Cambodia
Ancient, spiritual, and endlessly captivating.
Cambodia is the land of Angkor, where stone temples rise from the jungle and centuries of history whisper through golden pagodas.
Beyond Siem Reap’s wonders, discover Phnom Penh’s riverfront charm, floating villages on Tonle Sap, and the slow rhythm of rural life under swaying palms.
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Overview
Modern-day Cambodia carries the legacy of the great Khmer Empire, whose influence once stretched across much of present-day Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its magnificent heart — the temples of Angkor — remains one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the world. The first glimpse of Angkor Wat, the ultimate expression of Khmer artistry and devotion, is an unforgettable moment, rivaling icons like Machu Picchu and Petra for sheer majesty and mystery.
Beyond its ancient wonders, Cambodia offers a landscape shaped by its tropical climate and two distinct monsoon seasons. The southwest monsoon (May–October) brings lush greenery and dramatic skies, while the northeast monsoon (November–April) ushers in the dry, cooler months — ideal for travel. Coastal areas and the southwestern hills receive the most rainfall, while the central plains remain warmer and drier. Temperatures hover between 23°C–26°C at night and 30°C–35°C by day, occasionally reaching 40°C in April. The wettest months are September and October, while January and February are the driest — perfect for exploring the temples, countryside, and rivers of this timeless land.
What you should know
Summary
Area: 280 miles (450 km) from north to south and 360 miles (580 km) from east to west
Population: (2023 est.) 16,493,000
Capital : Phnom Penh
Experience the rhythm of rural life and the timeless beauty of Cambodia’s landscapes — from dazzling rice paddies and swaying sugar palms to tranquil rivers and remote mountain ranges.
Along the South Coast, palm-fringed beaches and tropical islands invite quiet escapes, while the Cardamom Mountains rise inland, sheltering rare wildlife and offering gateways to emerging ecotourism adventures. Flowing through the heart of the country, the mighty Mekong River nourishes fertile plains and is home to the region’s last remaining freshwater dolphins.
In the northeast, rugged highlands reveal another side of Cambodia — wild, green, and deeply spiritual, home to ethnic minorities, waterfalls, and sacred forests. Whether you come for the temples, the culture, or the people, Cambodia rewards you with authentic warmth and breathtaking natural beauty.
Visa
Visas can be obtained at Cambodian embassies or consulates. Visas are also available “on arrival” at both international airports, all six international border crossings with Thailand, some international border crossings with Vietnam, and at the main border crossing with Laos.
Tourist Visas
All are valid for one stay of up to 30 days. Those issued in advance expire 90 days after issue. In Phnom Penh (or elsewhere via agencies), tourist visas can be extended only once, allowing an additional 30 days at a cost of US$15.
e-Visa
https://www.evisa.gov.kh/
Citizens of most nations can apply for an e-Visa online at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation website, through a service provided by a private Cambodian company (CINet). This is a normal Tourist Visa but costs US$25 instead of the normal US$20. The visa arrives as a PDF file by e-mail within 3 business days. The application requires a digital photograph of yourself (in .jpg format). You can scan your passport photo or have a passport sized photograph taken with a digital camera. There are other websites pretending to make a Cambodian e-visa. At best, these are just on-line travel agencies which will charge you more (US30$-45) and get the same US$25 visa for you; at worst, you may end up with a fake e-visa.
You need to print two copies (one for entry and one for exit) of the PDF visa, cut out the visa parts and keep them with your passport.
Events and Festivals
- Chinese New Year -Thanks to the large Chinese population in Cambodia, Chinese New Year is an important holiday even outside the Chinese community. It will fall some time between late January and late February every year following the lunar calendar. Many consider it the one day in Cambodia that everyone goes to bed with a full stomach.
- Chaul Cham or the Khmer New Year, is held in mid-April, this is a massive party that lasts for 7 days. People visit wats with offerings and prayers.
- Visakha Puja celebrates Buddha’s birth enlightenment and passing in nirvana. Candle-let processions take place at Angkor Wat. It falls on the eighth day of the fourth moon (in May or June).
- P’chum Ben or The Spirit Festival, is a celebration to honour ancestors in September or October, people make offerings to spirits at Buddhist Pagodas across the whole country.
- Bon Om Tuk celebrates the reversal of the Tonle Sap river and falls in early November. Boat races take placeall over the country. Phnom Penh has the largest celebration. The 2010 celebration attracted an estimated 2,000,000 visitors from outside the city (many city residents flee the city during this time). The city becomes very crowded, and as the events of the 2010 festival show, where close to 400 people died in one night, crowd control is a serious issue.
Money
Language
Many of the younger people in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have at least a grasp of English, Korean or Japanese.
Safety
The other common threat to travellers are pick-pockets. Make sure you watch your bags and pockets at all times from pick-pockets, many of whom are street children. Some of them are very skilled and can get violent if confronted.
Lastly, watch out when walking on the beach late at night alone in some areas of the coast, as there have been some attacks on travellers lately. One attack involved a traveller getting stabbed by a local gang on the beach at around 10:00pm.
In general, staying safe in Cambodia is the same as being safe anywhere else. Always be aware of yourself, your possessions and your surroundings.
There’s a magic about this charming yet confounding kingdom that casts a spell on visitors. In Cambodia, ancient and modern worlds collide to create an authentic adventure.
TOP SPOTS
Kampong Chhnang
Kampong thom
Pursat
Phnom Penh
Tonle Sap
Battambang
Siem Reap
Angkor consists of many significant archaeological sites, including Angkor Central: Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm Kel, Phnom Bakheng Baksei Chamkrong, Prasat Bei, Thma Bay Kaek, Angkor Thom (Baphuon Bayon, Phimeanakas, King of the Elephants Terrace, Terrace King lepers, Tep Pranam, Preah Palilay, Preah Pithu, Prasat Suor Prat, Mangalartha, Khleang).
Sihanoukville
The city is connected to Phnom Penh by a railway (230 km) in poor condition. Increasingly, the majority of freight transport is by trucks on the excellent national road that connects Phnom Penh 4 and Sihanoukville in 4-5 hours time. Sihanoukville International Airport, located 12 km east of the city, is managed by the French group Vinci but no scheduled flights there is effective.
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