Activities
Activities are generally limited to sightseeing. A network of national parks is slowly being established nationwide, complete with visitor facilities. Ream and Bokor on the south coast are the most accessible and interesting. There are some opportunities for trekking and elephant rides in Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri, but you need a guide. If you fancy a spot of snorkelling you could try Sihanoukville, home to Cambodia's finest beaches. The Wildlife Conservation Society has set up a network of field rangers and WCS stations for bird-watching tours. WCS has chosen Focus Asia Cambodia as the main agent for handling these tours.
Look out at one of the world's major rivers, the Mekong River. Try spotting some of Cambodia's famous freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins close to Kratie, where Focus Asia Cambodia participated in the set up of a unique small tourism resort named 'Roka Kandal Pagoda and Guesthouse' (www.mekong-dolphin.com). Otherwise, take a river cruise along the Tonle Sap from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, the most significant inland wetland in Southeast Asia. Watch a traditional Cambodian Apsara dance. Siem Reap is probably the best place to watch a dance display, although travelers can occasionally catch a spontaneous one in the villages.
Go bird-watching at Prek Toal, a biosphere reserve on the Northwest of Tonle Sap Lake, close to Siem Reap. Look out for water birds including endangered spot-billed pelicans. Swim in volcanic Yak Lom lake near Banlung town in Rattanakiri province. The water is clear and cool and the surrounding forest is ideal for a picnic. Experience a little of the 'gold rush' and seek out the gem mines in Rattanakiri province. The mines and the attendant camps move regularly, depending on what they find. Miners are quite happy to show their finds, excavated by hand from deep holes in the red earth.