Bokator, the origins of Muay Thai
Bokator is an ancestral Khmer martial art. This form of boxing is very similar to the famous Muay Thai. And with good reason! It is said to be its inspiration. Although the Thais claim that bokator is Thai, traces of this martial art have been found as far back as the 3rd century, Thailand having been created much later..
The sport has recently enjoyed a revival. In 2023, bokator made its first appearance at the Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh.
Khmer boxing (prâdal serey), a national passion
This martial art actually originated in Angkor, where it formed part of the warrior training of Khmer soldiers. Depicted on the Bayon bas-reliefs (12th century), Khmer vay kbaïk boran (ancient Khmer fighting technique) is the original origin of this boxing which is mistakenly called Thai. Having simply disappeared under the Khmer Rouge regime, Khmer free-style boxing is now the object of a veritable craze in Cambodia, with many young people in the countryside embracing the dream of a bright future with the power of their fists.
As for the fighting procedure, the combatants first perform the ritual invocation of the Khun Kru gods. This is followed by presentations to the authorities and official bodies. Fights are accompanied by the traditional music of skor yaul (a kind of drum) and sralai (a kind of flute). Khmer boxing is based on four techniques: punching, kicking (mainly circular blows or frontal blows to push back the opponent), elbowing and kneeing.
Good scuba-diving spots
On the Cambodian riviera, a number of agencies offer sea outings to observe Cambodia's relatively unspoilt seabed. The clubs are located in particular on the outskirts of Sihanoukville and offer trips to the islands of Koh Rong, Koh Rong Salem and around the Koh Tang archipelago. Here, you can enjoy good visibility and observe, among other things, rays and leopard sharks. A few kilometers away, you can also spot barracudas and even whale sharks between December and May among the colorful corals of Koh Prins island. Numerous diving clubs offer PADI-certified, professionally supervised diving courses in optimal safety conditions.
Hiking in the wilderness
There's plenty for walkers to enjoy on a trip to Cambodia. Starting with the superb countryside around the towns of Siem Reap, Battambang and Kompong Thom. There's plenty of scope for superb walks, as well as the discovery of a good number of temple ruins. In the rest of the country, from rice fields to rubber plantations, through the jungle to remote waterfalls or to encounters with minority ethnic groups, walking will reward you with discoveries as spectacular as they are mysterious. The best hikes are to be found mainly along the Vietnamese border, in the wild regions of Ratanakiri and Mondolkiri. The Virachey National Park, for example, the country's largest, offers impressive scenery and endemic fauna. Finally, if you're planning to explore the Cambodian jungle and countryside, make sure you're properly equipped, and find out about mine-risk areas, although there's no need to be paranoid either.
