Cambodia
Cambodia Travel Guide
with notes for an Indian traveler
Updated: May 19, 2026
I left a bit of my heart in Cambodia and I don’t think I can explain why.
Cambodia surprised me. For someone obsessed with ancient history and who grew up watching Lara Croft, my expectation going in was ridiculous. And somehow, Cambodia managed to surpass even those expectations. Sure, I didn’t accidentally discover the lost temple treasure amongst the ruins, but I discovered something even better. People with golden hearts who treat you with so much kindness and hospitality, temples which for a minute get back their golden glory at sunset and a kind of peace you can only experience amongst the silence of the ruins. This guide is what I wish I’d had before I went — written for anyone who wants to experience Cambodia more than the standard 3-day Angkor trip. Of course, there are notes for Indian travelers written from my own experience.
September 2024
Quick Facts
Everything you need to know about Cambodia.
CAPITAL
Phnom Penh
CURRENCY
Cambodian Riel (៛) + USD widely used
TIME ZONE
ICT — UTC + 7
LANGUAGE
Khmer (ខ្មែរ)
When to Visit Cambodia
❄️ Winter🌸 Spring🌧 Summer🍂 Autumn❄️
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
✦ Our Pick
November - February
It is well known that Cambodia has 3 seasons – Hot, Hotter, Hottest. Your experience will greatly depend on when you visit.
The best time to visit Cambodia is November to February — the cool, dry season when temples are pleasant to walk through and the countryside is still green from the monsoon. March to May is brutally hot. June to October is wet but cheap, with green landscapes and far fewer tourists.
- November to February: Cool, dry, breezy. Best for temples, the countryside and beach hops. Peak prices, peak crowds — but worth it.
- March to May: The hottest months of the year. 35–40°C is normal at Angkor. Great for Koh Rong and beach time, miserable for temple-walking. Lowest hotel rates of the year apart from October.
- June to August: Shoulder season. Afternoon thunderstorms most days but mornings are clear. The countryside is at its greenest and Tonlé Sap floods to its full size — best time to visit the floating villages.
- September to October: Wet season peaks. Heavy rain, occasional flooding around Siem Reap, dramatic skies. Lowest prices of the year. Bring waterproof shoes if you go.
From India: best fares typically open 3–4 months ahead for the Nov–Feb window. June and August are your cheapest months.
Visa for Indian passport holders
Last verified — May 2026
Indian passport holders need a visa to enter Cambodia — but it's one of the easiest in Asia. Apply for the official e-Visa at evisa.gov.kh for USD 36 (USD 30 government fee + USD 6 processing). It's approved in 3 working days, valid for 3 months from issue, and lets you stay 30 days on a single entry. Visa-on-arrival is also available at all international airports and major land borders.
Visa type
Tourist e-Visa (Type T) — single entry
Validity
3 months from date of issue · 30-day stay
Fee
USD 30 + USD 6 processing = USD 36 (≈ ₹3,000)
Processing
3 working days (e-Visa) · same day (visa-on-arrival)
Apply at
evisa.gov.kh (recommended) — or visa-on-arrival at PNH/REP/SHV airports
Biometrics
Not required
Visa rules and fees change — check on the official site before you go.
Flying in from India
Cambodia is roughly 4 to 10 hours of flying time from India depending on routing. As of 2026, the only direct option is IndiGo's Kolkata → Siem Reap service (3x weekly, launched November 2025) — which is genuinely a game-changer for Indian travelers, since Siem Reap is where you actually want to land for Angkor. From every other Indian city you'll layover, most commonly in Bangkok, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur. Cambodia Angkor Air also runs a Delhi–Phnom Penh service a few times a week.
We flew Bangalore → Siem Reap via Bangkok — a longer 10 hours journey due to a long layover.
We track fares on Google Flights and Skyscanner — see the tools section for links.
Currency and Budget for Cambodia
₹1,00 ≈ ៛4,400 (or roughly USD 1.2)
| Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | ₹800/night | ₹2,500/night | ₹7,000/night |
| Food/day | ₹500 | ₹1,200 | ₹3,000+ |
| Transport | ₹200/day (2-wheeler rental) | ₹600/day (tuk-tuk+occasional grab) | ₹3,500/day (Private driver) |
| Daily Total | ~₹1,500 | ~₹4,500 | ₹10,000+ |
Cambodia is cheaper than India's tier-1 cities for food and transport, and only marginally more expensive for hotels. A backpacker's hostel bed in Siem Reap is around ₹500. A really good vegan amok at a sit-down restaurant is ₹250.
We spent roughly ₹5000/day as a couple -- including a 7 day Angkor Pass, a sumptious vegetarian lunch every day, and a really luxurious AirBnB which came with its free 2-wheeler rental.
Payment Tips
- USD is king. Carry crisp USD notes (any tear or fold and they may be refused). ATMs dispense USD by default.
- Riel for small change. Anything under USD 1 comes back as riel. Use it for tuk-tuks, street food, and tips.
- Indian Visa/Mastercard works at most ATMs — but every withdrawal carries a USD 4–5 fee, so withdraw larger amounts less often.
Getting Around Cambodia
Tuk-tuk (PassApp/Grab)
The default in cities. Always book through PassApp or Grab — the in-app fare is non-negotiable, half the price of flagging one down.
Motobike
Cheaper, faster in traffic, but skip if you're nervous about riding in city. We loved the freedom it gave us in exploring all the temples and coming from a place like India, the traffic was not much of a problem.
Inter-city bus (Giant Ibis / Vibol Express / Mekong Express)
Phnom Penh ↔ Siem Reap is 6 hours, ₹1,200. Phnom Penh ↔ Sihanoukville is 4 hours, ₹1,000. Book a day ahead.
Taxi
Faster than the bus on PP–Siem Reap route (4 hrs). Private taxi can cost USD 80+.
Pro tip — the apps to install: PassApp (the local Uber, half the price of Grab in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap), Grab (better for airport rides), Google Maps (works fine here, Naver/Baidu not needed).
Safety in Cambodia
Safety Rating
Cambodia is broadly safe for tourists — but unlike Korea or Japan, you do need to keep your wits about you.
Solo Female Travel
Generally fine. Daytime solo travel in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh feels safe. Dress modestly at temples (covered shoulders + knees is a strict requirement at Angkor Wat, and they enforce it). At night, use PassApp, not flagged tuk-tuks.
Pickpocketing/Bag-snatching
Real risk in Phnom Penh. Carry your bag on the side away from the road, never sling a phone or camera over your shoulder while walking. Drive-by snatching from the back of a motorbike is the classic move. Be especially careful around the Riverside.
Health & Medical
Hospitals in Phnom Penh (Royal Phnom Penh Hospital, Sunrise Japan Hospital) and Siem Reap (Royal Angkor International Hospital) are decent for tourists but expensive without insurance. Travel insurance is non-negotiable for Cambodia — for serious cases, evacuation to Bangkok is standard. Drink only sealed bottled water. Mosquito repellent is essential (dengue risk).
Areas to Know
Don't venture off marked paths in rural Cambodia (residual landmine risk in remote areas of the northwest and Cambodia–Thailand border zones). Avoid the riverside in Phnom Penh after midnight.
Language & Greetings in Cambodia
Cambodia speaks Khmer (ខ្មែរ), written in its own beautiful curling script — a direct descendant of the South Indian Pallava script (which is also the great-great-grandparent of Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu, in case you needed an excuse to feel a little at home). English is widely spoken in tourist areas — Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, the riverside hotels — but vanishes the moment you go rural. Five Khmer phrases will get you through everything.
| Phrase | Khmer (Pronunciation) |
|---|---|
| Hello | Soo-suh-day |
| Thank you | Aw-kun |
| Excuse me/Sorry | Som toh |
| Yes (m/f) | Baat/Chaa |
| No | Tay |
✦
Fun fact: The Khmer script is the longest alphabet in the world that's still in active use — 74 letters in total. It was adapted from the Pallava Grantha script that travelled with Hindu and Buddhist priests from South India around the 7th century AD. Sanskrit and Pali loanwords are everywhere in temple inscriptions — if you've ever read a Tamil inscription, you'll catch the family resemblance at Angkor Wat.
Places to See in Cambodia
Siem ReapPhnom Penh
Cambodia is small enough to see the highlights in 10 days but rich enough to fill a month. Most trips center on Siem Reap in the northwest — base for Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Srei — and Phnom Penh in the south, the capital and the only place to honestly engage with Cambodia’s modern history at Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields. The two cities are 6 hours apart by bus or 45 minutes by flight.
There is lot more to explore like the Kampot–Kep corridor, Sihanoukville (overdeveloped, casino-driven), Koh Rong Sanloem , Battambang but we spent all 8 days exploring just Siem Reap.
FAQs about Cambodia
What currency is used in Cambodia? Should I carry USD?
Cambodia’s official currency is the Cambodian Riel (KHR), but the country runs on a dual-currency system — the US Dollar is accepted everywhere alongside the riel, and ATMs dispense USD by default. Carry crisp, unfolded USD notes (any tear is rejected); you’ll get small change back in riel. ₹100 ≈ ៛4,400 ≈ USD 1.20 as of May 2026
When is the best time to visit Cambodia?
The best time to visit Cambodia is November to February — the cool, dry season when daytime temperatures sit at a pleasant 25–30°C and the countryside is still green from the monsoon. March to May is brutally hot (35–40°C); June to October is wet but cheap, with green landscapes and far fewer tourists. We went in August and it was fine.
How much does a trip to Cambodia cost from India?
A budget traveler can do Cambodia on ₹1,600/day, mid-range on ₹4,500/day, and luxury at ₹10,000/day or more. A 10-day Cambodia trip from India typically runs ₹60,000–₹1,20,000 per person all-in (flights, e-visa, mid-range stays, food, Angkor pass, and inter-city transport). Cambodia is cheaper than Thailand and Vietnam for food and tuk-tuks.
What are the must-know travel tips for visiting Cambodia?
Always carry cash, as ATMs can be scarce in rural areas, and dress modestly at religious sites. Be prepared for hot weather, and make sure to negotiate prices when shopping.
What should I pack for a trip to Cambodia?
Light, breathable clothing, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, and a hat are essential. Don’t forget insect repellent, and if visiting temples, pack clothes that cover your shoulders and knees.
How do I get around in Cambodia?
Tuk-tuks, motorbikes and cycles are common for short distances, while buses and private taxis are used for longer trips. Domestic flights are available if you want to save on time.
Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Cambodia?
Yes. Indian passport holders need either an e-Visa or visa-on-arrival. The official e-Visa costs USD 36 (USD 30 government fee + USD 6 processing), is approved in 3 working days, and lets you stay 30 days on a single entry. Apply at evisa.gov.kh — never on a third-party look-alike site. Visa-on-arrival is also available at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville airports for the same fee. We applied for online visa beforehand to save time at the airport.
Can I use Indian electric plugs in Cambodia?
Mostly yes. Cambodia uses Type A, C, and G sockets at 230V / 50Hz — the voltage is identical to India, and Indian round-pin (Type C/D) plugs fit straight into Type C and the C-side of universal sockets in most Cambodian hotels. Carry a small universal adapter as a backup for Type G (British-style) sockets in older buildings.
