Travel Cambodia

Travel in Cambodia: vital statistics

• Capital of Cambodia: Phnom Penh
• The population of Cambodia:  14.5 million
• Languages in Cambodia: Khmer. Chinese and Vietnamese also spoken.
• Time in Cambodia: GMT+7
• International dialling code in Cambodia: +855
• Voltage in Cambodia: 220AC 50 Hz
• Visas for Cambodia: Cambodia visas
• Money in Cambodia: Riel (CRI). US dollars are useful and in the west, Thai Baht is commonplace. There is very limited acceptance of major credit cards outside of the major banks and Western-orientated restaurants. US dollars traveller’s cheques are much easier to exchange than traveller’s cheques in other countries. Tipping is not expected but wages are low so a little tip can go a long way.
• Cambodia travel advice: Foreign & Commonwealth Office 
• Cambodia tourist board: Tourism of Cambodia

When to go to Cambodia

The best time to visit Cambodia is between November and April when it sees very little rain. During this time you’ll see clear blue skies making it a great time to enjoy a relaxing getaway on the southern coast. The below pictures is of my stay near the old canal which is now filled in and developments are the main feature now as prime real estate. Woke up one morning after staying at a guesthouse to the sound of Flood, get out of your room. St93, great memories and life still went on!!

Outside of this period, humidity increases and the rains come, assisting Cambodian farmers in the growing of their crops. However, you shouldn’t be deterred from travelling – the countryside is lush and green, the rivers are full and flowing, and the temples are quiet. This is the best time to visit some of the outer-lying temples, which will often be deserted.

At the end of the summer, one of Cambodia’s true wonders comes to life – The Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and home to Cambodia’s floating villages.

International airports

Pochentong (PNH) 12km from Phnom Penh. Angkor (REP) 8km from Siem Reap. Sihanoukville (KOS) 18km East of the town. Many tuk tuks outside, price into the city shouldn’t really be more than $10 – max $15 late at night as of 2020. Be careful put your bags close to you as some bag snatches from riders by on motos from tuk-tuks.

Getting around in Cambodia

Several local carriers fly between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. The journey is an easy 45 minutes but the airlines serving this route come and go out of business worryingly quickly.

Boats run between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh via Tonlé Sap, with the express service taking just 5 hours but they are pricey in comparison with bus services. A great adventure for the non-seasickers and also boat runs to silk island from the river daily and hourly. We actually hired a boat from the riverside and it was huge for the 3 of us. Cost around $10 bucks an hour min 4hrs and the gent even had some Angkor for us.

Express bus services run between Phnom Penh and Cambodia’s other major towns from as little as $4. In peak season, spaces fill up quickly. It’s advisable to buy tickets at the bus station the day before you plan to leave – at the latest. Many ticket operators, the ones we used were the ones near Orrusy market, they ran everywhere and reliable and safe. ( sorry forget the name.)

Cambodian towns lack public transport but taxi, tuk-tuk and motorbike taxis are plentiful and hiring bicycles is a fun way to get around. Now Grab and another hire company via APP is in town, very cheap and you know the driver as it’s recorded. That was our way!

Passenger trains have just started running again on Cambodia’s crumbling rail network as of 2017/8, you can also take your bikes on the train in compartments. The brave can try hitching a lift on a cargo train but at an average speed of 20mph journeys are painfully slow, be careful though and not really recommended as very cheap anyway on normal transport.

Ardent railfans should try the bamboo trains running around Battambang. It costs $8 to hire a private bamboo train but sharing your carriage with pigs, motorbikes and mounds of rice is what makes the experience. Go for it and once in a lifetime experience!

Cambodia accommodation

Accommodation in Cambodia’s main draws – Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville – covers the whole spectrum from luxury palaces where you can spend up to £300 a night to budget rooms from as little as $4.Many hostels but as you well know, hostels can usually attract the wrong types, not just the budget travellers, I’ve heard of thieves actually renting a room to steal from naive first-time travellers. Always find a hostel that has a lockable container of some sort. Great place to meet people thou that are likeminded.

Trustedhousesitters;

Further afield, accommodation tends to be limited to basic guesthouses, but these often family-run establishments are a great way to give back to the community if you choose the right one.

Cambodia food & drink

For the uninitiated, Cambodian cuisine is closest to Thai but the spices are less pronounced and bum burning.

Chicken or fish amok – a coconut, chilli and lemongrass curry served in a banana leaf – is delicious.  Other delicacies include krolon (sticky rice and coconut steamed in bamboo) and nem (parcels of fish-meat).

Vegetarians will usually have no problems but it is easier for those who can live with the occasional drop of fish sauce or shared woks.

The national beer is the very quaffable Angkor and for those undaunted by howling hangovers, local spirits such as rice wine aren’t bad either.

Health & safety in Cambodia

Landmines persist in extremely remote locations so if you do plan to go off the beaten track, take a local guide.

Inoculations against typhoid, hepatitis and tetanus are advisable but consult your GP or travel clinic first.

There is no malaria in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap but those venturing further afield should consider taking antimalarials. Drink water only from sealed bottles.

Reviews of living and working in Cambodia

📡 Internet

😝 Fun

⛅️ Temperature (now)

💦 Humidity Mostly

👌 Safety

👍 Quality of life

👶 Family-friendly

🚶 Walkability

✌️ Peace

🚦 Traffic safety

🏥 Hospitals

😄 Happiness

🍸 Nightlife

📶 Free WiFi in the city

🖥 Places to work from

❄️ A/C or heating

😁 Friendly to foreigners

🙊 English speaking

🗯 Freedom of speech

👩 Female friendly

🌈 LGBT friendly

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