Northwestern Cambodia Travel Guide
A mostly flat expanse stretching from the huge Tonle Sap lake all the way to Thailand, the rugged but beautiful expanse of western Cambodia is the place to go if you’re looking for remote and unspoiled locale. Controlled mostly by the Khmer Rouge (and consequently deserted by everyone else) until the early 80’s, the area is now fully under control of the Cambodian government and has only recently begun to see tourists. A beautiful area, but travelers must still take caution and stay only on marked pathways to avoid left-over mines.
The many Khmer temples and ruins in this area are generally devoid of tourists and ready to be explored at a leisurely pace. Western Cambodia is considered to be the last frontier of Cambodia and the most important agricultural region of the country.
The most popular destination in Cambodia, northwestern Cambodia includes the town of Siem Reap, where the famous Angkor Wat complex is located. The western part of Cambodia also borders Thailand and is home to Cambodia’s largest lake, Tonle Sap. The other top destinations in western Cambodia include the provinces of Battambang, Oddar Meanchey and Pursat.
Before the popularity of the Angkor Wat complex boomed, it was cumbersome to reach Siem Reap. There are now domestic flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Visitors can also forgo visiting the capital, Phnom Penh, and fly directly from Bangkok to Siem Reap. For those more adventurous, it is possible to get to Siem Reap via boat over the Tonle Sap.
Formerly the capital of the Khmer Empire, Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage site with over 1,000 temples. The main Angkor Wat complex is impressive enough, but there are also plenty of amazing temples on the outskirts of Siem Reap. Not to be missed are Ta Prom, with huge trees growing straight out of the temple complex, and Banteay Srei, built in amazing red stone.
To get the most out of your visit to Angkor Wat, make sure you do some background reading and plan which temples you would like to see. Otherwise the guide will just give you the standard tour. Sunset and sunrise at the Angkor Wat complex is a popular time to visit.
Tonle Sap is the largest body of water in Cambodia as well as the largest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia. The lake is the most important source of fish for the country and people even live on the lake in floating villages. Bandits used to roam the lake, making it dangerous for visitors to use a boat to get to Siem Reap. Nowadays, the boat trip is beautiful and enjoyable.
Along the Thai border is the province of Oddar Meanchey. A strip of casinos and hotels in the border town of Poipet attracts Thais who come across to gamble. There is not much else here to attract visitors. Very much in contrast to the eastern part of Cambodia, this region is flat, consisting of lowlands.
Battambang province also borders Thailand. It is known as the ‘rice bowl of Cambodia’ and is where most of the country’s rice is produced. Agriculture is the biggest contributor to the economy and excellent fruit and vegetables are grown here. Fishing is also important and fresh snakehead fish is a local delicacy. The small border town of Pailin is a good place to buy gems and handicrafts.
South of Battambang is Pursat province. Most visitors pass through Pursat on their way from the south to Battambang or other northern provinces. Agriculture is the main industry here, but Pursat is known for its handicrafts, primarily marble carvings. Pursat is also famous among Cambodians as the location of the tomb of the Khmer hero, Kleang Meung, who died in the battle with the Thais in 1482.
Getting to the western provinces has gotten easier with the growth in tourist traffic to Siem Reap. There are direct flights into Siem Reap from the capital, Phnom Penh, and from Bangkok. Rental cars are available to explore the western part of Cambodia. For those on a shoe-string budget, there are plenty of buses and minivans that ply the roads to the main cities in the west.