CAMBODIA

WELCOME TO CAMBODIA!

Welcome to Cambodia! The land of Angkor Wat, rich history, and fascinating culture. This small country is often overlooked, but I’m here to tell you it’s definitely worth visiting. Journey through history in Phnom Penh, relax on the pristine white beaches of Koh Rong, wander through the incredible temples of Angkor Wat, and enjoy the experiences along the way. Cambodia has it all—luxury, culture, religion, and most importantly, adventure.

PLACES IN CAMBODIA

| TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Best time to visit

  • Weather

  • Itineraries

  • Accommodation

  • Food/Culture/Religion

  • Transportation

  • Safety

  • Budget

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to visit Cambodia is between November and April. During these months, the temperatures are pleasant, and there’s little rainfall, with only the occasional downpour late in the evening. It’s also a cooler period, with temperatures ranging from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. Perfect for sightseeing as well as relaxing on the beaches of Koh Rong.

WEATHER

As mentioned above, the best weather conditions for visiting Cambodia are from November to April. After April, it quickly starts to get a bit too warm, with temperatures often rising to 30 degrees Celsius or higher. This can be less pleasant if you’re planning to travel around. From May to October, the rainy season begins. While there may be more frequent showers, the landscape looks lush and green during this time.

ITINERARIES

    • Phnom Penh (2 days)

    • Koh Rong (2-3 days)

    • Siem Reap (2-3 days)

    • Phnom Penh

    • Kampot

    • Koh Rong

    • Battambang

    • Siem Reap

    • Phnom Penh

    • Mondulkiri

    • Kampot

    • Koh Rong

    • Koh Rong Samloem

    • Battambang

    • Siem Reap

ACCOMODATIONS

The accommodations in Cambodia, like the rest of Southeast Asia, are excellent! You’ll find various hostel chains, such as Onederz and Mad Monkey, which are almost always a great choice. On the islands, you can often stay in a homestay, which is also a fantastic option. Wherever you choose to stay, it's a good idea to check the location of the hostel or homestay and read the reviews beforehand. Other than that, you can trust that everything will be well taken care of.

FOOD / CULTURE / RELIGION

Food
When you visit the popular backpacker spots, you'll notice there’s a lot of Vietnamese and Thai food available. While there are a few Cambodian dishes, they’re not as common. The menus often feature curries and spring rolls. So, if you plan to travel to Thailand or Vietnam after Cambodia, you can already get a small taste of the local cuisine.

Culture
In certain places in Cambodia, there’s still a strange atmosphere. This isn’t surprising, considering that not too long ago, a third of the population lost their lives under Pol Pot’s regime. Cambodians don’t talk about it easily, but in some areas, you can still feel the impact of the genocide. The country has been through a lot, but you can see that tourism is helping Cambodia recover.

Religion
The majority of the population is Buddhist (96%), with a small percentage being Muslim. You'll often see monks walking in the streets and in the temples you visit. It's quite impressive to witness, especially since we’re not used to seeing that in Western countries.

TRANSPORTATION

In general, transportation in Cambodia is very well organized, much like the rest of Southeast Asia. You can usually book your bus to the next destination directly from your hostel, where all you need to do is hop on and show your ticket. Small travel agencies are also highly recommended for getting from A to B. They are often cheaper, have smaller groups, and are just as well-organized, if not better. You can also book your transport via 12Go, but keep in mind that this is often more expensive.

While most transport is well arranged, there is one downside to the buses in Cambodia—specifically, the night buses. If you're coming from Vietnam, you might already be familiar with night buses, which are usually quite luxurious and well-organized. In Cambodia, however, you might experience the opposite. Some buses have double beds where two people must share a single bed. This “bed,” or rather cabin, is just over a meter wide, and you’ll be sharing it for the entire night. So, if you need to take a night bus in Cambodia, make sure you either have enough information about the type of bus or are traveling with someone you know, so you’re at least sharing the space with someone familiar.

SAFETY

Overall, as a solo female traveler, I felt quite safe in Cambodia. Especially in Siem Reap and on the islands, I had no concerns. The only place where I found myself being a bit more cautious was the capital, Phnom Penh. There were moments when I glanced over my shoulder more often or made sure to keep a close eye on my belongings while in a tuk-tuk. So, I’d advise being a bit more mindful in this city. That said, I still felt far less unsafe here than I sometimes do in the Netherlands. My only tip would be to stay a little more aware of your surroundings and keep your belongings secure in busier areas.

BUDGET

Let me put it this way: if you're coming from Vietnam, Cambodia will feel expensive, but if you're coming from Thailand, it will seem cheap. On average, you’ll budget around €1000 per month to get by, but in Cambodia, it might be slightly more. You'll often pay with Cambodian Riel, but also with U.S. dollars. This can make it confusing when calculating your change, so pay close attention.

As a tip, if you happen to have U.S. dollars at home, consider bringing them along. However, be aware that if there's a tear or fold in the bill, Cambodians may refuse to accept it. So, make sure any dollars you bring or exchange are in pristine condition, with no tears. It’s not entirely clear why they are so strict about this, but it’s something to keep in mind as it's a common practice throughout the country.

For a brief indication of where your money goes in Cambodia, you can look at the pie chart to the right

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