11 Day Captivating Cambodia

Cambodia is a country with a vast array of activities and sites. While some people may come to view the most esteemed and ornate temples in Asia, others are more attracted to its beautiful beaches and clear warm waters. For many, the name Cambodia (or Kampuchea as it was formerly known) conjures images of war, famine, Pol Pot, the notorious ?Killing Fields? and political instability. True, these events have all been a part of this nation?s history and a number of the places you will visit (particularly around Phnom Penh) are reminders of Cambodia?s tragic recent past. However, Cambodia has much more to offer the visitor. Northwest of the capital near the town of Siem Reap visitors will see one of mankind's greatest architectural achievements. The magnificent temples of Angkor ? of which Angkor Wat is the most famous ? are permanent reminders of the incredible skill and dedication of the Khmer civilisation as it existed from the ninth to the fourteenth centuries.
Visiting Cambodia?s provinces rewards the visitor with a glimpse of Asia that very few westerners see; deserted beaches, shimmering rice paddies, abandoned hill stations, beautiful French-colonial architecture and rugged mountains all await the visitor with more time to spend in the Kingdom of the Khmers.