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Cambodia 🇰🇭

backpacking Asia Cambodia 🇰🇭Angkor’s temples, Phnom Penh history and island beaches with glowing plankton.

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Backpacking Cambodia in 2027

A complete guide including when and where to go, costs, transport, itineraries, and practical travel advice.
What a trip here is really like

Backpacking Cambodia
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

Free pepper farm tours run just outside Kampot. Kampot pepper carries EU Protected Geographical Indication status, and La Plantation, a working farm between Kampot and Kep, walks you through its vines and tasting room at no charge.

Cambodia’s highlights sit within a few bus rides of each other: climb the steep stairs to Angkor Wat’s upper terrace, paddle past stilt houses on the Tonle Sap, then sleep in a beach hut on Koh Rong Sanloem for less than a city lunch back home. The friction is real, too. A one-day Angkor pass costs US$37, sunrise at the main temple draws a wall of raised phones, buses crawl over patchy roads, and tuk-tuk overcharging and bag snatching in Phnom Penh keep you alert.

Thailand runs smoother and Vietnam packs denser food streets. Cambodia feels less rehearsed, and once you leave the headline temples you often share a ruin with a handful of people. It suits travelers who enjoy dust, early alarms and figuring things out as they go. If you want polished infrastructure and resort-grade comfort, Thailand will serve you better.

👉 Get the 📖 Travel Guide of Cambodia

Siem Reap and Angkor (Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei)

Most trips to Cambodia start here, and the crowds know it. Sunrise at Angkor Wat means hundreds of phones raised over the lotus ponds. Beat them by hitting Ta Prohm at opening, or pedal out to Preah Khan after lunch. The pass runs US$37 for one day or US$62 for three, and three is right. Buses from Phnom Penh take 5 to 6 hours, and Pub Street hostels make company easy for first-timers.

Phnom Penh (Riverside, Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek, Russian Market)

The capital moves fast and loud, with motos swarming Norodom Boulevard and rooftop bars watching the Mekong meet the Tonle Sap. Give a morning to Tuol Sleng and the Choeung Ek killing fields with the audio guide; it reframes everything you see afterward. Then haggle for coffee and fabric at the Russian Market. Nearly every bus route starts here, and app tuk-tuks make the city simple. Come if you like cities raw and food-driven.

South Coast (Kampot, Kep, Koh Rong, Koh Rong Samloem)

Kampot runs on slow mornings, sunset river kayaks and a scooter climb up Bokor Mountain. Kep, 25 kilometers away, grills crab with green Kampot pepper at its waterfront market. Buses from Phnom Penh reach Kampot in 3 to 4 hours. The islands mean a ferry from Sihanoukville, whose casino sprawl you should leave quickly. Koh Rong’s Koh Touch parties hard, while Koh Rong Samloem’s quieter bays belong to hammock people.

Battambang and the Northwest (Battambang, Phnom Sampeau, Bamboo Train)

Battambang swaps temples for French shophouses, street murals and the Phare Ponleu Selpak arts school, whose students stage circus shows. Take a tuk-tuk through rice paddies to Phnom Sampeau at dusk, when millions of bats stream from a cave mouth for half an hour or more. The rebuilt bamboo train is touristy but fun. Buses take 5 to 6 hours from Phnom Penh, about 3 from Siem Reap. It suits travelers craving small-city calm.

The Northeast (Kratie, Sen Monorom, Banlung)

Roads get dusty and guesthouses go basic out here. In Kratie, 5 to 6 hours from Phnom Penh, boatmen at Kampi paddle you near the Mekong’s last Irrawaddy dolphins. Sen Monorom sits in cool rolling hills where Bunong-run projects let you walk with elephants instead of riding them, and Banlung has the swimmable crater lake Yeak Laom. Expect long minivan rides and few foreigners. Scooter riders thrive here.
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Why go?What draws travelers here

Backpackers

Backpacking Cambodia means slotting into a well-worn but still loose circuit, where hostels throw pool … read more 👉
Backpacking Cambodia means slotting into a well-worn but still loose circuit, where hostels throw pool parties in Siem Reap and hammocks swing over the river in Kampot. Travelers swap tips over cheap Angkor beer, team up for temple bike rides and pile onto the same boats to the islands. Koh Rong’s Koh Touch beach runs the loudest nights. For a calmer social scene, base yourself on Kampot’s riverside, join a sunset boat trip and rent a scooter with new friends for the ride up Bokor. Hostel bulletin boards are the fastest way to find riding partners.

Architecture

Cambodia packs some of the largest religious monuments ever built into the forests around Siem Reap, … read more 👉
Cambodia packs some of the largest religious monuments ever built into the forests around Siem Reap, from Angkor Wat’s galleries to the pink sandstone carvings of Banteay Srei. The surprise comes in Phnom Penh, where Vann Molyvann’s New Khmer Architecture of the 1950s and 1960s, including the Olympic Stadium and Chaktomuk Conference Hall, blends modernist concrete with Angkorian ideas about water and airflow. Battambang and Kampot add rows of faded French shophouses. Join a Khmer Architecture Tours walk in the capital to get inside Molyvann buildings you would otherwise only see from the street.

Low cost

Cambodia costs about the same as Vietnam and less than Thailand. A typical backpacker spends around … read more 👉
Cambodia costs about the same as Vietnam and less than Thailand. A typical backpacker spends around US$20 to 35 a day with dorm beds, street food and local buses, and US$40 to 60 with private fan or air-conditioned rooms and the odd tour. US dollars circulate everywhere, with change under a dollar given in riel at about 4,000 to the dollar. Battambang and Kampot run cheaper than Siem Reap or the islands. Eat where locals perch on plastic stools and rent a bicycle instead of hiring tuk-tuks for short hops.

Food

Khmer cooking runs gentler than Thai and more herb-driven than you expect, built on lemongrass, galangal, … read more 👉
Khmer cooking runs gentler than Thai and more herb-driven than you expect, built on lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime and the punchy fermented fish paste prahok. Start with fish amok, a coconut curry steamed into a soft custard inside banana leaf, then try beef lok lak with its lime and pepper dipping sauce. In Cambodia breakfast belongs to num banh chok, fresh rice noodles under green fish curry with heaps of raw herbs, sold by vendors who often sell out by 9 a.m. Phnom Penh’s Russian Market food stalls serve kuy teav noodle soup and fresh juices all morning.

⭐ HighlightsThe places that define a trip here

  • Angkor Wat: Arrive at the west causeway and the five lotus-bud towers grow taller with every step across the moat. Inside, the east gallery’s bas-relief of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk runs roughly 49 meters, its gods and demons polished smooth by centuries of passing hands. The climb to the upper terrace is steep, and guards check that shoulders and knees are covered before you go up.
  • Bayon: More than 200 serene stone faces stare from the towers of this temple at the center of Angkor Thom, and in late afternoon the low sun carves shadows into every smile. Incense smoke curls from small shrines tended by elderly women, and the corridors feel cooler than the courtyard outside.
  • Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum: A former Phnom Penh high school turned S-21 prison, it holds rows of black-and-white prisoner photographs that stare back from the walls. Barbed wire still wraps the upper balconies. Visitors move quietly through the classrooms, the audio guide the only voice in your ear.
  • Koh Rong Sanloem:
… read more 👉
  • Angkor Wat: Arrive at the west causeway and the five lotus-bud towers grow taller with every step across the moat. Inside, the east gallery’s bas-relief of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk runs roughly 49 meters, its gods and demons polished smooth by centuries of passing hands. The climb to the upper terrace is steep, and guards check that shoulders and knees are covered before you go up.
  • Bayon: More than 200 serene stone faces stare from the towers of this temple at the center of Angkor Thom, and in late afternoon the low sun carves shadows into every smile. Incense smoke curls from small shrines tended by elderly women, and the corridors feel cooler than the courtyard outside.
  • Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum: A former Phnom Penh high school turned S-21 prison, it holds rows of black-and-white prisoner photographs that stare back from the walls. Barbed wire still wraps the upper balconies. Visitors move quietly through the classrooms, the audio guide the only voice in your ear.
  • Koh Rong Sanloem: Saracen Bay curves in a long arc of fine pale sand, and the water barely moves on calm mornings. After dark, wade in and bioluminescent plankton spark green around your legs, while generators hum behind the beach bungalows.
  • Kampong Phluk: This Tonle Sap village stands on stilts that tower several stories high in the dry season and nearly vanish under the floodwater in the wet. A small wooden canoe slips you through the flooded forest, and the smell of fish drying on racks follows you along the channels.
Off the map, head for the seven-tiered pyramid of Koh Ker, the cliff-edge temple of Preah Vihear or the carved faces of Banteay Chhmar near the Thai border.
Spotted a mistake or missing a highlight? Contact us.
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🧭 RoutesHow travelers typically move through the country

The 5-Day Angkor Route

Five days, one base and the greatest concentration of Khmer temples on earth, with time to see them at sunrise and without a rush. It suits first-timers who want depth over distance, with an evening of circus and a day in the hills for balance.
  • Sunrise at Angkor Wat
  • The root-wrapped ruins of Ta Prohm
  • Pink sandstone carvings at Banteay Srei
  • Waterfalls and riverbed carvings on Kulen Mountain

👉 explore this 5-day route

The 10-Day Western Loop

Ten days that link Angkor with the river cities of the west and the capital before slowing down in pepper country. Expect a mix of ancient stone, colonial streets and recent history, with a lazy southern finish.
  • The Angkor temples from Siem Reap
  • Battambang’s bamboo train and bat cave
  • Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace and Tuol Sleng
  • A misty ride up Bokor Mountain

👉 explore this 10-day route

The 15-Day Grand Cambodia Route

Two weeks to see the country from its oldest brick towers to its quiet islands, at a pace with no exhausting transfers. It digs … read more 👉

The 5-Day Angkor Route

Five days, one base and the greatest concentration of Khmer temples on earth, with time to see them at sunrise and without a rush. It suits first-timers who want depth over distance, with an evening of circus and a day in the hills for balance.
  • Sunrise at Angkor Wat
  • The root-wrapped ruins of Ta Prohm
  • Pink sandstone carvings at Banteay Srei
  • Waterfalls and riverbed carvings on Kulen Mountain

👉 explore this 5-day route

The 10-Day Western Loop

Ten days that link Angkor with the river cities of the west and the capital before slowing down in pepper country. Expect a mix of ancient stone, colonial streets and recent history, with a lazy southern finish.
  • The Angkor temples from Siem Reap
  • Battambang’s bamboo train and bat cave
  • Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace and Tuol Sleng
  • A misty ride up Bokor Mountain

👉 explore this 10-day route

The 15-Day Grand Cambodia Route

Two weeks to see the country from its oldest brick towers to its quiet islands, at a pace with no exhausting transfers. It digs deeper into Angkor and the capital, then trades temples for crab, cliffs and sea.
  • Angkor plus the jungle slopes of Kulen
  • The pre-Angkorian towers of Sambor Prei Kuk
  • Kep’s crab market and Bokor’s ruined hill station
  • Island days on Koh Rong Sanloem

👉 explore this 15-day route

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right months to travel

November to February is the best time for backpacking Cambodia: dry skies, daytime highs of roughly 28 to 32°C, every road open and the lowest humidity of the year, though this is also when Angkor is busiest and rooms cost the most. The whole country follows one monsoon calendar, but the south coast around Kampot and Koh Rong takes the hardest rain from June to September, while Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri in the northeast get noticeably chilly nights in December and January.
  • Cool dry season (November to February): Blue skies, light breezes and peak crowds. Guesthouses charge 10 to 30 percent above low-season rates, and sunrise at Angkor Wat means sharing the reflecting pools with hundreds of people. Everything is open, including dirt-road trips to remote temples and the northeast.
  • Hot season (March to May): Highs of 35 to 40°C, dust and haze from field burning, and thinning crowds. Khmer New Year in mid-April closes many businesses for several days.
  • Rainy season (June to October): Afternoon downpours, green paddies and room discounts of 20 to 50 percent. The Tonle Sap swells and floating villages look their best, but island boats run reduced schedules and rural roads turn to mud.
November and late February are the shoulder months to aim for: dry-season weather with prices that have not fully peaked. Book Siem Reap beds two to four weeks ahead for late December, and from June onward pack a light rain shell and quick-dry sandals.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: highly recommended for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: below average for travelingJULJuly: below average for travelingAUGAugust: below average for travelingSEPSeptember: below average for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: excellent for traveling
cambodia - pixabay- monument-601312

💰 Costs (as of 2026)Typical budget expectations

Backpacking Cambodia costs most budget travelers US$25 to 35 a day, and that covers a dorm bed, street food, a bus every few days and the odd beer.
The US dollar is used alongside the riel almost everywhere. You'll pay in dollars for anything over about US$1 and get small change back in riel. Prices sit close to Laos and a little above Vietnam, while dorms and drinks cost noticeably less than in Thailand. The exception is Angkor: one temple pass can cost more than four days of living expenses.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$4 to 10 per nightDorms with a pool in Siem Reap run US$4 to 8, and Phnom Penh's riverside hostels charge US$5 to 10. In Kampot, US$5 to 8 is normal. You'll pay less by booking directly at the desk for stays of three nights or more, and in May to October beds can drop US$1 to 2. A comparable Bangkok dorm costs US$8 to 15.
MealsUS$6 to 12 per dayA plate of bai sach chrouk (grilled pork on rice) costs US$1.50 to 2.50 at a breakfast stall. A bowl of kuy teav noodle soup is US$1.50 to 3, and fried rice at a market stall runs US$2 to 3. Self-catering rarely saves money here: supermarkets such as Lucky stock mostly imported goods, so a loaf of bread
… read more 👉
Backpacking Cambodia costs most budget travelers US$25 to 35 a day, and that covers a dorm bed, street food, a bus every few days and the odd beer.
The US dollar is used alongside the riel almost everywhere. You'll pay in dollars for anything over about US$1 and get small change back in riel. Prices sit close to Laos and a little above Vietnam, while dorms and drinks cost noticeably less than in Thailand. The exception is Angkor: one temple pass can cost more than four days of living expenses.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$4 to 10 per nightDorms with a pool in Siem Reap run US$4 to 8, and Phnom Penh's riverside hostels charge US$5 to 10. In Kampot, US$5 to 8 is normal. You'll pay less by booking directly at the desk for stays of three nights or more, and in May to October beds can drop US$1 to 2. A comparable Bangkok dorm costs US$8 to 15.
MealsUS$6 to 12 per dayA plate of bai sach chrouk (grilled pork on rice) costs US$1.50 to 2.50 at a breakfast stall. A bowl of kuy teav noodle soup is US$1.50 to 3, and fried rice at a market stall runs US$2 to 3. Self-catering rarely saves money here: supermarkets such as Lucky stock mostly imported goods, so a loaf of bread and some cheese can come to US$6 or more. Street food in Cambodia is priced about the same as in Vietnam.
Local transportUS$3 to 8 per day averagedLocal buses are the cheapest way to cross the country. Phnom Penh to Siem Reap costs US$8 to 12 with standard companies and US$15 to 18 on the more comfortable lines. A Phnom Penh to Kampot minivan is US$8 to 12. In town, a tuk-tuk booked through the PassApp or Grab apps costs US$1 to 3 for most rides, about half what drivers ask on the street.
ActivitiesUS$5 to 25 per day averagedThe Angkor pass is the biggest single cost: US$37 for one day, US$62 for three days and US$72 for seven. Add US$15 to 25 a day for a tuk-tuk around the temples. The Choeung Ek Killing Fields cost about US$6 with the audio guide. A return boat from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong is US$15 to 25.
MiscellaneousUS$2 to 5 per dayA tourist SIM from Smart or Cellcard costs US$3 to 6 and comes with plenty of data. A draft Angkor beer is US$0.50 to 1.50 during happy hour, a 1.5-liter bottle of water costs US$0.50 to 1, and laundry is about US$1 per kilo. Budget about US$30 for the visa, separate from your daily spend.
Total Daily BudgetUS$25 to 35Plan on about US$25 a day on slow days in Kampot or Battambang and US$35 or more while moving between cities. Three days at Angkor will push your average higher. A similar trip costs US$35 to 50 a day in Thailand and US$25 to 35 in Laos.
I'd skip the one-day Angkor ticket and buy the three-day pass. It costs US$25 more but spreads the temples over separate mornings, when it's cooler and less crowded, so the pass is better value per day.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutCambodia Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
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The digital guide (295 pages) contains:
✅ 77 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 5, 10 & 15-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
✅ Offline-friendly for travel without Wi-Fi
👉 Click to see all 30+ guide features

📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
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🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base for your trip

Cambodia has plenty of hostels and guesthouses, with dorm beds typically running US$5 to 10 and simple private fan rooms from about US$12 to 20 a night. In Phnom Penh, Riverside puts you within walking distance of the Royal Palace and the National Museum, though its bar strip gets noisy and bag snatching happens there, while BKK1 is calmer, leafier and better for cafés but needs a tuk-tuk to reach the sights. In Siem Reap, the lanes around Pub Street and the Old Market pack in the most party hostels, while the Wat Bo area across the river offers pool hostels and quieter nights about a 10-minute … read more 👉
Cambodia has plenty of hostels and guesthouses, with dorm beds typically running US$5 to 10 and simple private fan rooms from about US$12 to 20 a night. In Phnom Penh, Riverside puts you within walking distance of the Royal Palace and the National Museum, though its bar strip gets noisy and bag snatching happens there, while BKK1 is calmer, leafier and better for cafés but needs a tuk-tuk to reach the sights. In Siem Reap, the lanes around Pub Street and the Old Market pack in the most party hostels, while the Wat Bo area across the river offers pool hostels and quieter nights about a 10-minute walk from the action.

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

Best hostels in Cambodia


Best quality hotels in Cambodia

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around Cambodia

Install PassApp or Grab the moment you land in Cambodia: app-booked tuk-tuks show a fixed fare upfront, usually well below what drivers outside the hostel quote a foreigner. Book long-distance seats a day ahead, because morning departures on the busiest routes fill fast in high season (November to March).
  • Long-distance buses Expect to pay US$8 to 15 on most routes. Phnom Penh to Siem Reap takes 6 to 7 hours, Phnom Penh to Kampot 3 to 4 hours, and Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville roughly 3.5 to 5 hours
… read more 👉
Install PassApp or Grab the moment you land in Cambodia: app-booked tuk-tuks show a fixed fare upfront, usually well below what drivers outside the hostel quote a foreigner. Book long-distance seats a day ahead, because morning departures on the busiest routes fill fast in high season (November to March).
  • Long-distance buses Expect to pay US$8 to 15 on most routes. Phnom Penh to Siem Reap takes 6 to 7 hours, Phnom Penh to Kampot 3 to 4 hours, and Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville roughly 3.5 to 5 hours now that the expressway is open. The better operators (Giant Ibis, Larryta) give you air-con, reclining seats and a bottle of water. Book through BookMeBus, 12Go, the company office or your guesthouse desk. On sleeper buses the berths are narrow doubles, so solo travelers can end up next to a stranger unless they pay for a single berth.
  • Minivans At US$10 to 13 they cost about the same as buses and shave 30 to 60 minutes off, but you get packed seats, bags strapped to the roof and drivers who overtake hard. They work best on short legs like Siem Reap to Battambang (about 3 hours) or Kampot to Kep (about 30 minutes).
  • Tuk-tuks (remorks) City hops run 4,000 to 12,000 riel (US$1 to 3) through the apps. A full day around the Angkor temples costs US$15 to 25, more for the Grand Circuit or far-flung sites. Agree on the whole-day price before you set off, sunrise pickup included.
  • Train The railway runs from Phnom Penh south to Kampot and Sihanoukville and northwest toward Battambang and Poipet. Fares run roughly US$7 to 12. It’s slower than the bus, but you get legroom and open views over rice paddies. Departures are infrequent, so buy at the station or online a few days ahead for weekends.
  • Motorbike rental A scooter costs US$5 to 10 a day and a dirt bike US$15 to 25. It’s the best way to roam the pepper farms around Kampot or the villages outside Battambang. Police checkpoints fine foreigners riding without a helmet or license, and most travel insurance won’t cover you without a valid motorbike license.
To cross the country without backtracking, travel north to south: Siem Reap, Battambang, Phnom Penh, then Kampot. From there you’re about an hour from the Prek Chak to Ha Tien border crossing into Vietnam.
Phnom Penh’s flights now use Techo International Airport (KTI), about 20 km (12 miles) south of the city center in Cambodia, and the cheapest reliable way in is the airport bus, which costs 1,500 riel (about US$0.40) against roughly US$15 to 30 for a car.
  • Airport bus (60 to 90 minutes, 1,500 riel / about US$0.40): Buses leave from the signed stop outside arrivals and run toward central Phnom Penh, so pay the driver or conductor in small riel or dollar notes and expect the service to thin out in the late evening.
  • Official airport taxi (40 to 60 minutes, about US$25 to 35): Book at the taxi counter in the arrivals hall, where the fixed fare is set by destination zone and you pay in US dollars before you leave.
  • Grab or PassApp car (40 to 60 minutes, about US$15 to 25): Order through the app once you have a local SIM or airport Wi-Fi, meet the driver at the designated pickup area, and pay by card in the app or in cash.
  • Grab or PassApp tuk-tuk (60 to 75 minutes, about US$10 to 15): The app price is fixed before you get in, which avoids haggling, though the long ride on the highway is dusty and slow with a large backpack.
If you land after about 10 p.m., book a car through an app or arrange a hostel pickup in advance, and keep your bags inside the vehicle with you rather than riding in an open tuk-tuk with a phone or daypack on show.
⚠️ Prices and routes can change, so take this as a rough guide and ask for local advice when you arrive.
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We’ll generate a route that minimizes unnecessary travel and fits your available days.

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🔒 Safety (risk Level: medium)Is Cambodia safe to visit?

Safety for solo travelers, including women and LGBTQ+ individuals
Cambodia is generally safe for solo travelers, with violent crime against tourists rare and petty theft as the main risk. In Phnom Penh, bag and phone snatching by thieves on motorbikes is common, so keep your phone away from the street side and wear your bag across your body, especially in tuk-tuks at night. Solo women mostly travel without trouble, but should watch their drinks in nightlife areas and avoid walking alone on dark streets late. Homosexuality is legal, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have an openly gay scene, and LGBTQ+ travelers rarely face hostility, though same-sex marriage isn’t recognized and discretion is wise in rural areas. Landmines still lie in parts of the northwest countryside, so stick to marked trails there.


Full official government travel advisory (live updates)
View details 👉
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source: www.gov.uk

✈️ VisaDo you need a visa to visit?

Most travelers need a visa for Cambodia, except citizens of ASEAN countries, who get visa-free stays of 14 to 30 days. The tourist visa (type T) allows 30 days and costs US$30. You can get it as an e-visa through the official Cambodian government portal (US$30 plus a processing fee, issued in about 3 business days) or on arrival at international airports and major land borders, bringing US$30 in cash and a passport photo. Your passport must be valid for at least six months, and all arrivals must also complete the free online Cambodia e-Arrival card before travel.

source: evisa.gov.kh
⚠️ Visa requirements can change over time, so always check the latest visa requirements with the official embassy or government website before you travel.

🎒 What to pack?What to wear and bring

Cambodia is hot and humid all year, with temperatures often above 30°C (86°F), so pack quick-drying, breathable clothes and plan for daily downpours in the May to October wet season. In the dry months, red dust coats everything on rural roads, which makes a buff or light scarf handy on tuk-tuk and motorbike rides. Temples, including the upper levels of Angkor Wat, require covered shoulders and knees, so bring at least one pair of light long pants and a T-shirt with sleeves. Sandals you can slip off quickly make life easier, since you’ll remove your shoes at every temple, home and many guesthouses. Leave room for strong repellent and sunscreen, which are pricier and harder to find outside Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Apart from this country specific advice, I have also crafted a general packing list that should help on any trip. authorOver the years, I've learned the importance of packing minimally. It's so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you're headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.

View the full list 👉

🙋 FAQQuick answers to practical concerns

Trip Planning

Planning a backpacking route through Cambodia can be tricky — you need to balance must-see places, travel times, budget, and how long to stay in each destination. Our free personalized Cambodia itinerary planner creates a route based on your travel style, trip duration, and interests, so you can spend less time researching and more time exploring.



Personal tip: I normally search on good rating for atmosphere (for meeting people) and location (for easy exploring). Cleanliness as a bonus.


Travel Essentials

No vaccinations are required to enter Cambodia, unless you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk, in which case you need a yellow fever certificate. Make sure your routine shots (MMR, tetanus-diphtheria, polio) are up to date, and get hepatitis A and typhoid, which are recommended for nearly all travelers. Doctors also often advise hepatitis B, rabies (stray dogs and monkeys are common, and post-bite treatment is limited outside Phnom Penh) and Japanese encephalitis for long or rural stays. Malaria risk is mainly in forested border provinces rather than Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, so ask a travel clinic about tablets. Dengue has no routine travel vaccine, so use repellent day and night.


vaccination requirements
When I first started traveling, I often spent part of my first day in a new country hunting for a local SIM card. While this can still be slightly cheaper, it also takes time and planning.

These days, it's much simpler to install an eSIM before leaving home. Once you arrive in Cambodia, you can activate it immediately and have mobile data from the moment you land — which is especially useful for ordering transport or navigating away from busy airports.

There are many providers nowadays, and price differences are usually small. I personally go with Holafly, as it offers excellent network coverage throughout the country and strong global coverage, so you can manage multiple countries from a single app.


HolaFly eSim

Culture & Customs

In Cambodia, dress modestly at temples and royal sites, covering your shoulders and knees, and take off your shoes and hat before entering a pagoda or someone’s home. Don’t touch anyone’s head, which is considered sacred, and don’t point your feet at people or Buddha images; when sitting in a temple, tuck your feet behind you. Women shouldn’t touch monks or hand things to them directly; place the item down or pass it through a man instead. Hand money and objects over with your right hand or both hands. Losing your temper or raising your voice causes everyone to lose face, so stay calm even when haggling. Keep public displays of affection low-key for all couples, gay or straight. At the Khmer Rouge memorial sites, Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek, behave quietly and skip the smiling selfies. Always ask before photographing monks, children or people at work.
Trying traditional food is always a great way to experience the culture. Here are some must-try dishes for Cambodia.
  1. Fish Amok Freshwater fish steamed in a banana-leaf cup with coconut milk, kroeung (a lemongrass, galangal and turmeric paste) and noni leaves until it sets like a soft custard. It’s Cambodia’s signature dish and the best showcase of Khmer cooking’s gentle, herbal flavors.
  2. Num Banh Chok Fresh rice noodles topped with a green fish curry made with lemongrass, plus raw banana flower, cucumber and herbs. Cambodians eat it for breakfast from roadside vendors, and many call it the true national dish.
  3. Bai Sach Chrouk Thin slices of pork marinated in coconut milk and garlic, grilled over charcoal and served with broken rice, pickled vegetables and a clear broth. It’s the classic morning meal sold on street corners before 9 a.m.
  4. Beef Lok Lak Stir-fried cubes of beef in a savory sauce, served on lettuce and tomato with a dipping sauce of lime juice, salt and Kampot pepper. The pepper dip is what makes it unmistakably Cambodian.
  5. Kuy Teav A clear pork-bone broth with rice noodles, minced pork, herbs and fried garlic, adjusted at the table with lime, chili and sugar. It’s the country’s everyday comfort soup, eaten at any hour.
  6. Samlor Korko A thick “stirring soup” of green kroeung, roasted ground rice, prahok and a mix of vegetables like green papaya, pumpkin and long beans. It’s one of the oldest dishes in Khmer home cooking.
  7. Prahok A pungent fermented fish paste that seasons countless dishes and is also eaten grilled in banana leaf or as a dip with raw vegetables. It has fed Cambodian families through the dry season for centuries.
Tap water in Cambodia isn’t safe to drink, and most locals boil it or buy large 20-liter jugs of purified water rather than drinking it straight from the tap. Travelers should stick to bottled or filtered water, which costs around 2,000 riel (US$0.50) for a small bottle. Many hostels and cafés in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Kampot offer cheap refill stations, so a reusable bottle saves money and plastic.
The main language in Cambodia is Khmer. Backpacking is way more rewarding if you know a bit of the local language, so I'd suggest brushing up on the basics just in case your Khmer skills have become a bit rusty.

Want to understand locals better?
The complete Travel Guide for Cambodia includes 52 essential words and phrases — greetings, thank-yous, ordering food, transport, numbers, and common local expressions you'll actually hear.

Get your local basic phrases 👉

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English is widely spoken in Cambodia’s tourist centers like Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Kampot, where guesthouse staff, tuk-tuk drivers and restaurant workers handle travel conversations with ease. Younger Cambodians and hostel crews are usually the most fluent, while in rural villages and small provincial towns you’ll rarely find more than a few words. No second foreign language helps much, though a few older people still speak some French. Download Khmer for offline use in Google Translate, and learn “aw kun” (thank you) and “tlai ponmaan?” (how much?), which win smiles at every market stall.

Money & Payments

The local currency of Cambodia is KHR (៛).
ATMs are easy to find across Cambodia’s cities and tourist towns, they mostly dispense US dollars, and they typically charge foreign cards US$4 to 6 per withdrawal, so take out larger sums at once to cut fees. Cards work at mid-range hotels, supermarkets, upscale restaurants and many tour agencies, often with a 2 to 3 percent surcharge, but markets, street food, guesthouses and tuk-tuks are cash only. The country runs on two currencies: prices are usually quoted in US dollars, while change under US$1 comes back in riel at roughly 4,000 riel to the dollar. Bring US dollars rather than euros, and make sure the notes are crisp and untorn, because damaged or marked bills are often refused. If you need to exchange money, use the licensed money changers around central markets in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, which give better rates than banks, and count your cash at the counter. Stock up on cash before heading to rural areas, where ATMs are scarce.
Tipping isn’t traditional in Cambodia, but it’s appreciated and increasingly expected in tourist areas, where wages are low. In restaurants, leave 5 to 10 percent or round up if no service charge is added, and round up tuk-tuk fares by 2,000 to 4,000 riel (US$0.50 to 1). Temple guides and full-day drivers usually get US$5 to 10 per day, and leaving a few dollars for hostel or hotel cleaning staff is a kind gesture.

🧩 Nearby countriesOther countries to combine with Cambodia

We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways from the trip

Angkor alone justifies a trip to Cambodia, and the easygoing warmth of people who greet you with a sampeah makes the rest of the country stick. The drawback is the heat: from March to May, afternoons regularly pass 35°C, flattening temple days and long rides alike. Learn a handful of Khmer words before you land, starting with “aw kun” (thank you), “sous-dey” (hello) and the numbers one to ten. Market vendors, drivers and guesthouse owners respond with noticeably better humor and fairer deals.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Cambodia. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

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