A passport valid for six months and an entry visa are required when arriving in Cambodia. Visas are available on arrival at the airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
You will need two passport sized photos to accompany your visa application.
Visas are also available at border crossings on the Thai-Cambodian and Vietnamese-Cambodian border points.
Travellers can also apply for visas in advance by contacting the nearest Cambodian embassy.
Tourist visas can be extended through a travel agent or at the “Department for Foreigners” of the Ministry of Interior.
There are two types of visa available for international travellers:
Tourist visa: US$20
Business visa: US$25
The visa fee is waived for Cambodian nationals living abroad and holders of Malaysian passports. Children under the age of 14 require a visa however no fee is charged. Note that at the Thai border crossings the visa fee is 1000 Thai Baht.
The international airport departure tax at Phnom Penh is US$20 and at Siem Reap it is US$20. For domestic flights there is a departure tax of US$5 at both airports.
Essentially Cambodia has four seasons; November – February, cool/dry; March – May, hot/dry; June – August, hot/wet; September – October, cool/wet. The months of December and January are usually considered the best for tourists with lower temperatures and reduced humidity levels. April is generally the hottest month.
The monsoons during June – October usually follow a pattern of clear mornings with a period of rain in the afternoons.
Cambodia experiences a tropical climate almost year round so lightweight clothing is best.
In the cooler months warmer clothing may be required, especially during the evenings and in mountainous areas.
Tourists should remember to dress modestly and remove their footwear when entering places of religious significance such as wats.
It is best to wear sturdy walking shoes when visiting temple sites as the ground can be undulating.
The official language of Cambodia is Khmer. English is increasingly prevalent, especially amongst younger people in the cities, while French is also spoken by some.
This depends on how much time you have, where you want to go and your budget. Domestic air travel is available to many interesting parts of the country such as Siem Reap, Battambang, Rattanakiri and Mondulkiri.
Air travel represents the quickest and most comfortable method of travel.
The roads in Cambodia are improving all the time so travel by private car, taxi and bus is a good way to see parts of the countryside. It always pays to check road information before commencing travel especially during the wet season when road conditions can deteriorate quickly.
Cambodia’s railway network stretches east to west, from Phnom Penh to the provinces of Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Battambang and Sihanoukville amongst others.
Tourists must be prepared to accept that rail operations are slow however if you have the time they offer some sensational views of the countryside.
Travelling by boat is a relaxing experience and several options are available on the waterways of Cambodia.
One of the most popular routes is between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap on the Tonle Sap River.
Other services operate on the Mekong River to destinations such as Kampong Cham, Kratie and Stung Treng. On this stretch of the Mekong you may be able to see the famed freshwater dolphins.
