Northwest Cambodia

Region

The temples of Angkor and the far-flung Khmer sites around them. Siem Reap is the base for Angkor Wat, the Bayon and Ta Prohm, and for boat trips onto the Tonle Sap lake; further out are the jungle temples of Koh Ker and Beng Mealea and the clifftop Preah Vihear on the Thai border. Poipet is the main land crossing from Thailand. Go from November to February to avoid the worst heat.

Northwest Cambodia Banteay SreiTa ProhmAngkor ThomBeng MealeaPreah KhanPhnom KulenKoh KerKbal SpeanAngkorAngkor Thom Causeways and Entry GatesBaphuonDângrêk MountainsBanteay KdeiPreah KoBakongAngkor Thom Royal SquareBanteay SamréPrasat Baksei ChamkrongLoleiPhimeanakasTa KeoThommanonPhnom BakhengChau Say TevodaEast MebonPre RupTerrace of the ElephantsHariharalayaSiem ReapPoipetPreah Vihear TownSerei SaophoanBanteay ChhmarPreah Vihear TempleAngkor WatBayonSamraongAnlong Veng DistrictO SmachYeang

Northwest Cambodia essentials

Country: Cambodia
Driest months: Dec-Feb
Pay in: Riels (៛)
Language: Khmer
Emergency: 117

Where to Go in Northwest Cambodia

City Siem Reap Siem ReapGateway to the temples of Angkor City Serei Saophoan Serei SaophoanCambodian city in Banteay Meanchey province City Poipet PoipetCambodian city in Banteay Meanchey City Samraong SamraongCity in Ōtâr Méanchey, Cambodia History Angkor Wat Angkor WatLarge Hindu-Buddhist temple complex and Khmer monument History Preah Vihear Temple Preah Vihear TempleCliff-top Hindu temple with panoramic border views History Angkor Thom Angkor ThomAncient walled city center of the Angkor empire History Beng Mealea Beng MealeaOvergrown Angkor temple ruin in jungle Nature Phnom Kulen Phnom KulenSacred mountain with waterfalls and ancient ruins Nature Baphuon BaphuonMassive Angkor-era temple pyramid within Angkor Thom complex Nature Dângrêk Mountains Dângrêk MountainsLow sandstone escarpment forming Cambodia–Thailand border Nature Phnom Krom Phnom KromSacred hill temple near Siem Reap with lake views
Regions & Cities
Siem Reap Explore Siem Reap Angkor’s temples are the obvious reason people come to Siem Reap, but the town’s night markets, Tonlé Sap boat piers and tuk-tuk choreography are the daily reality. Poipet Explore Poipet Poipet functions as the Cambodia - Thailand frontier: crowded immigration counters, humming casinos and freight trucks. Preah Vihear Town Explore Preah Vihear Town A provincial hub in northern Cambodia, Tbeng Meanchey serves markets and transport links; travelers pass through to reach surrounding forests, rural villages and nearby provincial sites. Serei Saophoan Explore Serei Saophoan Sisophon (Serei Saophoan) functions as the western transit hub near the Thai border: bus stations, rice mills and crowded markets dominate. Banteay Chhmar Explore Banteay Chhmar Banteay Chhmar is a large, remote 12th-century temple complex in northwest Cambodia noted for extensive bas-reliefs; travelers go to study its architecture and sparse visitor environment. Preah Vihear Temple Explore Preah Vihear Temple Prasat Preah Vihear sits on a limestone escarpment in northern Cambodia; the ninth-century Khmer temple draws visitors for carved galleries, extensive cliff-top views and its contested border history. Angkor Wat Explore Angkor Wat At Angkor Wat, the 12th-century Khmer temple complex near Siem Reap features bas-reliefs, concentric galleries and a central tower; tourists rise early for sunrise, bicycle between temples and hire guides to explain inscriptions. Bayon Explore Bayon At the heart of Angkor Thom, Bayon presents late 12th‑century Khmer towers with dozens of carved faces and extensive bas‑reliefs; photographers and history students linger over the stonework and the maze of galleries.

Northwest Cambodia at a Glance

Local Time
7:01 AM
GMT+7
Population
2,406,982

Best Things to Do in Northwest Cambodia