Description

Cambodia is still finding its feet after over 30 years of turmoil initiated by the Vietnam War and prolonged by the Khmer Rouge, who wished to create a peasant-led, agrarian cooperative and killed one in five Cambodians trying. Cambodia's landscape is a blend of rice paddies, sugar palm plantations and remote jungles. While most visitors come to see the marvels of Angkor Wat, Cambodia offers plenty of natural beauty for those willing to explore. Bordering the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest, Cambodia has some lovely remote beaches, while the north and northeast are mountainous. Life in Cambodia has always revolved around two great bodies of water: the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake. To the south of Tonle Sap Lake is the capital, Phnom Penh, which retains its faded French colonial splendour, with wide, tree-lined boulevards and impressive architecture set amongst the busy traffic and commerce of an emerging Asian city. The official religion in Cambodia is Theravada Buddhism. However, until the 13th Century, Hinduism - introduced by Indian invaders - was the religion of the Angkor Kingdom. The Khmers believed in "god-kings" and built their religious sites to worship them. Located to the north of the Tonle Sap and in various stages of disrepair, these once majestic temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and quite deservedly so.

• Main city: Phnom Penh
• Main language: Khmer
• Currency/exchange rate: 1 British Pound = 6400 Cambodian Riel
• BBC country profile for Cambodia
• BBC current weather in Cambodia
• BBC climate guide for Cambodia
• Foreign Office travel advice for Cambodia
• Cambodian Embassy website

 

Getting There

When considering one of our Cambodia holidays, you should bear in mind that there are no direct flights into Cambodia from the UK; flights to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap go via Asian hubs such as Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. You can also enter Cambodia via the Mekong from Vietnam.

Visa Requirements

British passport holders require visas for Cambodia Holidays, and they can be obtained prior to departure or on arrival in Cambodia. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return from Cambodia and have at least 2 blank pages. If applying on arrival in Cambodia, 30 day tourist visas cost US$20 and you will need to provide a passport photo. Alternatively if you wish to minimise queuing time on arrival in Cambodia, you may apply in person at the Cambodian Embassy in London or by post. All visas are valid for 30 days from the date of entry and currently cost £15.00 per person. You will need to complete a visa application form and provide 2 passport photos on application.

Health Advice

For information on vaccinations and health requirements, we suggest you contact your GP or a travel clinic such as Fit For Travel at least 2 months prior to departure for advice and to arrange immunisations. Recommended vaccinations for travel to Thailand and Indochina are polio, tetanus, typhoid, meningitis and hepatitis A. We also recommend that you take anti-malarial tablets, but please consult your doctor for his/her advice.

Flying times from UK

Phnom Penh: 13 hours 45 minutes not direct
Siem Reap: Approx. 13 hours 15 minutes not direct

Local Time

GMT + 7 hours

Gallery