Pursat is a pretty and peaceful town where people go to unwind for a while. The town also makes a good base for those who want to explore the stunningly beautiful Central Cardamons Protected Forest. Pursat is often used as a transit point Battambang and Phnom Penh and this is a pretty place to pause and slow the pace a little as you travel between the two cities.

Pursat is famous for its orange groves and marble carvers. As you explore the town you will see many people practicing the traditional skill of marble carving and there are plenty of places where you can pick up a souvenir or two.

The floating village of Kompong Luong is a great place for a day trip. Situated on the mighty Tonle Sap Lake, this is a pretty place to explore and watch the fishermen at work. There are also a number of good restaurants here serving fresh fish and traditional Khmer dishes.

Slightly further away, the sacred site of Baktra is also worth visiting. Climb the high hill for spectacular views of the area and see the pretty forest stream and natural wells. For an alternative way to see the countryside, take a trip on the traditional bamboo railway before returning to Pursat for a good meal in one of the local restaurants.

As you explore the area you will discover a number of pretty waterfalls, which are the perfect place to cool down after hiking in the heat of the day. In the evening, join the local people who gather in the small park near the bridge to enjoy the cool river breeze and relaxed atmosphere.

Located near the mouth of the Kah Bpow River, Krong Koh Kong is an area of intense natural beauty. The province is famous for Koh Kong Island, which has a number of beautiful sandy beaches and is a good place for swimming and sunbathing. This is a good place for a trek through the jungle and to soak up the stunning scenery, with the Cardamom mountain range making an impressive backdrop.

This is a good place to visit on the way to or from Sihanoukville, and there are a number of hotels and guesthouses to spend the night in before hopping across the border into neighbouring Thailand. Those who take the time to explore the area will find that there’s plenty to see and do and this is a good place to stop for a while in order to get to know Cambodia.

Many Thai people cross into Cambodia to try their luck at the casino and gambling is big business here. If that’s not your scene, nearby Bak Khlong Beach is a great place to relax in the sunshine and dine on fresh seafood.

If you’re looking for entertainment, Koh Kong Safari World has a good collection of animals and has regular live shows, although it’s doubtful whether the interests on the animals on display are the primary concern here and animal lovers may want to stay away.

Real nature lovers should head instead to Peam Krasaop Wildlife Sanctuary, where you will see an impressive collection of wildlife such as sun bears, leopards, elephants, gaur, sambar and banteng. Another area of great natural beauty is the Botum Sakor National Park, where you will find a number of pretty waterfalls.

With a backdrop of rolling hills and dense jungle, the town is situated on the edge of the inviting waters of the Gulf of Thailand, making this an excellent place to swim and stretch out in the sunshine.

Kep was established in 1908 as a retreat for the French colonialists, when it was dubbed the Riviera of Asia. The name Kep is taken from the French Le Cap, meaning peninsular. Kep was a popular beach destination for sixty years, under the Khmer Rouge decided to destroy the area as a sign of power. These days Kep has been restored to its former beauty and is once more offering visitors a modest piece of paradise.

Climb to the top of Kep Hill for spectacular views of the area. Follow the trail that gently loops around the hill through pretty jungle to the top and look out for the cheeky monkeys playing in the trees along the way.

A great day trip destination is the pretty island of Koh Tonsay, which is also known as Rabbit Island. Situated just 5 kilometres offshore, you can hire a boat to explore the island and the surrounding waters and perhaps stay overnight in a little beach hut for the ultimate deserted island experience.

Snorkelling is popular here and many snorkelling trips include a trip to Rabbit Island as well as lunch and plenty of time to explore. Those who enjoy messing about on the water should head to the Sailing Club, where you can rent catamarans and perhaps speedboats as well.

The town of Kampot is just a short distance from Kep, and this is an interesting place to explore as is the picturesque Bokor National Parks, where you will discover a large number of caves and waterfalls nestle amongst the dense jungle.

Located in the southern province of Takeo, Angkor Borei is one of the oldest sites in Cambodia, started in the 5^th century and predating the famous Angkor complex. Formerly known as Vyadhapura, Angkor Borei is a charming town surrounding by an ancient wall and with a pretty river running through it.

Angkor Borei is a great place to visit to get a feel for Cambodia’s rich history. The area has been continuously populated for more than 2500 years and an incredible number of artefacts have been unearthed dating back to the Neolithic period, the Funan period, the Chenla period and also the Angkorian period. A large number of these artefacts can be seen in the town’s museum, which also contains sculptures from Phnom Da.

Head 20 kilometres out of town and you will come to the hill of Phnom Da. Climb the hill of spectacular views of the area and to explore an 11^th century brick temple commissioned by King Rudravarman as a tribute to the Hindu deity Shiva. Nearby you will find a ruined temple known as Ashram Maha Rosei, which is an intricately and uniquely decorated temple.

As you wander around Phnom Da you will also discover a series of five artificial caves, which were built as Hindu Buddhist shrines. These caves also served as hideouts for the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Near the temple is the ‘floating boulder’, which sits balanced on three points. This is a good lookout point as Vietnam can be seen just 8 kilometres to the southeast.

Angkor Borei’s location on the banks of the Prek Angkor River mean that this is a great play to enjoy fresh fish, and there are also a large number of local curries and other dishes that feature delicious fresh river fish.

Situated in the heart of the countryside, this spectacular ancient temple is more than worth the journey, which takes visitors away from the usual tourist trail and offers an insight into traditional Khmer life.

The Phnom Den–Tinh Bien border crossing is located just 8 kilometres to the north of Phnom Bayong and many people pause here before travelling to or from Vietnam. Phnom Bayong is 313 meters tall and it takes a little under three hours to climb to the top of the temple and back again. Those who brave the hot weather and sweat their way to the top are rewarded with spectacular views across the border and into Vietnam.

Climbing to the top of the mighty temple can be draining in the heat of the day and it is best to visit either early in the morning before the sun has climbed high in the sky or at the end of the day, perhaps sticking around to watch the sun set. Whatever time of the day you choose to visit, make sure you take plenty of water and wear comfortable climbing shoes.

Also in this area is the ancient temple of Phnom Tchea Tapech, which features an enormous standing Buddha at the summit. Although not as high as Phnom Bayong, it is also worth climbing to the top to appreciate the view and examine the intricate stone carvings.

Just to the west of the town is the Kirivong waterfall and this is an interesting place to walk to and relax beside the cool, clear waters. Along the way you will pass a number of small stalls selling topaz and quartz cut into tiny Buddha images.

When most people think of wildlife sanctuaries they tend to think of large pieces of open land where the animals roam freely. Unfortunately, this isn’t quite the case in the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Sanctuary as most of the animals are kept in large cages, making the place look and feel rather more like a big zoo.

However, all the animals in the sanctuary have been confiscated from traffickers or saved from the traps of poachers. Phnom Tamao provides a rare opportunity to see a number of Cambodia’s animals in close up and donate to a cause that is helping to preserve the country’s wildlife, aided by international wildlife NGOs.

Visitors to the sanctuary are given a number of different ways to interact with the animals, one of the most popular being the ‘bear keeper for the day’, which offers visitors the chance to feed and wash the young Malaysian sun bears that live there.

The sanctuary offers visitors the chance to watch their favourite animals taking part in unusual activities. Stop to watch the elephants painting pictures or perhaps playing football and admire the colourful plumage of some of Cambodia’s rare birds. There are a large number of beautiful tigers living in the sanctuary as well as crocodiles, macaques and deer.

Although many of the animals were close to death when they were rescued, they now seem to be thriving under the supervision of the sanctuary workers and Phnom Tamao is constantly developing so that it shouldn’t be long before the animals are allowed run free.

The Phnom Tamao Wildlife Sanctuary is located 40 kilometres outside Phnom Penh, making it possible to visit on a day trip. Simply take a tuk-tuk from anywhere in the city. The journey will take about half an hour and is quite pretty. If you don’t fancy walking around in the heat, you can get the tuk-tuk to drive around the sanctuary, stopping to allow you to explore each area.

Cambodia’s climate is tropical and the weather is hot and humid practically all year round. However, there are four main seasons; the cool and dry season from November to February, the hot and dry season from March to May, the hot and wet season from June-August, and the cool and wet season that lasts from September-October.

The temperatures in Cambodia are significantly higher than other Asian countries such as Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, with average temperatures of between 28-35˚C in the hot season. The weather is also very humid during this period. April is by far the hottest month, and only travel during this time if you are used to walking around in the heat.

However, things cool down to around 25-30˚C in November to February, and this is a good time for temple hopping. There are occasional cool evenings, but Cambodia could never be referred to as cold and you will rarely need a jacket, if ever.

The rain descends on Cambodia from June to October, with heavy showers and storms sweeping the entire country. However, the rain is mainly restricted to the afternoon, so it is still possible to rise early and spend the morning exploring and relax in the afternoon and evening.

Tourist numbers are low during the rainy season, so this is a good time to beat the crowds.

The peak tourist season is from December to January and if you are travelling in Cambodia during this time it is a good idea to book popular hotels in advance, although there is usually plenty of accommodation available.