With 2 and half hours drive each from Siem Reap, the city of Battambang might not be the most well-known tourist destination in Cambodia, but with some of the friendliest locals and a couple of unique sites to see, you’ll find it well worth a spot on your itinerary. In this itinerary for Battambang, you’ll learn about cities the mythical history, ride the infamous bamboo train and see a natural spectacle as millions of bats fly out of their cave at twilight.

Just over 20km to the south of Battambang, Phnom Banan is the best kept of the remaining Khmer ruins in the area, though again, when compared to Angkor Wat. To explore the site you have to climb the sweltering 358 stairs but worth a look. At the top are beautiful views of the winding Sangker River set amidst sugar palm trees, rice fields and green lush forest.

A must-visit mountain in Battambang, Phnom Sampeau is a natural and historical site situated about 12 kilometres away from Battambang city. Its name, meaning 'Ship Mountain', is due to its ship-like shape when viewed from a distance. The mountain has active pagoda, holy shrines and Killing Cave with skulls, skeletons from the dark time of Khmer Rouge Regime.

A historical site located in Phnom Sampeau mountain. The killing caves of Phnom Sampeau are a Khmer Rouge execution site and they killed their victims on top of the cave at the rim of a daylight shaft or ceiling hole and then threw the dead body into the cave.

Nestled at the foot of Phnom Sampeou mountain, about 11 kilometers from Battambang town, the caves have become a popular tourist destination. As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape, an excited buzz fills the air. Local vendors set up stalls selling snacks and drinks, while visitors jostle for the best viewing spot.