Battambang
Cambodia

"Go off-the-beaten-track to Battambang
before it's too late"

Battambang is the second largest city in Cambodia.

In this article you`ll find:

Where to sleep
Where to eat and relax
Where to shop
Sights and Activities in Battambang

But it`s still one of the "forgotten" cities in land of Angkor!

The atmosphere around town is quiet, laid-back and hardly any touts. It's one of the few off-the-beaten tracks in Cambodia. Go there before it's too late!

And it`s definitely untouristy. Not to mention, the pristine and beautiful scenery around Battambang -- it`s all there for you to explore!

The town gets a plus for cheap accommodation and food, compared to touristy Siem Reap.

And before I forget...

The Cambodian food is delicious!

But some will likely find this town as too quiet.

So why do backpackers come to Battambang?

Backpackers usually come here for two reasons: to see the Wat Banan and the Phnom Sampeau. But there are other things to do as well.

Read this article to find out!

Important places to know about in Battambang:

Emergency Hospital east of the river.
Banks and ATMs are scattered around the city.
Post office on the riverside
Internet access available all over town. Check if your guesthouse provide internet services. Price: 3000-4000 riel per hour

Where to sleep

All the prices listed below are subject to change.

Finding cheap accommodation in this town is effortless.

Choose between guesthouses and hotels along Street 3, or in the side streets of Street 3. And the common standard is fairly basic.

Royal Hotel

Price per night: 5-10 USD dollars.

Royal was said to be cleaner and much friendlier than Chaya Hotel. And it was. Indulge yourself in large rooms with TV and hot water. They also have a roof top restaurant where they serve breakfast, like baguettes and omelettes. And you should try their delicious fruit drinks! It`s a nice place to sit and watch the beautiful view over Battambang.

Where: Next to the market.

Chaya Hotel

Price per night: 5-10 USD dollars.

Chaya Hotel was popular with backpackers because of the cheap rooms. For 5 dollars a night - I couldn`t really complain: Hot showers and a fan to cool off. And a friendly staff - they arranged me a bike driver for the day trip to Wat Banan and Phnom Sampeu.

But on the other hand, my room wasn`t clean. They apparently forgot to vacuum clean… there were dust and sand on the floor when I arrived the first day...

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Where to eat and relax

cambodian food food in india amok battambang backpacking tips asia

Find out where you can eat cheap food in Battambang!

And you'll also get to know Smokin' Pot and their cooking classes! ;)

Click here to find cheap Cambodian food in Battambang!

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Where to shop

At the Phsar Nat Central Market, you`ll find clothing, shoes, toys, cosmetics, household articles and so much more. Like most towns in Southeast Asia, they sell beautiful silk scarves in all colors. Perfect as gifts. They also sell food: fresh fruit, vegetables, sticky rice and the famous fried insects.

Otherwise there are only a few shops around town. In the center of Battambang, I saw mostly tailor shops if I remember right.

Sights and Activities in Battambang

The day trip to Wat Banan and Phnom Sampeau is exciting and inexpensive. You can either rent your own bike for 2 USD dollars or rent a bike with a driver for 8 dollars. 99 % of all the roads are bumpy, so watch out. And along the road, stop by cock fights and take the Bamboo train.

Wat Banan

Admission: USD 2 dollars

Climb 350 steps and watch the stunning view of Battambang area!

At the top, you`ll find the temple version of Angkor Wat. Notice that the heads of the holy statues/carvings are removed. Sneaky people removed the heads so they could sell it abroad. They apparantly got a lot of money... So much for respect of their cultural heritage..

Phnom Sampeau
-- Killing Caves

Read about the Killing Caves -- where 100s of Cambodians were murdered during Pol Pot!

Cock Fights

I`m against this, but I still had to see what it was all about. There were Khmer men, young and old, standing around in a circle shouting while eagerly waving riel in their hands.

In the middle of the circle, there were two roosters trying to strangle each other by wrapping the necks. It was too awful to watch, so we left after two minutes.

Bamboo Train

I'm ready for the Bamboo Train!!!

On your way back to Battambang, try the famous Bamboo train.

Bamboo train is explained in the Lonely Planet: a bamboo platform on steel wheels. You have to go on and off the platform at least 2 times along the road.

Apart from the on-and-off ride, it was fun to ride on it and my adrenaline pumped. But it wasn`t comfortable to sit on the bamboo. The rails were broken at certain places, and our asses could feel the bumps. Ouch!

What should I bring for the day trip?

A bottle of water, sunglasses, sunscreen, good walking sandals and a good map if you`re driving by yourself.

There`s no need to bring your own food cause there are several local restaurants by the entrance to Phnom Sapeau and Wat Banan. If you`re using a bike, bring a scarf to cover your mouth while driving. There are loads of dusty roads.

Circus in town!

Khmer Circus -- performed by the Troup of the Cambodian NGO of circus school Phare Ponleu Selpak.

If you want a real Khmer experience, you should try the Khmer Circus!

Khmer Circus is not an ordinary circus like the ones you`re usually familiar with. Like, with clowns, elephants and jugglers. They do the juggling too, but the acts are completely different when you have the Khmer dancing, Khmer costumes and Khmer music in Khmer surroundings.

The circus played by a funny love story, I think. (Don`t understand Khmer, but their body language said so). You`ll watch impressive chair pyramids, trapeze, fire shows, bike stunts and juggling performed by young, athletic and handsome Khmer locals.

And it`s heart-warming to watch the audience. Most of them are adorable Khmer children, laughing loud while they`re sucking their candies. It's just great to see the happy side of Cambodia... especially after you`ve visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Killing Fields. So, contribute to the local economy and enjoy!

Check out their agenda in Battambang.

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You`re done with Battambang, where do you want to go next?

Click here to read about the Angkor Temples.