Situated in the far south of South-East Asia Cambodia has to be one of the most exciting and historically rich countries I have ever visited. If its beautiful beaches, friendly locals, cheap beer and enough historical landmarks to last a lifetime that you want then Cambodia will deliver. 

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The best time to visit Cambodia, like most SEA countries is December -march. Temperatures are around 30-33 degrees centigrade and humidity and rainfall are at its lowest. Also its the peak tourist season which means you wont be stuck on an awkward boat journey on your own, and public transport will run more than once a day! 

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Now obviously one of the main reasons you have decided to visit Cambodia, like me, was because of the intense recent history that brought Cambodia to its knees. I wont go into it too much as I'm sure you will do your own research .  If possible i would try to travel Vietnam before going to Cambodia, this way you will learn about everything that was going on in the area before the country experienced mass genocide.

 

The most popular starting point is in the North of the country in Siem Reap. In my opinion this is not only a great place to start but is one of the best places in Cambodia. Famous for the world renowned Angkor Wat temple, Siem Reap also has a great choice of amazing restaurants, cafe's and bars. The prices of food and alcohol is slightly cheaper in the north. The prices gradually increase the closer you get to the coast. ( see our blog for more about Angkor wat )

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Battambang is another popular tourist spot. There used to be an old wooden train here that you could ride for $5 but we heard from locals that it had closed down.

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Phnom Penh, Cambodia's main city. A lot of tourist also enter the country here. Phnom Penh is where the history of this amazing country really comes Alive. For $20 you can hire a tuk tuk to drive you to the famous killing fields, the royal palace and the S-21 prison. Hearing first hand of the blood shed the people here experienced is truly humbling and an experience that will never leave you. 

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After Phnom Penh you can head further south to Kampot, Kep and Sihanoukville. The south gives way to amazing islands, secluded beaches and incredible national parks. Things not to miss include, Bokor national park Kampot, The crab market in Kep and the three island tour in Sihanouksville. 

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The main currency accepted in Cambodia is the American dollar $$$, This can make some things a little more expensive than in Thailand and Vietnam. Although the main excepted currency is the dollar small change is always given in Kmer money. This can get confusing and some venders will make up there own exchange rate on rip you off. Make sure you are clued up on the current rates to avoid this. When we were there roughly 4000 riel was equal to $1. 

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Getting around Cambodia is really easy. There isn't really a good train system like in Thailand and Vietnam, but there are many regular cheap busses that will take you where ever you wish. You can get 12 hour night buses if you need to get somewhere quickly or split it up into shorter day journeys. Siem Reap to Phnom Penh takes about 6 hours  and cost $8-$10 dollars.  

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Food to try. Fish Amok, Kmer curry and Lok Lak, all between $3-$5. Just trust me on this . 

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Always check with your local doctor but the recommended vaccinations for most of SEA are:

Japanese influenza 

Hep A and B

Rabies. 

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It is also highly recommended to take malaria tablets throughout your stay. These can be purchased from any Pharmacy. In the UK I have often found that the supermarkets have been cheaper but shop around.  

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If you have any questions about Cambodia then give us an email, we are always happy to help out a fellow traveller. 

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