About Cambodia
| Kingdom of Cambodia | |||
| Population: | 14.7 million | Currency: | Riel and US dollars |
| Capital City: | Phnom Penh (Pop: 2 million) | Time Zone | GMT +7 Hours |
| People: | Khmers (90%) | International Dialing Code | +855 |
| Language: | Khmer | ||
During the 12th Century the Khmer empire was the most significant on earth. Angkor Wat (near Siem Reap) was the capital with over 1,000,000 inhabitants. The empire went from almost Singapore to the Chinese border and to Burma. A huge empire. The city of London had approximately 70,000 at the same time. The temples here cover over 400sq km, making it the largest Archeological site on earth. This includes Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom and Ta Phrom. The Jungle temple is famous from the movie: Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie.Cambodia is a small country between Vietnam, Laos and Thailand in South East Asia. Has a land area of 181,035 square kilometers with 24 provinces. We have approximately 14 million people. Our country is relatively flat, making it easy to bike around, which is a favourite of many tourists.
In fact when Ms Jolie came to Cambodia she so fell in love with the people and its culture that she has a home here, and has adopted children from Cambodia as well.
Siem Reap is an exceptional tourist attraction and town, well set up for tourists. Prices are reasonable booking through us, whereas via Western agencies you can pay three times as much as you need to. The famous Pub Street is like a mini Khao San Rd and houses lots of great eating options. As well there are many excellent massage places available for as low as $5USD for one hour.
Cambodia is not only Siem Reap. In the capital Phnom Penh you will find the Royal palace, Russian markets and of course the S21 and Killing Fields. The main one of which houses over 8,300 bodies.
Our beach at Sihanoukville and Kep is beautiful and untouched. You can enjoy the warm waters or come with us to Kratie and boat along the Mekong seeing the stunning Irrawaddy Dolphin, one of one three fresh water dolphins in the world. We have tigers in the North and beautiful villages and scenery everywhere. Tonle Sap Lake is the largest in Asia. Here you can experience life on the water as the floating village includes churches, restaurants and even a basketball court. There are many beautiful places to explore such as Battambang well known of bamboo train and old French colonial building along the Sanker River, Kampot, Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri, those places are exceptional to start our adventure experience in Cambodia now.
Cambodia has the most charming people. Our country wants you to visit us, not like many countries where tourists are treated poorly. You will make friends for life here if you wish.
Passport and visa
A passport with at least six months validity from the date of entry into Cambodia is required. We recommend you make a photocopy of your passport and keep it somewhere separate, or scan your passport and keep the scan in an accessible email account.
A visa is required for most nationalities and is available upon arrival at both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports, and at the border crossing from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh. A tourist visa costs US$20 and is valid for 30 days. One passport-sized photograph is also required.
Money
The official currency is Riel. However, US dollars are also widely accepted and sometimes preferred. Riel is used for items where the price is less than US$1 and can be used in conjunction with USD. ATMs are widely available in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang and Sihanoukville; they distribute US dollars. There are not many ATMs outside these areas. It is recommended that you always carry cash in small notes with you. These notes should be clean, and free from rips and tears where possible.
Please note while there are many gem shops in Cambodia, we advise against any purchase as the majority of gems are fake. Our guides are not permitted to take our guests to these shops and any purchase is at your own risk.
Post and telecommunications
Post in Cambodia is routed by air through Bangkok, making the service much more reliable than in the past.
Telephone connections to the rest of the world are widely available but can be expensive.
Internet access is available in most major tourist places such as hotels and restaurants.
Transportation
Siem Reap and Phnom Penh Taxis are generally only used to and from the airport, and are at a set price. Remork (Tuk-tuk) are used around town and cost approx$1-3per journey in Siem Reap and around $2 - $3 in Phnom Penh. In both cities, short journeys of less than 1km are about $1 and prices tend to increase at night.
Motorbike taxis Travel by motorbike in Cambodia is not safe and under no circumstances is this sanctioned or recommended by Spirit Asia Travel. Please note that travel by motorbike is not usually covered by insurance. Please check the fine print of your travel insurance policy to be sure of your cover.
Health and Safety
Climate:
Cambodia has a tropical climate that is relatively calm and consistent throughout the year. The average temperature is 27 degrees centigrade. There are two seasons, the humid monsoon seasonwhich spans from June to October, and the dry season which is from November to May.
Mid-November to February: cool and dry March to May: hot and dry June to September: hot and wet October to early November: cool and wet
Please note: The weather can be unpredictable and it may be a good idea to carry an umbrella or raincoat with you. You can purchase raincoats cheaply from supermarkets and general stores.
Health and wellbeing
Please be aware that your health can be at risk in Cambodia due to poor sanitation and lack of proper medical facilities. Rural areas have few, if any, pharmacies and hospitals so make sure you travel with a full supply of any prescribed medicine you take. If you need medical assistance, we recommend Royal Angkor International Hospital in Siem Reap, (t: 063761888) and International SOS Medical & Dental Clinic in Phnom Penh (t: 023216911). Each traveller is responsible for his or her own health. First and foremost, make sure that you have travel insurance for your trip. You should also consult your doctor or local travel clinic for the latest information and advice on travelling to Cambodia before departure.
Please note:If you have a medical condition or allergy which requires particular attention, carry a doctor’s letter with you that describes the nature of the condition and treatment needed. We also recommend you pack a medical kit, including paracetamol and a diarrhoea remedy.
Vaccinations
There are many vaccinations needed when travelling to this part of the world. It is important you ensure you have adequate protection against disease. Book an appointment with your doctor or travel clinic, no less than two months before your departure.
Travel insurance (compulsory)
Spirit Asia Travel does everything possible to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. However, travel inevitably involves some risk and this should be recognised by holiday-makers. Travel insurance is a cost effective way of protecting yourself and your equipment should any problems occur such as cancelled trips, delays, medical emergencies, baggage loss or damage. It also gives you peace of mind. Please also ensure your travel insurance covers all activities planned on your trip.
