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Cambodia stands out as a beloved destination in Southeast Asia, attracting travelers from all walks of life. While it may appear rugged and unfinished, you'll encounter wonders here unlike anywhere else. With a rich history and diverse cultural tapestry, Cambodia beckons exploration and learning. Its people are warm and hospitable, embodying the charm of this continent.
Prepare to be amazed by delectable yet budget-friendly cuisine, stunning coastlines, serene beaches, and vibrant nightlife scenes. Cambodia is a nation finding its own path, and with each visit, I've fallen deeper in love with its allure. I urge you to experience it firsthand, as my words can only capture a fraction of its true essence. Here are some tips to help plan your journey.
Budgeting for Your Cambodian Adventure
Travel Expenses
Getting to Cambodia, you can opt for flights to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. However, a more common and economical choice is taking a bus from Saigon. With overnight buses, you typically spend around 200 thousand (to Phnom Penh), or 400 - 500 thousand (to Sihanoukville, Siem Reap).
Overall, transportation in this country is quite affordable, costing just a few dollars per trip. You can catch a bus anywhere in the country for under 40,000 KHR and hire a driver for the day for just 60,000-80,000 KHR.
Accommodation Costs
Accommodation Options
Food Expenses
Dining in Cambodia is incredibly affordable. Eating at local street vendors will cost around 4,000-8,000 KHR per meal, while dining at restaurants will range from 12,000-20,000 KHR per meal. Western cuisine at upscale restaurants ranges from 20,000-40,000 KHR per meal. You can find some world-class dishes in Phnom Penh for around 32,000-40,000 KHR.
Budget-Friendly Travel Tips for Cambodia
Pre-book Entertainment Activities
You'll find a plethora of entertainment options in Cambodia, ranging from free activities to relatively expensive ones. A visit to Angkor is a must, with an entrance fee of around 80,000 KHR per day. Tourist visits to this country are increasing, with entrance fees ranging from 40,000-80,000 KHR depending on the time of your visit. However, to save costs, you can opt to book and purchase tickets in advance. This way, you'll save a considerable amount as the tickets are cheaper and you won't have to worry about availability or language barriers when you arrive in Cambodia.
Indulge in Street Food Delights
Cambodia is one of the most affordable countries for food in Southeast Asia. There's really no need for penny-pinching when it comes to dining here. Food, accommodation, and transportation are all very cheap. However, if you still want to minimize costs, trying the street food offerings is perhaps the best choice.
Saving on Beverages
Compared to food, beverages in this country seem to be relatively more expensive. Each drink costs a dollar, so it's worth considering before you spend more on drinks than on food and accommodation. If you're not careful, your beverage expenses could exceed 80,000 KHR per day, requiring a slightly higher budget.
Must-See Attractions in Cambodia
Phnom Penh
As the capital of Cambodia, this place has a wild western atmosphere with dusty streets. There are very few tourist attractions here, so if you've come to Cambodia, you should also take a little time to explore the capital.
Sihanoukville
With its white sandy beaches, near-deserted islands, fantastic diving trips, delicious fresh seafood, and vibrant nightlife with plenty of affordable alcohol, this place becomes the top choice for any traveler to Cambodia. It used to be a very run-down town, but today it has become a backpacker's haven. It's not a quiet place to hang out, but it's a great place to party and rest when you want to visit the nearby islands.
Bamboo Island
Alongside Sihanoukville, Bamboo Island is a fantastic place to unwind. It's only a 10-minute ride from Sihanoukville, and the local culture is a fascinating highlight. Immersing yourself in daily activities, cooking local dishes, and learning Khmer dance moves will be a memorable Cambodian travel experience for you.
Angkor Wat
The temple that most people visit in Cambodia. The vast temple ruins are incredibly majestic, and you'll need a few days to explore them all. One of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, these abandoned ruins are a testament to the greatest civilization in Southeast Asia at that time. One of the interesting things when you visit here is to wait for the sunset or arrive early to witness the raw beauty of the sunrise at this place.
Kep Beach Town
This beautiful seaside city is a quieter version of Sihanoukville, a great place to relax for beach lovers. It's famous for its pepper crab and tranquil empty beaches. There aren't many lively activities here, so think carefully before visiting. If your goal is to unwind, then it's perfect.
Bokor National Park
Wandering through the beautiful French colonial ruins. Hiking through a long stretch of tropical forest is truly magnificent. Bokor was an attractive destination for the French aristocracy in the past, and you can see the remnants of their vacation homes. It's a day trip from Sihanoukville or nearby Kampot.
Battambang
Known as an agricultural area and famous for colonial architecture, this is where you can truly experience Cambodian life. There are large temples, a bamboo train, and beautiful architecture from the past still here.
Prasat Preah Vihear
The magnificent mountain temple is a memory of conflicts with neighboring Thailand, both claiming it as their own, but now the conflict is over and this place has become an interesting tourist spot. Originally built to worship the god Shiva. The trip here is not easy, but it's an experience not to be missed. The cost for a trip here is 20,000 KHR for foreigners.
Enjoy Tarantula Delicacy
You can't visit Cambodia without trying this dish. Visit Siem Reap, where you'll easily find one of the locals' favorite dishes, fried spiders seasoned with butter and garlic, looking very tempting. But this is indeed a challenge for faint-hearted travelers.
Tongle Sap Lake
Sailing on the lake gives you a glimpse into the way of life in Cambodia, where human activities are closely linked to water transport. You can go anywhere with boat transportation for a day trip.
Explore a Riverside Village
There are 3 floating villages for you to choose and visit. The houses are built on stilts, and there are always boats selling jewelry, food, and household items. Chong Khneas is the most sought-after by tourists, their uniqueness truly attracts first-time visitors to this country.
Visit Pepper Farms
Outside the city of Kampot and on the way to Kep are large pepper growing areas. This southern region of Cambodia is home to large pepper farms, where you can learn about the spice's history, see how locals cultivate, and harvest the world's best pepper products.
The Killing Fields
You can't visit Cambodia without learning about its bloody genocide past, acknowledging the painful time this country went through, and seeing how it has developed today. A visit to the Killing Fields, located 10 miles from Phnom Penh, may not be a cheerful outing on an afternoon, but it's equally a solemn night and a memorable experience, a testament to the dangers of conflict, the price of peace paid today.
Kampong Cham
Despite being the third-largest city in Cambodia, most tourists overlook Kampong Cham. The reason being the city retains many structures from its colonial past under French rule. But if you love these old houses, then this place is truly a great destination in your Cambodian trip. Explore the city by wandering through its alleys, and you should also explore the sites at Nokor Wat. One highlight here is a series of paintings depicting scenes of religious torture.
Koh Kong
A city near the Thai border in the Cardamom Mountain district, Koh Kong offers a great opportunity for jungle trekking as well as a chance to relax on white sandy beaches. Koh Kong Island is known as one of the best beach spots in Southeast Asia. You're not allowed to stay overnight there, but there are plenty of tour operators offering day trips to this remote island. If you get to stay, try spending a night in one of the unique bungalows here, treehouse-like homes that offer a true forest-dweller experience.
Cambodia is a mysterious country with much to discover. Accumulate your Cambodia travel experiences through the shares here with us. Once you visit the country of temples, beautiful beaches, and French colonial architecture, you'll understand and love this country even more.
Posted by: Thao Hien
Keywords: Independent Cambodia Travel Experience, Backpacking from A to Z
