Battambang is a quiet town, a far cry from the noise and congestion of Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. But tucked away on these quiet streets are cafes serving up some of the best coffee in Cambodia. Here are the five best coffee places in Battambang to grab a terrific cup of joe for when you’re tired of street coffee and condensed milk.
The best coffee in Battambang? It’s definitely in the top five.
When the temples start to all look alike and souvenir shopping palls, consider spending an hour or two sinking your hands into some genuine Cambodian clay. A pottery class at the Khmer Ceramics and Art Cente is hardly an in-depth encounter with traditional Khmer craft, but it’s an entertaining couple of hours that will leave you with a personal bit of handicraft and perhaps some appreciation for a real potter’s skill.
Looking for something to do besides temples? Spend an afternoon making ceramics.
Classes run a bit less than two hours and are given seven days a week throughout the day. You can choose to learn how to shape clay on the pottery wheel or try your hand at ceramic painting. Each class costs $20 and includes the firing of your finished piece, plus free pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Siem Reap. You can combine both classes for a four-hour experience. Continue reading
Kampot, the up-and-coming foodie epicenter of Cambodia, draws inspirations from cuisines across the globe. Yet, it is the humble pizza that deserves attention. Pizza is, and always will be, the perfect comfort food for backpackers and expats alike. From thin-crust classics to deep-pan goodness, Kampot has a slice or two up its sleeve. We’ve got a rundown of some of the best pizza in Kampot, to ensure that you’ll find pizza perfection whenever you have a craving.
It’s true that lots of restaurants in Cambodia serve Italian food, but their pizza is one of the best.
With only a week to go until the most magical day of the year, here in Sihanoukville preparations are fully underway to make it a Cambodian Christmas to remember. From a traditional turkey with all the trimmings, to inspired Asian/Western fusion cuisine to all-night parties, live music and a seasonal themed market for last minute gift ideas, there is something here for everyone. Here are out picks for how to have the best Christmas in Sihanoukville, including Christmas dinners, parties, and more.
It’s time to celebrate Christmas, Sihanoukville style.
Mondulkiri, one of Cambodia’s northeastern provinces, is famed for its distinctive hilly landscape (‘kiri’ means hill in Khmer), indigenous ethnic minority groups and beautiful, if disappearing, wildlife corridors. With relatively little traffic and smooth, paved roads, the trip from Phnom Penh to Sen Monorom, the capital of Mondulkiri province, is a dream compared to a decade ago when the trip could take more than a day. These days, you can get to Sen Monorom in less than 6 hours. In this post, we’ll cover how to get to from Mondulkiri to Phnom Penh.
Beautiful Mondulkiri is within reach.
The express vans (aka mini-buses) generally complete the journey to Mondulkiri in 5 to 6 hours depending on traffic, allowing you to get settled in Sen Monorom and see sunset on your first day. We recommend returning to Phnom Penh on the morning vans to avoid congestion in the capital.
Continue reading
Kampot’s music scene is kicking off again, and we’ve got a guide to the very best of what Kampot has to offer, including regular live music nights, a new venue review, and insider tips for those who want to get involved in Cambodia’s live and loud music mecca.
You name the day, Kampot will give you some place to play…
Madame Jojo and the Pirate performing again in Kampot after five years.
Any night in this wonderful town there’s the likelihood that you’ll hear the twang of a guitar, a tinkle on a keyboard, or a melody that’ll lift your heart. As the high season begins and Kampot comes to life in all of its glory, both locals and tourists alike will be treated to non-stop shows, jam sessions, and nightlife.
Looking for your musical fix? Just cast your eyes over this new and comprehensive Kampot music guide:
If you’re traveling from Battambang to Sihanoukville, get ready for a long journey. There are a few options available to you, but each of them is going to take a big chunk of time. Expect to take a full day for travel from Battambang to Sihanoukville and vice versa. In this post, we’ll show you how to get from Battambang to Sihanoukville, and weigh the pros and cons of each.
Mini-bus is a cheap and fast(ish) way to get from Battambang to Sihanoukville.
Express vans, or mini-buses, offer the best balance of speed and price. To get from Battambang you’ll need to take a mini-bus from Battambang to Phnom Penh, and then change to a Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville mini-bus.
This dispatch is from our Cambodia railway correspondent, Abigail Gilbert. The schedule and prices are updated as of June, 2019.
After a wait of 14 years, passenger trains are once again running in Cambodia. Train buffs will need no other excuse to get on board, but there are good reasons why any traveler might like to let the train take the strain.
Taking the train in Cambodia. Yes, they’re back!
Although plans are in the works for a country-wide network, the train service is currently limited to four destinations, running from Phnom Penh via Takeo and Kampot, terminating in Sihanoukville. This first foray into passenger trains runs only on weekends and public holidays, matching domestic demand for the two popular Khmer holiday destinations. Continue reading