The Must-See and Must-do for a Lifetime Cambodia and Thailand Trip

Traveling to Cambodia and Thailand is one of the most amazing trips you can take. These two Buddhist countries in Southeast Asia are close neighbors, yet they are completely different in their histories, their lifestyles, and their cultures. While Cambodia is relatively new to the tourist scene, following its rebirth from the terrifying Khmer Rouge regime, Thailand is an old hand when it comes to tourism, and has long been one of the most popular places to visit in Southeast Asia from western countries.

Lying side-by-side on the Indochinese peninsula, Thailand and Cambodia are must-visit countries for anyone traveling in the region. Filled with varying histories and stunning sights, even a two-week tour is not enough to see it all. With hundreds of sights to choose from in Thailand and the world-famous Angkor Temple Complex in Cambodia, choosing where to go whilst in these countries can be a hard selection.

Must-sees and Must-dos in Cambodia

Cambodia is a country that has been long torn apart by war, yet has rebounded with enthusiasm to become a major player in the tourism industry in Southeast Asia. Once covered with landmines, its famous capital wrecked beyond recognition, this former French colony and seat of the Khmer Empire has risen from its ashes like a phoenix to reclaim its place in the world.

Angkor Wat

While it is not the only temple of the Angkor Complex, it is the most famous, depicted on the Cambodian flag and the iconic symbol of this recovering country. At first glimpse, this ancient Khmer temple stands out from the rest of the complex, as one of the most inspired monuments to ancient Khmer architecture in the region. Matched only by a few other places around the globe, this stunning example of Hindu temples was built in the 12th century by the Khmer king, Suryavarman II. A vast series of bas-relief carvings stretches around the entire temple, more than 800 meters long, and above the main temple, the central tower rises for 55 meters into the sky.

Angkor Wat

Bayon

Lying at the heart of the Angkor Thom temple area, the 12th century state temple of the Khmer King, Jayavarman VII is mesmerizing to look at, if a little mind-bending in its strange bas-relief carvings. The epitome of one of the Khmer Empire’s most creative kings, the temple was constructed to satisfy the vast ego of this ancient ruler, one of the most celebrated rulers of the Khmer Empire. 54 gothic-like towers are adorned with 216 gigantic faces of the Hindu bodhisattva, Avalokiteśvara. Surrounding the base of the temple is around 1.2 kilometers of bas-relief carvings that total around 11,000 figures, mostly from the Hindu mythology of the time. Mostly visited in the mornings, as it is oriented in an eastward direction, if you want some peace while exploring, head there in the afternoon, when there are fewer tourists crowding the temple site.

Bayon

Ta Prohm

Known around the world for its part in the Hollywood blockbuster movie, Tomb Raider, this stunning temple ruin has become a mecca for film fans from all over the globe. Its ruined walls locked in the deathly embrace of the vast roots of the trees that have sprung up inside the temple ruins, their slow muscular embrace crumbling the stones, it is undoubtedly the most atmospheric temple in the Angkor Complex. Unlike many of the monuments of Angkor, this temple is appealing for the fact that it is not being renovated, and remains in the clutches of the dense jungle, awaiting new explorers. Looking almost exactly the way the majority of these temples did when first discovered by western explorers, Ta Prohm is a testament to the temples that were swallowed up by the dense jungle for around 800 years.

Ta Prohm

Phare the Cambodian Circus

Not far from the Angor Temples lies the second city of Cambodia, Siem Reap. While the city has many attractions, there is none as amazing and astounding at the Cambodian version of the Cirque du Soleil, known as PharePonleuSelpak. This Cambodian circus is more than your average conventional circus, and the emphasis of the shows is their performance art. Each and every show sends out a striking social message, yet in the subtlest of ways. The leading theater, circus, and performing arts organization in Cambodia, it has been a nightly event in Siem Reap since 2013 and is one of the unmissable attractions of the gateway to Angkor.

Phare the Cambodian Circus

TuolSleng Genocide Museum

Following the fall of the Khmer Rouge to the Vietnamese army, Cambodia once again became free from tyranny, yet this small Asian nation that was once one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia, has not forgotten the past and what happened. At the height of the Khmer Rouge era, the forces of the dictator, Pol Pot, took over the TuolSvay Prey High School and turned it into a prison for rebels and renegades. It soon became the largest detention and torture center in the country, and was the site of almost a million deaths. After the fall of the Khmer Rouge, the prison was turned into a museum to depict the genocide that happened at the hands of one man, as a reminder never to let it happen again. The museum is one of the most heart-wrenching sights in the world, and is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting Cambodia who wants to know more about its history.

TuolSleng Genocide Museum

Must-sees and Must-dos in Thailand

One of the most popular places for western tourists for more than 50 years, Thailand has it all. From the stunning beaches and seaside resorts to the ancient temples and the remote local villages with their unique cultures, there is something for everyone in Thailand, especially if you decide to visit Bangkok, the nation’s vibrant and exotic capital.

Bangkok

One of the most exciting cities in the world, Bangkok is a city where the exotic mingles with the familiar in a way no other city can imagine. The world’s capital for spicy street foods, Thai cuisine is renowned the world over, and what better place to sample its delights. A city with a huge sense of fun, traveling through Bangkok is like entering the happiest place on the planet, where everyone smiles at you and greets you, even if they do not know you. A city where air-conditioned mega-malls collide with golden-spired temples and ancient traditional villages, and where neon signs share space with iconic statues. The contrasts of this great city can only be experienced first-hand, and it is a must-visit location for everyone traveling to Thailand.

Bangkok City

Chiang Mai

Far up in the north of Thailand lies the ancient city of Chiang Mai, the former seat of the Lanna Kingdom. A calm and relaxed place, it is the ideal setting to lay back and recharge after the hectic sights of Bangkok. A stark contrast to the capital city, this relaxing atmosphere allows you to take in more of the city than you might think possible. A modern city on the outskirts, the center of Chiang Mai feels more like a sleepy town than the second largest city in Thailand. Head out in any direction in a straight line, and you will soon come to the lush green landscape that northern Thailand is renowned for. With its pristine waterfalls, ancient temples, and serene country villages, there are few places in the world where you can feel more at home, without being at home.

Chiang Mai

Kanchanaburi

Located at the confluence of the Kwai Noi and the KwaiYai, Kanchanaaburi City, the seat of the province of the same name, is famous throughout the world as the location of the start of the Japanese “Death Railway” to Burma, known in films as the “Bridge over the River Kwai”. A chilled-out riverside city, it is popular with backpackers traveling around the country, and those that need to get away from Bangkok, but not too far away. Known to Thais as one of the most beautiful provinces in the kingdom, it is also a popular getaway for weekend breaks from Bangkok and has a wealth of waterfalls and national parks. One of the most popular is the Erawan National Park, a 550 square kilometer park centered on the Erawan Falls, a seven-tier waterfall than tumbles through the jungle, falling for hundreds of meters.

Wat Pho

Located in Thonburi, an area of Bangkok on the outskirts of the city, Wat Pho is one of the favored temples of Thailand for tourists, and one of the most awesome sights in Bangkok. More tourists seem toe head to the nearby Wat PhraKaew, as it is much bigger, but less ornate than Wat Pho.The compound of the temple incorporates a huge amount of religious architecture and statues, with the largest collection of Buddha statues in the country. The temple was also one of the earlies education centers, with its school that dates back more than a thousand years. However, the highlight of the trip to Wat Pho is the stunning statue of the Reclining Buddha, one of the largest in the world.

Wat Pho

Conclusion

If you are planning a trip to Thailand and Cambodia together, then you should plan at least two weeks to travel in, though more would give you a better chance to explore these beautiful countries. Ideally, it is best to start in Thailand, and give at least a week for the trip, heading into Cambodia across the border to Siem Reap on one of the direct buses from Bangkok, to explore the delights of Angkor before moving on.