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Cambodia's war torn past is no secret. In fact, until the 1990's it wasn't considered safe for tourists to visit at all. Things have now changed and each year the country welcomes hundreds of thousands of tourists who flock here to visit the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat near Siem Reap in the north. Although known for its history, Cambodia is also home to some of Indochina's most beautiful beaches and the city of Sihanoukville in the south is becoming the next stop on the tourist trail.

Sihanoukville is located on the Gulf of Thailand around 200km south west of Phnom Penh. Mile after mile of sandy beach welcomes you and guarantees that people enjoying Cambodia holidays get that much needed rest and relaxation that they deserve in an much more tranquil environment than the beaches of neighbouring Thailand.

The beaches with their crystal clear waters and warm temperatures are the main attraction to national and international tourists. Ochheuteal and Serendipity beach are particularly popular with western tourists because many beach huts and bars are located here. Victory Beach, the original backpacker haunt, is a great place to watch the sunset with a nice cold Angkor Beer - which is made in the city.

Scuba diving and snorkelling are popular activities when you feel the need to get active after days of lounging around. You can easily hail a water taxi and catch a ride to the nearby islands to do this. Koh Rong Samlon is home to some practically untouched beaches along its east coast and you can snorkel in the heart shaped bay which is home to an abundance of colourful marine life.

If you are more serious about your diving then it is advisable to take a trip to Koh Tang. The island is quite some distance away and will involve an overnight stay aboard the dive boat but you will be rewarded with some fascinating and largely unexplored dive sites. Perhaps the highlight of Koh Tang is the opportunity to explore the wreckage of the ill-fated SS Mayaguez which sank here.

Ream National Park is also worth a visit. The islands of Koh Thmei and Koh Sei are home to unspoilt beaches, mangrove forests and tropical rainforest. There are also over 150 species of bird and a rather cheeky monkey population.

After all this rest and relaxation, you will no doubt want to spend the evening partying with fellow tourists and Sihanoukville is not short of party spots. Serendipity beachside bars are open all night and are often raucous affairs attracting a colourful mixture of locals and backpackers. If you are after something tamer, you must sample some of the areas fresh seafood in one of the beachside restaurants. The fresh catch is barbequed before you and the low prices will leave you open mouthed.

It's not hard to see why Sihanoukville, Cambodia's fourth largest city, is attracting more and more visitors. Be sure to pay it a visit on your Cambodia holiday.