Less Touristy Sites in Laos & Cambodia
Jan 15th, 2007, 09:49 AM
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Less Touristy Sites in Laos & Cambodia
Hi, someone posted some suggestions on off-the-beaten-path sites to see and I can't find that post now that I'm looking for it again. Help please, if you can. thanks.
Jan 15th, 2007, 03:11 PM
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I enjoyed my visit to Phongsali Province in the far north, not as many tourists as some of the other places.
http://www.travelsinasia.com/Laos/Phongsali.htm
http://www.travelsinasia.com/Laos/Phongsali.htm
Jan 16th, 2007, 09:14 AM
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Here are a few suggestions for places that not many visitors go to.
Northeast of Phnom Penh, about 5-6 hrs by car,is Kratie known as the place to see the Irrawaddy dolphins. You used to have a choice of getting there by boat or road but since they improved the road, everyone goes this way now and the boats have been discontinued unless you hire a private one. From the town it is about half an hour through pretty countryside to the dock where there are plenty of boats waiting to take you out onto the river for viewing the dolphins. Accommodations are fair, basic but clean.
Much further is Ratanakiri which sees very few tourist as it is hard to get to since the road from Kratie is in such bad shape. It offers lush, rolling hills, volcanic lakes, and gem mines to visit. The best way is to fly with PMT Air from Phnom Penh for around $100 but be warned the planes used are old.
South from Phnom Penh there are a couple of interesting places that are easy to get to on fairly good roads
- Kampot is about a 3hr drive from PP or 2hr from Sihanoukville. This is a very pleasant little town that gets hardly any visitors. The broad, quiet streets are a refreshing contrast to the mayhem of the main tourist towns. They are lined with interesting and colorful Chinese-style houses and there are some beautiful old colonial buildings, along the river. Since visitors are still quite a novelty, the money craze like in Siem reap and Phnom Penh is not evident and the friendly people, especially the school children, will come up to you to practice their few words of english that they know without any interior motives. The main reason to come here is to visit Bokor Hill Station on top of Elephant Mountain, a fascinating ghost town that once was a French hill station in 1920, complete with a hotel/casino, old church, school house, etc. From the top there are great views of the south coast. The road up the mountain is rough and can take 3 hours to the mountain top and back via a 4wd. There are several nice places to stay but nothing fancy.
- Kep is a wonderful coastal area, 25 kms from Kampot and once was a seaside resort for the elite until the Khmer Rouge came to power and it went downhill. It is now noted for its great seafood (some of the best in Asia) along the waterfront. There are some beaches, mostly deserted during the week. There are several good places to stay and it is getting more popular especially with locals on weekends. From Kampot take a taxi or hire a boat for the short trip.
Half hour offshore is Tonsay island or as it is commonly known Rabbit Island. It has become a popular daytrip for tourists and this lushly forested spot has a good beach for swimming and there are snorkeling opportunities. Also a few good eating places serving up some outstanding fresh seafood.
Not far outside the beach town of Sihanoukville is Ream National Park and is well a worthwhile trip but must be arranged with the park rangers or by group tour. During the months of December to February the fresh water white dolphin can be seen. See this site for more information and pictures http://www.cambodianonline.net/reampark.htm
Northeast of Phnom Penh, about 5-6 hrs by car,is Kratie known as the place to see the Irrawaddy dolphins. You used to have a choice of getting there by boat or road but since they improved the road, everyone goes this way now and the boats have been discontinued unless you hire a private one. From the town it is about half an hour through pretty countryside to the dock where there are plenty of boats waiting to take you out onto the river for viewing the dolphins. Accommodations are fair, basic but clean.
Much further is Ratanakiri which sees very few tourist as it is hard to get to since the road from Kratie is in such bad shape. It offers lush, rolling hills, volcanic lakes, and gem mines to visit. The best way is to fly with PMT Air from Phnom Penh for around $100 but be warned the planes used are old.
South from Phnom Penh there are a couple of interesting places that are easy to get to on fairly good roads
- Kampot is about a 3hr drive from PP or 2hr from Sihanoukville. This is a very pleasant little town that gets hardly any visitors. The broad, quiet streets are a refreshing contrast to the mayhem of the main tourist towns. They are lined with interesting and colorful Chinese-style houses and there are some beautiful old colonial buildings, along the river. Since visitors are still quite a novelty, the money craze like in Siem reap and Phnom Penh is not evident and the friendly people, especially the school children, will come up to you to practice their few words of english that they know without any interior motives. The main reason to come here is to visit Bokor Hill Station on top of Elephant Mountain, a fascinating ghost town that once was a French hill station in 1920, complete with a hotel/casino, old church, school house, etc. From the top there are great views of the south coast. The road up the mountain is rough and can take 3 hours to the mountain top and back via a 4wd. There are several nice places to stay but nothing fancy.
- Kep is a wonderful coastal area, 25 kms from Kampot and once was a seaside resort for the elite until the Khmer Rouge came to power and it went downhill. It is now noted for its great seafood (some of the best in Asia) along the waterfront. There are some beaches, mostly deserted during the week. There are several good places to stay and it is getting more popular especially with locals on weekends. From Kampot take a taxi or hire a boat for the short trip.
Half hour offshore is Tonsay island or as it is commonly known Rabbit Island. It has become a popular daytrip for tourists and this lushly forested spot has a good beach for swimming and there are snorkeling opportunities. Also a few good eating places serving up some outstanding fresh seafood.
Not far outside the beach town of Sihanoukville is Ream National Park and is well a worthwhile trip but must be arranged with the park rangers or by group tour. During the months of December to February the fresh water white dolphin can be seen. See this site for more information and pictures http://www.cambodianonline.net/reampark.htm
