Travel Guide to Cambodia

Location

Cambodia is located in South East Asia, and borders Thailand and Laos on the West and North, and Vietnam on the East and Southeast.

Shopping

You will find city market stalls offering many silver items for sale including intricate fruit and animal designs as well as traditional style pieces. Gem-coloured silk in a brilliant array of colours are stacked floor to ceiling in shops at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. This Cambodian handicraft has been passed down from generation to generation. Stone carving is another popular art form and again you will find many vendors in the main tourist markets offering pieces for sale. There is an excellent array of reproduction pieces available.

Geography

Cambodia has a land area of 181,035 square kilometers in the southwestern part of the Indochina peninsula, about 20 percent of which is used for agriculture. It lies completely within the tropics with its southern most points slightly more than 10° above the Equator. The country capital city is Phnom Penh. The country has a coastline of 435 km and extensive mangrove stands, some of which are relatively undisturbed.

History

Cambodia attained full independence from France in 1953. Prince Norodom Sihanouk was elected head of state in 1960. From 1964, the government faced an underground Marxist insurgent movement, the Khmer Rouge.

Following a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh in 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all cities and towns. Over 1 million displaced people died from execution or enforced hardships.

A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside and touched off 13 years of fighting. As a result of the devastating politics of the Khmer Rouge regime, there was virtually no infrastructure left. Institutions of higher education, money, and all forms of commerce industries were non-existent in 1978, so the country had to be built up from nothing.

UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy, as did the rapid diminution of the Khmer Rouge in the mid-1990s. A coalition government, formed after national elections in 1998, brought renewed political stability and the surrender of remaining Khmer Rouge forces.

Since Pol Pot’s death, in 1998, the country has managed to regain internal stability and rebuild its tourist industry.

Climate

The climate can generally be described as tropical. As the country is affected by monsoon, it is hot and humid with an overage temperature around 27.C (80.F). The climate is distinguished by four major seasons. The most pleasant is the cool-dry season from November to February during which temperatures are cooler (average 20-28º C.). The hot-dry season lasts from March to May (average 30-35º C.). From June to August is the rainy season, during which temperatures are relatively cool (average 22-30º C.). And from September to October is the cool-wet season (average 25-30º C.). At this time of year it rarely rains in the morning: most rain comes in the afternoon, and even then, only sporadically. Rainfall varies considerably from area to area. Whereas the seaward slopes of the south-west higlands receive more than 5,000 mm of rain per annum, the central lowlands average only about 1,400 mm.

Basic Information

Language

Khmer is the official language of Cambodia, secondary languages are English and French.

Currency

Riel (CR)

US dollars are as commonly used as the Cambodian Riel and even Thai Baht is acceptable in many places.

Electricity

230V 50Hztwo-pin flat plugs are in use

Banks

Banks are open from 8am-3pm Monday to Friday.

Time Difference GMT +7 hours

Tipping

Tipping isn’t obligatory but is widely practiced in hotels and restaurants in addition to the service charges shown on bills.

Water

Tap water is not recommended for drinking. We recommend you buy bottled water.

Visas

UK passport holders are eligible to purchase a visa valid for one month from proposed date of entry, for a cost of US$20 (single entry). A valid passport with six month’s remaining validity is required.

Tourist Info

What makes it so special?

Cambodia combines ancient culture and exotic landscapes, from lush tropical rainforest and mighty rivers - including the Mekong - to rice paddies and beaches.

Where to Visit

The temple complexes of Angkor are truly one of the wonders of the world. It is the central feature of this UNESCO World Heritage Site containing the magnificent remains of the Khmer civilization. Angkor Wat’s rising series of five towers culminates in an impressive central tower that symbolizes mythical Mount Meru. Thousands of feet of wall space are covered with intricate carving depicting scenes from Hindu mythology.

Royal Palace, Phnom Penh - Still the dwelling place of the king, this palace contains the Silver Pagoda, whose floor is made up of 5329 silver tiles, each weighing 1.125 kilograms.

Angkor Thom, Siem Reap - This magnificent inner royal city was built by the end of the 12th century and is renowned for its temple grounds and towering southern gate.

Phnom Penh is a bustling city, often overshadowed by glamorous Angkor. It is a city of contrasts with fine colonial architecture side by side with ramshackle streets.