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IMAGE:Tonle Sap river

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BATTAMBANG (293 km from Phnom Penh)
Cambodia's second-largest city is an elegant riverside town, home to some of the best-preserved colonial architecture in the country. Until recently Battambang was off the map for road travellers, but facilities have recently been improved and it makes a great base for visiting the nearby temples and villages. It's a secondary hub on the overland route between Thailand and Vietnam, and if National Hwy 6 from Poipet to Siem Reap is ever upgraded it'll become an even smaller hub. The network of charming old French shop houses clustered along the riverbank is the real highlight here, and there are a number of wats scattered around the town. The small museum has a collection of Angkorian-era artifacts, and beyond the town there's a number of hilltop temples, yet more wats and a large lake. Battambang is a pretty bumpy share-taxi ride from the capital, and there are flights every day except Tuesday.

Victory Beach SIHANOUKVILLE (232 km from Phnom Penh)
Sihanoukville is aslo known as Kompong Som and is Cambodia's only deep-sea maritime port. The town was constructed by the French as a present for the King. With its sandy beaches it is the perfect place for swimming, scuba diving or just for taking a sunbath. Take a boat to visit one of the many island nearby. Hotels and restaurants serve fresh seafood. Sihanoukville makes a good base for exploring the south coast and nearby Ream National Park. Four beaches ring the headland - Ochheuteal, Sokha, Independence and Victory - and the fishing port offers the odd photo opportunity at sunrise or sunset. There are a few dive operations in town, plus a waterfall an hour's drive away that's swimmable. The sleepy colonial riverside resort of Kampot isn't too far away, with the strangely skeletal remains of seaside Kep further along. Sihanoukville is 232km (143mi) from the capital, and is served by regular buses. Sihanoukville is gradually being redeveloped as a tourist attraction, but despite the promise of massive Malaysian investment - a casino is planned for Naga Island - tourist numbers are still fairly low. Sihanoukville is not a small place, and the best way to get around is to hire a motorbike. Sihanoukville itself is east of the main backpackers' beach and close to the more mid-range Ochatial Beach. Due south of town is tiny Ko Pos Beach, which ha a solitary mid-range hotel, and the larger Independence Beach, which has the crumbling Independence Hotel - slated for redevelopment. The beaches of Sihanoukville are some of the most unspoiled in all of Southeast Asia. It is a prefect tropical getaway, filled with lovely beaches and facilities for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving or just sunbathing. Boat trips are also available to many of the nearby islands. There are several hotels and local restaurants serving fresh, delicious seafood on the beach. On the weekend, there are many local visitors from Phnom Penh to relax, swimming and enjoy fresh seafood.

PHUNOM UDONG (40 km from Phnom Penh)
Phunom Udong was the capital of Cambodia between 1618 and 1866. It's generally very quiet here, and you'll often have the town's stupas to yourself (along with picnickers at weekends). The ruins are sprinkled across two ridges. The smaller has two ruined buildings, several stupas and the Ta San Mosque (or at least its remains; all that's left is the building's bullet-pocked walls). A 16th-century treasure is supposed to be hidden below the larger ridge, which is topped by the scattered ruins of a large vihara (sanctuary) and Buddha statue, blown up by the Khmer Rouge in 1977. Surrounding the ruins are some still-intact smaller viharas, stupas and Buddhas. At the base of the ridge is a memorial to victims of Pol Pot, containing the bones of people buried in the 100 or so mass graves found in the area.

KOMPONG LUONG:

IMAGE:Tonle Sap river Ten thousand people live in this permanently floating town on Tonl� Sap lake. Houses, schools, karaoke bars and restaurants float atop boat-based foundations, rising and falling up to 5 km (3 mi) with the tide. Like the Vietnamese Floating Village on the northern stretch of the lake, the population is mainly Vietnamese. There's not much to do, and nowhere to stay, so it's a matter of soaking up the atmosphere of life on the water, with an ice coffee or beer in hand. Kompong Luong is near the southern reaches of Tonl� Sap Lake in Pursat province, around 40km (24mi) northeast of Pursat.

PHNOM CHISOR (57 km from Phnom Penh)
Visit the temple Suryagiri constructed by Suriavarman I. in the 11th century. Great view over the country side from the top of this hill. Situated in the province of Takeo.

Kampot KAMPOT-KEP - (155 km from Phnom Penh)
This pleasant town is the base for some very interesting excursions to some unexplored caves. The Elephant Mountains offer beautiful rainforest and an amazing view over the Gulf of Thailand. Kep, located 30 km from Kampot with its sandy beaches is a favorite holiday spot for the Khmers. From Kep, a visit to the beaches and snorkeling waters of Rabbit and Snake Islands, and from Kampot, trips to Coral Island are recommended. Also recommended are cultural/wildlife trips upriver to Stung Keo and beyond. Bokor Hill Station is a mountain top collection of buildings (hotel, casino, church, a royal residence, etc.), constructed by French authorities in the early 1920s as a compliment to the already popular Kep resort area. Referred to by one author as �the eeriest place in the world�, Bokor lives up to its reputation. In its time, Bokor was an elegant getaway for French officials and foreign visitors to old Indochina. But years of neglect have left ghostly ruins - vestiges of a different age, often enshrouded in fog and clouds. One thing that the years have not changed is the absolutely spectacular view of the coast and the cool (sometimes cold) mountain air. Wild elephants and other jungle animal are sometimes seen. The caves of Phnom Ta'aun are part of a limestone formation. Narrow cave, chimney, passages with rock formations. A bit more interesting are the caves at Phnom Sia. One cave contains a supposedly elephant shaped rock formation that is treated as a shrine. Bring a flashlight. Kampong Trach is the district that borders Vietnam. The road trip from Kampot to the main town passes though some picturesque rural areas and the road skirts the base of Phnom Voar, (where the victims of the 1994 Khmer Rouge kidnappings were held.) These mountain areas of Kampong Trach were one of the last Khmer Rouge holdouts. Kampong Trach's main attraction is a series of limestone caves and tubes that have been carved into a nearby mountain. The roof of a large cave in the center of a mountain has collapsed, making a small, enclosed jungle. Pagodas and shrines have been built amongst the cave providing for some excellent photo possibilities. Bring a flashlight and wear good walking shoes. Tekcchou Resort: A picnic area on the Prek Chha river is popular with the locals, especially on weekends. Tekcchou Zoo: A surprisingly well managed little zoo with a good variety of local fauna and a couple of exotic imports. A wildlife excursion in the Elephant mountains is recommended.

PHNOM DA & ANGKOR BOREI - (79 km from Phnom Penh)
The temple of Phnom Da (mid 6th century) was the last religious center of the Kingdom of Funan (Baphuon). Another very interesting temple just beside Phnom Da is Asram Maharosei an Indian-style laterite temple. There is a museum in Angkor Borei, showing objects of the Baphuon period. To get there, the visitors enjoy a boat ride along an old water channel from the 6th century.

KOMPONG CHAM - (123 km from Phnom Penh)
The city Kompong Cham is the second largest in Cambodia. The city has a warm French colonial atmosphere. This is why Kompong Cham was once called "The city of gardens". Visit the port and some wats such as Wat Nokhor from the 13th century.

KOMPONG THOM - (160 km from Phnom Penh)
From Kompong Thom you can reach one of the most important pre-angkorian sites, the ancient capital of Chenla, Sambor Prei Kuk. The city was inaugurated by King Isanavarman. The road from Kompong Thom to Sambor Prei Kuk can only be reached by four wheel drive car.

KIRIROM - (130 km from Phnom Penh)
Explore this national park with his unique wildlife, pine trees originally imported from Japan and many beautiful waterfalls. Enjoy a swim in one of the small lakes with a picnic-lunch on side. In 1945 Kirirom was established as a holiday resort and tourist city.

RATTANAKIRI - (600 km from Phnom Penh)
The capital of Ratanakiri province is Banlung. The tropical rainforests of Ratanakiri are abundant with opportunities in eco-tourism. Meet his unique hill tribes or swim at the foot of a pristine waterfall. There you can still find ethnic minorities living the same way as many hundred years ago. With its rainforest still intact Ratanakiri is home to some of the last wild elephants, tigers and other endangered species.