Cambodia is small country in mainland Southeast Asia. It covers an area of 181,035 sq km (69,898 sq miles). The capital is Phnom Penh, but most visitors head straight for Siem Reap, the town from which one visits the ruins of Angkor. The main religion in modern-day Cambodia is Theravada Buddhism, similar to Thailand and Myanmar, but different from Angkorian times, when the ancient Khmers were either Hindus or Mahayana Buddhists.
Cambodia shares a border with Thailand to the west, Laos to the north, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the south. The Mekong River runs through Cambodia and has a massive impact of the life of the people. Tonle Sap is a huge lake that is also connected to the Mekong by the Sap River.
In the past few years, tourism has raced forward as one of the main industries in Cambodia. The number of visitors to Angkor Wat alone numbered 4 million in 2007. This very much corresponds with the number of visitors to Siem Reap, the boom town cashing in on Angkor fever.
Both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have international airports. In addition, there are also some budget tourists who arrive in Siem Reap across the Thai border by bus, a long and bumpy journey. With low-cost carriers such as AirAsia flying to both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, I prefer taking a flight than taking the bus. Still, there are hardy tourists who swore that you should never miss the experience of the Cambodian countryside when you are on board a bus. If you are planning a trip, it is entirely your own choice.
If you are traveling between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, you have the option of taking the flight or going by boat. I have done both, and would recommend boat, if you have the time. I took the air-conditioned speedboat, which is like a plane on water. From it, you can watch rural Cambodia glide by. When you reach the Tonle Sap, it was almost like being in a sea, with land lost to the horizon, but with full awareness that you are in a massive lake.
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As an independent traveler, you have the freedom to create your itinerary according to your own schedule. Here are local tours of Cambodia that you can fit into your vacation.
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