Discover a raw and unforgettable Cambodia travel experience, from Angkor Wat and floating villages to Koh Rong Sanloem’s untouched beaches.

Cambodia is a country of striking contrasts.

It’s a place where you can sample deep-fried crickets and tarantulas at a bustling street market, then retreat to a beautifully designed boutique hotel by night. Where pristine beaches stretch alongside villages where children run barefoot, and families use the sea for bathing, washing clothes, and daily life.

Cambodia has a rhythm all its own — busy cities humming with life, tranquil rainforests whispering ancient stories, and landscapes so visually rich they seem designed for photographers and filmmakers who want to create video content. For travelers who tell stories through images and words, Cambodia is a gift.

A Hidden Gem in Southeast Asia

Despite its location along the Gulf of Thailand, Cambodia remains one of Southeast Asia’s most underrated destinations. Tucked between Thailand and Vietnam, it often escapes the spotlight — which is precisely part of its charm.

Because it hasn’t been overrun by mass tourism, Cambodia remains refreshingly affordable. It’s an ideal destination for travelers who want the region’s beauty and atmosphere without paying the premium that comes with popularity. Here, you can capture postcard-perfect beach scenes, explore jungle-wrapped temples, and still feel like you’ve discovered something personal.

The Path to Paradise

There are countless ways to explore Cambodia, but this is the path I took — a journey that delivered some of the most unforgettable moments of my travels.

Arrival in Phnom Penh

My friend and I arrived in Phnom Penh from Shanghai, China. Many travelers coming from Europe opt to cross into Cambodia by bus from Thailand or Vietnam, which is often cheaper and more flexible. For us, flying made sense.

Stepping out of the airport, the contrast with China was immediate. Tuk-tuks, taxis, and tiny carriages swarmed the curb. The traffic looked chaotic — intimidating even — but somehow we made it into the city unscathed. A small miracle, honestly.

After wandering through Phnom Penh’s energetic streets, we headed to the bus station and continued on to Siem Reap, where we had booked a quiet boutique hotel — a welcome pause before the adventure ahead.

Silver pagoda of the Royal Palace in the city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo by urf via iStock by Getty Images

Siem Reap and the Temples of Angkor

The primary reason for visiting Siem Reap was, of course, Angkor Wat — the awe-inspiring temple complex built in the early 12th century.

Nothing truly prepares you for it.

Stretching across more than 1.6 square kilometers, Angkor is the largest religious monument in the world. Temples like Bayon, Angkor Thom, Phnom Bakheng, and countless others unfold through jungle and stone, each revealing layers of history, devotion, and architectural brilliance.

The complex became globally iconic after appearing in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, but standing there in person feels far more powerful than any film portrayal.

Siem Reap itself offers more than temples. As evening falls, the city comes alive with street food, night markets, and a lively nightlife scene that balances tourism with local energy.

Just an hour away lies the floating village — a community built entirely on water. At the entrance, visitors are asked to purchase a sack of rice for the local orphanage. Homes, schools, and shops float along murky brown waterways that are home to fish, crocodiles, and snakes.

And yes — my friend jumped in.

Miraculously, no snakes or crocodiles were harmed (or encountered), and we emerged with equal parts disbelief and laughter.

Sihanoukville and Koh Rong Sanloem

After days immersed in history and temples, we headed south in search of sun and sea. Sihanoukville offered beachfront accommodation, but after a few days, it felt too loud, too crowded, and a bit too rough around the edges.

So we packed light — one backpack each — left our luggage behind, and boarded a boat to Koh Rong Sanloem.

The journey alone felt cinematic. Clear blue water stretched endlessly in every direction. When we arrived, it felt like stepping into a dream.

White sand so bright it hurt your eyes. Jungle-covered hills rise behind the beach. The sea shifts between shades of turquoise and deep blue. Days passed slowly, filled with sunlight, salt air, and a sense of peace that’s hard to describe unless you’ve felt it yourself.

For someone who grew up far from the ocean, surrounded by mountains and lakes instead of beaches, this place felt otherworldly.

A quiet, empty paradise beach in Koh Rong Island near Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Photo by jackmalipan courtesy of iStock via Getty Images.

The People of Cambodia

What stayed with me most, though, wasn’t the scenery.

It was the people.

Despite difficult economic conditions, there was laughter everywhere. Children ran barefoot through villages, smiling freely. Life felt closely tied to nature — not in a romanticized way, but in a grounded, everyday coexistence that felt deeply human.

There was hardship, yes. Petty crime existed, as it does in many places. We experienced it firsthand when a group of children stole my friend’s purse on the beach. Another child returned it — everything intact except for some of the cash.

A local explained that this was not uncommon. The idea is that you feel grateful enough to reward the child who returns your belongings.

Clever? Perhaps. Did it work on us? Not exactly.

Still, even that moment carried an unexpected softness — a reminder that survival looks different in different places.

Final Reflections

Cambodia is not polished. It doesn’t pretend to be.

But it is beautiful in ways that reach far beyond beaches and temples. It is meditative, raw, and quietly generous. Whether you follow the same route or carve out your own path, Cambodia has a way of staying with you — in your photographs, your memories, and the way you see the world afterward.

If you choose to go, go with curiosity. Go with respect. And be prepared to leave a piece of your heart behind.

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