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Open trips to Cambodia
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Best time to go
November-February is the prime window: dry, cooler (24-30°C), perfect for sweaty temple days and island beaches, though it's peak season at Angkor so go at sunrise for the magic. March-May is the hot season: 35-40°C of temple-baking heat; islands still work, hydration is everything. The June-October wet season brings short heavy downpours, lush green landscapes, fewer crowds and lower prices: the moats fill, the countryside glows, and Tonle Sap swells to its vast flood extent (great for floating-village visits). The Water Festival (Bon Om Touk, usually November) fills Phnom Penh's riverfront with boat races and crowds.
Top places
Costs
| Budget, per person | Typical |
|---|---|
| Backpacker, per day | $25-45 |
| Mid-range, per day | $55-100 |
| Comfort, per day | $180+ |
| Hostel dorm bed (Siem Reap) | $5-12 |
| Mid-range hotel double (often w/ pool) | $30-60 |
| Amok / lok lak meal | $3-6 |
| Angkor 3-day pass | $62 |
| Siem Reap-Phnom Penh bus | $13-18 |
With a partner, rooms, taxis and boats are the easy things to share. Our guide to splitting travel costs with a travel partner has a simple way to keep track. Estimates in US dollars, for planning only.
Getting around
Tuk-tuks are the iconic short-hop ride: now mostly hailed via the PassApp or Grab apps, which kills the haggling and keeps fares honest (great for temple-circuit days, hire one for the day around Angkor). Between cities, comfortable buses (Giant Ibis is the reliable favorite) and minivans link Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Kampot and the coast; book online. Boats run Siem Reap-Battambang in wet season (scenic, slow) and ferries serve the islands from Sihanoukville. Domestic flights connect Siem Reap and Phnom Penh quickly. Roads have improved but allow generous times; night-bus comfort varies. Renting a scooter is easy in laid-back towns like Kampot, less wise in chaotic Phnom Penh.
Money and staying connected
Cambodia runs on a dual currency: the US dollar is used everywhere for anything over a dollar or two, with the Cambodian riel given as "small change" (roughly 4,000 riel to $1): carry clean, non-torn USD notes (damaged bills get refused) and you'll accumulate riel for tuk-tuks and markets. ATMs dispense USD (fees apply; withdraw larger amounts). Cards work in hotels and nicer restaurants. Tipping isn't required but appreciated given low wages. SIMs/eSIMs (Cellcard, Smart) are dirt cheap with big data; coverage is good in towns, patchier on islands: download maps. Wi-Fi is widespread. The e-visa is easy online; visa on arrival also available.
Culture and etiquette
Khmer culture is gentle, Buddhist and hierarchical: the traditional greeting is the sampeah (palms together, a slight bow; height of hands shows respect). Temples and Angkor enforce modest dress (cover shoulders and knees: guards turn away the underdressed at Angkor Wat's upper level), remove shoes and hats entering sanctuaries, never point your feet at Buddha images or people, and don't touch anyone's head (the most sacred part). Monks: especially women should not touch them or hand things directly. Keep your composure; raised voices and visible anger cause loss of face. Approach the Khmer Rouge history with quiet respect, not selfies. Useful phrases: "Suosdei" (hello), "Aw kun" (thank you), "Soksabai?" (how are you?), "Thlai ponmaan?" (how much?), "Chol mouy!" (cheers).
Health and safety
Cambodia is generally safe for travelers: the main risks are road accidents (the country's biggest danger by far; choose reputable buses, wear helmets on scooters, avoid night driving), petty bag-snatching from motorbikes in Phnom Penh (keep bags inboard and phones away from the curb), and the usual tropical-health basics. Drink bottled/filtered water; eat busy, hot, fresh food. Dengue is present: repellent at dawn/dusk; malaria risk exists in remote forest/border areas (consult a clinic). Never touch anything off-trail in rural former-conflict zones: rare unexploded ordnance exists and is signed in affected areas; stick to marked paths. Tourist scams (tuk-tuk "closed temple" detours, orphanage-tourism) are more nuisance than danger. Drug penalties are severe.
General guidance, not medical or security advice. Check your government's travel advice and a travel clinic before you book.
How many people visit
International arrivals to Cambodia over the most recent years with data, roughly number 17 of 31 in its region by reported arrivals.
Source: UN Tourism (UNWTO). Years marked * are estimates: this country's measured baseline scaled by UN Tourism's published regional recovery rates, shown until measured figures are out.
Key facts
- Largest city
- Phnom Penh
- Languages
- Khmer
- Population
- 17.8 million (2025)
- Area
- 181,035 km² (69,898 mi²)
- Calling code
- +855
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia
Travelling solo in Cambodia
Arriving alone is fine: plenty of people start a Cambodia trip on their own, and a travel partner can be someone you share one day with or the whole route.
Meeting someone new? Talk here first, meet somewhere public, and read our travel safety guide.
Visa check
A free checker with a link to the official source. Your passport is picked from where you are browsing; change it any time.
Travelling to Cambodia with a travel buddy
How do I find a travel buddy for Cambodia?
Make a free profile and add your Cambodia trip with rough dates. You will see travelers going on your dates and open trips to Cambodia you can ask to join, or you can post your own trip and let partners find you. Asking to join a trip is always free.
When is the best time to visit Cambodia?
November-February is the prime window: dry, cooler (24-30°C), perfect for sweaty temple days and island beaches, though it's peak season at Angkor so go at sunrise for the magic. March-May is the hot season: 35-40°C of temple-baking heat; islands still work, hydration is everything.
How much does a day in Cambodia cost?
Typical costs, in US dollars: backpacker, per day: $25 to $45; mid-range, per day: $55 to $100; comfort, per day: $180+; hostel dorm bed (Siem Reap): $5 to $12; mid-range hotel double (often w/ pool): $30 to $60; amok / lok lak meal: $3 to $6; angkor 3-day pass: $62; siem Reap-Phnom Penh bus: $13 to $18. These are estimates for planning only. With a travel partner, rooms and taxis are easy to share.
Is Cambodia good for solo travelers?
Arriving alone is fine: plenty of people start a Cambodia trip on their own, and a travel partner can be someone you share one day with or the whole route.
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