Tour guides Cambodia

5 ideas for guided tours in Cambodia

• Angkor Temples

  

  Just a few kilometers from Siem Reap, the temples of Angkor rise from the jungle, silent and majestic. This vast site, a legacy of the ancient Khmer Empire, is one of those places that leave a lasting mark. Standing before the moats of Angkor Wat, you are struck by its scale, its harmony, and the details carved into stone since the 12th century.

  A little further on, Bayon captivates with its towers adorned with serene faces, while Ta Prohm lets nature reclaim its space: giant roots embrace the walls in an uncanny calm. These ruins, swallowed by vegetation, seem to float between dream and reality.

  But Angkor is not just about the big names. Banteay Srei, with its delicate carvings, and Preah Khan, labyrinthine and tranquil, are also worth exploring. The site is vast—over 400 km², with nearly 200 temples to discover. It takes time—at least two days—to soak in this extraordinary atmosphere of history, spirituality, and silence.

• Kratie

  

  Peaceful and still unspoiled, Kratie offers a gentle pause on the banks of the Mekong. Here, everything feels slower, simpler. Travelers come mainly to see the Irrawaddy dolphins, those rare and endangered cetaceans, observed in silence from a small boat drifting on the calm river waters.

  But Kratie is also a way of life. Crossing to Koh Trong, a small island just opposite, you’ll find stilt houses, fragrant gardens, and warm hospitality. By bike, you weave through fruit plantations and everyday village scenes.

  And if the desire for solitude lingers, head to Krabey Island. Wild, discreet, and edged with near-empty beaches, it invites you to lounge, swim, or do nothing at all—just listen to the wind in the palms.

• Bokor National Park

  

  The Bokor National Park, perched in the highlands of southern Cambodia, is a place apart. You reach it by a winding road wrapped in mist and forest. At the top, the view over the coastline is spectacular, especially on clear days.

  Around a bend, the ruins of the Bokor Palace Hotel appear, mysterious and haunting. Once a grand colonial hotel, now frozen in the fog, it gives off an uncanny, almost unreal atmosphere. Further along, the Popokvil Waterfalls offer a refreshing break among ferns.

  The park also shelters little-used hiking trails, forgotten temples, and discreet wildlife. It’s a place for those drawn to raw, slightly ghostly atmospheres, where history and nature still seem to whisper their secrets.

• Battambang

  

  Less visited than Siem Reap, Battambang is well worth lingering in. Along its streets lined with colonial houses and old shops, there’s a rare gentleness to life. It’s a city on a human scale, easy to lose yourself in with pleasure.

  Just a few kilometers away, Wat Banan awaits curious visitors at the top of a hill. The climb is 350 steps, but the view from above more than rewards the effort. The temple, modest yet peaceful, looks out over a countryside dotted with rice fields and palm trees.

  No visit to Battambang would be complete without a ride on the Bamboo Train, a quirky bamboo cart running along an old railway line. A simple yet entertaining experience. To close the day, the Phare Ponleu Selpak center hosts contemporary circus performances, brought to life by talented young local artists.

• Banlung

  

  Head east to Cambodia’s lesser-known province of Ratanakiri. Banlung, its capital, is the perfect starting point for a full immersion in nature. Far from the bustle, life unfolds at a different pace here, more grounded, closer to the elements.

  The Kachanh and Cha Ong waterfalls offer forest swimming spots where the roar of water drowns out the rest of the world. Then there’s the Yeak Laom volcanic lake, a perfect circle of clear water bordered by jungle. You can swim, stroll, or simply sit and take it in.

  But Banlung is also about meeting Indigenous communities. In the Tampuen or Kreung villages, traditions endure. You learn through exchange, silence, and a glance. And for coffee lovers, local plantations reveal a whole craft, from bean to cup. Not to be missed either: the vast, untamed Virachey National Park, still largely unexplored.