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Cambodia

Why we loved traveling in Cambodia

Cambodia is a must-visit destination for history, architecture and adventure lovers. As the cradle of the Khmer Empire, it’s home to the breathtaking Angkor temples, where majestic temples and thousand-year-old carvings rise from the heart of the jungle.

The country also has beautiful cities (Phnom Penh, with its colonial heritage, palaces and museums), varied landscapes (Kampot’s pepper farms, the Mekong and Tonle Sap Lake with its floating villages) and unspoiled beaches and islands in the south.

Add Khmer food and the warm welcome of the locals, and you get a trip with real cultural immersion, combining historical sites, authentic encounters and time to relax.

Our Cambodia itinerary and travel tips

We spent 14 days in Cambodia and followed this itinerary:

  • Siem Reap (4 days): Angkor temples, Tonle Sap Lake, Phnom Kulen
  • Koh Rong (4 days): beaches, a fishing village, Koh Rong Samloem
  • Kampot (4 days): pepper farms, Bokor Mountain, the Green Cathedral, Kep
  • Phnom Penh (2 days): Tuol Sleng, the Royal Palace, markets and the Mekong

Find our full itinerary, with all our tips and favorite places, in our complete guide:

👉 Cambodia itinerary: how to spend 2 weeks in Cambodia (+ budget)

Itineraire Voyage Cambodge

All our articles to plan your trip to Cambodia

Traveling to Cambodia: everything you need to know

☀️ When is the best time to visit Cambodia?

  • Dry season (November to April): Sunny weather and pleasant temperatures, especially from November to February. December and January are peak tourist season, while March and April are the hottest months.
  • Rainy season (May to October): More humid, with showers that are usually short and in the late afternoon. On the plus side, the landscapes are greener and the sights are quieter.

🪪 Entry requirements for Cambodia

  • Passport: required, and valid for at least 6 months beyond your visa’s expiration date.
  • Visa: required for all trips. You can get it before you leave (apply for the e-visa here) or on arrival at border crossings.
  • e-Arrival: fill in your trip details on the Cambodia e-Arrival platform to get a QR code to show at the border.

🏥 Do you need vaccines to travel to Cambodia?

  • Required: No vaccines are required for most travelers (a yellow fever certificate is only needed if you’re arriving from a country at risk).
  • Recommended:
    • routine vaccines up to date (tetanus-diphtheria-polio, measles, etc.),
    • hepatitis A (for all travelers),
    • hepatitis B (depending on risk),
    • typhoid (depending on travel conditions),
    • rabies (if you’ll be in at-risk areas or around animals),
    • Japanese encephalitis (for long stays or rural areas).
  • Water: tap water is not safe to drink
  • Malaria: the risk is low in the main tourist areas, but still bring mosquito protection.

Your best bet is to see a doctor or travel clinic before you leave to make sure you’re fully protected!

💊 Do you need travel insurance?

We strongly recommend getting travel insurance that includes medical coverage for any health costs abroad, and ideally coverage for your luggage and bookings too.

Healthcare in Cambodia can be limited outside the big cities, and a medical evacuation to Bangkok or Singapore can be very expensive, so don’t travel without it!

💰 How much does a trip to Cambodia cost?

  • Backpacker: $9–22 a day (hostels, local transportation, street food).
  • Mid-range: $35–70 a day (2–3★ hotels, restaurants, a few tours).
  • Luxury: $110–280 a day (upscale hotels, restaurants, private services).

Our example: about $1,000 per person for 2 weeks, or about $70 a day (excluding flights), while treating ourselves to nice hotels and restaurants.

💸 Money and payments

  • Cash is essential: Cambodian riel or US dollars
  • Credit cards: accepted mainly in large hotels and restaurants
  • ATMs are widespread (ABA Bank is usually reliable).
  • Tipping: not mandatory but appreciated: 10% at restaurants (or $1–2 at small eateries), $1–2 for tuk-tuk or moto drivers, $5–10+ a day for guides depending on the service.

📱 How to get internet in Cambodia

  • Buy a SIM card from a local carrier or at the airport. There are several providers; we recommend Metfone, which has the best coverage. For $8 per person, we got 60 GB valid for 30 days.
  • Get an eSIM before you go: with Saily. Easy setup, clear pricing and a network that works really well. You can pre-order your eSIM directly on their website and get 15% off with the code PROCHAINARRET15.

🍛 Local dishes to try

  • Fish amok (amok trey): fish steamed in a banana leaf with coconut milk and curry
  • Lok lak: stir-fried beef served with rice and a pepper sauce
  • Num banh chok: fresh rice noodles for breakfast with a light curry sauce and herbs

💬 Useful Khmer phrases

  • Hello: ជំរាបសួរ (chom reap sour)
  • Goodbye: លាហើយ (lea heuy)
  • How are you?: អ្នកសុខសប្បាយទេ? (anek sok sabay te?)
  • Thank you: អរគុណ (ankun)
  • Please: សូម (som)

📊 Key facts

  • Capital: Phnom Penh
  • Language(s): Khmer (official), with English widely spoken
  • Time zone: UTC+7 (Indochina Time, ICT)
  • Currency: Cambodian riel (KHR). US dollars (USD) widely accepted
  • Area: 181,035 km² (69,898 sq mi)
  • Population: 17.5 million