Most tourists in Cambodia only come to see one thing: Angkor Wat. While this temple complex is definitely the country’s must-see attraction, it’s far from the only thing to do here. If you’re thinking of visiting this Southeast Asian nation in the future, then you need to read through this list carefully. Below, we’ll go through eight crazy things to do in Cambodia.
1. Taste a Few Tarantulas
Are any arachnophobics reading this article? If so, Cambodia is a great place for exposure therapy. Yes, eating tarantulas is a big deal in Cambodia. In fact, most Cambodians believe eating bugs is extremely good for your health, especially your heart. Some even claim eating tarantulas is a better aphrodisiac than dark chocolate! You’ll have no problem finding deep fried or grilled tarantulas at street food vendors and restaurants.
If you don’t feel like munching on arachnids, why not try them in drink form. It’s becoming more and more common to find tarantula wine on sale throughout the nation.
2. Visit the Cambodia Landmine Museum
Located a few miles north of Siem Reap, the Cambodian Landmine Museum is on a mission to create a landmine-free world. Inside this museum, you’ll learn all about a remarkable man named Aki Ra who single-handedly deactivated at least 50,000 mines all across Cambodia.
Ra kept all of the destroyed mines and showed them to the public in the 1990s. His collection became so popular that the government ordered him to move into Angkor National Park. Now thousands of tourists learn about the terrifying repercussions of war in peacetime due to the use of land mines.
In addition to educating the public, the Cambodia Landmine Museum takes care of local children in need.
3. Book an Eco Tour with Bees Unlimited
Bees Unlimited is a group dedicated to promoting the exclusive use of Cambodia’s indigenous bees in the cultivation of honey. They also support using sustainable honey harvesting techniques that don’t harm bees. In their effort to spread correct information on bee harvesting, Bees Unlimited offers an eco tour in Siem Reap.
Your tour guide will teach you all about the uniqueness of Cambodia’s bees and show you all the glorious flora bees help to pollinate throughout the country. While this might not be the craziest thing on our list of crazy things to do in Cambodia, it certainly is off the beaten path and well worth the effort.
4. Fly With the Gibbons at Angkor Wat
There’s no crazier way to take in Angkor Wat than on a Flight of the Gibbon tour. Not only will you learn about the ancient history of this temple from an expert tour guide, you’ll get to ride on the country’s longest zipline.
Your Flight of the Gibbon tour also includes a mountain biking excursion, abseiling adventures, and a meet-and-greet with local animals. If the name of this tour sounds familiar, then you might’ve heard of the original Flight of the Gibbon tour in Thailand.
Anyone can book a spot on Cambodia’s Flight of the Gibbon tour online. Definitely consider adding a Flight of the Gibbon tour to your list of crazy things to do in Cambodia.
5. Go Ghost Hunting at Bokor Hill Station
Anyone interested in visiting spooky places will love this suggestion on our list of crazy things to do in Cambodia. The Bokor Hill Station is a former resort area in the southern city of Phnom Bokor.
French colonists ordered locals to build this complex, which included a casino and luxury hotel, in the 1920s. Throughout the 20s and 30s, Europeans flocked to this exciting resort area until World War II. After the war, locals rebuilt Bokor Hill Station, but it fell into disrepair in the 1970s and never recovered. This area is now open for visitors to explore.
6. Get Your Party on at Pub Street
One of the hottest nightlife centers in Cambodia is Pub Street in Siem Reap. This area has two of the most famous clubs in the entire country: Temple Club and The Angkor What? Bar.
If these two bars don’t strike your fancy, you should have no trouble finding other clubs, restaurants, and cafés in the area. Many locals simply buy drinks from nearby vendors and enjoy a night of merrymaking on the street.
Just so you know, Pub Street is officially known as Street 08 and is a 5-minute drive south of the Angkor National Museum. Anyone looking for a fun time must add a visit to Pub Street to their list of crazy things to do in Cambodia.
7. See an Authentic Apsara Dance
While Spain has the Flamenco, Cambodia has the Robam Tep Apsara. In case you didn’t know, an “apsara” refers to a feminine celestial being in the Hindu religion. Local Khmer ballerinas developed the Robam Tep Apsara (aka the Apsara Dance) as a means of telling important religious and mythological tales in an engaging format.
Today, the Apsara Dance is considered one of the defining features of Cambodian culture. You can find many Apsara performances, some of which include dinner, throughout the country.
8. Throw a Hand Grenade at the Cambodia Fire Range
Let’s end this list of crazy things to do in Cambodia with a bang…literally. The Cambodia Fire Range has both an indoor and outdoor facility in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. A few of the weapons you can fire off in the indoor range include AK47s, M-60s, and M16s.
While that’s all well and good, it’s the outdoor range most people come to experience. Here you can seriously get your aggression out by firing a bazooka, an M-79, and even throwing a hand grenade. All of these ranges are licensed to operate and have a certified group of instructors to ensure you don’t blow yourself up.
To find out more about the prices at this fire range, be sure to visit their official website. The Cambodia Fire Range is headquartered at #118E0, National Road Number #4, Phnom Penh.
Summing Up
In 2017 Cambodia welcomed approximately five million tourists from around the world. While it’s nowhere near as popular as neighboring Thailand, Cambodia is certainly on its way to becoming a must-see destination in Southeast Asia. Of course, most people nowadays just day-trip to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat. While that’s probably not going to change anytime soon, hopefully this list of crazy things to do in Cambodia has inspired you to stay in this country for a bit longer.