In Cambodia’s past, one encounters exciting culture with dark episodes. The ruined city of Khmer Angkor Wat provides a fascinating insight into the rich and remarkable Khmer culture. But Cambodia is more than history – here is magnificent nature and a strong population that looks ahead.

On this page you will find practical information and facts about Cambodia.

PRACTICAL INFO ABOUT TRAVELING IN CAMBODIA

Climate and best travel time
You can travel in Cambodia all year round, but the best time is during the dry season from November to April. The rainy season is characterized by high humidity and begins in May and ends in October. During this period, however, there are very few tourists in the country and it is not certain that it rains every day, in fact often only one to two hours. The hottest month is April, when the temperature can go as high as 35-40 degrees. The “coldest” month is January, when the temperature is around 30 degrees. Be aware that in some places it can be difficult to travel in the river at the end of the dry period (March-April) when the water level is at its lowest. Visit plus-size-tips.com for poor Cambodia a rich tourist destination.

Our recommendations for the best travel period in Cambodia are based on how the climate has been in previous years. The weather in Cambodia can be very changeable and unpredictable and therefore our forecasts are indicative only.

Money
The local currency is called riel but the US dollar is acceptable throughout Cambodia. Bring dollars in cash and then your credit card. In several of the larger cities of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, you can withdraw money with your card at the banks. A local fee of one percent or at least five dollars is usually added. When you withdraw money from the bank, you should choose to have it paid out in dollars, as riel has a very low value and thus takes up too much space in the money belt. You often get the exchange back in riel when you, for example, pay for a meal with dollars. Always make sure you have a small stock of riel on you so that you can buy water or pay for a motorcycle taxi and similar small expenses in riel.

Visa
Visa rules are subject to change at short notice, so We recommend that you check the current conditions at the country’s embassy. The information below is subject to change.
Swedish citizens can get a 30-day tourist visa to Cambodia. Just like on other international trips, you must have a valid Swedish passport. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after departure from Cambodia.
As a Swedish citizen, you can get a visa in three ways; either electronically, on arrival in Cambodia or through the Cambodian Embassy in London or Paris.
Electronic visa via the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Phnom Penh, see the website www.evisa.gov.kh.
You can also apply for a visa at the airport upon arrival in Phnom Penh or Siam Reap. If you plan to enter the country elsewhere, always contact the Cambodian Embassy first and check which visa rules apply.

In Bangkok, the Travel Service Center can help you obtain a visa. The tourist visa can be extended for another 30 days in Cambodia.

Transport
Moto
In the cities, the most used vehicle is motorcycle taxi or “moto” as they are called. If you want to travel short distances outside the cities, moto is also a good vehicle because you can end up in quite narrow passages. This applies, for example, to the drive from Siem Reap to Angkor Wat. Always agree on a price in advance, so everything will be easier on arrival.

Bus and shared taxi
At longer distances, many travelers rent a shared taxi, usually a pickup, where you are stowed together on the flatbed. Most roads are unpaved and uneven, so it can be a rather bumpy ride. It is also possible to take the local buses if you have the time and patience. Minibuses have also been started on several lines, for example between Poipet and Siem Reap.

Boat
Between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap you can choose between slow boats or flying boats. There are also passenger boats on the Mekong River between Phnom Penh and Kratie and sometimes further north. Between Sihanoukville and Krong Koh Kong (the border with Thailand) it is also possible to travel by speedboat (four hours).

Flight
There are a handful of airlines flying domestically in Cambodia. The places that are trafficked are Sien Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.

Tips
In many countries, tips are counted as part of the salary of employees in the service industry. Therefore, it is good (and sometimes directly necessary) to give tips to, for example, cleaning staff, waiters, guides, drivers and more depending on which country you visit. We therefore recommend that you familiarize yourself with how much is normal to give in tips and to whom before departure. Such information can be found, for example, in Lonely Planet guidebooks.

Links
Bayon Pearnik – the online version of the free commercial Cambodian newspaper Bayon Pearnik. Available in paper version at many cafes in Cambodia and is an unassuming magazine with good facts and tips for backpackers – with several of the posts written by the travelers themselves.
Carnaby Publications  – the people behind this website publish free travel magazines about Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville and also have information on the website about many other aspects of Cambodia.

FACTS

CAPITAL: PHNOM PENH

LANGUAGE: KHMER

CLIMATE: TROPICAL

CURRENCY: RIEL

RELIGION: BUDDHISTS AND OTHERS

INSPIRATION CAMBODIA

Peace and optimism
The saffron-colored clothes of the peaceful monks mix with the green rice fields and the elegant French-colonial boulevards. Bougainvillea and jasmine-scented sunsets overshadow the noisy traffic of Cambodia’s many “moto” vehicles. There is both an energetic and a low-key serious spirit in Cambodia, which is still recovering from the memories of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime. Fortunately, peace and optimism are slowly taking over the mood in the hard-pressed country.

Cambodia’s historical heritage
The Pol Pot regime, the Khmer Rouge, has in its hands some of the bloodiest acts committed in modern times, namely the act of genocide that cost a quarter of Cambodia’s lives. A visit to Choung Ek, internationally known as The Killing Fields, testifies to these horrors and provides a shocking insight into Cambodian history. The place is, despite the horrific events, one of the most visited sights in Cambodia.

Cambodia’s natural beauty
A boat trip on the fantastic Tonle Sap lake and the river system is a powerful experience. Along the bank, fishing nets are seen stretched between the houseboats, here are flower-clad small houses and here the children play happily and carefree with each other. In Siem Riep is, in addition to the lively market in the city, the impressive ruin complex of Angkor Wat. Many of the fantastic buildings are hidden behind huge tree roots, which in its own so refined way only highlights this architectural highlight in the classical Khmer culture. The experience is unparalleled and can easily raise the pulse with its sheer beauty. Thankfully, Cambodia also provides space for relaxation and melting of impressions and experiences.