Travel through Cambodia with Indochina Globetrot for an amazing experience where you can learn firsthand about Cambodia and its rich history. Our staff will greet you warmly, look after your safety, and introduce you to Cambodia, its people, and its culture...

Kham Sambo started his career in the travel industry as messenger and driver for the UNTAC forces in the early 90s

The internationally renowned historic site of Angkor, arguably Southeast Asia’s premier tourist destination, is situated in northwest Cambodia, a country on the mainland bordered by Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. Angkor was the administrative, cultural, and political center of the Khmer civilization, which dominated the entire region between the ninth and the mid-fifteenth centuries. The art and architectural remains are one of mankind’s great legacies and many consider the temple of Angkor Wat one of the world’s seven architectural wonders of the world.

Cambodia covers an area of 181,035 square kilometers that is divided in to twenty-four provinces and three major cities are Phnom Penh (the capital), Sihanoukville (also known as Kampong Som), and Siem Reap. Although Cambodia is one of the world’s poorest countries, it is rich in natural resources including fish, forest, gems, rubber, and rice. Today, approximately eighty-five per cent of Cambodia’s population work in agriculture, resulting in an agrarian-based economy. The religion of the majority of modern Cambodians is Theravada Buddhism, but traditional animistic beliefs that pre-date formalized religion are also widely practiced. The monsoonal climate is marked by two seasons—wet (from May to October) and dry (from November to April).

Besides the ancient wonders of Angkor, beaches, islands, mountains, and jungles are part of Cambodia’s geographical makeup and offer unique opportunities for tourists to explore and enjoy an unspoiled tropical environment.

Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument built in stone in the world. It occupies an immense area of about 500 acres that is surrounded by a water-filled moat with lotus and water lilies. The temple is accessed by an impressive, sandstone causeway that is 820 feet long and 29 feet wide. Angkor Wat is the best preserved monument at Angkor. Angkor Wat, considered by many as an architectural masterpiece, was built in the first half of the twelfth century (1113-1150 AD) by Suryavarman II, also known as the ‘Sun King’. Archaeologists estimate that the construction of Angkor Wat took between thirty and fifty years to complete.

The Royal City of Angkor Thom, the last Angkorean capital, was built by the great Mahayanist Buddhist king Jayavarman VII (1181-1219 AD) and served as the center of the powerful Khmer Empire. The ancient city is enclosed by an eight foot high wall surrounded by a moat. Five majestic causeways, each with an imposing sandstone entry tower, give access to the city. Inside are numerous temples, remains of the royal palace, and the king’s state temple, the Bayon, situated at the exact geographical center of the city. The Bayon is the favorite site of many visitors because of its unusual multitude of towers, each with four gigantic faces staring in a cardinal direction; because of the reliefs carved in stone on its walls that give an idea of what life was like for the Khmer people in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. Scenes of daily life centered on the market, battles with the Chams, festivals, floral, fauna, birds, and animals are portrayed vividly, like a history book in stone.

The descriptions above are only two of over 100 sites that have been cleared, and are safe and accessible to visitors today.

‘Go to Angkor, my friend, to its ruins and to its dreams...’