With its rich historical background and beautiful landscape, Cambodia has blossomed to be one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. Traveling to Cambodia, you will have a chance to visit splendid religious sites, go trekking to spectacular jungles, cruise along rustic Tonle Sap Lake, and discover the bustling cities Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The temples of Angkor are the notable attractions which make Cambodia the ‘Kingdom of Wonders’. Cambodia together with Vietnam and Laos are three Indochinese countries which are preferred by tourists who wish to discover colonial history, one-of-a-kind nature and friendly locals.
It is required that your passport must be valid for 6 months from the date of entry to Cambodia and you must have at least one blank visa page.
Cambodia visa exemption: Most countries in Southeast Asia are eligible for 2-week to 30-day visa-free entry to this country.
Cambodia tourist visa can be purchased at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports and some borders. It costs $30 for adults and free for kids under 12 years old for a 30-day stay. You need to carry a passport sized photo. This tourist visa is for single entry only, and you can renew it for an additional 30 days at a fee of $45. It is recommended that the fees are paid in US Dollar cash.
You can apply for e-visa as well. This option costs US $30 fee and $6 processing charge. It will take 3 days to process. Click here to apply.
The official currency in Cambodia is Riel (KHR). However, US Dollar is widely accepted and you do not really need to carry local currency. You only need a small amount of riel to buy cheap things at local markets.
Credit/debit cards are accepted in hotels and restaurants. ATMs are available in many tourist destinations such as Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville. However, if you travel to some rural areas, have some cash in hand.
Internet is accessible in hotels, restaurants and café. However, if you travel to rural areas, purchase a data package. There are seven cell providers in Cambodia: Metfone, qb, Beeline, Cellcard/Mobitel, Smart, Excell, and CooTel. Metfone is the largest provider and it wins a 50% market share in this country.
You can buy a SIM card from any of those providers. It only cost $0.5 to $2 for a local SIM. You can find a SIM store anywhere around Cambodia’s major cities. We advise you purchase a Metfone data package if you intend to travel to some lesser-known areas.
In Cambodia, people use 220V, 50 Hz and 2 or 3-pin electricity sockets. You can bring your own adaptor or your hotel will provide multi-socket power strips.
Traveling to Indochina, you will experience hot and humid weather in almost three countries. There are two main seasons in Cambodia: rainy season (May to October) and dry season (November to March). Cambodia experiences a high level of rainfall in rainy seasons, and it is very sultry at the beginning of rainy seasons (March to May) when the temperature can reach 38 degrees Celcius.
The best time to visit Cambodia is from November to March. However, it is still fine if you travel to this country from June to October, since the rains are usually in the afternoon and will not affect your visit.
Cambodia is well-known as a peaceful Buddhist country. Theravada Buddhism, which is practiced by 95 percent of the population, is the predominant religion of this country. These are some rules to keep in mind when you enter any religious site:
Khmer is the official language in Cambodia, but most people in hospitality industry can speak English. Prepare some translation apps on your smartphone when you travel to some rural areas.
There are many public holidays, both memorial and religious events, in Cambodia. Some holidays are calculated based on traditional Khmer lunar calendar, so the dates are subjected to change yearly. Khmer New Year is the biggest holiday in Cambodia which usually falls in the middle of April. It marks the end of the harvest season in this country, and people can get a short break from their hard work. Local people usually decorate the altars, visit some temples and play traditional games during Khmer New Year.
Top events in Cambodia:
UNESCO heritage sites in Cambodia are extremely large and they will take you at least 2 or 3 days to fully discover. However, if you just want to visit some highlights in a tour to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, 4 or 5 days are enough. For deeper exploration, 7 days will be required. Some famous tourist destinations in Cambodia are:
You can access Vietnam from Cambodia via Moc Bai border. If you wish to travel to Vietnam and Cambodia, you will need at least 13 days.
Read more:
Checklist before your trip
Short Tours to Cambodia
Interesting Tours to Cambodia
This post was last modified on April 19, 2024 1:44 am
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I am very glad by reading this post about essential Cambodia travel guide for first-time visitors & this will be more informative for them who wants to explore new places in Cambodia. I must share my experience of Cambodia trip which was a wonderfully planned by my elder brother; he booked this trip by Siem Reap for my easy travel for which I got the best journey of my life.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Thank you for your comment. It is our pleasure to hear that you find our article helpful and you had a wonderful trip to Cambodia.
Cambodia is such a dazzling country with pristine landscapes, gorgeous temples, and friendly people, so do not hesitate to revisit this country. If you want to customize a tour to more off-the-beaten-track destinations in Cambodia, please take a look at our tours and contact us: https://www.vietnamparadisetravel.com/cambodia-tours. Thank you very much!
Regards,
Chi