Asia
Below is a summary of how I entered, whether through a visa or another permitted route.
Prepare these before applying
I applied for the Cambodia visa online. It can also be obtained on arrival. The fee was 36 USD. A passport photo and passport copy were enough to apply. You can apply online through the official e-visa portal at <a href='https://www.evisa.gov.kh' target='_blank'>evisa.gov.kh</a>.
Last updated 2 weeks ago
| S.No | Date | Details (Notes) | Category | Unit | Cost / Unit | Amount | Currency | Amount (NPR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb 03, 2023 | Visa fee | Visa | 1.00 | 36.00 | 36.00 | USD | 4,698.00 |
| 2 | Feb 03, 2023 | Lunch | Food | 1.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | USD | 656.22 |
| 3 | Feb 03, 2023 | Bus HCM city to Phnom Penh | Transport | 1.00 | 1,000,000.00 | 1,000,000.00 | VND | 2,800.00 |
| 4 | Feb 03, 2023 | Hotel (3rd Feb) | Accommodation | 1.00 | 20.33 | 20.33 | EUR | 2,882.79 |
| 5 | Feb 03, 2023 | Hotel (5th Feb) | Accommodation | 1.00 | 16.50 | 16.50 | EUR | 2,339.70 |
| 6 | Feb 03, 2023 | Water 1.5 ltr | Food | 1.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 | USD | 97.88 |
| 7 | Feb 03, 2023 | Tuk tuk bus station to hotel | Transport | 1.00 | 6,000.00 | 6,000.00 | KHR | 192.00 |
| 8 | Feb 04, 2023 | Bus Phnom Penh to Siem Reap | Transport | 1.00 | 27.50 | 27.50 | USD | 3,588.75 |
| 9 | Feb 04, 2023 | Royal Palace entry | Activities | 1.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | USD | 1,305.00 |
| 10 | Feb 04, 2023 | Tuk tuk to Killing Fields | Transport | 1.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | USD | 652.50 |
| 11 | Feb 04, 2023 | Killing Fields ticket with audio guide | Activities | 1.00 | 9.00 | 9.00 | USD | 1,174.50 |
| 12 | Feb 04, 2023 | Tuk tuk from Killing Fields to city | Transport | 1.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | USD | 652.50 |
| 13 | Feb 04, 2023 | Lunch | Food | 1.00 | 15.00 | 15.00 | USD | 1,957.50 |
| 14 | Feb 04, 2023 | Water 1.5 ltr | Food | 1.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 | USD | 97.88 |
| 15 | Feb 04, 2023 | Tuk tuk to hotel | Transport | 1.00 | 5,000.00 | 5,000.00 | KHR | 160.00 |
| 16 | Feb 04, 2023 | Tuk tuk hotel to central market | Transport | 1.00 | 4,000.00 | 4,000.00 | KHR | 128.00 |
| 17 | Feb 04, 2023 | SIM card at central market | SIM Card | 1.00 | 2.50 | 2.50 | USD | 326.25 |
| 18 | Feb 04, 2023 | Water 1.5 ltr | Food | 1.50 | 2,500.00 | 2,500.00 | KHR | 80.00 |
| 19 | Feb 04, 2023 | Sugarcane juice | Food | 1.00 | 4,000.00 | 4,000.00 | KHR | 128.00 |
| 20 | Feb 05, 2023 | Early check-in hotel | Accommodation | 1.00 | 8.00 | 8.00 | EUR | 1,134.40 |
| 21 | Feb 05, 2023 | Tuk tuk for Angkor Wat trip | Transport | 1.00 | 15.00 | 15.00 | USD | 1,957.50 |
| 22 | Feb 05, 2023 | Lunch | Food | 1.00 | 8.00 | 8.00 | USD | 1,044.00 |
| 23 | Feb 05, 2023 | Angkor Wat ticket | Activities | 1.00 | 74.00 | 74.00 | USD | 9,657.00 |
| 24 | Feb 05, 2023 | Tuk tuk bus station to hotel | Transport | 1.00 | 8,000.00 | 8,000.00 | KHR | 256.00 |
| 25 | Feb 05, 2023 | Dinner | Food | 1.00 | 14.50 | 14.50 | USD | 1,892.25 |
| 26 | Feb 05, 2023 | Water 1.5 ltr | Food | 1.00 | 5,200.00 | 5,200.00 | KHR | 166.40 |
| 27 | Feb 05, 2023 | Tuk tuk market to hotel | Transport | 1.00 | 10,000.00 | 10,000.00 | KHR | 320.00 |
| 28 | Feb 05, 2023 | Tour guide | Activities | 1.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | USD | 1,305.00 |
| 29 | Feb 06, 2023 | Tuk tuk to floating village | Transport | 1.00 | 15.00 | 15.00 | USD | 1,957.50 |
| 30 | Feb 06, 2023 | Boating in floating village | Activities | 1.00 | 20.00 | 20.00 | USD | 2,610.00 |
| 31 | Feb 06, 2023 | Lunch | Food | 1.00 | 24,000.00 | 24,000.00 | KHR | 768.00 |
| 32 | Feb 06, 2023 | Laundry in hotel | Laundry | 3.00 | 2.00 | 6.00 | USD | 783.00 |
| 33 | Feb 06, 2023 | Street food | Food | 1.00 | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 | KHR | 32.00 |
| 34 | Feb 06, 2023 | ATM withdrawal fee | Bank Fee | 1.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | USD | 652.50 |
| 35 | Feb 06, 2023 | Dinner | Food | 1.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 | USD | 913.50 |
| 36 | Feb 06, 2023 | Water bottles | Food | 1.00 | 2,000.00 | 2,000.00 | KHR | 64.00 |
| 37 | Feb 06, 2023 | Hotel charge | Accommodation | 1.00 | 22.00 | 22.00 | USD | 2,871.00 |
| 38 | Feb 06, 2023 | Tuk tuk hotel to bus stop | Transport | 1.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | USD | 261.00 |
| Total | 52,562.52 |
Last updated 4 minutes ago
Cambodia uses both US Dollars and Cambodian Riel (KHR). USD is widely accepted, but carry Riel for small purchases under $1. Change for USD purchases is often given in Riel at roughly 4,100 KHR per $1. Keep small USD bills ($1, $5, $10) handy.
Cambodians are strict about USD bill condition. Torn, marked, heavily creased, or pre-2006 bills may be rejected by vendors and hotels. Bring clean, newer-series bills in small denominations.
Angkor Archaeological Park requires a pass: 1-day ($37), 3-day ($62), or 7-day ($72). Purchase at the official ticket office with your passport. Photos are taken on-site for the pass. Arrive before 5 AM for the iconic sunrise over Angkor Wat.
Tipping is not expected but appreciated. Round up tuk-tuk fares to the nearest dollar. For restaurants, leaving $1-2 or small Riel notes is a kind gesture. Porters and housekeeping appreciate $1 tips.
Buy a local SIM card at the airport or any phone shop for around $2-5 with data. Providers include Smart, Cellcard, and Metfone. A passport is required for purchase. Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels and cafes.
Cambodia is generally safe for tourists, but watch for common scams like inflated tuk-tuk prices and fake tour guides. Agree on transport prices before riding. Avoid walking alone late at night in unlit areas. Keep valuables in hotel safes.
Cover your shoulders and knees when visiting temples, including Angkor Wat and the Royal Palace. Lightweight long pants and a t-shirt are sufficient. Some temples provide sarongs for rent at the entrance.
Last updated 5 days ago
📍 Phnom Penh
Begin in Phnom Penh by visiting the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda with its emerald Buddha. Continue to the sobering Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek to understand Cambodia's difficult history. In the evening, stroll along the Sisowath Quay riverside promenade and enjoy Khmer cuisine at a local restaurant.
📍 Siem Reap
Take a morning bus or fly to Siem Reap and settle in. Visit the Angkor National Museum to prepare for the temple visits ahead. Explore the lively Pub Street area and the Siem Reap Night Market for handicrafts and street food. Try fish amok, Cambodia's signature curry, at a traditional Khmer restaurant.
📍 Angkor Archaeological Park
Rise before dawn for the iconic sunrise over Angkor Wat, then explore the massive temple complex in detail. Continue to the jungle-engulfed Ta Prohm temple with its enormous tree roots and the intricate Bayon temple with its 216 stone faces. Finish with the smaller but beautiful Banteay Srei temple known for its pink sandstone carvings.
📍 Battambang
Travel to Battambang, Cambodia's charming colonial-era town on the Sangker River. Ride the famous bamboo train along old French railway tracks through rice paddies. Visit the Battambang Bat Caves at sunset to witness millions of bats emerging in a swirling column. Explore the well-preserved French colonial architecture in the town center before heading back.
Last updated 2 weeks ago
Steamed fish curry with coconut milk, kroeung paste, and egg, served in a banana leaf bowl.
Stir-fried marinated beef cubes served over lettuce with a tangy lime and pepper dipping sauce.
Khmer noodles with a green fish-based curry sauce, fresh vegetables, and herbs.
Thinly sliced pork marinated in coconut milk and garlic, grilled and served over rice.
Rice noodle soup with pork broth, bean sprouts, and herbs, a popular Cambodian breakfast.
Last updated 2 weeks ago
The world's largest religious monument and Cambodia's crown jewel — a 12th-century Hindu-turned-Buddhist temple complex that took 30 years to build. Watch sunrise over the iconic five lotus-bud towers reflected in the moat, explore kilometers of intricate bas-relief carvings depicting Hindu epics, and venture to the jungle-consumed Ta Prohm where massive tree roots swallow ancient stone walls. A 3-day Angkor pass is recommended.
📍 Open in Google Maps →A stunning complex of gilded Khmer-style buildings and manicured gardens on the banks of the Tonle Sap River, serving as the residence of Cambodia's king since 1866. The Silver Pagoda floor is paved with over 5,000 silver tiles and houses a life-sized gold Buddha studded with 9,584 diamonds. Nearby, the sobering Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Killing Fields provide essential historical context.
📍 Open in Google Maps →Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake, which dramatically expands to five times its dry-season size during monsoon floods. Visit the floating villages of Kompong Khleang or Kampong Phluk, where entire communities — schools, shops, and pagodas — float on the water or stand on towering stilts. Boat tours through the flooded mangrove forests offer a unique glimpse into a way of life shaped entirely by water.
📍 Open in Google Maps →A tropical paradise off Cambodia's southern coast with 43 kilometers of white-sand beaches, bioluminescent plankton that light up the sea at night, and dense jungle interior. Long Beach stretches for 7 kilometers of near-deserted sand, while the main village offers beach bars and backpacker vibes. Snorkel over coral reefs, hike through the jungle to hidden waterfalls, and swim in some of Southeast Asia's clearest water.
📍 Open in Google Maps →Last updated 2 weeks ago
A glimpse into our favourite moments from Cambodia.
A violet parasol catches afternoon light against the weathered sandstone galleries of Angkor Wat, where traditional silk meets ancient Khmer stone and palm shadows dance across emerald courtyards.
