Audley in Cambodia
Most visitors to Cambodia initially focus on the famous Angkor temples. Our knowledge of the area is unparalleled and in a country where any local can be a ‘guide’, we use a hand-picked group of the best English-speaking guides who are knowledgeable, professional and experienced.
Siem Reap has direct flight connections with many international airports throughout Southeast Asia, so your visit to Angkor can be a brief ‘add on’ to another country in the region or a more in-depth exploration. We often suggest combining the temples with the capital, Phnom Penh, as in both places you will find, perhaps to your surprise, some of Asia’s finest hotels.
Travelling from one to the other is usually by air, although the road has improved to make this a viable option, perhaps including a stop at the temple of Sambor Prei Kuk. Daily boat services crossing Tonle Sap Lake are rather limited, so unless you have time to take one of the longer cruises this may not be possible for you. Previously inaccessible areas of Cambodia are gradually opening up and the possiblities for more in depth trips through this unique country are endless. While facilities outside the main centres are more basic, a trip through the real Cambodia, away from the tourists, can be incredibly rewarding - but it is certainly not for everyone!
If you are feeling intrepid why not consider escaping the crowds on a unique camping expedition through the jungle to temples that time forgot, or perhaps visit the ancient tribes of Ratanakiri or even the cool rolling hills and waterfalls of Mondulkiri. Ramshackle, colonial towns such as Battambang and Kratie offer a comfortable option for breaking the long road journeys and a stop in the latter affords the chance to spot the rare Irrawaddy dolphins. Cambodia's southern coast hides the abandoned hill station at Bokor and the unspoilt beaches of Sihanoukville ripe for exploration or you could even choose to camp under the stars on one of the deserted islands!.
Responsible Tourism in Cambodia
As part of our commitment to Responsible Travel we support and promote a number of charitable concerns in Cambodia. One suchconcern is Pour un Sourire d’Enfant, ‘For a Child’s Smile’, a French run NGO that works to support underprivileged children who live around Phnom Penh’s large municipal dump.
We also support the Sunrise Children’s Village just outside Phnom Penh, a superbly run orphanage: we can arrange visits or the chance to get actively involved. The ‘Stay Another Day’
initiative provides a booklet, available in most hotels, of NGOs operating in Cambodia and information about how to ensure your trip has a positive impact on the communities you are visiting. We also strive to work with local businesses to promote the growth of community led tourism projects and hotels.
Please contact us for further information if this is an area that interests you as there are several other projects in Cambodia that you may wish to visit while you are in the country, or continue to support once you return home.