Angkor Wat is just the beginning. If you want to dig deeper into the real Cambodia, this guide is your key.Unlock the mysteries of the sacred temples, share the Mekong with endangered dolphins, and eat with pythons and cobras by your side. With Lonely Planet,you'll have the adventure you always dreamed of.

The years of fear and loathing are over. Right now, Cambodia is just about as hot as it gets on the global travel map. Peace has come to this beautiful yet blighted land after three decades of war, and the Cambodian people are embracing the world. Tourism is taking off,but a journey to this little kingdom is still one of Asia"s genuine adventures.

Contemporary Cambodia is the successor state to the mighty Khmer empire, which dur-ing the Angkor period (9th to 15th centuries) ruled much of what is now Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The remains of this empire can be seen at the fabled temples of Angkor,monuments unrivalled in scale and grandeur in Southeast Asia. The traveller"s first glimpse of Angkor Wat, the ultimate of Khmer genius, is simply staggering and is matched only by a few select spots on earth such as Macchu Picchu or the Taj Mahal.

But behind the brochures, just as Angkor is more than its wat, so too is Cambodia much more than its temples. The south coast is ringed by tropical islands with barely a beach hut in sight. The mighty Mekong River cuts through the country and is home to some ofthe region"s last remaining freshwater dolphins near Kratie. And the northeast is a world unto itself, its wild and mountainous landscapes a home for Cambodia"s ethnic minorities and shy wildlife.

Finally there are the people. Cambodians have weathered years of bloodshed, poverty and political instability. Somehow they have come through the experience with their smiles intact; no visitor comes away from Cambodia without a measure of admiration and affection for the inhabitants of this beautiful land.

The Authors

Gettina Started

Itineraries

Snapshot

History

The Culture

Environment

Food & Drink

Phnom Penh

History

Orientation

information

Dangers & Annoyances

Sights

Activities

Walking Tour

Phnom Penh for Children

Tours

Festivals & Events

Sleeping

Eating

Drinking

Entertainment

Shopping

Getting There & Away

Getting Around

AROUND PHNOM PENH

Kien Svay

Udong

Tonle Bati

Phnom Tamao Wildlife

Sanctuary

Phnom Chisor

Kirirom National Park

Siem Reap

History

Orientation

Information

Dangers & Annoyances

Sights

Activities

Festivals & Events

Sleeping

Eating

Drinking

Entertainment

Shopping

Getting There & Away

Getting Around

AROUND SIEM REAP

Bird Sanctuary &

Biosphere of Prek Toal

Floating Village of

Chong Kneas

Flooded Forest of

Kompong Phhluk

Temples of Anqkor

Highlights

History

Archaeology of Angkor

Architectural Styles

Orientation

Information

Suggested Itineraries

Tours

Getting There & Around

ANGKOR WAT

Symbolism

Architectural Layout

Bas-reliefs

ANGKOR THOM

Bayon

Baphuon

Royal Enclosure &

Phimeanakas

Preah Palilay

Tep Pranam

Preah Pithu Group

Terrace of the Leper King

Terrace of Elephants

Kleangs & Prasat Suor Prat

AROUND ANGKOR THOM

Ta Prohm

Baksei Chamkrong

Phnom Bakheng

Prasat Kravan

Banteay Kdei & Sra Srang

Ta Keo

Ta Nei

Spean Thmor

Chau Say Tevoda

Thommanon

Preah Khan

Preah Neak Pean

Ta Som

Eastern Baray &

Eastern Mebon

Pre Rup

Banteay Samre

Western Baray

ROLUOS GROUP

Preah Ko

Bakong

Lolei

AROUND ANGKOR

Phnom Krom

Phnom Bok

Chau Srei Vibol

Banteay Srei

Kbal Spean

Phnom Kulen

Beng Mealea

Remote Angkorian Sites

South Coast

KOH KONG PROVINCE

Krong Koh Kong

Sre Ambel

SIHANOUKVlLLE

Orientation

Information

Dangers & Annoyances

Sights & Activities

Sleeping

Eating

Drinking

Getting There & Away

Getting Around

AROUND SIHANOUKVlLLE

Islands

Ream National Park

KAMPOT PROVINCE

Kampot

Around Kampot

Bokor National Park

Kep

Around Kep

Kompong Trach

TAKEO PROVINCE

Takeo

Around Takeo

Northwestern

Cambodia

KOMPONG CHHNANG

PROVINCE

Kompong Chhnang

PURSAT PROVINCE

Pursat

Around Pursat

BATTAMBANG PROVINCE

Battambang

Around Battambang

Pailin

Around Pailin

BANTEAY MEANCHEY

PROVINCE

Sisophon

Banteay Chhmar

Banteay Top

Poipet

ODDAR MEANCHEY

PROVINCE

Samraong

O Smach

Anlong Veng

PREAH VIHEAR

PROVINCE

Tbeng Meanchey

Preah Khan

Koh Ker

Choam Ksant

Prasat Preah Vihear

KOMPONG THOM

PROVINCE

Kompong Thom

Around Kompong Thorn

Eastern Cambodia

SVAY RIENG PROVINCE

Svay Bieng

PREY VENG PROVINCE

Prey Veng

Neak Luong

Ba Phnom

KOMPONG CHAM

PROVINCE

Kompong Cham

Around Kompong Cham

Memot

KRATIE PROVINCE

Kratie

Around Kratie

Snuol

STUNG TRENG

PROVINCE

Stung Treng

RATANAKIRI PROVINCE

Ban Lung

Around Ban Lung

MONDULKIRI PROVINCE

Sen Monorom

Around Sen Monorom

Mimong

Koh Nhek

Directory

Accommodation

Activities

Business Hours

Children

Climate Charts

Courses

Customs

Dangers & Annoyances

Disabled Travellers

Discount Cards

Embassies & Consulates

Festivals & Events

Food

Gay & Lesbian Travellers

Holidays

Insurance

Internet Access

Legal Matters

Maps

Money

Photography & Video

Post

Shopping

Telephone & Fax

Time

Toilets

Tourist Information

Visas

Women Travellers

Work

Transport

GETTING THERE & AWAY

Entering the Country

Air

Land

Tours

GETTING AROUND

Air

Bicycle

Boat

Bus

Car & Motorcycle

Hitching

Local Transport

Pick-up, Share Taxi

& Jeep

Train

Health

BEFORE YOU GO

Insurance

Recommended

Vaccinations

FurtherReading

Other Preparations

IN TRANSIT

Deep Vein Thrombosis

(DVT)

Jet Lag & Motion

Sickness

IN CAMBODIA

Availability & Cost of

Health Care

Infectious Diseases

Traveller"s Diarrhoea

Environmental Hazards

Women"s Health

Lanauaoe

G!ossans

Behind the Scenes

World Time Zones

Index

MaD Leoend