Cambodia

Cambodia's centrepiece needs no introduction: Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument on earth, anchors a sprawling complex of over a thousand temples built by the Khmer Empire between the 9th and 15th centuries. Watching sunrise over the main temple's five lotus-bud towers remains one of travel's great moments. Beyond Angkor, the jungle-swallowed ruins of Ta Prohm and the carved faces of Bayon offer days of exploration from the gateway city of Siem Reap.

Phnom Penh, the riverside capital, has transformed into a surprisingly cosmopolitan city — rooftop cocktail bars, gallery districts, and the glittering Royal Palace share space with the sobering Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields, essential stops for understanding Cambodia's modern history. The Central Market's art-deco dome shelters everything from silk scarves to fresh durian.

Southern Cambodia hides some of Southeast Asia's least-developed coastline. Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem offer white-sand beaches and bioluminescent plankton, while Kampot's pepper plantations and French-era architecture make it a favourite among travellers looking for a slower pace. Battambang in the northwest rounds out the picture with its bamboo train, colonial streetscapes, and a growing arts scene.