our cambodia photo diary: 30 photos that will make you want to visit
A land of extreme contrasts and authentic adventure, all populated by friendly locals with beaming smiles.
Here are 30 photos that will make you want to visit Cambodia.
Cambodia is a country that takes you from the heavenly highs and beauty of Angkor Wat through to the depths of despair of the Killing Fields and S21.
In between, are cities and villages, rivers and beaches, farmland and forest all populated by unfalteringly friendly, spirited and optimistic people just waiting to flash their beaming smiles at you.
We recently spent a month travelling through Cambodia and discovered it's a fascinating land of extreme contrast and wickedly authentic adventure.
We loved it so much that we're recommending that you add it to your travel itinerary for 2016.
Enough using our words to describe this beautiful country to you - here are 30 photos that will make you want to visit Cambodia so you can see what we mean for yourself.
OUR CAMBODIA PHOTO DIARY: 30 PHOTOS THAT WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO VISIT CAMBODIA
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ANGKOR WAT & SURROUNDS
Stunningly beautiful despite the crowds, Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples are mystical, awe-inspiring, and will probably leave you a little breathless (partly due to the huge distances you'll cover!).
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CHI PHAT & THE CARDAMOM MOUNTAINS
Off the beaten track is an understatement; Chi Phat and the Cardamom Mountains are remote (jump on a motorbike for 45-minutes kind of remote!), but it definitely makes exploring this community based ecotourism project all the more exciting.
Five years ago, this area was a hub for logging and poaching.
These days, it's a thriving conservation and education project.
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THE ISLAND OF KOH TA KIEV
One of the last remaining undeveloped islands in the region, Koh Ta Kiev is the best remedy for busy modern life. No wifi, no phone reception, no electricity. But how's the serenity?
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THE CHAOTIC CITY OF PHNOM PENH
Nestled on the banks of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, Phnom Penh is the colourful, chaotic and intriguing capital of Cambodia.
Make it more than a stepping stone to your next destination - there's lots to see and do here!
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THE BEST TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR FOR CAMBODIA
Below is the photography gear we used to get all of our shots in Laos.
The Sony A7RII produces brilliant photos and video
The original photography beast which keeps going strong, the Canon 5D MKIII produces the best colours
The Canon 24-70mm is known as one of the best zoom lenses on the market; it's exceptionally sharp, small and lightweight, which makes it perfect for travel photography
The Canon 70-200mm f4 is our favourite lens, hands down. The image stabilisation works a treat, even on moving trains!
Check out the rest of camera gear here.
If you like our photography, be sure to follow us on Instagram, too.
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TRAVEL INSURANCE
Whatever you do, don’t travel through Cambodia without travel insurance.
Whether it be a sprained ankle hiking in the jungles (or worse), stomach issues (we had many in Cambodia!), theft, or lost baggage, things can go wrong in Cambodia, and insurance is your only way of mitigating the issues!
BUY | Click here to get the best travel insurance deals with World Nomads
READ | Our ultimate guide to travel insurance
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CAMBODIA BACKPACKING ESSENTIALS
Travelling through Cambodia comes with a unique set of needs.
To help you have a comfortable, happy journey, we recommend bringing the following items with you:
Reusable water bottle | THE BEST INVESTMENT WE’VE EVER MADE! We use the Grayl water purification bottles, which allows us to fill up from any water source, anywhere in the world (including train taps!).
Biodegradable Wet Wipes | Keep clean without destroying the planet!
Hand sanitiser | not something we’d actually recommend normally, but in Cambodia it can be a bloody great investment.
A spork | to cut down on unnecessary plastic usage at meal times
Power bank | power does drop out… often! Don’t get caught out without power for your devices buy purchasing this power bank
READ | check out our eco-friendly packing guide to travel through Cambodia consciously and comfortably
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TRAVEL BETTER WITH THESE ESSENTIAL POSTS
CAMBODIA TRAVEL TIPS | Everything to know before visiting Cambodia
KILLING FIELDS AND S21 | Our guide to the sombre Killing Fields and S21 museum
CHI PHAT ECO-TOURISM | Visiting Chi Phat, Cambodia’s incredible eco-tourism project
PHNOM PENH | A quickguide to Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh
AIRBNB GUIDE | Our essential guide to getting the best out of Airbnb
TRAVEL INSURANCE | Don’t leave home without travel insurance (seriously, don’t!). Click here to get the best deals with World Nomads, our trusted travel insurance provider
PHOTOGRAPHY | Love our photography? Wondering what gear we use to get all of our photos around the world?
Click here to view our detailed photography gear guide, as well as our top travel photography tips!
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL | Responsible travel is important. REALLY IMPORTANT.
Learn our top responsible travel tips to help you, your family and friends travel more consciously around the globe
ECO FRIENDLY PACKING ESSENTIALS | Don’t leave home without our favourite eco-friendly travel essentials
INSPIRED TO VISIT CAMBODIA? CHECK OUT THESE POSTS TOO
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That, and you're officially a legend.
