Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country bordered by Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. The country is best known for its temple complex of Angkor Wat, which is the largest religious monument in the world. With its friendly people and fascinating places, Cambodia is an excellent destination for travelers of all ages. You can read the travel guide Cambodia below for more exciting information about Cambodia.
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Facts about Cambodia
- Spoken language: Khmer
- Currency: Cambodian riel. US dollars are also widely accepted, but because there is a recent push to use riel, you may get riel as a change for your dollars.
- Population: Estimated 16,713,015 in 2022
- Capital: Phnom Penh, its largest city
- Religions: Buddhism (practiced by 97% of the population)
- Flag: Blue borders with a red stripe and an image of Angkor Wat in the middle
Travel guide Cambodia: Best time to visit
The best time to visit Cambodia depends on what you want to see and do. If you’re interested in exploring the temples of Angkor Wat, the dry season (November to April) is the best time to go. The weather is more relaxed and drier, which makes for more comfortable conditions when visiting the temples. If you want to experience Cambodian culture and the country’s natural beauty, the wet season (May to October) is a great time to visit. The rains bring out the lush green landscapes, and you’ll see traditional festivals and celebrations. No matter when you decide to go, Cambodia is sure to offer an unforgettable experience.
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Suggested budget when visiting Cambodia
Cambodia moving costs
When visiting Cambodia, you can take popular public transportation such as a tuk-tuk, taxi, or bus to go sightseeing.
Motorcycle: approximately 6-9 USD per car per day, self-filling gasoline.
Bus: Traveling in Cambodia is inexpensive, costing less than ten dollars.
Tuk-tuk: Visitors should estimate the distance traveled to calculate the cost of a tuk-tuk ride. Going 1-3 km in a tuk-tuk in Siem Reap costs about 1-2 USD, and a tour to Angkor temple costs about 15 USD
Food cost
Food in Cambodia is relatively cheap; each meal here costs about 2 USD; in high-end hotels and restaurants, prices range from 3 to 5 USD.
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Cambodia sightseeing costs
Attraction tickets in Cambodia are quite inexpensive, usually costing only 1-3 USD per ticket. The Royal Palace of Cambodia is the most expensive tourist destination, costing approximately $6 USD per person.
Other expenses
Cambodian markets offer a wide range of goods at meager prices. A phone sim card is also required for convenient calling and 3G/4G access. These kinds of costs are usually under USD 20.
A three to four day trip to Cambodia will cost between 4,500,000 ($191,9) and 5,000,000 VND ($213)
How to get to Cambodia?
The best way to get to Cambodia depends on your location and budget. One of the most critical aspects of travel guide Cambodia is the budget. If you’re coming from Thailand, the easiest and most popular option is to take a bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap, the gateway to the Angkor Wat temple complex. This journey takes around 7-8 hours and costs about $10. If you’re coming from Laos, the best option is to take a bus from Vientiane to Stung Treng and then another bus or a boat from Stung Treng to Siem Reap. This journey takes around 12 hours and costs about $20. If you’re coming from Vietnam, the best option is to take a bus or a train from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh and then another bus or a boat from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. This journey takes around 12 hours and costs around $25.
Where to stay in Cambodia?
1. The Privilege Floor Hotel
The first-place hotel on the list of the ten most fabulous hotels in Cambodia is a sizable 5-story complex with a swimming pool in front.
- Hotel 5 star
- Price: From $208 to $230 / double room
- Address: National Road 6 0369 Banteay Chas Slorkram Siem Reap, Campuchia.
- Phone number: +855 15 408 222.
2. Heritage Suites Hotel
The hotel features a swimming pool, spa, and straightforward thatched-roof restaurants. It is situated in the heart of Siem Reap and is surrounded by numerous cool trees and flowers. Large, lovely room, excellent service, and delectable cuisine.
- Hotel 4 star
- Price: From $115 to $120 /Double
- Address: Wat Polangka – Phum Slok Kram, Siem Reap [Angkor], Cambodia 93101, Campuchia
- Phone number: +855 63 969 100.
3. La Residence d’Angkor by Orient – Express Hotel
A densely populated ancient village surrounds the hotel, so visitors can easily feel the strange quiet when entering the gate. The room is built and decorated mainly with perennial wood, painted with folk polish. The hotel also has a swimming pool, bar, spa, and other living and entertainment services.
- Hotel 5 star
- Price: From $183 to $190/ Double
- Address: River Rd, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Phone number: +855 63 963 390
4. Park Hyatt Siem Reap hotel
Couples and young couples will enjoy the hotel’s charming and romantic atmosphere. After deciding on Paix as your holiday destination, make an effort to get up early every morning to enjoy the delicious breakfast the hotel’s restaurant provides.
- Hotel 5 star
- Price: From $210 to $250/ Double
- Address: Sivutha Blvd, Siem Reap, Cambodia.
- Phone number: +855 63 211 234
5. Amasara Hotel
Amara is a popular choice for travelers looking for easy transit because it is situated immediately on the route leading to Angkor. The buildings are solid, contemporary, and spotless. A variety of foods and beverages are offered.
- Hotel 5 star
- Price: From $210 to $250/ Double
- Address: Sivutha Blvd, Siem Reap, Cambodia.
- Phone number: +855 63 211 234
6. Borei Angkor Resort & Spa hotel
A sense of warmth and relaxation is provided by the lush resort with its many trees all around. The service is of high caliber, the room has a decent rating, and the cost is reasonable.
- Hotel 5 star
- Price : From $115 to $120/Double
- Address: #0369 NR6, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Phone number: +855 63 964 406
7. Anantara Angkor Resort & Spa hotel
The new room system surrounds the large swimming pool. The hotel has only two floors, and each room has a beautiful view of the swimming pool and natural scenery outside. Ivory white and wine red also contribute to a warm and romantic atmosphere.
- Hotel 5 star
- Price : From $265 to $270 /Double
- Address: National Road No. 6 | Khum Svay Bangkok, Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Phone number: +855 63 966 788
8. Spa Victoria Angkor Resort
The resort’s rooms are huge and fully equipped, making them ideal for family vacations. Each service is less expensive than at other hotels.
- Hotel 5 star
- Price : From $180 to $190/Double
- Address: Central Park, Siem Reap 93145, Cambodia
- Phone number: +855 63 760 428
9. Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort
The resort is designed in the style of serene countryside. The rows of fruit trees that line the path through the rooms shade the sun and create a fresh breeze to provide visitors with a relaxing atmosphere.
- Hotel 5 star
- Price : From $150 to $170/Double
- Address: Vithei Charles de Gaulle, Khum Svay Dang Kum, Cambodia
- Phone number: +855 63 964 600.
Here is a list of highly rated hotels by travelers that you can use for your travel guide Cambodia later.
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Cambodia travel guide: How to get around
Cambodia is a beautiful country with a lot to offer tourists. The best way to see everything Cambodia has to show is to travel around the country by bus. This is a cheap and convenient option with several different routes. You can also rent a motorbike or bicycle and explore the countryside.
When traveling around Cambodia, it’s essential to respect the local culture. That means: dressing modestly, avoiding public displays of affection, and being aware of the country’s customs and etiquette. It’s also a good idea to learn some basic Khmer, as this will help you to communicate with the locals.
10 best places to visit in Cambodia
Siem Reap
Most visitors to this city are drawn to the temples. Angkor Wat may be the most famous, but Angkor Archaeological Park is home to over a thousand temples of varying conditions.
Read more: 15 Best Things To Do In Siem Reap Besides Temples
Phnom Penh
After the devastation caused by the Khmer Rouge, the Phnom Penh of today – like the rest of Cambodia – is recovering and growing into a vibrant, rich, and diverse metropolitan city.
Sihanoukville
This beach town is a haven for backpackers and budget travelers. Islands around it offer scuba diving, snorkeling, or relaxation on the sand.
Battambang
This is a place where you can find yourself pleasantly lost, roaming the streets. Architectural relics from French colonial times, such as the former Governor’s Residence, remain.
Banlung
This hidden gem possesses a series of beautiful waterfalls surrounded by lush greenery, as well as the magnificent Boeing Yeak Lom crater lake, which resembles a perfectly round mirror
Ratanakiri
Adventurous tourists weary of seeing temples can enjoy trekking across this red-dirt country to quiet little villages where ethnic minorities dwell.
Tonle Sap Lake
170 villages live in stilt houses built directly over the lake. All facilities in the area float on foundations made of bamboo and barrels lashed together. People can only travel by boat.
Kampi – Kratie
Book a boat tour down the Mekong (departing from Kampi), and you can see the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins and glimpse how the people live along this magnificent river.
Mondulkiri
It is home to an elephant sanctuary where you can walk alongside elephants and help their minders (mahout) earn a living without the overwork or abuse of these spectacular animals.
Kampot
Outside of Kampot, fields of Cambodia’s famous peppers deliver a kick of spiciness to dishes around the country and beyond, such as the Kampot Pepper Crab and even a kind of rum.
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Best foods and drinks in Cambodia
The country’s cuisine is a unique blend of Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, French, and Khmer influences and is full of delicious surprises. Here are a few of the best foods and drinks to try in Cambodia:
- Fish amok: This traditional curry is made with steamed fish, coconut milk, lemongrass, and chili peppers.
- Num Banh Chok: A hearty noodle bowl made with lightly fermented rice noodles, freshwater fish, salted and fermented fish paste, coconut cream, and various vegetables.
- Samlar Kako: A savory soup from herb and fish pastes, roasted ground rice, chicken or pork, catfish, vegetables, and fruit.
- Babaw sadeik khiew: A green mung bean soup eaten after lunch or dinner to chase away the heat.
- Angkor beer: A light and refreshing Cambodian beer, the most popular in the country.
Itinerary suggestions for a Cambodia travel guide
A Siem Reap tour package journey full of taste for culture and heritage sites over Cambodia. It starts from Phnom Penh capital which offers plentiful history, architecture, food, and culture, all wrapped up in the hectic and vibrant atmosphere, and ends at Siem Reap, where we can delve into the history with the stunning Angkor Wat.
- Day 1: Hello, Phnom Penh
- Day 2: Phnom Penh
- Day 3: Phnom Penh – Battambang
- Day 4: Battambang
- Day 5: Battambang – Siem Reap
- Day 6: Siem Reap
- Day 7: Siem Reap
- Day 8: Outskirts of Siem Reap
- Day 9: Farewell Siem Reap
Travel guide Cambodia: Interesting activities
There are several exciting things to see and do in Cambodia, from exploring ancient temples to visiting traditional markets. Here are a few ideas:
- Visit the temple complex of Angkor Wat, one of the most significant religious monuments in the world.
Take a boat trip along the Mekong River, one of the longest rivers in Asia.
- Explore the capital city of Phnom Penh, home to several historical sites and museums.
- Visit the Killing Fields, where victims of the Khmer Rouge regime were executed and buried. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a former prison where political dissidents and innocent people were held, tortured, interrogated, and murdered.
- Attend a traditional Apsara dance performance, a form of Khmer classical dance.
Cultural features of Cambodia
While Buddhism has significantly influenced Cambodian society, history, and culture, indigenous animistic beliefs and Hinduism also played their parts in the foundation of the national ethos. Cambodia experienced a golden age during the Angkor period (9th to 14th century), which ended due to civil wars and skirmishes with neighbors. Nevertheless, it strongly influenced the country, the most tangible being the Angkor Wat temple complex, which has become a symbol of Cambodia and pride for its people.
Cambodian society is quite hierarchical, placing great importance on respect and rituals. Generally, seniority comes with age and social position – the older and/or more powerful, the more care the person should be given. The polite way to greet someone is the Sampeah: clasping your palms flat together and bowing. Avoid gesturing with your feet, or pointing them at someone while sleeping or sitting, as they are considered impure because they are the lowest part of the body. Accordingly, the head is the purest since it’s the highest and should not be touched or pointed at.
Visa requirements in travel guide Cambodia
Citizens of most countries are eligible for a visa on arrival, but it is recommended that they obtain a ticket in advance from a Cambodian embassy or consulate.
ASEAN citizens can enter and stay visa-free for 14 to 30 days (depending on their nationality).
Citizens of Afghanistan, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, or Sudan cannot apply for a visa on arrival. They need to apply in advance at their local Cambodian embassy. They can also apply online for an e-visa a minimum of 20 working days in advance (except for Nigerian citizens).
Cambodia offers various visas, so check the requirements for the specific type of visa you need.
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FAQs about travel guide Cambodia
The best time to travel to Cambodia is between November and May when the country still has pleasant weather and little rain. However, Cambodia’s climate is typically hot and humid all year round.
You should plan to spend around $50 per day ($1500 per month) on your vacation in Cambodia, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors
Antiques, basketry, betel nut boxes, T-shirt and tailored clothing, gold and gems, silver, silk and scarves.
Siem Reap, Tonle Sap Lake, Battambang, Koh Rong, Phnom Penh, Cardamom Mountains are the best places you should visit in Cambodia.
– The roofs of the National Museum.
– Angkor Wat, Cambodia.
– Banteay Srei Temple, Cambodia.
– Two monks in Siem Reap.
– Elephants at the ELIE project, Mondulkiri.
– Bayon Temple of Angkor Thom in Siem Reap.
– 4 Rivers Floating Lodge, Koh Kong River.
– Floating villages on Tonle Sap.
Above is information about the travel guide Cambodia you need to know before traveling. Travelers to Cambodia will find a wide variety of things to see and do, from exploring the country’s rich history and culture to enjoying its natural beauty. With its friendly people and fascinating places, Cambodia is an excellent destination for travelers of all ages.
