Cambodia Travel Guide

Planning a trip to Cambodia and wondering where to start? This Cambodia travel guide will cover where to visit in Cambodia, how many days to spend, best time to visit, food options, what to wear and things to do in Cambodia. 

My visit to Cambodia was unexpected and happened because my parents who shifted to Phnom Penh for dad’s small-term project. It took us a lot of time to actually finalize if we should travel to Cambodia (we were planning to visit in August), as tickets were expensive at the last moment.

The fellow bloggers and friends guided me only about Angkor Wat but we wanted to spend 2 days in Phnom Penh too.

Although there are many travelers and backpackers who spend up to 2 weeks in Cambodia, in total we spent 5 days in Cambodia – 2 days in Phnom Penh and 2 days in Siem Reap and another day for travelling in and out of country.

This is my guide covering all important deets.

HISTORY OF CAMBODIA

Cambodia has had a volatile history. The country underwent horrifying genocide that was carried out by the Khmer Rouge regime (led by Pol Pot) between 1975 and 1979. Out of the 7 million population then, over 1.7 million died of starvation, execution, disease or overwork. Some estimates place the death toll even higher. The Khmer Rouge apparently arrested and killed all people from previous regime – including soldiers, politicians and bureaucrats, educated, capitalist and city people to grow rice and other agricultural products as Pol Pot wanted to develop Cambodia into a agrarian economy like the Angkor Empire in earlier days. When people complained they were tortured and killed, including women and children.

Fast forward to 2017, the country has good tourist’s spots, delicious food, the friendliest people, beautiful coastlines, and a lively nightlife. Still at a developing stage, the country which does not have any manufacturing units of its own is trying to spring back with better governance.

CAMBODIA TRAVEL GUIDE PRACTICAL TIPS

Best time to visit Cambodia

The best time to visit Cambodia is between November and April, when there is very little rain. Other times it is hot and humid making it extremely uncomfortable to travel. However, those months are tourist months and cities and beaches get crowded and hotels get expensive.

We were to travel in August and while we knew it was going to be humid, we decided to carry on anyways.

We utilized 3 weekends in August and took advantage of Indian festivals like Rakshabandhan, Janmashtami and Independence Day. We left on 5^th August night (Saturday – packing day) and came back on 19^th August night (Saturday) as we need 1 day to relax, do laundry and get into the headspace to start working the next day. If you are adventurous you may leave on Friday night and be back on Sunday night giving you 2 more days. The month of August generally has long weekends with these festivals every year. If planned well in advance you can easily get 2 weeks.

Flights to Cambodia from India

If you are travelling from India, Cambodia travel is quite easy and these are some of the options:

From Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi you will get connecting flights to Bangkok, Kaula Lampur or Singapore. Flights from these destinations are available to Phnom Penh (the capital) and Siem Reap and are of 1- 3 hours duration.

Air Asia has many economy deals from Delhi and Bangalore to reach Phnom Penh so keep checking.

Cambodia Visa for Indian Citizens

For Indian travelers, Visa on Arrival can be obtained at Cambodia International Airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The validity is 30 days. You will need:

• A completed visa application form (generally given to you on flight)
• A Passport with at least 6 months validity
• One recent photograph (4 x 6 cm)
• Visa fee in cash (US$36)

Pro tip: Download the visa application form from their embassy website and fill it in advance to save time and faster immigration

In case you want to save time and do not want to stand in the queue, you may apply for e-visa here. It takes about 3 business days for the vis ato get approved.

I was not asked a single question during the immigration process, nor was I asked to show any proof of accommodation or onward booking. It was too easy and I felt amused; wouldn’t you want to know the purpose.

Currency in Cambodia

Cambodia has its own currency called Cambodian Riels (KHR). 1INR = 49KHR and US$1 = 4078KHR. However, the country also uses USD officially so there is no real need to carry the local currency. Even street vendors and local drivers accept USD. However small change may be given back in KHR which can be easily utilized in purchasing water bottles or small souvenirs.

Local transportation in Cambodia

Tuk-tuk is the local way of getting anywhere in the city, even from the airport. It is like an Indian auto-rickshaw, a 3 wheeled automobile but bigger which can accommodate 4 people comfortably. If you have big bags from the airport, it can even accommodate that with 2 passengers. Be sure to negotiate a price in advance (usually not more than US$5-10 depending on the distance). If you are renting a driver for an entire day in any of the cities, it will cost you around US$25 (excluding tip).

For getting around to other cities, flights, as well as buses, are available. Buses are clean, cheap yet comfortable. If you opt for the night journey, air-conditioned sleeping coaches are available. They will give you polythene to store your footwear (so the bus doesn’t get dirty), water bottle and a blanket. The cost ranges from US$8 -15 one way per person. We travelled from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap in an overnight Giant Ibis bus which took 6 hours.

Accommodation in Cambodia

Hotels, guest houses and hostels are easily available across all tourist destinations and the capital. The range starts around US$5-8 per night per person for hostels, mid-range hotels around US$20-30 (including breakfast) and luxurious hotels around US$60-80 (including breakfast). At times they may offer pick-up and drop services to the airport in that rate. WiFi is available in all accommodation as well as tourists’ spots and restaurants.

Food in Cambodia | Must try food in Cambodia

The local street food as well as in restaurants is quite cheap in Cambodia which includes a lot of sea food, crickets, spiders, ants and chicken. A meal on street can cost you US$2-3 and US$8-10 in restaurants.

However, this is bland for Indian taste and us being vegetarians we had a tough time fighting the odour of the local dishes even on streets. Luckily we found vegetarian Indian restaurants in Phnom Penh, as well as Siem, Reap wherein a South Indian thali cost $8 per person and a la carte about $15-18 between 2 of us.

There are also tons of fruit and dry fruit options which we relished all days – banana, jack fruit, lychee, dragon fruit, passion fruit, mangoes, the infamous durian, almonds, cashew nuts, etc. They are fresh and yummy.

Language, Culture, Tradition of Cambodia

• Cambodians traditionally greet with a Sampeah, it is like Indian ‘Namaste’, which involves pressing the palms together before the chest with a slight bow and greeting with a polite ‘Chumreap Suor’ and smile.
• Khmer is the official language of Cambodia.
• 90% of Cambodians follow Buddhism.

Safety in Cambodia

Cambodia is pretty safe for seasoned travellers, solo women travellers, backpackers and family in the city, buses or accommodation. Keep in mind the country wakes up super early – shops open at as early as 6:30 am and close at 5:00 pm – even the markets and retail stores.

Only restaurants would be open past 6:00 pm. So when you go for dinner to a restaurant with a tuk-tuk driver, engage him for a ride back and pay him while sitting in the tuk-tuk. There have been instances of snatching while paying drivers or while carrying bags on isolated roads but very few incidents of mugging. But that is present in any city or tourist attraction in the world so you just have to be careful and alert.

This is funny yet serious but there is the danger of landmines in Cambodia. Not so much in the cities but watch out for them in woods, dry paddy fields or open areas. There is no estimate of how many are there but could range from a few thousand to a few million. It is not uncommon for someone to be injured in this way. In fact, there are many amputees in the country.

Shopping in Cambodia: Souvenirs to buy from Cambodia

There cannot be a Cambodia travel guide without the mention of shopping!

Traditionally arts and crafts include lacquerware, silk weaving, silverwork, stone carving, wood carving and basket making. They are available in stores as well as local markets. Be careful as wooden artefacts are sold as fake plastic ones with a higher price. The textile market is also booming in Cambodia. I have no idea where it comes from but it is super cheap. T-shirts and pants are as cheap as $2 and can be lesser if bought in bulk. There are night markets in all major cities – open till 11 pm.

Pro tip: Decide what you want to buy and head straight there otherwise you will end up spending much more on so many attractive things that are actually of no use 

What to wear in Cambodia

Since it is a hot and humid country, anything which is comfortable to you should be worn – preferably cotton t-shirts and shorts which will give ample protection to your skin. The country is liberal in terms of what you prefer to wear however you will be required to cover your shoulders (scarf is not allowed) and knees while visiting temples.

What to pack for Cambodia travel

Pack light. You will find everything from tea, branded toiletries to clothes in case you forget something. Other things:

• Comfortable footwear – you will be walking a lot in temples and museums. Although sports shoes will give you that comfort, you may be required to remove them while visiting temples way too many times that it will get annoying. Also with the hot and humid weather, the shoes get super sweaty. Try floaters, kittos, flip flops instead.
• Sunscreen – you will thank me for this. Trust me it is required everywhere.
• Water/fluids/snack – pack this for all your local sightseeing.
• Travel insurance – it’s a hot country, there are mosquitoes. You do not want to have malaria, dengue or even a viral throat infection. But in case you do, insurance is always handy. Buy one, which will cover your luggage loss or delay (saying from personal experience).
• All other things which you feel are important.

PLACES TO VISIT IN CAMBODIA: CAMBODIA TRAVEL GUIDE

Other than Angkor Wat, there are many places of interest. While it is debatable if Angkor Wat is worth visiting, I highly recommend visiting the following places.

• Phnom Penh,
• Sihanoukvill,
• Koh Kong,
• Battambang,
• Koh Tonsay,
• Kampot,
• Koh Ker, etc.

SUSTAINABLE TIPS FOR CAMBODIA TRAVEL GUIDE

• Do not use single-use or disposable plastic. Even if you do, do not litter it in any tourist area or any museums or archeological sites.
• Respect the ancient structures of temples and other structures by not sitting on them.
• Respect the places which prohibit photography.
• Do not write on the pillars and walls of archeological sites and temples.

I hope this Cambodia Travel Guide helps to plan a trip to Cambodia, especially for Indian citizens. Have you already visited Cambodia? What were the places you liked, loved or hated? Tell me the comments below!

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