In July, we left Vietnam and headed to Siem Reap, Cambodia. We put together this list of things to know before traveling to Cambodia. It is mostly based on our experience in the capitol city of Siem Reap, so you may experience slight differences in other regions.
8 Things to Know Before Traveling to Cambodia
Visa on Arrival
The airport in Siem Reap is pretty small. We arrived and made the quick walk from the plane to the terminal where there a desk with about a dozen immigration officers behind it. You hand over your passport, the form you filled out on the plane and $35 in US money. We were done in less than 10 minutes and everyone was very friendly. It felt like night & day difference to Vietnam.
You can also apply for your visa ahead of time using this website.
Remember the Conversion (USD to Riel)
The money situation in this country is strange. They prefer US dollars, but they do have their own currency. In most places, we would pay and receive the change in Riel. It got a little confusing, so we just made sure we both had the exchange rate memorized to know we were getting the right change.
Angkor Wat is Bigger Than You Think
We shared some tips on visiting Angkor Wat in a previous post, but we were definitely surprised at the size. Make sure you give yourself enough time to explore the magnificent temple complex and have some time to take in the other things Siem Reap has to offer. We recommend at least two days to explore and take it in.
Come With Questions
The more you learn about Cambodia before you come, the more in depth you can get with your tour guide. We didn’t do much research before arriving, so there was a ton of new information and we didn’t get too deep. I would advise anyone traveling here to do some reading beforehand.
Our two recommendations for reading before traveling are this incredible book and this book which is also a Netflix movie now. These will both provide more background on the country while telling incredible stories.
Temple Dress & Etiquette
For the temples in Cambodia, you need to make sure you are dressed conservatively. Keep your shoulders and knees covered and you should be good. Scarves do not count to cover up sleeveless shirts – we saw a few people turned away from Angkor Wat for this reason. Temples are not just a historical place, but they are spiritual places and the way you conduct yourself should represent that.
Know About UXOs
Cambodia is one of the most contaminated countries in the world regarding UXOs. Read more here about the struggles they face currently. It’s important to understand the danger here because, unlike many other places you may explore, you CANNOT hike or explore in the countryside unless you are on trails that have been cleared. We learned about this a lot in Luang Prabang, Laos as well.
Tuktuks are Fun
Tuktuks are the main mode of transportation around Siem Reap. Make sure you ask for the price beforehand. You can negotiate with the driver ahead of time and settle on a price. We had a few drivers that also came back and picked us up at an agreed upon time, so we didn’t have to worry about finding a new driver. And no matter what, enjoy the ride.
Bring Bug Spray
Mosquitoes are horrible no matter where you are, but they are downright dangerous in certain parts of the world. We got vaccinated for Japanese Encephalitis, but there are still dangers from Dengue Fever and Malaria. We brought bug spray from home to make sure we understood its strength and didn’t have to navigate a foreign language on the bottle.
Siem Reap was a wonderful city to explore. The temples are amazing, and there is so much to do and explore. We wish we would have spent more time exploring Cambodia and the country’s other regions. We have so much for our list next time.
Comment below if you have any questions for your own trip or anything we missed.
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