Cambodia Travel Guide

• Cambodia makes a brilliant break for the budget traveller and is gap year gold! 
• The perfect place to start your Asian exploration, Cambodia’s close proximity to other amazing Asian destinations such as Thailand, Laos and Vietnam makes it part of the perfect gap year Asian tour.
• See one of the world’s most astonishing archaeological sites at the temple complex of Angkor Wat.
• Enjoy a flavour of the real Asia in the unspoilt countryside and lush forests of captivating Cambodia.
• Have budget backpacking fun in the cool cities of Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. 

The staple of Cambodian cuisine is rice, served with most dishes.  Curries, soups and stir-fries share characteristics with Thai or Vietnamese food but tend to be less spicy.  Chilli is often served as a side accompaniment.  A meal usually consists of several dishes, including a soup and a mix of spicy, sweet and sour dishes.  There is some influence from the French colonial past, with baguettes making for a popular snack.

Ingredients such as fermented fish paste, chilli, tamarind, black pepper, coconut milk, ginger and lemongrass are widely used.  Freshwater fish is a staple, chicken and pork are popular meats, and noodles are also widely used.  Cambodia also offers a wide range of delicious tropical fruit and vegetables. 

Cambodia makes for a good year-round destination, although the most popular times to visit are in December and January when the weather is fine and warm.  From February to April temperatures soar, and can push 40°C and above.  From May or June, humidity rises and Cambodia enters its wet season, which lasts through to October.  Rain comes in tropical downpours and doesn’t generally hinder travel except in really rural areas. 

Visa Assistance

Visas may be required depending on your nationality, travel plans, and length of stay. Below are the FCDO travel advice for British travellers. Entry rules can change at any time, so always check with the relevant embassy before travelling.

To make things easier, we’ve partnered with The Travel Visa Company, a UK-based visa specialist. Their team can guide you on requirements and, for a fee, apply for visas on your behalf.

Entry Requirements for UK Travellers

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Cambodia’s current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Cambodia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in the UK.

Passport validity requirements

To enter Cambodia your passport must be:

• valid for at least 6 months from the date you arrive in Cambodia
• undamaged and complete – entry is normally refused if you have a damaged passport or pages missing

If you apply to renew or extend your visa from within Cambodia, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the start date of that subsequent renewal or extension.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual Citizenship.

Visa requirements

You must have a visa to enter Cambodia as a visitor. 

Tourist visas are valid for 30 days from the date of entry into Cambodia. Make sure your passport is stamped on arrival and keep the departure form. If you lose your departure form, you’ll need to contact immigration officials before you leave the country to make alternative arrangements. 

Applying for a tourist visa 

Apply for an e-visa at least 4 days in advance (this website may not work in certain web browsers). You can also apply on the official e-visa app on iOS or Android. 

Check with the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in the UK for the latest information on fees, conditions and photograph requirements. If you do not get an e-visa, you can get a visa on arrival at airports or land border crossings. You need to provide a photo and pay in US dollars. 

You can also get an extension of a tourist visa while you are in Cambodia. 

You can be fined, detained and deported if you overstay your visa. There is no limit to this fine. If you overstay more than 30 days, you will need to leave Cambodia and pay the fine.

Electronic arrival card

On 1 September 2024, Cambodia implemented an electronic Arrival Card.  If you are entering Cambodia by air at either Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or Sihanoukville international airports, you must complete and submit an electronic e-Arrival Card within 7 days prior to your arrival. There is no charge for this.

Business visas and work permits 

Business visas are issued by the immigration department and are available: 

• on arrival in Phnom Penh airport 

• at the immigration department 

• in advance from any Cambodian embassy 

To work in Cambodia you need a business visa and a work permit. Your employer will need to apply for your work permit from the Department of Labour and Social Affairs. 

The Cambodian government strictly enforces these rules, so ask the relevant department for the latest advice.

Vaccine requirements

To enter Cambodia, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Cambodia guide.

Registering with the authorities

The Cambodian Department of Immigration runs an online registration app called the Foreigners Present in Cambodia System (FPCS).

If you’re staying in a hotel, guesthouse or rented accommodation, make sure the manager or landlord registers you using the app.

If you are staying with friends or family or own your own home in Cambodia, you will need to register yourself, using the app for Android or iOS. You need to enter a Cambodian phone number for your registration to be valid.

If you fail to get yourself registered, you may be unable to extend your visa if you want to.

Cambodia is a welcoming but somewhat conservative culture, where public displays of affection are frowned upon.  Be aware that the head is considered the superior part of the body in Cambodia, and as such, touching someone’s head is considered disrespectful, as is using your foot to point to someone. Greetings are often made with a small bow, with the hands brought together. 

Health

Visit your GP several weeks before you travel to make sure you are up to date with your vaccinations.  Some recommended vaccinations for travel to Cambodia are diphtheria, tetanus, polio and Hepatitis A and B, among others.  If you are travelling from an area with Yellow Fever you must present a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate on arrival in Cambodia.  Urban areas of Cambodia do not present a malaria risk, but you may need to take preventative medication if travelling in more rural areas. 

Don’t drink tap water in Cambodia, stick to reputable brands of bottled water and don’t have ice in drinks. Avoid shellfish and meat that has been undercooked and be wary of street food, and make sure all vegetables and fruit are washed in purified water before consumption.  Diarrhoea is a risk but if you take preventative measures it can be avoided.   Medical care is basic in Cambodia, apart from a few private clinics in the capital city.

While you’re enjoying yourself, it’s important to be aware of the risk of drink spiking and methanol poisoning, so it’s worth familiarising yourself with the steps you can take to help you keep safe. To learn more visit the FCDO Travel Aware page on spiking and methanol poisoning and visit FCDO Travel Advice for information specific to Cambodia.

Safety

Despite the violence of its past, Cambodia is generally a safe country in which to travel.  In remote areas, always stick to marked routes due to leftover landmines.  Avoid the areas of Preah Vihear and Ta Krabey temple on the Cambodian/Thai border, where there is an ongoing dispute over border rights.  Petty crime and theft are a problem in tourist areas, especially in areas of Phnom Penh and the beach region of Sihanoukville. 

Be aware that penalties for involvement with drugs, as in neighbouring Asian countries, can be extremely severe. 

We do not recommend hiring motorbikes, scooters, ATV vehicles, quad bikes or other types of motorised vehicles whilst abroad. Safety and quality of vehicles vary considerably and the traffic conditions can be much more dangerous than what UK travellers are used to. Should you wish to go against this advice, you should ensure you are hiring from a reputable company and that your travel insurance covers you for such activities. Roads are generally in poor condition in Cambodia and you should use reputable transport and avoid travel at night.