Battambang

Winding along the banks of the Sangker River, Battambang is the traditional face of urban Cambodia and one of the country’s best-preserved colonial-era towns. Streets of shophouses host everything from fairtrade cafes to art galleries. Beyond the town in the countryside is a cluster of ancient temples, which, while not in the same league as the temples of Angkor, are usually less crowded.

Battambang is also the home of the inspiring Phare Ponleu Selpak, a renowned arts NGO that trains performing artists and hosts inspirational performance art shows that combine circus skills with theatre and storytelling. Battambang is a world away from the crush of Phnom Penh and the crowds of Angkor, and definitely worth a deviation from the tourist trail.