Cambodia Travel Guide

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CAMBODIA TRAVEL GUIDE

Kingdom of Cambodia

Population: 14.7 million

Capital City: Phnom Penh (Pop: 2 million)

People: Khmers (90%)

Language: Khmer

Currency: Riel and US dollars

Time Zone: GMT +7 Hours

International Dialing Code: +855

Cambodia, neighbouring Thailand, Laos and Vietnam in South East Asia, is a country fast becoming recognised for its beauty, historical sites and friendly people, leaving its tragic history far behind. Home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat, it also boasts the stunning scenery of Tonle Sap Lake and the Mekong Delta, beautiful deserted beaches in the south and remnants of its French colonial past in the capital, Phnom Penh.

General Information

History

Cambodia is beginning to be recognised for its beauty and friendly, welcoming people; however it has a tragic history.

From 1975 to 1979, the Khmer Rouge regime, led by the infamous Pol Pot, killed an estimated one and a half million educated Cambodians (about one fifth of the country’s population at the time) in an effort to create an agrarian society. Thousands more were either tortured, killed or fled the country. The Khmer Rouge was finally ousted by the Vietnamese in 1978. In 1979 Cambodia was gripped by civil war which lasted until the mid 1990s.

Angkor Wat, of which Cambodians are fiercely proud, is the highlight of any trip to Cambodia. It was the heart of the Khmer Empire which ruled most of the Indochinese peninsula during the 11th and 14th centuries.

Passport and visa

A passport with at least six months validity from the date of entry into Cambodia is required. We recommend you make a photocopy of your passport and keep it somewhere separate, or scan your passport and keep the scan in an accessible email account.

A visa is required for most nationalities and is available upon arrival at both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports, and at the border crossing from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh. A tourist visa costs US$20 and is valid for 30 days. One passport-sized photograph is also required.

Currency

The official currency is Riel. However, US dollars are also widely accepted and sometimes preferred. Riel is used for items where the price is less than US$1 and can be used in conjunction with USD. ATMs are widely available in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang and Sihanoukville; they distribute US dollars. There are not many ATMs outside these areas. It is recommended that you always carry cash in small notes with you. These notes should be clean, and free from rips and tears where possible.

Please note while there are many gem shops in Cambodia, we advise against any purchase as the majority of gems are fake. Our guides are not permitted to take our guests to these shops and any purchase is at your own risk.

Phones and Internet Service

Post in Cambodia is routed by air through Bangkok, making the service much more reliable than in the past.

Telephone connections to the rest of the world are widely available but can be expensive.

Internet access is available in most major tourist places such as hotels and restaurants.

Transportation

Siem Reap and Phnom Penh
Taxis are generally only used to and from the airport, and are at a set price.
Tuk-tuk sare used around town and cost approx$1-3per journey in Siem Reap and around $2 – $3 in Phnom Penh. In both cities, short journeys of less than 1km are about $1 and prices tend to increase at night.

Motorbike taxis
Travel by motorbike in Cambodia is not safe and under no circumstances is this sanctioned or recommended by Buffalo Tours. Please note that travel by motorbike is not usually covered by insurance. Please check the fine print of your travel insurance policy to be sure of your cover.

Weather

Cambodia has a tropical climate that is relatively calm and consistent throughout the year. The average temperature is 27 degrees centigrade. There are two seasons, the humid monsoon seasonwhich spans from June to October, and the dry season which is from November to May.

Mid-November to February: cool and dry
March to May: hot and dry
June to September: hot and wet
October to early November: cool and wet

Please note: The weather can be unpredictable and it may be a good idea to carry an umbrella or raincoat with you. You can purchase raincoats cheaply from supermarkets and general stores.

Health and Safety

Health and well-being

Please be aware that your health can be at risk in Cambodia due to poor sanitation and lack of proper medical facilities. Rural areas have few, if any, pharmacies and hospitals so make sure you travel with a full supply of any prescribed medicine you take. If you need medical assistance, we recommend Royal Angkor International Hospital in Siem Reap, (t: 063761888) and International SOS Medical & Dental Clinic in Phnom Penh (t: 023216911). Each traveller is responsible for his or her own health. First and foremost, make sure that you have travel insurance for your trip. You should also consult your doctor or local travel clinic for the latest information and advice on travelling to Cambodia before departure.

Please note:If you have a medical condition or allergy which requires particular attention, carry a doctor’s letter with you that describes the nature of the condition and treatment needed. We also recommend you pack a medical kit, including paracetamol and a diarrhoea remedy.

Vaccinations

There are many vaccinations needed when travelling to this part of the world. It is important you ensure you have adequate protection against disease. Book an appointment with your doctor or travel clinic, no less than two months before your departure.

Travel insurance (compulsory)

Buffalo Tours does everything possible to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. However, travel inevitably involves some risk and this should be recognised by holiday-makers. Travel insurance is a cost effective way of protecting yourself and your equipment should any problems occur such as cancelled trips, delays, medical emergencies, baggage loss or damage. It also gives you peace of mind. Please also ensure your travel insurance covers all activities planned on your trip.

Culture & Customs

Etiquette and cultural differences

Experiencing different cultures is one of the joys of travelling and it is important that these differences are respected. Cambodia has cultural norms and taboos which we encourage visitors to understand and abide by.

Try not to get angry. Showing any frustrations or annoyances by shouting or becoming abusive is extremely impolite and it is unlikely to achieve a positive outcome. The Khmer’s don’t like to ‘lose face’.
Refrain from public displays of affection, they are considered offensive. It is extremely rare to see couples holding hands. However, it is quite common for friends of the same sex.
It is polite to remove your shoes before entering a house – look for shoes at the front door as a clue.
Cambodians greet each other with a slight bow and a prayer-like gesture, with the younger or lower-ranked person usually initiating the gesture. For foreigners and business, handshakes are acceptable.

Temple visit etiquette

Foreigners are always welcome in temples. However, it is important that a few simple rules of etiquette are followed:

Dress appropriately and act with the utmost respect when visiting Wats (pagodas) and other religious sites, including the temples of Angkor.
Do not wear shorts or tank tops and make sure your shoulders and knees are covered.
Remove your shoes and hat before going into a vihara (monastery).
If you sit down in front of the dais (the platform on which the Buddha’s are placed), sit with your feet to the side rather than in the lotus position.
Never point your finger or the soles of your feet towards a person or a figure of the Buddha.
A woman may accept something from a monk but should never touch a monk.
Show respectand turn off mobile phones, remove headphones, lower your voice and avoid in appropriate conversation.

Please note: The central tower of Angkor Wat is closed to visitors on Buddhist holidays.

Food and drink

It is not advisable to drink tap water in Cambodia. Bottled water is cheap and widely available.

Khmer cuisine, considered one of the healthiest in the world, has much in common with the food of neighbouring Thailand, although it is generally not as spicy. It is also similar to Vietnamese food, due to its shared colonial French history. The most well-known Cambodian dish is amok. Amok is a coconut based curry traditionally cooked with fish, however it is not uncommon to have it with chicken.

Public holidays

There are many religious public holidays in Cambodia. The main one is the Khmer New Year which takes place from 14 to 16 Aprilevery year. The celebrations usually go on for about a week. The second biggest is Pchum Ben. This national holiday was established for Buddhists to pay their respects to deceased relatives. It is also known as Ancestor’s Day, and usually celebrated in September or October.

Helpful tips

Donations and gift giving

Cambodia is a very poor country with little in the way of social services and you are likely to see poverty. Please read the following advice about donations and gift giving.

Do notgive money to people begging, especially children. This reinforces the belief that begging is an acceptable way to make a living. If children make money from begging, their parents are less likely to send them to school. Children working on the streets are also vulnerable to abuse.
Giving money and goodsto beggars can accentuate an unequal relationship between locals and visitors, with tourists being seen as purely money givers.
Do not give sweets to children in villages that we visit.
Do not feel that you necessarily have to give material things. Sometimes, giving your friendship, time and interest to locals can be the best gift of all.
For more information go towww.thinkchildsafe.org

Tipping

Tipping is a personal matter and travellers are encouraged to tip any amount they feel is appropriate. For your convenience, we have included a suggested tipping guide below:

Bellboy: $1
Chambermaid: $1 per day
Guides: $5-$10 per day for guides (depending on group size and performance)
Drivers: $2-$5 per day, per person
Restaurants: In smart establishments you may find that the tip is already included in the bill. In local restaurants tips are not expected but you may wish to leave loose change on the table.

Price guide

Restaurants