www.audleytravel.com/cambodia ?01993 838 160 ?Cambodia33RAFFLESHOTELLEROYAL,PHNOMPENHLe Royal is one of the finest hotels in Cambodiaand evokes a bygone era. Built in 1929 thiscolonial landmark has housed guests from royaltyto war correspondents and featured briefly in thefilm The Killing Fields. After many years of neglect,the hotel reopened in 1997 under the Rafflesbrand. The 170 guest rooms and suites, eachtastefully appointed with art deco style furnishings,are set around manicured gardens and attractiveswimming pools. Facilities include a spa, andseveral dining options, whilst the famous ElephantBar is the perfect setting for an aperitif and achance to soak up the colonial charm.THEQUAY, PHNOMPENHSet on the waterfront overlooking Phnom Penh'sbusy river, The Quay is one of the best locatedhotels in the city and, with its cutting-edge design,also one of the most stylish. The ground floor has a minimalist restaurant and serves bothwestern and traditional Khmer fare. All rooms are fitted with wide screen televisions and DVDplayers. The eight panoramic suites located at thefront of the building offer great views of theriverside area from private balconies and therooftop bar is a great venue for relaxing.BattambangOfficially Cambodia's second city, Battambang islocated 40 kilometres west of Tonle Sap Lake atthe centre of a fertile plain. It retains the characterof a market town and besides a few white goodsstores in the town centre shows little desire toenter the 20th century, let alone the 21st. Thetown itself is situated on the Sangker River and its dusty streets are lined with colonial buildings.This is one of the most laid-back towns inSoutheast Asia, but apart from observing daily lifeat its least demanding, there is plenty to see.Nearby attractions include the hilltop Angkoriantemple of Wat Banan, the sacred mountain andkilling caves of Phnom Sampeau and the riversidetemple of Wat Ek Phnom.Phnom PenhWith its frenetic markets and wide tree-linedboulevards, Cambodia's historic capital is a vibrantand charming city. A full-day tour takes you to themagnificent Royal Palace, with its adjacent SilverPagoda on the banks of the Tonle Sap andMekong rivers, then on to the National Museum.This splendid building houses a collection ofKhmer treasures, providing a good preface toyour exploration of Angkor. For the afternoon,we suggest you visit the Tuol Sleng Museum ofgenocide and the infamous Killing Fields. Thoughemotionally draining, these sites give you anaccurate insight into the atrocities that took place under the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot. The city has plenty more to offer. The diversemarkets are great places to explore and thesurrounding countryside shelters several pre-Angkorian temples.VILLALANGKA, PHNOMPENHVilla Langka is a boutique hotel, convenientlylocated in central Phnom Penh. The hotel has 43 rooms, with either a contemporary or moretraditional style, enclosing a courtyard garden with pool. The hotel staff are friendly, and theambience is relaxed and informal. It is a smalloasis in the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh.Young woman at market, Phnom PenhPhnom Penh riverfrontRaffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom PenhWat Banan, BattambangCambodian market place, Phnom PenhSilver Pagoda, Phnom PenhCentral market, Phnom Penh

KepJust an hour or so along the scenic coast roadfrom Sihanoukville, Kep was Cambodia's firstseaside resort, founded by the French in 1908.Today it has an atmospheric, abandoned feel asfine examples of modernist architecture standempty, pockmarked by the civil war. Nearbyislands such as Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island) arepopular for day trips and the delicious local crabis a tasty lunchtime treat that attracts crowds ofKhmers. A stay in Kep can be combined with avisit to Kompong Trach, where you will find karst limestone formations riddled with a network of caves.KNAIBANGCHATT, KEPThis boutique property plays an important role in Cambodia's architectural legacy. The hotelconsists of three renovated villas built in the1970s by protégés of Vann Molyvann, who wasresponsible for much of the country's modernistarchitecture. The 11 rooms take advantage of the original buildings and all offer uniquecharacteristics and minimalist interior design with garden and sea views. There is a restauranton the beach and one at the adjacent SailingClub. Once a fisherman's house, this now servesas an ideal location for a sundowner at thewater's edge.KampotKampot is a sleepy, riverside town with charming faded remnants of the French colonialera. The town is home to a collection of colonialarchitecture, especially the area around the OldMarket and along the Riverside Road. Rent abicycle or moto and explore the town andsurrounding countryside, or alternatively relax atone of the charming riverside cafes and watch the world go slowly by.South coastCompared to neighbouring Thailand, the southcoast of Cambodia remains relativelyundeveloped. The main beaches are found inSihanoukville and attract the crowds, so wesuggest you explore further along the coast for a chance to see Cambodia away from the tourist trail. There are a number of outlyingislands, as well as Ream National Park to explore.The border with Vietnam is easily accessible and offers a convenient link for combiningCambodia's south coast and Vietnam's Delta.34Colonial architecture, KampotBeach at Knai Bang ChattKnai Bang Chatt, KepBoys rowing, near Kampot