Cambodia is a beautiful country with the Angkor Wat temples and beautiful pristine beaches that are less crowded and cheaper than those in neighbouring Thailand. I enjoyed the week I spent in Cambodia but would love to go back and explore the smaller less visited sites, like the French colonial villas and gardens in Phnom Penh and the coastal towns in the South.
Best Time to Visit
November and April are a good time to visit Cambodia because there is less rain and the humidity is bearable. Outside of this period humidity increases and the rains are frequent, however this is a good time to visit the temples as the crowds will be low.
Things to do and see
- Angkor Wat: Is one of the largest collection of temples in one complex. A must visit when travelling to Cambodia.
- Killing Fields and Prison S21: This genocide museum is a reminder of Cambodia’s dark past. Under Pol Pot’s regime millions of Cambodians were killed, anyone who was educated was a target, teachers, lawyers, government officials and anyone who wore glasses were a target. There bodies were buried in mass graves.
- Mondulkiri Project: Is an elephant sanctuary protecting the forest and educating indigenous people on caring for the elephants and conservation. Tourist have an opportunity to support this great project, your get to hike along side elephants through the jungle and join them for a bath in the waterfall.
Food
The staple food in Cambodia is rice. The rice is often eaten with vegetables, beef, pork, chicken or freshwater fish. The flavourings used are typically mint, lemon grass, coriander and coconut.
Transportation
Air: There are no flights from London to Cambodia. Siem Reap has direct flight connections with many international airports throughout Southeast Asia.
Roads: Roads outside the big city limits are not well maintained, it is not advisable to drive these roads at night. During the rainy season, both rural and city roads deteriorate and are not safe to drive. Roadside assistance is non existent in Cambodia.
Taxi: Taxi’s wait outside hotels and restaurants but there are no metered taxis. Tuk-tuks are a popular cheap form of transport used by locals and tourists. Uber does not work in Cambodia
Bus: Buses depart frequently connecting all the major cities and towns. Giant Ibis is one of the bus companies popular amongst tourist for long distance travel.
Ferry: Government ferries operate from Phnom Penh port to Siem Reap. You can buy tickets in person.
Rail: There are currently no passenger services.
Visa
Visas are required by all EU, U.S, Canadian and Australian nationals. You can request a visa on arrival at the airport or border crossings You must have two passport photos also. You can also obtain a visa online in advance.
Racism/Sexism/Discrimination
Language
Khmer is the official language; however, Chinese and Vietnamese are also spoken. English is spoken by most people working in the tourist industry.
Money
The currency of Cambodia is the Riel (KHR).
Several ATMs distribute US dollars. US Dollars are widely accepted rather than local currency. Credit cards are not widely accepted.
Tipping
Tipping is the norm in Cambodia, especially in the service industry.
Adaptor
Cambodia has three associated plugs. One of the plugs has two flat parallel pins, the second has two round pins and the third is the same as in the UK, three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern.
Wifi
There are internet cafes in the larger towns in Cambodia. You can access free internet in some hotels, restaurants and guest houses.
Ruth’s Lonely Planet 