Cambodia

Sunrise at Angkor Wat

Overview

When people think of Cambodia, they automatically connect it with one of the world’s greatest wonders, Angkor Wat.  Rightfully so, as it is one of the most visited and spectacular sites in the world.  While Angkor steals the spotlight, there are plenty of other fantastic places to visit in this beautiful Southeast Asian country.

Highlights/What to Do

There's more to Angkor than the main temple

Angkor Wat- This ancient temple complex is a sight that all travel lovers and historians must see at least once in their lives.  Make sure you set aside enough time, as many mistakenly assume that Angkor is just one temple.  You can easily spend 3 days visiting the plethora of temples, if not more.  Stay tuned for my upcoming ebook, Everything You Need to Know about Visiting the Temples of Angkor Wat, which will be available for FREE soon.

Siem Reap- This once sleepy little town is now bustling with life as the epicenter for exploring the temples of Angkor Wat.  Fancy hotels and restaurants are now available, but for those on a budget, there are still plenty of cheap accommodations  and eats to be had.

Phnom Penh- This city of extremes will have travelers experiencing many different emotions.  You will see great wealth and riches in some areas, while experiencing the poverty and despair in others, sometimes just a block away from each other.  The brutal history of Cambodia can be seen all over this city at Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields just outside the city.

Sihanoukville- After exploring the temples of Angkor and putting your heart and soul through the wringer at the sites in Phnom Penh, it might be a good idea to get away and relax.  Sihanoukville is that place, with nice beaches, sparkling water, and cheap food and guesthouses.

Budget

Cambodia is a land of extremes as it is still trying to climb out of the horrific acts of violence that saw the Khmer Rouge wipe out nearly a generation of its people.  These extremes make it possible to travel on the cheap in Cambodia or live like a king.  Visiting a site like Angkor can cost as little or as much as you like.  You can rent a bike and explore the temples on the cheap or you can hire a private car and guide for quite a bit more.  The same goes for food and guesthouses.  There are plenty of top notch hotels and restaurants, but if you’re traveling on a budget, you can get by on very little as well.

Phnom Penh, the city of extremes

We averaged about $70US/day for the two of us while we were in Cambodia.  That included staying in private rooms with a/c and bathroom, cable tv in most as well.  The accommodations we stayed at for most of our time in both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap were quite nice.  We ate out at decent restaurants most of the time, and we hired a tuk-tuk driver for 3 days while visiting Angkor.

Note: One thing to keep in mind in Cambodia is that the US dollar is the unofficial currency.  Get money out of an ATM, and you will receive dollars in return.  Pay in US dollars, and much of the time you will receive Riel, the Cambodian currency, in return.  Sometimes you may use or receive Thai Bhat as well.  It’s important to remember all your currency exchanges while traveling in Cambodia.  It’s a good way to get ripped off if you’re not paying attention.

When to Go/Weather

Like much of the rest of Southeast Asia, weather in Cambodia is characterized by two distinct seasons.  The wet season is from May to October and the dry season from November to April.  June to October sees the hot, humid weather and the most rain.  Typical of the rest of the region, rainy season usually only sees an hour or two of rain in the afternoons each day while being hot and steamy the rest of the time.

Transportation

Traveling by boat is one way to get around Cambodia

Air- If you’re short on time, then check out Air Asia, as they are the best, most reliable, and cheapest airline in Southeast Asia.  You can find super cheap flights from most major hubs throughout the region to both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

Bus- Bus travel has been drastically improving throughout Cambodia over the last decade.  While there are still some horrible roads, many of the worst ones have been improved dramatically, particularly if you’re coming from Bangkok.  There is much competition, so air conditioned buses can be found for a cheap price, so there’s no need to deal with uncomfortable overland transport most of the time.

Boat- River travel is still used in Cambodia, but it’s typically cheaper, faster, and more comfortable to go by bus.  We took a slow boat from the Mekong area of Vietnam across the Cambodian border at to Phnom Penh, and it was a major highlight.  Highly recommended if coming from that area of Vietnam.

Be sure to check back in the coming weeks and months as I will put up more and more posts and pages about traveling in Cambodia, including city pages for all places we visited, plus various tips and advice for traveling around this beautiful country.  When a post or page is published, the links below will be live, exactly like the Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina pages.

Stay tuned and keep an eye out for my new ebook, Everything You Need to Know about Visiting the Temples of Angkor Wat, which will be available for FREE soon.