Cambodia

For many travellers, Cambodia begins in Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat and the wider Angkor Archaeological Park. The park is enormous, covering about 400 square km and home to dozens of temples, so it pays to plan your days carefully rather than trying to see everything at once. A sunrise visit at Angkor Wat is popular for good reason, but the best experience often comes from pairing the big names with quieter sites like Ta Prohm, Bayon, or one of the less-visited jungle temples.

Practical tip: start early, carry water, and wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees for temple visits. Tuk-tuks are the easiest way to move between temple clusters, and hiring one for a full day usually works better than arranging separate rides. If you’re mapping out a multi-day visit, Hello’s trip planning can help keep temple days, restaurant stops, and sunset spots in one place, so you’re not juggling notes while you’re on the move.

Cambodia is very doable for independent travellers, but distances and road conditions can make journeys slower than they look on a map. Between major hubs like Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang, Kampot, and the coast, you’ll usually choose between buses, private cars, domestic flights, ferries, or tuk-tuks for shorter hops. Buses are the most economical option for long overland routes, while a private car is more comfortable if you’re travelling with friends and want flexible stops.

Within cities, tuk-tuks are the most useful everyday transport. Agree the fare before you set off, or use an app if available in the area. For travellers crossing borders or arriving late, a Hello eSIM is handy because you can buy and activate it before you land and stay connected without roaming charges. That makes it easier to book rides, check bus times, and message your hotel the moment plans change.

Cambodian food is fresh, fragrant, and often underrated by first-time visitors. Start with amok trey, a fish curry steamed in banana leaf, or lok lak, a peppery stir-fried beef dish that shows up on menus across the country. In markets and roadside stalls, you’ll also find grilled skewers, noodle soups, sticky rice snacks, and tropical fruit sold by the bagful. In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, it’s easy to build a day around eating: coffee in the morning, market snacks at lunch, and a proper dinner of Khmer dishes in the evening.

For practical budgeting, meals at simple local eateries can be very affordable, while nicer restaurants in tourist areas cost more but are still good value compared with many international cities. Use Hello budget tracking to keep an eye on spending in riel as the numbers get big fast, even when individual meals are inexpensive. If you’re travelling with others, expense splitting also saves awkward math when one person orders the seafood curry and another goes for a bowl of noodles.

Cambodia uses the Cambodian riel, but US dollars are widely accepted in many places, especially in cities and tourist areas. Smaller change is often returned in riel, so it helps to keep both currencies handy. A practical habit is to track your day-to-day costs in riel, then use a rough USD equivalent only when you need a quick mental check.

For weather, the most comfortable months are generally November to March, when it is drier and cooler; April and May can be very hot, and the rainy season brings heavy showers that can reshape travel days. Pack light, quick-drying clothes, a refillable water bottle, and footwear that can handle dust, mud, and temple steps. In towns and cities, ATMs are common, but it is wise to carry cash for tuk-tuks, street food, and smaller guesthouses.

Connectivity is another thing worth sorting early. A Hello eSIM lets you stay online from the moment you arrive, which is useful for maps, translations, bookings, and keeping your route handy if a bus runs late or a storm changes your plans.