Photo: Angkor Wat · Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 4.0
First-Timer Guide 🇰🇭Cambodia: What to Know Before You Go
Destination Intel / Cambodia
A typical first trip here runs about $425 to $575 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. This is a rough estimate from PINYA regional pricing, not hand-reviewed yet, and not a live price. Real cost moves with your dates and exchange rates. Get a tailored number in the Budget Calculator, or have The Crown price your exact trip.
Culture, Food and Etiquette
- Amok, fish or chicken steamed in banana leaf with lemongrass and kroeung; national dish
- Lok lak, wok-tossed beef with lime-pepper dipping sauce
- Nom Banh Chok (Khmer noodles), fresh rice noodles with green curry for breakfast
- Fresh tropical fruits: mango, dragonfruit, jackfruit are outstanding
- Fried insects (tarantulas in Skuon), a famous local snack for the brave
- Khmer New Year (April 13–15), water festival, games, and family gatherings
- Bon Om Touk (Water Festival, November), boat races on the Tonle Sap River
- Pchum Ben (Ancestors' Day), offerings made to spirits of deceased ancestors
- Angkor Wat, one of the world's most magnificent archaeological sites
- Apsara dance performances, classical Khmer dance, UNESCO heritage
Khmer is the official language. English is increasingly spoken in tourist areas and Phnom Penh.
French is understood by older generations (French colonial legacy). Be sensitive about the Khmer Rouge history, many families were directly affected.
- Dress modestly at Angkor Wat and all temple complexes
- Samphanng (hands pressed together) is the Khmer greeting, learn it
- Don't touch monks or pass things directly to them
- Tipping is not customary but greatly appreciated
Getting Around
- Domestic flights and buses link Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and the southern coast.
- Tuk-tuks and ride-hailing apps are the common way to get around the cities.
- Boats connect some riverside and lake towns in the wet season.
Source: travel.state.gov
What moves the cost: Cambodia is an affordable destination overall, and the cool dry season and holidays are the busiest and priciest.
Common Questions
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Cambodia?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Is Cambodia safe for first-time travelers?+
Source: travel.state.gov
Latest for Cambodia
Updates for Cambodia will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.