Trekking in the Cardamom Mountains.

In recent years the islands off the coast of cambodia visa exemption list (we cover seven Cambodian islands on Travelfish) have become a tourist destination in their own right, with new accommodation being built on nearly all of them, along with a host of bars, restaurants, dive shops and so on. While they're no longer deserted island paradises, they do still possess a serenity not easily found elsewhere in mainland Southeast Asia.

On Koh Ta Kiev.

Koh Rong: From the image of pristine, picture-postcard-perfect cliche to somewhat messy, party destination extraordinaire to… whatever comes next, Koh Rong offers 43 kilometres of gorgeous, pristine beachfront along seven bays, all teeming with corals, marine life and fluorescent plankton, as well as dense forests covering its interior.

Koh Rong Samloem: Just 45 minutes by speedboat, yet a world away from the grubby confines of Sihanoukville, Koh Rong Samloem offers four completely different atmospheres on four beaches on what many might describe as the archetypal paradise island.

Koh Ta Kiev: Not so many people stay overnight on Koh Ta Kiev, which is a shame because it's beautiful and has a few easily accessible beaches.

Koh Totang: Unspoiled and undeveloped—there are no roads, barely even any tracks—makes getting back to nature easy on Ko Totang.

National parks: tour to cambodia from dubai lacks the wide selection of national parks that can be found in some of its neighbours, but for the dedicated nature lover, Virachey National Park in the northeast remains a highlight. Coastal nature lovers may find Ream National Park of interest and, in the same area, Bokor National Park, while largely de-charmed by developers, is still worth a peek. Close to Phnom Penh lies Kirirom, Cambodia's first national park.

Eco-tourism: Just because the national park selection is limited doesn't mean there are not eco-focused activities in Cambodia. In the west, from Koh Kong you can go trekking into the Cardamom Mountains, and there are also trekking possibilities from nearby Chi Phat. In the north, beyond Beng Per Wildlife Sanctuary, Betreed bekons. To the east, Sen Monorom is a hub for eco-tourism activities revolving around elephants and sustainable tourism.

So you've got your ruin-wandering and beach baking done, what else is there to do in Cambodia? Quite a bit actually!

Learn to dive: While Cambodia's diving does not rival Thailand's you can learn to dive on some of the islands out from Sihanoukville, including Koh Rong and Ko Sdach.

Cooking courses and food walks: Food walks and cooking courses are popping up across the country like mushrooms in the wet season. Battambang, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh all have options for the culinarily inclined.

Trekking: In northeast Cambodia, trekking in Virachey National Park will appeal to those looking to get right off the map. Don't expect minority villages and the like—this is all about the wilderness—or at least what remains of it. Also look into Chi Phat and Kirirom.

The most popular time to go to flight to cambodia from Ho Chi Minh is between November and February, with the peak season falling between late December and mid January. At this time of year the weather in Cambodia is excellent—there is little rain and it isn't uncomfortably hot. This is a popular time of the year though, and destinations such as Angkor Wat and the Cambodian islands can be very busy—in peak season having a reservation for Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem can be a prudent idea.

While the Christmas period is the most popular team to go to Cambodia, opting for shoulder season instead, either between late October and early December or from early February through to the end of March, can be a good idea. In doing this you'll only have a moderate risk of rain (if visiting in October/November) or of uncomfortable heat (March, April) but the pay off will be in slightly reduced numbers of tourists.