KH · Battambang · 13.10°N 103.20°E

battambang

Colonial-era town with the bamboo train and a bat cave that empties at dusk.

Best time
November to February is cooler and dry. March to May is very hot. The rainy season, from about June to October, turns the rice fields green, and the boat trip from Siem Reap is at its best when the water is high.
How long
2 days, 1 night
Getting there
Fly KL to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh (about 2 hours). From Siem Reap it's about 3 hours by road, or a long, scenic boat trip across the Tonle Sap and up the river. From Phnom Penh it's about 5–6 hours by bus. The Poipet border crossing from Thailand is about 2 hours away.
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KH · Battambangbattambang13.10°N 103.20°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Colonial-era town with the bamboo train and a bat cave that empties at dusk.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingBattambangKH, Battambang
KLbattambang
≈ 1,120 km from KL, as the crow flies
Aerial view of Battambang city captured by drone camera

Photo: Maharaja1994 · CC BY 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Cambodia's third-largest city, on the Sangkae River in the rice-growing northwest. It has some of the country's best-kept French colonial streets, an arts scene, and food good enough to earn it a UNESCO City of Gastronomy title in 2023. The countryside around it is full of hilltop temples, caves and rice fields to explore by tuk-tuk.

Makan

  1. Num banh chokFresh rice noodles with green fish curry, sold at morning stalls around town.Map ↗
  2. Lort chaShort, chewy rice noodles stir-fried with bean sprouts and egg, a favourite street snack.Map ↗
  3. Battambang orangesThe province's green-skinned oranges, sold all over the country.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Bamboo trainA bamboo platform on wheels that rattles along a short stretch of track. Today it runs purely as a ride for visitors.Map ↗
  2. Phnom SampeauA hill with temples, the sobering killing caves and, at dusk, a cave that pours out millions of bats.Map ↗
  3. Phnom BananAn 11th-century hilltop temple at the top of a long staircase, with views over the plains.Map ↗
  4. Wat Ek PhnomA partly ruined 11th-century Angkor-era temple north of town.Map ↗
  5. The old townFrench colonial shophouses along the river and around the art deco central market.Map ↗

Good to know

  • The killing caves at Phnom Sampeau are a memorial. Dress modestly and be respectful.
  • Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day to string the countryside sights together.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.