Travel guide Cambodia

Not only is it the most famous temple in the city of Angkor, it's also the symbol of the entire country. Claimed by all political movements since the country's independence, it harks back to the heritage of an empire that was once the undisputed force of the entire region. Its unmistakable silhouette is at the center of the national flag.

Who knows, maybe your fondest memories of Cambodia won't be of the Angkor temples or the capital Phnom Penh, but simply of the countryside! And that wouldn't be surprising. The little villages with their houses built on stilts are as pretty as can be, and observing the daily life of the inhabitants is a fascinating activity.

Cambodia is a water country. Agriculture throughout the country is largely dependent on the monsoons and the vagaries of Lake Tonle Sap, the river of the same name, and its big brother the Mekong. Villages are built on stilts along the shores of the lake, and the population lives off its resources. Not to mention the coastline and its islands.

Traditional name for the Cambodian people. We often speak of Khmer culture in reference to the days of Angkor Wat. Since then, history has muddied the waters, and the name Khmer Rouge party was merely a reference to a glorious past. Cambodia's current population is a mixture of Khmer, Viet, Thai and Chinese peoples.

The beautiful lotus flower blooms morning and night. Pink or white, the lotus is considered the sacred flower of the Buddhist religion and is used for offerings inside temples. Its shape is a recurring theme in Khmer art and architecture, and if you pay close attention, you'll see it everywhere.

While the vast majority of Cambodia is an immense plain around the central Tonlé Sap lake, it also boasts some of the region's most fascinating mountain ranges, notably the Cardamom and Elephant ranges in the south-west, and the Dangrek in the north. The eastern part of the country is dominated by the high plateaus of Ratanakiri and Mondolkiri.

Warm and invigorating, it's welcome when it punctuates a day of sweltering heat. Whereas in our part of the world it is sometimes synonymous with sadness, here it is beneficial, symbolizing the end of drought and the fertility of crops. Contrary to popular belief, traveling in Cambodia during the rainy season is rarely a constraint.

A dramatic episode in the country's recent history, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime decimated the country in the late 70s, perpetrating the most violent genocide in recorded history. Millions died. Traumatized for decades to come, the Cambodian people, who seek only to forget, are trying to heal their wounds.

Angkor is no longer in the limelight, yet other magnificent temples can be visited throughout the country. To mention only a few, Sambor Prei Kuk, near the city of Kompong Thom, or Preah Vihear, in the north of the territory, are magnificent architectural achievements. And they have the advantage of welcoming only few tourists.

After a long decline, the species was officially declared extinct in Cambodia in 2007. Since then, awareness of its importance to the ecosystem has led to a reintroduction program, spearheaded by the government and several NGOs. If all goes well, tigers could be back in Cambodia in a few years' time!

The recent pandemic has considerably reduced the number of tourists visiting Cambodia, and Angkor in particular. With the opening of the borders, there's no doubt that the site will soon be attracting crowds again. To avoid the hordes and find some semblance of tranquility, visit early, or visit late, but avoid rush hour.

For short trips, tuk-tuk are the best - and often the only - means of transport! Compared to their Thai neighbors, Cambodian tuk-tuk drivers are much less aggressive commercially, and more willing to offer competitive rates. Provided you're willing to negotiate, of course.