Backpacking holidays always seem like they should be about saving money. Travelling cheaply, living in hostels, and buying food from street markets where you can. Nevertheless, you can definitely inject a little luxury into your travels if you need it. Feet Do Travel share some of the reasons why you should treat yourself to luxury when backpacking.

​If you have chosen Cambodia as your next holiday destination, you certainly wouldn’t be alone as this unique country has enjoyed booming tourist numbers. Prior to arriving in Cambodia, here are few important things you should know in order to make the most out of your holiday.

We really enjoyed Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s crazy capital. The majority of the country’s visitors skip Phnom Penh and head straight to the Angkor Wat temples in Siem Reap. I personally feel this is a shame.

Motorcycles whizzing by, tuk-tuk drivers constantly hassling, the noise and dust that comes with any Capital around the world, what is there to like about Phnom Penh, and how can two Country lovers like such a frantic City?

Cambodia is a country ravaged by conflict and war. A violent history of genocide, so disturbing the older generation are trying desperately to forget their past. However, the Kingdom of Cambodia is becoming one of Asia’s leading travel destinations, and at its heart is Phnom Penh, which has its own historical story to tell.

Phnom Penh is teaming with things to do, and is so much more than the S21 Prison, Killing Fields or Royal Palace. The food, culture and of course it’s troubled past all contribute towards making Phnom Penh and Cambodia a fascinating place to visit.
​
We say don’t skip Phnom Penh, and let Feet Do Travel show you 25 things to do in Cambodia’s capital.

Siem Reap, Cambodia: the land of Temples and 50c beers, what is there not to love? 

Tourists flock in their millions each year to see historic Angkor Wat, but there are so many others things to do in Siem Reap.

Don’t be a temple hopping tourist without exploring more of this historic City. There are many places to eat and drink, museums to visit, Siem Reap is brimming with culture and local crafts and has a lot more to offer than just beautiful temples.

Siem Reap plays an important part in the history of Cambodia. A story dating back thousands of years, a turbulent past where peace only returned 13 years ago. I personally feel visitors to Cambodia need to hear the plight of its people, in order to truly understand the Country.

Let Feet Do Travel show you the many things to do in Siem Reap. This is your ultimate travel guide to Siem Reap. (Don't worry, temples are also included!)

Before you embark on any type travel, you need to pack, which is sometimes daunting. Deciding what to pack can leave you with a headache, and you ask yourself "which essential items do I need", and "what should I not pack?" 

We have been travelling full time in Asia for over two years, and have perfected the ultimate packing list. Whilst we may not have perfected how to travel light, we certainly know which items we cannot do without.

We have been using this essential international travel packing list for many years, and it’s worked for us so far!

We have stayed in All Inclusive resorts, been on luxury tours, gone camping and now we are backpacking, plus we have stayed in every type of B&B and hotel in between. In other words, we know what we are talking about. Regardless of your age, how you are travelling and where you are going, we know the essential items to pack for worldwide travel.

We cover everyday essentials such as toiletries and electronics, how to travel plastic free,  which medication you should take, anti-theft protection, plus even what bag to take.
​
This is Feet Do Travel’s ultimate packing list; all tried and tested! What we carry and why.

Angkor Wat is the epitome of Khmer architecture. It’s a rite of passage for travellers in Cambodia to visit Siem Reap’s iconic temples which attracted 2.6 million visitors in 2018. What I didn’t realise is that Angkor Wat isn’t just one Temple, but a huge Temple complex housing many stunning, ancient buildings. 
​
Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, Angkor Wat is considered to be one of the seven wonders of the world, and is the most important religious complex in South East Asia.  Within the Angkor Archaeological Park, there are around 72 Hindu and Buddhist Temples dating between 9th and 15th Century.

So how do you choose which temples to visit? Should you buy a one-day pass or three-day pass, and how much do they cost? What are the best temples to visit in one day? Which is the best temple for sunset? Is sunrise at Angkor Wat worth it? Where was Lara Croft Tomb Raider filmed? 

Feet Do Travel help answer these questions. This is our ultimate guide to Cambodia’s Iconic Temples; Angkor Wat and the best temples to visit in Siem Reap.

The Kingdom of Cambodia has a complicated, dark and tragic history. 

A trip to Cambodia’s S-21 prison (the Tuol Slengh Genocide Museum) and Choeung Ek Killing Fields in Phnom Penh will show you this history in graphic detail. It’s a harrowing experience, and one you shouldn’t shy away from. But why? 

Why should you put yourself through a disturbing and emotionally difficult time? Let me be real, you won’t just be listening to horrific stories of mass torture carried out by the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot’s command, you will see photographs of their pained, contorted faces after they died. 

Why make yourself look at photos of victims, then stare at skulls piled thousands high, as tall as a building, knowing this could be the skull of someone you saw alive in a photo? 

Why? Because the young survivors of the Cambodian genocide want their story to be told. They wish to educate the world about what happened to them, their families, and the country they love. 

Why? In the hope that these atrocities, too vile to describe in too much detail, will never happen again.
​
Their suffering should never be repeated. The people of Cambodia never thought something like this could happen to them, and you need to learn so that this doesn’t happen to you. 

Rooftop bars and sky lounges provide fabulous cityscape views, and a certain ambience. Sipping on a margarita as the sunsets in Siem Reap, Cambodia is the perfect way to end a busy day of temple viewing. But which one do you choose?

I simply adore sunsets. Some early risers prefer sunrise but for me, sitting down at the end of the day with a cold, refreshing drink makes me happy. I always try to seek out the best sunset spots; when we are at a beach I look for beanbags, in a City it’s a rooftop bar.
​
During our recent trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia, I discovered there were quite a few sky lounges, and I found myself wanting to visit as many as I could within the time we had available.
​
If you enjoy City views, people watching from up high, sunsets, cheap beers and cocktails, this is our pick of the best rooftop bars in Siem Reap.

Street Art in Phnom Penh Cambodia? Not the usual place to search for murals but wherever we travel, I always look for Street Art. 

Admittedly to say there is a “Street Art Scene” brimming with insta-worthy Urban Art would be a stretch too far, however there is at least one street where you can find some pretty murals.

Street 93 in the Boeung Kak Area known by many as “Lakeside”, is where you will find a collection of walls painted to brighten up a once derelict area.
​
But for now, until more murals are painted, let me show you what we uncovered when looking for street art in Phnom Penh.

Cat and dog lovers of the world take note: Siem Reap Pagoda Cats is better than any cat café you could ever visit!

More than 30 cats and 8 dogs live with monks at this one particular Pagoda, and they would love for you to visit and pet them (the cats and dogs, not the monks, you are not allowed to pet the monks).

These cats and dogs crave attention, they want you to stroke them, pick them up and give them a cuddle. You could have five cats and three dogs around you, all begging to be next in line for your attention. As an animal lover, who doesn’t want that?

All animals are unwanted and were brought to the monks to look after. An unexpected litter, high medical fees, or stray animals found in the street are just a few of the reasons people take cats and dogs to pagodas in Cambodia.
​
If you want the most heart-warming, natural animal encounter when you visit Cambodia, a visit to Siem Reap Pagoda Cats is a must!