Despite being one of the poorest countries in the world, traveling to Cambodia is not as cheap as in the rest of Southeast Asia. They use US dollars as the currency for most of the tours and activities. For those traveling on a budget, you can still do most of everything on a budget of around 25-35 euros per person per day, but a ticket to Angkor Wat will cost you at least $37 bucks and this is not an activity you can miss!

For those on a very tight budget, you might want to explore some of the volunteering opportunities available on Worldpackers. Volunteering through this platform is one of the best ways to travel almost for free, as accommodation and food are usually provided!

The official language of Cambodia is Khmer. In big cities or when doing tours, it is pretty common to communicate in English. Some key local words that are helpful to know before you go are:

• Susadei: Hello
• Arkun: Thank you
• Bah/Jah: Yes (male/female)
• Ot teh: No
• Chop, som: Stop, please (useful when riding tuk-tuks!)

Most foreign visitors, including those from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe, need a Visa to enter Cambodia. The best way to get a visa is by applying to their E-Visa online. If you’re doing land border crossings, you can go directly to a Cambodian Embassy and request a Tourist Visa.

Since it varies from country to country, we recommend checking Passport Index website, where you can select your passport and see all the countries you can travel to, with or without a visa.

Generally safe! We didn’t have any problems except for being scammed by a tuk-tuk driver, but petty crimes such as phone and bag snatchings are not rare here. For solo female travelers, please double down on attention when going out: don’t leave your drinks unattended, and be wary of invitations from strangers.

In any case, we always recommend getting travel insurance for your trip. Better safe than sorry! We use Heymondo and highly recommend it.

November to February: The best time to visit, when the temperatures are more comfortable and the weather is dry.

March to May: Still dry season but temperatures soar during this time of the year. If you don’t mind the heat, you might get better prices on accommodation as peak season is over.

June to October: This is the wet season in Cambodia. They might be the least busy months but the heavy rains can impact your travel plans. Notable festivals like Pchum Ben and Bon Om Tuk occur in these months.

Here are some of the must-try dishes you can’t miss when in Cambodia:

• Amok: Often referred to as Camobidia’s national dish, Amok is a delicious coconut fish curry, typically steamed in banana leaves to give it a mousse-like texture.
• Cambodian Pepper Beef (Lok Lak): Tender beef coated in a peppery sauce and usually paired with rice and fries (one of our favorites!)
• Kampot Pepper Crab: Found especially in the Kampot province, this dish features fresh crabs fired with a garlicky sauce and topped with Kampot green peppercorns.
• Kuy Teav: This popular noodle soup is a common breakfast dish in Cambodia, usually made from pork or beef bones and rice vermicelli.
• Nom Banh Chok (Khmer Noodles): This sour soup is made with meat, fish, or seafood and a variety of local vegetables and herbs.

• Be respectful of local customs and traditions. 
• Don’t drink tap water and avoid ice and raw vegetables.
• Be cautious with street food. A good rule of thumb is: if it’s empty or if no locals eat there, avoid it!
• Dress modestly when visiting temples: read this guide on Temple Etiquette.
• Use reputable transportation services like Grab or 12Go Asia: read this post for the best apps to download in Southeast Asia.
• Always have cash with you, most of the transactions are still cash only. We recommend using a travel debit card such as Wise to withdrawal local money straight from ATMs with the lowest fees.