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Cambodia rewards a little preparation. It holds one of the greatest architectural sites on earth at Angkor, a recent history that is confronting, and a warmth of welcome that surprises almost everybody.
This guide answers the practical questions UK travellers ask most before a trip to Cambodia, so you arrive feeling ready rather than uncertain.
If a question here is not covered, our team — part UK-based, part on the ground in Cambodia — is always happy to help.
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Cambodia is a friendly and generally safe country for travellers, and the welcome is genuine.
The main thing to watch is opportunistic theft — bag-snatching from passing motorbikes in Phnom Penh in particular — so carry bags on the inside of the pavement and keep phones out of sight on the street. In rural areas, stick to marked paths: landmine clearance is far advanced but not finished, and this is a real reason to follow your guide.
Standard travel sense still applies: keep your documents safe and take out travel insurance before you go.
British citizens travelling for tourism do need a visa for Cambodia. It is straightforward: apply for an e-visa online before you travel, or get a visa on arrival, typically valid for 30 days. You will need a passport valid for at least six months with a blank page.
Rules can change, so always confirm the latest requirements with the UK government's Cambodia travel advice and the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in the UK before you travel. Different British nationality types, or longer stays for work or study, have different rules.
The dry, cool season (November to February) is the most comfortable time to travel and the best window for Angkor — warm days, cooler mornings, and the light that temple photographers wait for.
Hot season (March to May) - very hot, regularly above 35C, and hard work among the stones of Angkor.
Green season (June to October) - lush and dramatic, with the moats and waterways full, fewer visitors at the temples, and short heavy downpours.
One candid note: Angkor at sunrise is busy in every season. Going slightly later, or to a quieter temple, is often the better experience.
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Our Cambodia tours involve a moderate amount of walking, and Angkor is the test of it: the complexes are large, the stone steps are steep, uneven and often without handrails, and there is very little shade.
You do not need to be especially sporty, but you should be comfortable walking for a few hours and carrying a small day bag, and steady on uneven ground.
We start early at the temples and build in rest, because the heat does more to people than the distance.
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Khmer food is subtler than its neighbours and quietly excellent - fish amok steamed in banana leaf, fresh curries, lok lak, and river fish from the Tonle Sap. Come with an open mind.
An open heads-up: vegetarians will eat well in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, but choices narrow in the countryside, and fish paste (prahok) is a foundation of Khmer cooking in ways that are not obvious. Tell us your needs when you book and your guide will help throughout.
If you have a serious allergy you must tell us at the time of booking. We'll do everything we can, but cross-contamination can't be fully guaranteed in every kitchen, so please plan accordingly.
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Plenty of our guests travel solo — a small group is one of the easiest, most sociable ways to see Cambodia on your own.
You can choose to share a room with another solo traveller of the same gender, or book a single room for an additional fee.
Our reviews are full of travellers who arrived alone and left with friends.
The US dollar is used everywhere alongside the Cambodian riel — prices are often quoted in dollars, and change comes back in riel
Bring clean, untorn US notes: damaged or marked dollars are frequently refused
Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants; ATMs mostly dispense dollars
A travel eSIM gives good, cheap coverage
Tipping is appreciated and makes a real difference to guides, drivers and restaurant staff
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Comfortable, well-located hotels with genuine Khmer character — in Siem Reap you will be close enough to Angkor for an early start, which matters more than any other feature of the hotel.
Many of the properties we use are small and locally owned, and several train and employ young Cambodians from rural provinces.
On some itineraries you will stay beside the Tonle Sap or in a rural guesthouse, where things are simpler and the point is the setting.
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Getting there: There are no direct flights from the UK. Expect 14h+ overall with one stopover. See our recommendations.
Time difference: Cambodia is 6-7 hours ahead of the UK (7 in winter, 6 in summer); no daylight saving
Currency: Cambodian riel (KHR), with US dollars used everywhere
Plugs: Types A, C & G, 230V — bring an adapter
Language: Khmer; English is widely used in tourism
Visa: required — apply for an e-visa before you travel
Best time to travel: the dry, cool season (November to February) — see our Cambodia tours
Our team can help with anything this guide did not cover.
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