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Cambodia

Destination // Cambodia

Cambodia Insider Travel Guide

For many, the name Cambodia (aka Kampuchea) relates to Pol Pot, the notorious ‘Killing Fields’ and political instability. It was the history and belongs to the museum. The Cambodia country nowadays has so much more to offer to travellers including the amazing Temples of Angkor complex, palm-fringed beaches, beautiful rural landscapes and especially the people who are incredibly welcoming and warm to every visitor. Please find below our collection of Cambodia travel tips from an insider so you can better plan for your trip of a lifetime to this amazing country. 

For Vietnam Insider travel guide, please click here

For Laos Insider travel guide, please click here 

Cambodia Visa

Getting your Cambodian visa is a simple and efficient process. It is a requirement that you hold a passport with a validity of more than six months at time of entry and you will also need a passport photo to accompany your visa application. Photo can be taken on the spot at USD1. It is your responsibility to ensure all visa and entry requirements are met prior to arrival in Cambodia.

  • Tourist visas for most nationalities can be obtained on arrival at Phnom Penh or Siem Reap airports for 30 USD cash. Cambodian visas on arrival can also be obtained at most land border crossings.
  • Alternatively, you can obtain an electronic visa, or “eVisa” by visiting www.evisa.gov.kh and paying 36 USD by credit card, (includes processing fee of $6.) This visa takes 3 business days to process, is valid for 30-days, and requires a recent passport-size photo in digital format. Please note that the eVisa is only valid for arrival at Phnom Penh or Siem Reap airports, and Poipet, Cham Yeam and Bavet land border crossings.
  • Travellers on our 14-day Experiences of Vietnam & Cambodia Small Group can get their Cambodian visa on arrival at the border post on the Mekong river on the day of the boat crossing from Tan Chau (Vietnam) to Phnom Penh. This is a straight-forward process.

Language

Khmer is the official language of Cambodia while English is well-understood and widely spoken by our guides and hotel staff. English is also spoken in most restaurants, shops and by taxi and tuk-tuk drivers too. Below are a few basic useful words that you will find useful while travelling in this amazing country.

  • Hello (formal) = Chom Reap Sour
  • Hello (informal) – Susadei
  • How are you = Soksaby (the same for I am fine)
  • Goodbye = Chom Reap Lear
  • Yes = Bah (male) and Jah (female)
  • No = Ot The
  • Thank you = Okun

Money

The official unit of currency in Cambodia is the riel (KHR) however USD cash is accepted everywhere and there is no need to exchange money to riel before arrival. ATMs dispense US dollars and can be found in most major tourist centres across the country. Credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted in most hotels as well as some shops and restaurants (subject to card processing fee of around 3%).

Health & Fitness

Please take necessary precautions as you would when travelling elsewhere in Asia. The best clinics and hospitals are located in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Medical care facilities outside these major cities are generally basic. We recommend you take adequate preventative measures to minimise your risk of exposure to health risks including hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tuberculosis, dengue, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, rabies and HIV/AIDS. We strongly recommend you consult your preferred doctor for the most up-to-date health advice at least one month prior to travel.

Local medical facilities across developing Asia, including Vietnam, are often unable to provide the full range of medical services that are available in developed countries, making evacuation a requirement even in many non-life-threatening medical emergencies.

Travel Insurance

The costs of evacuation as well as international standard care are extremely high. In the most serious emergencies, travellers may not be positioned to authorise payment for an appropriate medical response that is urgently required. This may delay or prevent the provision of critical and possibly life-saving medical attention.

We recommend all travellers possess an adequate travel insurance coverage for the period of travel.  Insurance should cover personal accident and medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation, baggage loss, and cancellation or curtailment of holiday. Note that travel insurance ‘attached’ to credit cards is often limited in scope (e.g. not covering serious medical, repatriation or evacuation expenses) and in any case is usually effective only if travel arrangements have been purchased with the card. Please note also that government regulations in Asia do not always require or enforce the possession of liability insurance by hotels, transport and other suppliers. Even when insurance is in place, it can be for very limited coverage only. Go Experience does its best to work with suppliers who possess liability insurance, however it is not always possible to find and contract with such suppliers.

Safety & Security

Cambodia is a now a relatively safe country to travel in however usual common-sense precautions are advisable. We recommend you take taxis rather than cyclos or tuktuk when traveling at night. To assist in finding your way back to your hotel, make sure you obtain a hotel address card, to show drivers where you want to go.

Please always keep a photocopy of your passport, airline tickets and credit card numbers and leave all valuables in hotel safety deposit boxes wherever possible. We recommend you wear as little jewellery as possible and keep your spending money close to your body in a secure place when out on the street.

Please check the following websites to get the latest news and travel advice from the region:

Food & Water

Cambodian cuisine is closely related to the cuisines of neighbouring countries including Thailand and Laos. The pungent prahok fish stock is usually included in these dishes. Rice is eaten with most meals. In cities such as Phnom Penh there are large numbers of ethnic Chinese who have brought their own influences to the Cambodian diet. Like the rest of Indochina, the French influence remains evident. There is a wide range of international cuisines available in Phnom Penh. Tap water should be avoided however bottled water is readily available and provided on a complimentary basis by most hotels.

Transport

Tuk-tuks are very common and inexpensive in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap as well as taxies. While on tour, our vehicles are air-conditioned, modern, spacious and comfortable. In cities, towns and villages expect to use a combination of tuk-tuks, boats, bicycles (optional) and your own two feet – taking advantage of the variety of transport methods when traveling in Cambodia is part of the experience.

Electricity

Voltage is mainly 220V – 50Hz. Many sockets will take both two-prong round pins and US-style flat pins however we advise you bring a universal adaptor. Electricity supply is generally reliable, even in more remote areas, though farm and hill tribe stays may rely on generator-run power and be less consistently available.

Internet

Broadband internet is available in major centres and is generally inexpensive. In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap there are numerous internet cafes providing email services and internet phone call services. Using these internet phone services is the cheapest way of calling overseas (or locally).

Tipping

If you are happy with the services provided by your local guides and drivers a tip is appropriate and appreciated. While it may not be customary to you, tipping inspires great service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across Asia. You are free to tip as much or as little as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip.

Should you have any questions about this Cambodia insider travel guide, please kindly contact us. Scroll down to explore further Cambodia cities and our collection of tours and local experiences.

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