Ancient temples, empty beaches, mighty rivers, remote forests ... and (outside Angkor) only a handful of tourists. But the word is out - Cambodia has emerged from the decades of war and isolation that made it a byword for atrocities, refugees, poverty and political instability. Those magical Angkor temples are drawing gaping travellers by the busload once more, and Cambodia is well and truly back on the South-East Asian travel map.
The successor-state of the mighty Khmer Empire - which ruled much of what is now Vietnam, Laos and Thailand - Cambodia boasts a rich culture, French-era (albeit a little weathered) capital and impressive natural scenery.

Full country name: State of Cambodia
Area: 181,035 sq km (11,224 sq mi)
Population: 12 million (growth rate 2.2%)
Capital city: Phnom Penh (pop one million)
People: 94% ethnic Khmers, 4% Chinese, 1% Vietnamese
Language: Khmer, English and French
Religion: 95% Buddhist, Cham Muslim and Roman Catholic
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Head of state: King Norodom Sihanouk
Major products/industries: Timber, rubber, shipping, rice milling, textiles and fishing
Major trading partners: Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, USA, Hong Kong, Taiwan

Facts for the Traveler

Visas: A one-month visa, on arrival at Pochentong and Siem Reap airports, costs US$20 for a tourist visa and US$25 for a business visa.
Health risks: Cholera, hepatitis, malaria, typhoid, rabies, Japanese B encephalitis, landmines
Time: GMT/UTC plus seven hours
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz (unstable supply)
Weights measures: metric

When to Go
The ideal months to be in Cambodia are December and January, when humidity is bearable, temperatures are cooler and it's unlikely to rain. From February onwards it starts getting pretty hot, and April is unbearably so. The wet season (from May to October), though very soggy, can be a good time to visit Angkor, as the moats will be full and the foliage lush - but steer clear of the northeast regions during those months, as the going gets pretty tough when the tracks are waterlogged. The country's biggest festival, Bon Om Tuk, is held in early November, and is well worth catching.

Events
Lunar New Year is celebrated by ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese in late January or early February. The Khmer New Year celebrations bring the country to a standstill for three days in mid-April - a fair amount of water and talcum powder gets thrown around at this time, so it's a lively but noncontemplative time to visit. Chat Preah Nengkal, the Royal Ploughing Festival, takes place near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh in early May. The Khmer calendar's most important festival is Bom Om Tuk, celebrating the end of the wet season in early November - it's the best time to visit Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. Banks, ministries and embassies are closed during all public holidays and festivals.