diversity and many stunning places to explore, offering a unique experience to every tourist. Here is a Cambodian bucket list of activities that you cannot miss out on!
9 Top Traveling Places In Cambodia
The Cambodian traveling places are filled up with rich historical values, and the uniquely rich culture of the place is making a magnetic traveling spot.
Here are nine great options to explore the Cambodian areas.
1. Visit The Magnificent Angkor Wat Temple
As the most prominent religious temple in the world, Angkor Wat temple is on everyone’s Cambodian travel bucket list! Of course, it’s beautiful at any time of day, but it’s best to get there early as seeing it at sunrise is a truly surreal experience. Angkor Wat is the iconic 12th-century temple.
The history and the magnificent building structures are two iconic signatures of the place. So book a ticket to catch a majestic sunrise at Angkor Wat. And feel the history with the magnificent sunrise.
The sights are so picturesque – choose between the iconic shot of the temples reflecting in the pond or a close-up shot at Angkor Hill.
The temple’s walls are decorated with thousands of carved storytelling bas-reliefs, representing important deities and the Hindu and Buddhist religions.
When exploring Angkor Wat, you will see many monks – their presence adds a mystical atmosphere to the temple. They travel from different parts of Cambodia and worldwide to admire the temple, as it is a pilgrimage for them.
To show Cambodians’ incredible pride in the ancient monument, Angkor Wat is even featured in the Cambodian flag!
The temple will amaze and inspire you and give you a sense of human history that you can only get from visiting historical monuments such as this one.
2. Visit the Siem Reap Floating Villages
After seeing Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, the next place to head to is Siem Reap floating Villages. See this unique local way of life where rural communities in Cambodia have settled on the shores of the waters of the Tonle Sap Lake.
The floating villages are another attraction of Cambodia. The locals build their houses on tall wooden support and props which get around by boat. Anyone who visits Cambodia must join the fascinating floating village Siem Reap tour.
3. Angkor zip-line
Experience the Angkor Archaeological Park from a unique perspective on a zip-line tour! Zipline across the incredible jungle inside the UNESCO World Heritage Angkor Archaeological Park.
This eco-adventure will see you across four hanging bridges and endless treetops along the ten zip lines and 21 platforms that make up this adrenaline-boosting course.
If you’re looking for a taste of adventure in Siem Reap that will have you soaring and swooping through the treetops, this is the activity for you! This should definitely be on everyone’s Cambodian bucket list. Don’t miss out on this fun adventure!
4. Ride A Bamboo Train In Battambang
A bamboo train is a mode of transport famous in Battambang, Cambodia. It consists of a bamboo platform laid over two sets of wheels, held in place only by gravity, with a small motor on the back. A wooden pole is used as both the brakes and accelerator, with the train hitting speeds of up to 50km/h. A truly hair-raising and bumpy ride!
Take a ride on the traditional Bamboo train, taking you through the beautiful countryside to a little village you can explore.
When two trains meet on the track, the one with fewer people will have to get off and dismantle the train to give way to the other train.
This unique experience is one that you cannot miss out on trying when in Cambodia!
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5. Visit The Bat Caves
While in Battambang, a visit to the bat caves is a must. Phnom Sampov is about 12km from Battambang city. Every evening at dusk, a crowd gathers there to watch tons of bats shout out of the caves of the mountain. It’s a true spectacle lasting for up to 40 minutes.
Are you searching for good hiking trails? Consider hiking in the Phnom Sampov, if you’re the adventurous type, to learn about the cave’s tragic history and stop by a gorgeous lookout spot too.
6. Try Authentic Local Cambodian Cuisine
It’s no secret that Southeast Asian countries are well known for their unique taste cuisines. And Cambodia is no exception. Try on a variety of foods and meals to taste the real essence of Cambodia.
Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world, so they have to make do with whatever food they can find. Due to this, a lot of their dishes include insects, rats, and even snakes!
No true Cambodian experience would be complete without sampling some of Cambodia’s authentic local cuisine. Once you’re finished with the insects and reptiles, another way to try the local cuisine is by cooking it yourself. Try a cooking class to understand the culture truly.
7. Spot Irrawaddy Dolphins In The Mekong
The Mekong river is home to the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins – just 92 individuals are estimated to exist still. Climb aboard a fishing boat at Kampi to spot them swimming in a short stretch of the Mekong River. Don’t miss out on the chance to see these endangered species.
8. Bathe Elephants In The Jungle
Mondulkiri is a remote northeastern province. The place is filled with beautiful mountainous forests, filled waterfalls and is also home to protected elephants.
Book yourself in for an incredible experience with the Elephant Valley Project, allowing you to get up close and personal with these fantastic giant creatures. The Elephant Valley Project is one of the oldest and most respected elephant sanctuaries, where efforts are made to put elephants as close to their natural habitat as possible.
The Elephant Valley Project’s goal is to let the elephants just be elephants, and they advocate against elephant rides. Hence, you can spend the entire day with the elephants in their natural habitat. Although they roam through the jungle and bathe in the river, you can also enjoy that life.
Have fun trekking in the jungle, observing and learning all about the elephants. This is definitely something that should be on everyone’s Cambodian bucket list, as it’s such a beautiful sight that you can’t miss out on seeing for yourself.
9. Explore Kampot
Kampot is the perfect place to soak up the local way of life off the beaten track and discover this beautiful countryside province.
It’s known for its pepper plantations and salt fields. However, Kampot also has a rich history, exhibited in the Kampot Museum.
Explore Kampot’s natural untouched beauty with rock climbing, river tours, and expeditions into the jungle. Relax and swim near the waterside, or discover the amazing river networks by kayak!
This bucket list was written by Dani Andrews, a Travel Expert for Touring Highlights
Conclusion:
Cambodian rich cultural history and magnificent views are making these places unique traveling destinations. Along with the rich historical value, you can explore different foods and different cultures. So what is your travel planning? Do not forget to share your traveling experiences in the comments sections.
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