If your agenda is too tight and you can’t fit in a trip to Preah Vihear but can’t stand the thought of battling the clammy crowds that increasingly swamp Siem Reap town, then why not head to neighbouring Banteay Srei for the day?
Although famous for the 10th century temple of the same name, Banteay Srei district has much more to offer than just a temple.
With sprawling countryside, a national park, waterfalls, community projects, farms and a taste of authentic living, it’s well worth hailing down a tuk tuk and heading about 20km out of Siem Reap to get exploring.
The Visit Banteay Srei initiative launched a couple of years ago with the aim of showcasing the district’s natural beauty and authentic way of living.
As well as a network of community homestays for those wanting to spend the night, visitors can take leisurely boat rides along the river, an ox-cart jaunt through paddies, visit dragon fruit farms, go trekking in the forest, visit the butterfly museum or take a cooking class with a Khmer family.
While a visit to the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh can be an exciting experience for first-timers, with its vibrant street scenes, cacophony of chaos and contrast between traditional and modern Cambodia, its mounting amount of construction and traffic clogging the road can quickly become tiresome.
To easily escape the humdrum of capital life while experiencing a slice of rural Cambodia, then catch a tuk tuk and short ferry ride to Koh Dach, commonly known as Silk Island. While it’s becoming increasingly common for visitors to take day trips to the small island, most head back to city life in the evening.
