Before I came to Cambodia I didn’t had any expections of the country. But as I came to Cambodia I was highly suprised by the beauty of the country, the friendliness of the locals and the amazing food Cambodia has to offer.

You also want to explore Cambodia, but don’t know how to get there? When is the best time to visit the island? How you get to all these beautiful destinations? Or what you can experience in the country? Then I would like to help you to plan your adventure in Cambodia in detail with this ultimate Travel Guide.

Which visa do you need

If you travel to Cambodia as a tourist or backpacker, you have to get a tourist visa. The tourist visa can be applied for online as an e-visa. However, it can only be used at a limited number of border crossings. The issuance of the e-visa usually takes 3 days, which is why it should be applied for early. Ideally, at least two weeks before you travel to Cambodia. Once the e-Visa is approved, you have 90 days to enter Cambodia. You have 30 days to stay in the country from the date of entry.

As an alternative to the e-visa, you can also get the visa on arrival. This is also issued when crossing the national border by bus. The tourist visa in Cambodia costs around $40 USD. The visa can be extended to 60 days once at the Immigration Office of the Ministry of the Interior in Phnom Penh.

How to get there

The easiest way to get to Cambodia is by plane. Cambodia has three international airports: In Phnom Pehn, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. However, if you are traveling to Southeast Asia and are coming from Thailand, Vietnam or Laos, you can easily enter Cambodia by bus.
There are daily buses from Ho Chi Minh City, from Bangkok or from Pakse and Don Det to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. Crossing the border into Cambodia is uncomplicated in most cases. In order to avoid scams, you should ideally have applied for your visa in advance and printed it out.

How long will you need

Cambodia is not a very big country. To see the main attractions, for some travelers 10 days are already enough to travel the country. Most backpackers travel the country within 14 days.
If you want to travel a little more relaxed and see a lot of the country, then I would recommend a bit more than 14 days but not longer than 21 days.

Best time to visit

The best time to travel Cambodia is between November and May. There is little to no rain falls during these months. Temperatures are also warm. The rainy season in Cambodia runs from May to October. During these months heavy rains can occur several times a day. The climate in Cambodia is hot and humid all year round.

However, it is not a problem to visit Cambodia during the rainy season. Because the rainy season does not mean that it only rains for six months in a row. It can happen that it rains three days in a row. In most cases, however, it does not rain at all or only rains for a few hours a day.

The rainy season also has a great advantage for travelers. Since there are not as many tourists to Cambodia during this time, accommodation, tours and similar activities are usually cheaper. In addition, you don’t have to expect fully booked buses or hostels, so you don’t have to plan and book anything too far in advance.

How to get around

The best way to get from one place to the next place is by bus. Depending on the distance there are also sleeper busses you can take. These busses go overnight. While taking a sleeper bus you safe money for one night at a hostel and you cover a lot of distance while you can sleep in a comfortable bed.
Busses can get booked at almost every accomodation or Hostel or on 12go.asia, a website that allows you to plan your trip quickly and easily. 12go.asia is not only good for your trip in Cambodia, but also for many other countries in Southeast Asia.

When you arrive at a destination, the easiest and cheapest way to explore it is by scooter. In most cases you can rent a scooter for $5 USD per day. Traffic in Cambodia is not as chaotic as in Vietnam or Bali, so driving on Cambodian roads is not a big problem for less experienced drivers. If you still don’t dare to drive a scooter, you can use the Grab app to call a taxi at reasonable prices in all larger towns and cities.

And if you don’t want to worry about the best way to explore the country, you can also book a guided tour. I recommend the agency INTRO Travel which together with knowledgeable Group Leaders offers a 10 day tour around the country.

What is the local currency?

In Cambodia you can pay with two currencies. Once with the national currency Riel or with American dollars. Both currencies are accepted everywhere.
However, it should be noted that only smooth banknotes without cracks or other damage are accepted for USD. Furthermore, it can happen that ATMs issue fake notes. For this reason I would recommend always paying in riel. In most cases, Riel are always accepted, no matter how bad the condition of the paper is.

What is the national language?

The national language of Cambodia is Khmer. However, most locals are also fluent in English. To make a good impression, here are a few helpful words and phrases:

Hello: Soos.sadai
Goodbye: Lee.hai
Please: Som
Thank you: Ar.kon
Yes: Bat (male) / Cha (female)
No: A.Tay
Please bring the bill: Som cut loy

Safety Tipps:

• Never drink water from the tap. Always buy fresh water.
• Always wear sunscreen, even when it’s cloudy
• Always spray yourself with mosquito spray to avoid diseases like malaria or dengue fever
• Be careful where you eat and what you eat as there is a risk of food poisoning in Asia if food is not prepared properly
• Never leave your valuables unattended
• Always cover your knees and shoulders when visiting a temple

Top Things to do in Cambodia

The activities listed here are listed in an order I recommend for a possible itinerary through Cambodia. Starting point is Phnom Penh.

Learn more about Cambodias history in the S-21 Prison in Phnom Penh

Many people may have never heard of it before or learned about it at school. But Cambodia has a tragic history. The S-21 Prison is a museum commemorating the genocide in Cambodia in 1975-1979. At the time, what is now the museum was a prison where the Khmer Rouge, who was in power at the time under Pol Pot, systematically held innocent people captive, tortured them, extracted confessions, and killed them after months of torture.

While visiting the prison, you can follow an audio tour through headphones. These are also available in numerous languages. If you want to learn more about how the genocide came about and what exactly happened in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979, you should definitely visit the S-21 Prison. However, be aware that the story is very grisly and that S-21 Prison is a very horrible place. If you’re not good at dealing with subjects like the murder and torture of innocent people, you might not want to visit S-21 Prison. The entry to the prison costs $5 USD per person. An audio guide costs an additional $5 USD.

Visit the Killing Fields

The inmates of Prison 21 were executed after months of torture. For this they were taken to the so-called Killing Fields. Today, Choeung Ek is a memorial site marked by a Buddhist stupa. People can come here to visit the place and learn more about the time when the Khmer Rough ruled the country. I can only recommend to visit the S-21 Prison before visiting the Killing Fields. I also recommend to not visit the S-21 Prison and the Killing fields on the same day (only if you don’t have much time). Since you probably spent up to two hours at both places and the storys have an big impact on your mood you should give yourself a little rest and get your mind to a happier place right after you visited the S-21 Prison and the Killing Fields 🙂

Also like the S-21 Prison, you can visit the Killing Fields while listening to an audio tour. As with the S-21 Prison, those who are not good at dealing with topics such as the murder and torture of innocent people should perhaps not visit the Killing Fields.

Leave the beaten part and travel to Kratie

Kratie is a small town located a few hundred kilometers north of Phnom Penh. Although Kratie has gained popularity among travelers in recent years, this place is still one of the hidden gems of Cambodia. Very few tourists stay here, although Kratie is one of the most beautiful places in Cambodia.
Kratie is located directly on the Mekong River. In the evening you can watch a beautiful sunset over the river. I myself can recommend Sorya Guesthouse for a stay in Kratie. This is right on the Mekong River. In the Sorya Guesthouse you can enjoy the sunset on the terrace of the restaurant with a delicious meal or a cool drink.

Since Kratie is not very well known, it is not so easy to book a bus there. But you can find buses via bookmebus that go to Kratie every day. Alternatively, you can stop by the Virak Buntham Shop in Phnom Penh and book a bus to Kratie there.

Cycle along the Island of Koh Trong

Koh Trong is a small island that lies in the Mekong River and is very easy to access from Kratie. There is a regular ferry from Kratie to Koh Trong. The journey takes only 10-20 minutes and costs $0.25 USD per person.

The island is not big, so you can easily circle it by bike. In addition, the roads are mainly flat and the cycle paths are very well developed. Bikes can be rented directly from the ferry station and cost $2 USD for a day.

Koh Trong has incredible things to offer. A breathtaking landscape, green meadows, temples, lots of animals, cute cafes and especially you get a much better insight into the life of the locals. In addition, the island attracts only a few tourists and is therefore, like Kratie, one of the hidden gems of Cambodia. A visit to Koh Trong Island is therefore a place that any traveler who wants to do something off the beaten track should visit.

Spot Irrawaddy dolphins during a boat ride across the Mekong River

About 15 kilometers from Kratie is the small town of Kampi. Kampi is especially known for its Irrawaddy Dolphins, which live there in the Mekong River. During an one-hour boat tour in a small motorboat, which is steered by a local, you can watch the dolphins playing in the water.
Since the dolphins only come to the surface for a few seconds to breathe, you have to keep your eyes peeled for them at all times. The Irrawaddy dolphins are endangered. It is estimated that there are only 80 Irrawaddy dolphins left who have their home in the Mekong River. In Kampi the fishermen therefore take care of the approximately 20 dolphins that live on the Kampi coast.
The price for a one-hour boat tour is $10 USD. The best way to get to Kampi is by scooter, which can be rented in almost every accommodation in Kratie.

Explore the Bokor Nationalpark

Near Kampot is the Bokor National Park, which is one of the most exciting attractions in Kampot. The easiest way is to rent a scooter in Kampot and use it to explore the national park on your own.
It is 29 kilometers from the entrance gate of the national park to the highest point of the national park. However, the road is very well developed and therefore easily passable. In Bokor National Park itself, you can explore the many spooky buildings that are now abandoned and derelict, visit some fascinating temples, enjoy the views of nature and the sea, or swim in the Popokvil Waterfall. Bokor National Park is not large, so it can easily be explored in a day.

Stroll around Kampot

In addition to Bokor National Park, Kampot has many other activities to offer tourists. For example, you can check out the giant Durienfruit on the roundabout in the city center, explore the local market, or take a canoe trip down the Kampot River.
There is also a lot to explore outside of Kampot. A few kilometers from Kampot is the village of Kep. Definitely worth going there for a day trip. Kep is known for its crab market and also for its beach where you can enjoy the sea and the sun.

Explore the Island of Koh Rong

Koh Rong is a paradise island in the Cambodian province of Sihanoukville. The island is known for white sand, turquoise blue water, coconut trees and coral reefs. With its nature, Koh Rong Island is very reminiscent of the beautiful beaches in Thailand.

On the island you have the opportunity to try different activities. You can canoe, snorkel, sunbathe in a hammock on the beach, or rent a scooter and explore the island independently. In the evening you can watch a spectacular sunset over the island on Koh Rong.

Many travelers are drawn to Koh Rong, especially on weekends. Because every Saturday the so-called “Nestival” takes place on the island. A party with lots of alcohol and bright colors.
In addition to the main island of Koh Rong, there is also the island of Samloem. This is a bit smaller and therefore a bit quieter. Koh Rong Samloem is especially known for its glowing plankton, which can be seen on the beach in the evening.

Drive the Bamboo Train in Battambang

Battambang is famous for the Bamboo Train. The Bamboo Train consists of a large wooden plate made of bamboo, which is placed on two axles, each with two wheels. It is driven on rails and is controlled by a motor. The bamboo train began after the Khmer Rouge left Cambodia. People carried everything with the bamboo train: people, produce, goods for trade. Today, the bamboo train is largely used for tourism.
For $5 USD, tourists can ride the Bamboo Train for just over half an hour. A local drives the Bambootrain while you relax and enjoy the ride and the view.

Get impressed by the millions of bads at the Bat Caves

In Battambang you can find the famous Bat Caves. Everyday after sunset an estimated 7-9 million bats fly out of the cave in search of food. The bats only return to their caves at sunrise. During the day the bats rest and sleep in the cave.
Watching the bat caves is a big attraction in Battambang. Every evening tourists and locals gather in front of the Bat Caves and watch the bats flying out of the cave.

Visit the Killing Caves in Battambang

At the time of the Khmer Rough there were over 300 killing fields in Cambodia. Like the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh, the Killing Caves in Battambang are also a memorial to the many victims who died in the Caves and in the genocide in the years 1975 – 1979. Unlike the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh, you cannot follow an audio tour here.

Hold a rat at the Apopo Visitor Center

At the Apopo Visitor Center in Siem Reap giant pouched rats from africa are getting trained to search for landmines, explosive remnants of war and diseases, such as tuberculosis.
Cambodia is one of the most landmine-affected countries of the world, following over three decades of war. The US dropped at least 26 million explosive sub munitions on Cambodia during the Vietnam war. There are still an estimated 4 million to 6 million uncleared land mines in Cambodia and continue to kill people who come upon them.

At Apopo Visitor Center they currently have 59 rats that are trained or getting trained to find more landmines and save the community in Cambodia. Visitors to the Apopo Visitor Center can get an insight into exactly how the rats are trained to find the landmines. Visitors are also allowed to hold a rat at the end of the tour. Admission to the Apopo Visitor Center is $8 USD per person.

Learn more about the Lotus Flower on the Lotus Farm

A few kilometers outside of Siem Reap city center is a lotus farm. At the Lotus Farm, woman transform the Sacred Lotus Flower into unique sustainable handicrafts. For $10 USD, visitors can visit the Lotus Farm and learn more about how the women work. A boat tour through the lotus fields is also included in the price. After the boat tour you will be served a lotus tea. For an additional $25 USD you can also spend an hour making your own bracelets and other great things from lotus.
If you stay a little longer in Siem Reap and don’t want to visit temples every day, the Lotus Farm is certainly a great change.

Watch a sunrise over Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is considered one oft he most famous temples in the world. It was built by King Suryavarman II. from 1113 to 1150. Angkor Wat was the capital city of the Khmer Empore. Today, Angkor Wat is a ruin visited by many thousands of tourists every day.
It is particularly popular for tourists to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat. Getting up early is also worth it, because the sunrise over Angkor Wat is something extremely impressive that you will remember for many years to come.

The Angkor complex consists of hundreds of temples, which cannot all be explored in one day. Therefore you can not only buy a day ticket, but also a three day ticket or a seven day ticket. So you have the opportunity to visit the temple and the whole complex more often.
A one-day ticket costs $37 USD, a three-day ticket costs $62 USD and a seven-day ticket costs $72 USD.
For a detailed report on which ticket is the best, which temples are worth visiting and how much a tuk tuk costs, please read my blogpost The ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat. Coming soon.