Battambang

Northwestern Cambodia's rice bowl, where a French colonial old town, the bamboo train and hilltop temples make for a relaxed countryside trip.

Battambang Province lies in northwestern Cambodia, bordering Thailand to the west, on plains southwest of Tonlé Sap lake, and is one of the country's major rice-growing regions. The provincial capital, Battambang, preserves many French colonial-era buildings, and nearby attractions include the bamboo train, Phnom Sampov (with its bat cave and killing caves) and Wat Banan. Cycling through the countryside and local circus performances are also popular. The best season is the dry season, from November to February. You can travel by road to and from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap by bus, or take a boat along the Sangker River to Siem Reap (depending on water levels).

Destinations

• Battambang

Itineraries

• Angkor to the Coast: Cambodia Grand Loop – Travel from north to south covering Angkor, Battambang, Phnom Penh, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Rong.
• Remote Angkor Temples and Battambang – Three days at Angkor's core sites, then deeper into Kbal Spean, Beng Mealea and Koh Ker, with a final night in Battamba…