Angkor temples, riverside towns, and the southern coast

Planning a Cambodia trip: Angkor, daily budgets and entry rules

Updated 24 September 2026

Cambodia at a glance

Cambodia is mainly visited for the temples of Angkor, with Phnom Penh and the Kampot coast as the usual additions. A week covers Siem Reap and the capital; two weeks adds the south. Budget travellers spend about US$20-30 a day and mid-range travellers US$40-60, plus the Angkor pass. November to March is driest.

Cambodia quick facts
Best months	November-March (December and January are the most comfortable)
Trip length	1 week for Siem Reap and Phnom Penh; 2 weeks to add Kampot and Kep
Daily budget	US$20-30 backpacker, US$40-60 mid-range
Visa	US$30 visa on arrival or e-visa (30 days) for most passports
Currency	US dollar used everywhere alongside the riel (KHR), about 4,080 riel to US$1
Main gateways	Phnom Penh Techo International (KTI), Siem Reap-Angkor International (SAI), Sihanoukville (KOS)
Getting around	Buses between towns; Grab, PassApp and tuk-tuks in cities

Where to stay

Find hotels in Cambodia

Choose a destination to check live rates and availability for your dates.

How many days do you need in Cambodia?

A week covers Siem Reap and Phnom Penh; two weeks adds the south around Kampot.

Give Siem Reap 3-5 days. One day sees the main Angkor temples, but the 3-day pass (US$62, usable over 10 days) lets you add Banteay Srei and Beng Mealea without rushing. Phnom Penh needs 2-3 days for the Royal Palace, the National Museum and the riverside.

The two-week route in the Cambodia budget guide runs Siem Reap (4 days), Phnom Penh (3), Kampot (4) and Kep (1), then back to Phnom Penh to fly out. Cambodia is also part of the final week of the 1-month Southeast Asia itinerary.

Where should you go in Cambodia?

Start in Siem Reap for Angkor, continue to Phnom Penh, then choose between the Kampot coast and Battambang.

Siem Reap: the base for the temples of Angkor.
Phnom Penh: the riverside capital, about 6 hours from Siem Reap by bus.
Kampot: a river town 3.5 hours south of Phnom Penh, with Kep 30 minutes away.
Battambang: 4 hours from Siem Reap by road, or 6-8 hours by boat.
Sihanoukville: the departure point for boats to the southern islands.

How much does Cambodia cost per day?

Budget travellers spend about US$20-30 a day in Cambodia and mid-range travellers US$40-60, plus the Angkor pass.

Dorm beds and basic guesthouses cost US$4-8, local meals US$2-3 and short tuk-tuk rides US$1-3. The Angkor pass is the largest single cost: US$37 for one day, US$62 for three, US$72 for seven. A full-day tuk-tuk around the temples costs US$15-20, or about US$4-7 each when shared. Two weeks of backpacking comes to roughly US$245-390 before flights and the visa.

Full breakdown: Cambodia travel costs guide, and Cambodia travel cost per day vs other SE Asia countries.

When is the best time to visit Cambodia?

November to March is the dry season and the best time to visit; December and January are the most comfortable months.

Heat builds through March and April, with highs around 35-36°C. Rain runs from June to October and peaks in September and October, when roads around Siem Reap can flood; in return the Angkor moats are full and the temples are quiet. Hotel prices run about 25-40% higher in the November-March high season.

Monthly temperatures and rainfall: best time to visit Cambodia.

Do you need a visa for Cambodia?

Most visitors need a visa: a 30-day tourist visa costs US$30, either on arrival or as an e-visa bought in advance.

The e-visa is sold on the official Cambodia e-Visa site and takes about 3 business days. For a visa on arrival, bring US dollars in cash and a passport photo. Air arrivals must also complete the free e-Arrival Card within 7 days before landing. ASEAN nationals except Myanmar enter visa-free for 14-30 days, and the tourist visa can be extended once by 30 days inside Cambodia.

Cambodia was last fully verified in May 2026 (fee and arrival card rechecked in November), so confirm on the official portal. Every passport: visa requirements for Cambodia.

Is Cambodia safe?

The everyday risks UK government advice describes in Cambodia are theft and scams, but two area warnings matter: the UK advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the Thai border, and landmines remain in rural areas.

Bag and phone snatching from motorbikes, often causing injury, especially on Phnom Penh's riverfront and in BKK, and in Sihanoukville's beach areas.
Fake or damaged dollar notes handed over as change in shops and clubs.
Drink spiking in some bars, plus methanol-contaminated alcohol.
Job scams: "easy jobs with high pay" adverts used to traffic people into scam compounds.

Stay on main paths in the countryside, including around temple complexes. Emergency numbers: police 117, fire 118, ambulance 119; Phnom Penh tourist police +855 12 942 484.

SIM cards and eSIMs in Cambodia

Cambodian SIM cards have to be registered to an identity document, so bring your passport when you buy one.

Smart, one of the main networks, sells a Smart Traveller SIM for visitors, and its registration process accepts a passport scan, with an optional face scan to protect the account. Buy from an operator's own shop or counter so the SIM is registered in your name. Mobile data is worth having here: Grab and PassApp both run in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and booking through them avoids haggling over tuk-tuk fares.

Getting around Cambodia

Fly into Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, take buses between towns and use Grab or PassApp within them.

Phnom Penh Techo International (KTI): the capital's new airport, about 20 km south of the centre. Official taxis and Grab, WowNow and PassApp cars serve it; the airport quotes about US$10-20 to the city.
Siem Reap-Angkor International (SAI): opened in late 2023 well outside town, so arrange a shuttle or transfer before you land.

Buses run Siem Reap to Phnom Penh in about 6 hours (US$10-15) and Phnom Penh to Kampot in 3.5 hours. Agree tuk-tuk fares before you get in. UK advice says road crash rates are among the highest in the region, especially at night, and that land crossings with Thailand remain suspended, so overland travel from Bangkok is not currently possible.

Explore Cambodia

Siem Reap

Gateway to Angkor Wat and ancient Khmer wonders.

Siem Reap travel guide

Phnom Penh

Vibrant capital with royal palaces and riverside promenades.

Phnom Penh travel guide

Battambang

Colonial architecture, bamboo train, and countryside charm.

Battambang travel guide

Kampot

Riverside town famous for pepper farms and Bokor Hill.

Kampot travel guide

Sihanoukville

Coastal gateway to pristine Cambodian islands.

Sihanoukville travel guide

Visiting Cambodia

Should I use US dollars or riel in Cambodia?

Both. The riel (KHR) is the official currency, but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere and most tourist prices are quoted in dollars. Pay in dollars and expect small change in riel; shops commonly treat 4,000 riel as US$1. Carry crisp $1 and $5 notes, because torn or worn bills are often refused, and check the notes you get back.

How much is the Angkor pass?

US$37 for one day, US$62 for three days (usable over 10 days) and US$72 for seven days. The 3-day pass is the best value if you want outlying temples such as Banteay Srei and Beng Mealea as well as Angkor Wat. Cover shoulders and knees at the temples, and share a tuk-tuk for the day: the vehicle costs about US$15-20 in total.

Can I travel overland from Thailand to Cambodia?

Not at present. UK government travel advice, last updated in March 2026 and still current in November 2026, says land borders and crossings between Cambodia and Thailand remain suspended after the 2025 border fighting, and it advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the border. Fly between Bangkok and Siem Reap or Phnom Penh instead, and check the latest advice before planning an overland route.

Plan your trip