Cambodia is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. Bordered by Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, it is a unique place with a rich cultural heritage and home of the impressive remainings of the Khmer Empire, Angkor. Cambodia is a country rich in wildlife, with impressive white sand beaches and world-class archaeological wonders, where you will be welcome by their smiling people.
“Lonley Beach, Koh Rong Island” by Travolution360 is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
“French colonial architecture in Kampot” by William is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
“Koh Kong” by Aram V is licensed under CC BY 2.0
The best moment to visit Cambodia is between November and February with warm days and cool nights. During these months the humidity levels are lower and rain is less likely, specially from second half of November. During the hot season (from end of February to May), the temperatures rise as weeks go by, making April and May the hottest months. The rainy season (from May until end of October) is characterized by short an intense showers, which leave the land slippery and some roads impassable in remote areas.
Beaches and Snorkelling and Diving: the water temperature is warm year-round (an average of 28°). The best season to visit the beaches in Cambodia is from November to February. Diving and snorkelling is possible year-round, but during the monsoon season storms are common.
Historical Places and Temples: from beginning of November until end of February if you want to avoid the hot months (March to May) and the rainy season (June to October), which makes visiting much more pleasant.
The official currency in Cambodia is the Riel, but the US dollar is accepted widely throughout the country. Typically 4000 -5000 Riel per Euro and 3800- 4200 Riel per US Dollar.
Cambodian. English is widely spoken in most major hotels, restaurants and tour offices. Also by street vendors in towns like Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. French is also spoken by older generations.
Visa is essential when entering in Cambodia by land, air or sea. Standard tourist and business visas are valid for one month from the date of entry into Cambodia. Travellers may get their visa upon arrival at the airports or at land crossings from Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. e-Visa applications are available when arriving to an international airport.
ATMs are common in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, but absent in rural areas or the islands off the south coast. Visa and MasterCard are accepted in high-end restaurants, boutiques, hotels and travel agents. However, most shops, restaurants and hotels will only take cash payment. It is best to carry local currency or US dollars to make such payments.
Cafes and restaurants usually serve meals from 10 am to 11pm and close one day a week, small shops from 10am until 9pm and street markets normally are open from sunrise until sundown.
Time: GMT + 7 hours.
Phnom Penh International Airport (is located west of the capital, on the Mekong River. The distance from airport to the centre of Phnom Penh is 12 kilometres. By car, it takes 30 minutes).
Siem Reap International Airport (is located northwest of the city, a short distance from the temples of Angkor. The distance from the airport to the centre of Siem Reap is 9 kilometres. By car, it takes 20 minutes).
The quickest way of getting around bigger cities is on “motos” (motorcycle taxis) or motorized tuk-tuks. Metered taxis are also available, but typically slower for short trips since traffic is quite chaotic. As a general rule, negotiate the price of your ride before setting off. There is no centralized bus service, but the country is well served by buses heading to all provinces. These buses run mostly by private operators, are usually air-conditioned and cover most major towns. Renting a motorbike is a great way to see the country if you are an experienced rider. Internal air travel is also quite efficient, but not so common since the country is small. Traveling to remote locations will require using local transportation such a bus service unless you hire a car and driver. Driving a car on your own can be quite challenging, especially in less visited provinces, where few locals speak English and roads are signed only in the Khmer language.
Going for elephant rides unless you can verify the animals are well looked after
Drinking tap water, giving money to the beggars, pointing or gesturing with your feet
Touching male monks or their robes, or hand something directly to them
Wearing clothes that would not cover your knees and shoulders in temples, showing affection in public
Forgetting to take your shoes off before entering a temple
Cambodian cuisine shares similarities with neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam, but chilli is not so commonly used. Cambodian dishes include: Fried crab with Kampot pepper, Nom banh chok (the most common street foods, made of thin rice noodles, shredded banana leaves, beansprouts, cucumber, mint and basil, topped with green fish curry), “Fish Amok” (fish with creamy curry-like sauce with ginger, lemongrass, turmeric and coconut milk), “Lap Khmer” (Lime-marinated Khmer beef with lime juice with lots of shallots, garlic, fish sauce, basil, mint, and bell peppers), “Khmer Red Curry” (made with either chicken, beef or fish, this dish is made with potatoes, coconut milk, lemongrass, and a typical Cambodian ingredient, kroeung)
Cambodia uses 220V AC electricity. Power sockets usually allow Type A and B (US), as well as C and F (Europe) plugs can be used with no need for adaptors.
Health care is free for all Cambodian citizens, but in fact there are many charges for services, and when supplies are unavailable in hospitals the patient must purchase them on the open market. Medical treatment for foreign visitors is expensive and visitors are stringly recommended to have some sort of private medical insurance. Some vaccines are recommended or required for Cambodia: boosters for hepatitis A and tetanus, and hepatitis B, typhoid and cholera vaccinations. Finally, if spending time in rural areas, Japanese encephalities vaccination is recommended, while if you will spend time with animals, vaccination against rabies should be considered. Malaria can be a problem in remote areas, but taking prophylactics during the stay is generally not required for visiting tourist areas. Share your itinerary with a travel medicine specialist, if in doubt.
Tipping is not expected, but always appreciated. Many service workers earn a low wage, so if you are happy with the services provided by waiters, drivers, guides or others, leaving a small tip, is a good way to show your appreciation.
In areas like Siem Reap and Angkor, you may be approached by children selling cheap souvenirs or postcards, do not buy from them since you will be encouraging them to keep working on the street rather than go to school.