Don’t let its tumultuous past and current economic issues deceive you, Cambodia is a pretty sweet place to visit. It’s history is simply one of a kind, and you can easily get lost in it, exploring the temples of Angkor Wat, and beyond, losing yourself in the forgotten world of the Khmer Empire. It is the perfect place to mismatch everything the draws us to travel- endless beaches, party districts, mind-fucking history and shopping so cheap you’ll feel like you’ve barely spent a penny.
Of course, this comes at a bit of a cost. Rife governmental corruption and a recent history of political and economical struggle makes Cambodia one of the poorest countries in the world. The wealth gap between tourists and locals becomes obvious, particularly when you see people living in makeshift huts at the side of the road, meters away from some bougie looking hotels. It made me feel guilty and grateful at the same time. And so it should. Regardless, I certainly don’t believe this should put off visitors- so many locals are reliant on income from tourism, and there are many organisations in the country that aim to improve the livelihood of locals, which you can contribute to as a tourist. Have a look out for my future posts on each area, where I will include a few places that we visited that aimed to make a difference in the country.
Regardless of wealth, the locals are wonderful. They are so friendly and welcoming, and happy to show you their country. We loved our tuk-tuk drivers, hotel staff and other random friends that we encountered on the way. The people definitely helped make our trip. We felt super safe and comfortable.
So… what kind of trip are you planning? Some beach relaxin’? A cram-packed history tour? Or a yoga retreat to take you away from the world? Our trip merged the three and I’m very happy to present our two week itinerary, where we visited Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.
But first, the boring inevitable admin of travel….
Entering Cambodia requires a tourist visa– but don’t worry, it’s super easy to get! None of the craziness that you have to endure entering China or Russia. Bare in mind this is for UK citizens- so double check the requirements for your country.
Basically, you’ve got two options, buy your visa in advance or when you arrive. Both cost the same- around $30. Buying it in advance means that you can skip the hefty visa queue at customs. If you’re a forward planner and fancy this option, you can buy your visa here.
Alternatively, you can buy your visa when you arrive. Just have the cash and a passport photo ready, and, depending on how busy it is, you should have your visa within twenty minutes. Also, don’t forget your arrival card when you head through customs!
When travelling locally, the easiest and most accessible way is by tuk-tuk. They are super cheap, and the drivers hang out pretty much everywhere. Don’t forget to haggle for the price! Alternatively, if you feel ready to brave the roads, you can rent a moped or bicycle, depending on how bold you’re feeling.
In terms of travelling around the country, you have a couple of options depending on your budget- bus or fly. We personally opted for bus- Cambodia is pretty small and managable, and it never took more than a few hours to get from place to place. There are lots of buses available of different quality. You can go super cheap with the locals, but these buses take longer, or take a mini bus with other fellow tourists for a quicker journey with rest stops on the way. You can book in advance or in person, and a quick google will show you lots of sites and tour companies. We used this one.
If you’re feeling bougie you can also rent a taxi for a luxurious ride, ask in your hotel- they probably offer a service.
Alternatively, you can choose to fly. There are regular flights between the main tourists spots of Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.
Day 1-4
Siem Reap
Siem Reap is a must-do on any Cambodia itinerary. You could easily spend your entire time exploring the tonnes of temples in Angkor Wat, there is simply so much to get lost in. Alternatively the city itself is maybe the best in the country- it has this laid back hippie vibe. There are a lot of relaxing little cafes, restaurants and spas. Or for the more crazy among us, Pub Street guarantees a wild night.
Day 5-10
Phnom Penh
As the capital of Cambodia, PP is super hustle and bustley. We chose to spend our time differently to many tourists here and actually booked onto a yoga retreat, so bare in mind we spend most of our five days here either lying down or in down-dog pose. There’s still a lot to explore here though- from the mega shiny architecture to the heartbreaking trail of destruction left behind by the khmer rouge in the killing fields and S21 prison.
Day 10-18
Otres Beach (Sihanoukville)
So we had eight days dedicated doing pretty much fuck all here, and we loved it. We were even staying in rainy season, so couldn’t even lap up the sun’s rays half the time! Our lil’ bungalow was meters from the ocean, and was all of the bliss we needed. There are also plenty of outlying islands that you can explore and zen out for some beach time.
So figure out what sights you want to see and what you want to do and plan away! Watch this space for more posts on travelling Cambodia.
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