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Last Update: 26 Aug 2011

Riding Holidays | Cambodia

Cambodia is a country in South-East Asia, located within the tropics, sharing its border with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. The Cambodian landscape is mostly low-lying, but with more mountainous terrain to the South-West and North of the country. The climate is hot all year round, with high-humidity and plenty of rainfall in monsoon season (usually from May to August), and so the ideal time to visit is in the slightly cooler months of December and January. The official language of the country is Khmer, although an increasing amount of Cambodians in urban areas can communicate in English.

The Cambodian horse is just as easy-going as its country’s people, and very easy to ride. There are currently 30,000 working horses and ponies in Cambodia, mostly on rural farms for transportation and agricultural work. We are aware of one riding centre in Siem Reap – The Happy Ranch is a friendly, western-style centre that has trail rides for all ages and abilities, where riders can admire and observe the peaceful surroundings. On the trails you can meet and converse with locals in the nearby villages and rice fields for an authentic slice of Cambodia on horseback. We are always on the lookout for new rides, so if you know of any in Cambodia please let us know.

Cambodia is an increasingly popular tourist destination, with an average of two million visitors a year, and this number is growing by the day. The country has a turbulent and tragic history, with a genocide lead by the Khmer Rouge in the 1970’s, and there are many museums and real-life sites to visit that document this terrible time. Cambodia is also visited by many travellers who are interested in the fantastic cultural experiences the country has to offer – from delectable Khmer cuisine to the awe-inspiring collection of unique temples at Angkor Wat. Also worth visiting are the white sandy beaches of Sihanoukville. Please note that the Foreign Office advise against travel to certain areas on the Thailand-Cambodia border.