The practical stuff every visitor has to figure out once, here it is in one place.
Most nationalities need a visa to enter Cambodia, and you've got two straightforward options. Both cover a 30-day single-entry tourist stay.
| Option | Cost | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| e-Visa | ~$30 + $6 processing fee | Apply online in advance at the official evisa.gov.kh site. Takes about 3 business days to process. Print the approval and bring it with your passport, valid at major airports and most (not all) land borders. |
| Visa on Arrival | $30 cash (USD) | Available at international airports and most land border crossings. No advance planning needed, but bring a passport photo and expect a slower immigration line than e-Visa holders. |
Tip: Only use the official evisa.gov.kh site. Third-party visa sites charge extra fees for the same visa. If you're arriving overland, double-check your specific border crossing accepts e-Visas before relying on one.
Cambodia is hot for most of the year, this isn't a place-to-place thing, it's the same tropical climate almost everywhere you'll go. What actually changes is the season you're visiting in.
| Season | When | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Cool & Dry | November–February | ~22–28°C, low humidity, the most comfortable stretch of the year and peak tourist season, book accommodation ahead. |
| Hot & Dry | March–May | Often 35–40°C and climbing, the harshest stretch. Midday temple visits get genuinely uncomfortable, sun protection matters most here. |
| Wet Season | June–October | Hot and humid with regular afternoon downpours, mornings are usually clear. Countryside and temple moats look their greenest, but expect mud and occasional flooding around Tonle Sap. |
Seasonal patterns shift year to year, treat these as planning guidance, not a guarantee. Regardless of season, plan outdoor temple time for early morning or late afternoon when you can, the midday sun is the real obstacle, not the calendar date.
You don't need to negotiate every tuk-tuk fare by hand anymore, PassApp and Grab cover most of Cambodia's tourist cities for getting around.
Outside the apps, tuk-tuks and moto taxis are everywhere and still worth using, especially for a full-day hire around the temples. Agree on the price (or the day rate) before you get in if you're not booking through an app.
Roam Cambodia is not affiliated with PassApp, Grab, or any business or brand mentioned on this page. Mentions here are for informational purposes only.
A common route for a first trip is Siem Reap, down to Phnom Penh, then on to the coast at Sihanoukville. Here's roughly how each leg breaks down.
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| Route | Bus | Private Taxi | Flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siem Reap → Phnom Penh | ~6–7 hrs, $10–15 | ~5–6 hrs, $60–80 | ~50 min, $60–120 |
| Phnom Penh → Sihanoukville | ~2.5–3 hrs via the PPSHV Expressway, $8–12 (older National Road 4 route: ~5–6 hrs) | ~2–2.5 hrs via the PPSHV Expressway, $50–70 | Not typically available on this leg, most travelers fly Siem Reap ↔ Sihanoukville directly instead |
Prices and durations are rough estimates and change with traffic, season, and provider, treat them as planning anchors, not quotes. Roam Cambodia is not affiliated with any bus, taxi, or airline operator. More routes (Kampot, the islands) will be added as those destination pages go live.
Cambodia runs on two currencies at once, and it trips up a lot of first-time visitors.
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