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Airport in Phnom Penh

We wintered in Cambodia from October to May 2015-2016 and are planning to go there again for the winter this season. Cambodia is the first country that we chose for a second time for a long-term stay. Of course, our choice fell on Sihanoukville, as practically the only city convenient for wintering and living in Cambodia.

We'll tell you how to go to Cambodia on your own - step-by-step instructions.

Let's start with buying air tickets. Don’t look for direct flights from Russia to Cambodia, there simply aren’t any. There are two in Cambodia international airport– in Phnom Penh and Siam Rep. For those who want to start their own travel to Cambodia When visiting its main attractions, Siam Repa Airport is more suitable. Not far from the city of Siam Rep is Tonle Sap Lake with its floating Vietnamese villages and, of course, the temples of Angkor. Tickets to Siam Rep are a little more expensive than to Phnom Penh, but not significantly. For example, the tickets we bought from Moscow to Phnom Penh and back for two cost us 78,100 rubles (Qatar Airlines). The most cheap tickets to Siam Rep will cost 87 thousand (Vietnamese Airlines). When planning your trip, we recommend buying round-trip tickets at once, as this will cost significantly less. Currently, there are many websites selling airline tickets. We usually use the Skyskanner or Aviasales platforms. They usually give the most reasonable prices.

For travelers planning a seaside holiday in Cambodia, the airport in Phnom Penh is more suitable.

Sihanoukville has a small airport accessible from Phnom Penh and Siam Rep. But the tickets will be prohibitively expensive (the minimum cost of a flight from Siam Rep to Sihanoukville is 4,500 rubles per person. Therefore, we are not considering this option for ourselves. For traveling to Cambodia on your own we use the bus from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. Also in Sihanoukville by land transport can be reached from Bangkok, Pattaya and Ho Chi Minh City.

Streets of Phnom Penh

As we wrote above, this year we bought tickets from Moscow to Phnom Penh on Qatar Airways with a transfer in Doha. The flight is quite tiring, so we make a stop in Phnom Penh. We stay for one night in some budget hotel. We book a hotel while still in Moscow. We use the website Booking.com. It gives reasonable prices and, as a rule, does not require prepayment.

Having checked into a hotel in Phnom Penh, we immediately go to buy bus tickets to Sihanoukville. There are many transport companies that can be used to get to Sihanoukville. Ticket prices range from $8 to $12 depending on the comfort of the minibus. But even the most budget buses will definitely have air conditioning. Travel time is approximately 5 hours.

How we look for housing in Sihanoukville

BS Hollidey Villa in Sihanoukville

Don't be afraid to go to Cambodia as a savage– Finding housing in Sihanoukville is not difficult. Our actions are as follows: first, we book a hotel (from Russia) for 2-3 days, rent a motorbike in Sihanoukville and begin searching for suitable housing. The city is small, so it won’t be difficult to travel around it all in a day. We prefer to live in a separate house, and we look at them accordingly, taking into account our budget and comfort requirements. It must be said that housing in Sihanoukville is rented mainly for a period of 2 months or longer. And the longer the rental, the lower the price.

So, we drive around the city, paying attention to the gated communities where mostly foreigners live, and looking at the rental notices hanging on the houses. If we like one of the houses, we call the number in the ad and negotiate with the owner. He drives up, we look at the house and, if everything is satisfactory, we discuss the terms of rent and payment utilities. As a rule, the owner takes a month's payment in advance plus a deposit equal to one month or two months' rent. Last season we rented a small, one-story house - a studio with a kitchen of 50 sq. m for $250 per month. Utilities are paid by bills, which are delivered directly to your home once a month. After this, we sign a rental contract with passport data, in which, along with the signature, a fingerprint is always placed. And that's it - you can move in.

Be sure to discuss all the details regarding payment and other things with the owner. For example, by the availability of the Internet, air conditioning, furniture and dishes. Be sure to pay attention to electricity tariffs, it is very expensive in Cambodia. We spent about $100 every month. This amount depends on how actively you use the air conditioner. Our attempts to save a little on air conditioning led to nothing... When it is almost always more than 30 degrees outside and high humidity, it is not worth saving on your own health. That's why our air conditioner was running for days on end! With water bills, everything was not so bad; we got no more than $5 a month. Internet in Cambodia is expensive. For not very fast internet (up to 20 Mb/sec) we paid $30 per month.

If you are going to travel to Cambodia on your own for a period of no more than a month, then it will be easier for you to check into a hotel or guesthouse, of which there are a great many in Sihanoukville. The most budget ones will cost from $10 per night.

Transport in Sihanoukville

There is no public transport in Sihanoukville. If you are not going to rent a motorbike, then you need to look for housing or a hotel within walking distance of beaches and restaurants. Those who do not drive a motorbike get around the city in tuk-tuks. For a trip of 2-3 km you will be quoted a price of $5. Be sure to haggle with the tuk-tuker, the price can be reduced by 2 times.

It should be borne in mind that it is not customary to walk in Sihanoukville. You will simply be tormented by persistent offers to give you a ride, and walking in 35-degree heat is, to put it mildly, uncomfortable.

If you drive a motorbike, then renting one in Sihanoukville is not a problem. Depending on the model, the price will be from 60 to 100 $ per month. The rental amount depends on the length of the term. We rented a Honda Airblade for $70 a month. If you rent a motorbike for several days, the amount will be $7-8 per day. Pay attention to the presence of license plates on the motorbike! For the absence of license plates, the police will mercilessly fine you, including confiscating your motorbike. Riding without helmets is also penalized. When renting a motorbike, they are always included. If you ride together, be sure to ask for two helmets. They will give them to you without any problems. When you rent a motorbike, your passport is taken from you. There is no need to be afraid of this, this is a common practice in Cambodia. They will definitely give you your passport.

Visa to Cambodia

If you are planning travel to Cambodia for a period of no more than a month, then there are no problems with the visa. Upon arrival at the airport, they will stick a visa on your passport in about 20 minutes. You need to have a standard 3/4 photo with you - it is pasted onto the visa in your passport. If there is no photo, you will be photographed on the spot for $1. A standard tourist visa costs $30. If you enter Cambodia through a land border crossing, for example from Vietnam or Thailand, then the price of a visa may vary depending on the greed of a particular border guard and, naturally, only upward. It can vary from 35 to 50 dollars. This is especially true for the border with Thailand.

Read more about this in our article - Do Russians need a visa to Cambodia?

The border guards behave as if this is their private shop. If you plan to be in Cambodia long term, then it is better for you to take a work visa upon entry. Its cost at the airport is $35. At the land border, again, as it turns out. Either of these two types of visas is issued for one month. They must be extended for a longer period. Extending your visa in Cambodia is easy. To do this, just contact any travel agency. You give your passport and a week later you receive it back with a stamped visa.

The disadvantage of a tourist visa is that it can only be extended for a month and only once. This pleasure costs $45. To further extend your tourist visa, you need to leave and re-enter the country. With a work visa everything is simpler. It can be extended for one, three or six months an unlimited number of times. The cost of renewal for one month is $45, for three months $90, for six months $180. Motorbike rental offices also, as a rule, deal with visa extensions.

Money and prices in Cambodia

Cambodia is an amazing country - despite all its poverty and underdevelopment, there is absolutely no inflation. This is explained by the fact that the exchange rate of the local currency, the riel, is pegged to the dollar. For recent years it is unchanged and amounts to 4000 per $1. Prices in markets and shops are also in dollars. In practice, the dollar is second national currency Cambodia and is accepted everywhere equally in riel.

The first time we were in Cambodia was in 2014, and then in 2016. During this time, prices have not changed at all.

In addition, Cambodia is one large area duty free. For example, prices for branded alcohol and cigarettes in a regular Cambodian store are much lower than in duty free at Russian airports.

Price levels vary across the country. They are the lowest, oddly enough, in Sihanoukville.

Sihanoukville has many small shops, several supermarkets and a huge Central Market. Large shopping centers not in the city yet. Samudera's largest and most popular supermarket. Most tourists shop there. Samudera has a large selection of products, including those familiar to Europeans. Including a huge selection of branded alcohol at the most attractive prices.

What to see in Cambodia on your own

Angkor Temples

In order to explore the main attraction of Cambodia - the temples of Angkor, you need to get to Siam Rep. Siam Rep has its own airport. But you can also get to the city by land. You can get to Siam Rep by bus from Phnom Phnom, Bangkok and Pattaya. We got there from Pattaya. In Siam Rep great amount hotels and guesthouses for every taste and budget. Moreover, they are mostly new and very good.

Read more about this in our article - Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia.

The town of Siam Rep is quite nice and, perhaps, the most “European” in Cambodia.

In order to see the temples of Angkor, the easiest way is to hire a tuk-tuk from your hotel. Siam Rep is located just a few kilometers from the Angkor temple complex. Tickets at the box office come in three types: one-day tickets cost $20, three-day tickets cost $40, and one-week tickets cost $60. Be sure to take your passports with you, as all tickets are personal and have a photo. They will take your photo directly at the cash register. Tourists usually spend three days visiting temples. In one day you can visit only a few main temples, such as Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Baon, Ta Prohm. Angkor has its own special aura.

Try to explore the temples slowly and thoughtfully. And then you will feel the breath of centuries on its ancient walls and stones...

Also not far from Siam Rep is Tonle Sap Lake, with its floating Vietnamese villages.

Sights of southern Cambodia

Towns of Kampot, Kep, national park Bokor, Rem National Park - here, what you can see in Cambodia on your own. We traveled along this route - Kampot Kep - Bokor Park on a motorbike. From Sihanoukville to Kampot is about 100 km. We covered them in 3 hours with stops at a little rest. The town of Kampot left us with a pleasant impression. We enjoyed walking around it and having lunch at one of the nice restaurants in the city. After lunch we went further to the city of Kep, which is 35 km from Kampot. We checked in there in advance booked hotel Brise de Kep. The next day we explored the town of Kep and went to Bokor National Park. We were immediately fascinated by the road along the winding, mountain serpentine Bokor. The air there was surprisingly cool, which gave us great pleasure after the heat below. And looking from observation deck at the very top, it seems like you're floating in the air! We wanted to come there again sometime.

Despite worldwide fame Angkor, Cambodia is not spoiled by tourists and in the minds of many remains a dense Asian state with an undeveloped network of roads, a poorly educated population, unsanitary conditions, poor quality food, easily accessible women and cheap alcohol. I heard about Cambodia back in school, at a time when it was the Socialist Republic of Kampuchea and I hardly thought that I would get there in adulthood as an independent traveler. The country is only surpassed in popularity among Ukrainians by Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and similar “romantic” countries. Meanwhile, the tourism and educational potential of Cambodia grew after the Pol Pot regime was overthrown and the Kingdom opened its doors to foreigners. There is a lot to see here. Starting from the famous Angkor temple complex, ending with the little-known capital of Phnom Penh. The country does not shy away from beach holiday on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand. What attracts travelers here? It’s warm, comfortable, cheap and interesting here, Oleg blurted out without thinking. You can travel around the country by car, by bus, or by boat along the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. The best option- automobile. The traffic here, which is familiar to us, is on the right, unlike neighboring Thailand, the main roads, of course, are not European, but they are put in order and the quality will give a head start to their native highways. Most of the country is covered with jungle and, accordingly, it is better not to go there without guides. Our points of interest will be the capital Phnom Penh, temple complex Angkor and resort town Sihanoukville.

It’s not difficult to organize an independent trip around the country, especially since there is no other option. None of the well-known travel companies I interviewed could clearly answer the question about organizing a tour around the country. The maximum they offered was a one- or two-day trip to Angkor from neighboring Thailand.

A visa to Cambodia is issued upon arrival at the airport and costs 25 US dollars.

Traveling around the country:I advise you to take a car with a driver, the price difference is insignificant, but the advantages are obvious. It’s best to do this in a group of 4-6 people; you won’t even notice the costs. A car with a driver will cost around $100 per day, this price includes gasoline. Not a bad sitehttp://incambodia.ru/ . You can also find a guide to the country here.

How to get there: T The traditional flight option is via Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City. A lot of airlines fly here, the most popular areAirAstana,Emirates together with UIA, Turkish Airlines. Recently started flying directly to Phnom PenhQatarAir. The cost of a ticket depends greatly on the time of year; if you buy six months in advance, you can spend $800 round trip.

Cambodia route.

The route can start in Siem Reap, where the local, relatively expensive Bangkok Air flies from Bangkok. Most routes start from Siem Reap. The ancient Khmer capital of Angkor is located nearby. The next destination is the modern capital of the country, Phnom Penh, just over 300 km. on quite a decent road. You can end your trip at sea, on young resort Sihanoukville. To save time and money, we return to Bangkok from Phnom Penh airport by Air Asia - the largest Asian low-cost airline.

Siem Reap

A small town made famous by the ancient Angkor, located nearby. Hotel prices here will pleasantly surprise even experienced tourists. A decent overnight stay will cost 5-10 US dollars, but it’s better not to save money and stay in a luxury hotel with a swimming pool and a tropical garden for 20-30 dollars, after day excursion In the ancient temples, evening relaxation will not be superfluous.

Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmers and the main tourist attraction of Cambodia, is known to some from history lessons, and to others from the Hollywood blockbuster - the film about Lara Croft, Tomb Raider was filmed here.

It is best to arrive in Angkor at dawn, firstly it is not so hot, and secondly it is not yet large quantity tourist groups, which are brought by buses from neighboring Thailand. And the morning light is perfect for photography. Find it yourself Russian speaking guide available from numerous local agencies.

Closer to lunch, another “danger” awaits the traveler - the ubiquitous Cambodian kids will pester you with various business offers, from selling postcards to offering to sing, dance, or take pictures. “Or maybe the white mister wants to see a beautiful remote temple?” It is worth accepting at least one of the most harmless offers, and the number of accompanying minor sellers and assistants will grow exponentially.

Currency

The Cambodian currency is the local Riel, the US dollar is actually the second currency and is accepted everywhere. Thai baht is also in use.

Day ticket price in ancient capital is 20 US dollars and this is the largest one-time expense that awaits you in Cambodia.

Prices here generally favor travelers. They are extremely low, although they tend to grow. To spend 50 US dollars in a day you need to try very hard; the daily budget per person, including accommodation, can be 15-25 dollars. More modest travelers can easily settle for two to three times less. If you add here cheap transport, it turns out to be an ideal country for travel.

Angkor there is no way to get around even in two days, there is a small circle Angkor and a large circle, it is better to move around the temples in a car with air conditioning, the roads inside are normal, and the coolness will bring you back to life.

Most big temple the ancient Khmer capital - Angkor Wat, a record holder for size, copies the universe in miniature and was built in honor of Vishnu - a Hindu deity. There are always a lot of people there, but thanks to its impressive size (1.5 km by 1.3 km), everyone somehow disperses around the perimeter and does not interfere with each other.

Except Angkor Wat a must visit temple Bayon. Its highlight is the huge stone faces looking at you from above. If you look closely at them, you get the feeling that they are spying on you. They look kindly, appreciatively and smile a little. The longer you look at them, the more alarming it becomes, Tatyana Babich, a bank employee and an experienced independent tourist, shares her impressions.

The most interesting temple of Angora is Ta Prohm, deliberately left by the authorities at the mercy of the jungle, it was simply created for filming adventure films, no other decorations are needed, nature did everything itself. Centuries-old trees grow right on the temple, wrapping their roots around its towers and walls.

Except ancient Angkor in Siem Reap you can walk to the local market and go to Tonle Sap Lake. There are floating villages here that have preserved the ancient way of life, although, in my opinion, this is just a tourist attraction like the Maasai village in Kenya.

Ends with a visit to Angkor a tourist route Most travelers, we are going to the capital of the Kingdom of Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh.

Despite its lack of publicity, there is something to see here. Main attraction – Royal Palace. In fact, it is a whole complex of buildings. Less pretentious than Thai temples, it nevertheless pleases the eye with the elegance of its forms. The famous Silver Pagoda is also located here.

Phnom Penh is a fairly densely populated city and this becomes clear upon entry. The main means of transportation for local residents motorbike, their number per unit of road surface is amazing. Here, it’s normal for a whole family to sit on a two-seater scooter, with dad driving, mom and three children behind him. However, there are also a lot of cars, and Cambodians, like Ukrainians, prefer jeeps. Many have status Japanese and American cars. At one time, in this poor country, plots of land were distributed and many citizens, having received what they thought were unnecessary plots, quickly turned them into banknotes, which they immediately rushed to exchange for “prestigious” cars. Somehow I immediately remembered the Ukrainian 90s.

One of the myths about Cambodia - widespread unsanitary conditions - was dispelled on the very first day of my stay in the country. There is no more garbage on the Phnom Penh embankment than on Khreshchatyk, although most Cambodians do not have the habit of cleaning up after themselves. It's common here for banana peels or leftover street food to end up on the sidewalk. No problem, the trash will be removed by morning.

From the city's embankment you can go for a walk along the great Asian Mekong River, the price is 20-30 dollars per group. The city embankment here is generally the center of tourist life; the main objects of interest are located nearby.

To travel around the country, minimal knowledge is enough in English. Everyone here speaks English, from young to old. Either life forces me, or the country still has a good education system. For a state that only recently experienced the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime and civil war, progress is obvious. The military theme is still present everywhere here - from $2 T-shirts with the slogan “beware of mines” and crippled beggars to the Killing Fields genocide museum in Phnom Penh.

In most cases, simply moving your hand or looking in the direction of your gaze is enough to obtain information. Cambodians are generally very sociable and friendly. Every second person is interested in information about where you are from, every fifth person will want to become your guide. After a greeting phrase, many immediately provide information about places worth visiting, as well as where you can eat, drink, or just have a good time. All this selflessly with a wide, sincere smile. One feels that Phnom Penh is not spoiled by tourists.

Where to eat in the city.

Yes everywhere. On the street, in inexpensive cafes in the outback or in more pretentious restaurants on the embankment. It is not the quality of the food that will differ, but only the price. Cambodian cuisine is similar to Thai cuisine, only less spicy and more spicy. Hot places in Phnom Penh there is also plenty, and the prices for local whiskey or rum are such that, if desired, you can drink them instead of water, the local prices for alcohol are the lowest in the world, but the climate does not allow it, the temperature all year round practically does not deviate from +30 Celsius.

Sihanoukville.

The main seaside resort of the country, Sihanoukville, is about two hundred kilometers and almost three hours away on a decent quality road. If time permits, you can calmly spend a few days here before the long journey home. Local sandy beaches certainly not Bounty, but quite decent quality with good infrastructure, palm-covered shores and turquoise water of the Gulf of Thailand. Hotel prices are a little more expensive than in the center of the country, it is a resort after all. A decent quality hotel on the coast will cost a traveler 30-50 dollars per night. Double Room Of course, there are luxury five-star offers for 80-200 US dollars.

Phnom Penh Airport, through which travelers return home, will surprise big amount people in uniform who will harmoniously help you find the right registration desks and answer any questions. Whether these are remnants of the socialist past, or simply a desire to be useful, it was not possible to understand. In any case, the main thing that remains after traveling through this truly exotic Asian country is luggage vivid impressions and strong sincere emotions.

Approximate travel budget for two adults.

Expense item	Amount, US dollar
Flight Kyiv-Bangkok
Flight Bangkok-Siem Reap
Flight Phnom Penh – Bangkok	90.00*2=180 Traveling by car: my rules The best travel destinations during a crisis Last modified Saturday, January 10, 2015

Cambodia is one of the least explored countries in Southeast Asia by tourists. If today only a lazy tour operator does not offer inexpensive tour packages to neighboring Thailand, then Russian tour operators practically do not work directly with this country. Therefore, we will tell you how to organize an independent trip to this exotic and mysterious country of ancient and modern monuments, the most beautiful beaches and delicious Khmer cuisine. We offer two options for traveling to Cambodia.

1. Book your own flights to Cambodia

Let us immediately note that this method is not budgetary precisely for the reason that tour operators practically do not carry out charter flights to Kampuchea, as the Asians themselves call the country, and regular direct flights from Russia to Cambodia are an almost mythical phenomenon.

Go to the websites of airline ticket booking systems and book seats on flights with one or two connections.

The estimated cost of tickets is from 35 thousand rubles. per adult round trip passenger. Planes usually arrive in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh or in the tourist town of Siem Reap.

Despite the fact that Phnom Penh is the main administrative city country, it is not replete with tourist attractions. Do not forget that for several decades until the 90s, Cambodia was torn apart Civil War and its consequences. Many buildings and people were destroyed. The initiator of the war was the bloody dictator Pol Pot. It is in Phnom Penh that you can visit the building of a former concentration camp for Cambodians who did not join the Khmer Rouge. You can stay in this city for a couple of days to explore it, wander through the streets of the capital and be amazed at how sincerely friendly and welcoming the Khmer people are, despite all the recent suffering caused by the war.

The cost of guesthouses in Phnom Penh, as in the cities of Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, starts from $5 for a simple “bedroom” without air conditioning to $20-30 for an apartment in a luxury hotel or guesthouse.

Next from Phnom Penh you can head to the city of Siem Reap, which attracts about two million tourists every year. People come here mainly to see the monument of religious architecture - Angkor Wat. The city is replete with a variety of cafes with delicious and inexpensive food from different nations of the world. Dishes cost $1.50 and up. You can get here from Phnom Penh by regular bus, which runs daily several times a day, or order a local taxi. The road from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap will cost approximately 10 to 20 dollars per person.

From Siem Reap there are direct buses to the seaside resort town of Sihanoukville, famous for its wonderful beaches and active nightlife. The cost of the bus is from 11 dollars. You can take a taxi for about 40-50 dollars per car.

Another expense item is Cambodian entry visa, which is issued to Russian citizens on the 30th day of stay and costs $20. Getting a visa is easy. To do this, you need one photo for a visa, an international passport and a completed arrival card, the form of which is issued by border guards.

2. Buy a tour package to Thailand, and upon arrival buy a tour to Cambodia

It is simpler in terms of organization and a budget option. From different parts of Russia, tour packages to Thailand for two weeks today cost from 20 thousand rubles. per person. There are a lot of travel agencies in Pattaya or Bangkok that offer excursions in Russian to neighboring Cambodia lasting two days and costing from 4,000 rubles.

Fast, inexpensive and convenient. There is only one thing: on these trips, led by accompanying persons and guides, you will not get the full experience of the trip that independent tourists get. However, it is very convenient when traveling, for example, with a small child.

Choose a travel option that is convenient for you and enjoy the unique exoticism of Cambodia!

Once a great power South-East Asia- today can be considered the most economically poor and ruined state. Having been excluded from the world community by the regime of dictator Pol Pot for seven long years, Cambodia was left without intelligentsia, specialists and simply educated people. The long civil war completely ruined the country; only by the mid-90s did peaceful life begin to improve.

Tourism for Cambodia is the most important revenue item in the budget. Despite the weak infrastructure, the country is proud of its temple complexes, natural parks, great beaches and delicious cuisine. The mild climate, very cheap housing and food well compensate for the lack of European comfort and inconvenience when moving around the country.

Many domestic tourists note the similarity of the current economic situation in Cambodia with Russia in the 90s. High corruption, an abundance of poor people and outright beggars on the streets. On the other hand, they try to protect tourists from all possible troubles. But vigilance will never be superfluous.

Travel companies sell five-day tours to the jungle land and Hindu temples at a price of 1,400 euros for two (without meals, the price includes flights and a simple room in a 3* hotel). The real cost of the trip in this case will eventually increase to more than a thousand euros per person. Can you save money by traveling on your own? Let's figure it out!

Visa!

Despite the fact that Russians need a visa to visit Cambodia, it will not significantly increase the travel budget. A visa can be obtained in Russia, through a travel company, or in person at the consulate, as well as at the airport terminal.

The cost of an entry permit does not cost more than 18 euros (in both cases). True, if you use the services travel companies, you will have to pay approximately the same amount.

A Cambodian visa entitles a tourist to visit Thailand and return back. An undoubted advantage, isn't it?

Road

There are no direct scheduled flights between Russia and Cambodia. Organized tourists enter the country charter flights, getting a ticket for which is quite problematic. You will have to fly with transfers in China, Vietnam or Thailand.

The cheapest months to fly to Cambodia are November-December and February-March. At this time, the most attractive discounts on tickets from Moscow to Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville are offered by China Eastern - from 525 euros round trip. The flight takes about a day (long wait at the transfer in Shanghai). A flight through Thailand or Vietnam can be found much faster, but the cost of such a flight will be more than two thousand euros per person.

Hotels, apartments, residences

Most often in Cambodia there are hotels that do not provide meals to guests. This circumstance will not spoil your vacation, since in any city in the country the number of cafes, restaurants and eateries is amazing.

And the prices are very reasonable:

• You can find a European-level hotel for one hundred euros per day, or you can stay in an excellent small guest house a kilometer from the beach for 6 euros (in November-December, double room with fan and free internet).
• For 12 euros you can rent an excellent room with air conditioning, TV (satellite TV, several Russian channels), in a hotel that provides a fairly high level of comfort.
• A bungalow fully equipped with all amenities (shower, toilet, air conditioning, terrace, outdoor cooking facilities) will cost no more than 13-15 euros.
• A hotel room that provides guests with breakfast starts from 22 euros. Bungalow 300 meters from the beach - from 30 euros (breakfast included).

The level of service for tourists in hotels is very high. Khmers in general are very friendly and helpful people.

Gastronomic features and prices for food in restaurants and cafes

Traditional Cambodian dishes are not very different in their ingredients neighboring countries(Thailand, Vietnam), well known to our tourists. But the taste of these same dishes here is completely special: not as spicy as in Thailand, not as balanced as in Vietnam. Khmer dishes are almost always a little sweet, and the range of spices is such that it creates a special and unique aroma.

In Cambodia, an Asian and traditional country, rice is the basis of nutrition. Meat and fish are also held in high esteem here. The climate provides an extraordinary variety of vegetables and fruits in the diet. If in other countries of Southeast Asia, dishes from insects and reptiles are prepared more for tourists, in Cambodia local population enjoys eating red ants, larvae, spiders, beetles and grasshoppers, snakes, fried or stewed frogs. Such exotic dishes most often appear as snacks for strong alcohol.

Exotic dishes of Cambodia are not in demand by all tourists, but all travelers note the especially delicious dishes prepared from traditional European ingredients:

• Bai sach chrouk is a widespread, inexpensive, but very filling and spicy dish. Spicy rice with pieces of pork roasted over an open fire, served with fresh cabbage and a cup of broth. Excellent breakfast, costing no more than 1 euro;
• Lap Khmer is a great salad with marinated beef and vegetables. It may well pass as a main dish, especially in the hot season;
• Kdam chaa - fried crab with herbs and local pepper, served in resort towns on the ocean;
• Ankh dtrey myk - grilled squid with lime and basil sauce;
• Fried fish is a very special dish, the fish is cooked in coconut milk and served with a sauce of many spices and lime juice.

Prices for food in street cafes are very low, and the quality of food is always excellent. If you feed yourself, you will have to spend a little more.

The fact is that in Cambodian supermarkets the products are mostly imported. Their prices cannot be called low, and their quality is even more so. There are frequent power cuts in the country. During the hot season, food spoils quickly.

When eating in inexpensive cafes and restaurants, expenses should be planned as follows:

• Breakfast - one dish and a drink - 1.5-2 euros;
• Lunch - two dishes and a drink - 3-4 euros;
• Dinner - one dish, beer or wine - 3 euros.

The daily food budget is therefore between 7.5 and 9 euros per person.

Historical and natural attractions

All the main tourist beauties of Cambodia can be divided into three groups: temples, beaches, natural parks and pepper plantations.

Cambodia offers so many sites that no matter where you are (Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Kampot, etc.), you can visit many unusual temple complexes, special museums, walk through the real jungle and enjoy the most fantastic views.

List of objects of the “obligatory” tourist program:

• Angkor Wat is the main treasure of Cambodia, which no tourist can miss. A Hindu temple city, symbolically representing the center of the world - Mount Meru. Dedicated to god Vishnu. Despite the fact that the temple is abandoned and has not been active for a long time, when visiting it, you must observe some restrictions on clothing (shorts and short T-shirts are prohibited). It will take several days to explore the complex. The best option is a 72-hour ticket (35 euros). Taxi (tuk-tuk) from the nearest large city(Sien Reap) - 10 euros (if rented for the whole day). You can get from the capital by bus (the journey takes 7 hours, ticket costs 13.50 euros one way). Best time to visit - early morning (no later than 5 o'clock), at other times you will have to wade through the crowd;
• Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, has only two real interesting objects for tourists: Royal Palace and Genocide Museum. The Royal Palace will take at least two hours. The main thing here is the silver pagoda and the emerald Buddha. Entrance ticket - 8.5 euros. Covered clothing is required to visit (no shorts or short T-shirts!). Genocide Museum - scary place, political prison from the time of Pol Pot. Torture chambers, punishment cells, historical exhibitions - all this makes a strong impression. Entrance ticket - 2 euros;
• Sihanoukville - main resort countries. There are many ancient temples in the city, and in the city surroundings you can see waterfalls and pepper plantations. But the main thing here is the beaches (they are basically free, a sunbed is provided after ordering at the beach bar - from 1 euro). Prices in the city are higher than in other areas of the country;
• Kampot - small town, in the vicinity of which there is natural Park Bokor. Except natural beauty, here you definitely need to see the abandoned royal residence and caves. In the town itself there is an unusually original market, where you can find not only vegetables and fruits, but also inexpensive and high-quality silk scarves (5-7 euros). You can explore the park and temples for free;
• Uninhabited islands near Sihanoukville - visiting these islands is a unique opportunity to escape from civilization and relax in the wilderness virgin nature(conditionally, of course, there are now many people who want to visit these islands).

Precautions and features of Cambodian life

The main troubles that tourists encounter in Cambodia are related to three features of the country:

• Lack of ATMs, currency scammers;
• Corruption;
• Beggars (most often children).

In the first case, you need to have cash with you. American dollars are best; they can always be exchanged in banks and exchange offices at a favorable rate. Moreover, you can pay with dollars almost everywhere, although this is not convenient. The best option: have cash in local currency and dollars in small denominations.

In the second case, nothing can be done. You need to be doomedly prepared that the “magic” 1 dollar bill will solve almost all misunderstandings: crossing the road incorrectly (although the locals never follow the rules traffic), you want to stay in the temple longer (almost all of them are officially open until 6 pm), you want to get a working sunbed, you want your room to have a view of the sea... Everything can be decided, and the price is 1 American dollar.

In the third case, you will have to work harder. To keep the beggars away from you for the entire duration of your vacation, you will have to make a scandal with the participation of the tourist police once. They will leave immediately and forever!

Enjoy your holiday in Cambodia!

There are no particular difficulties in traveling to Cambodia on your own; what matters is the desire and availability of money. It is enough to buy a ticket and board a plane, fly several thousand kilometers to find yourself in this fabulous tropical country. The idea of ​​going to independent trip to Cambodia occurs for everyone for different reasons. Trying to find information about independent rest in Cambodia, reading about this on various forums, anyone interested could already find out that the Khmers do not bite unless you anger them, bees do not fly, the grass is always green and the average annual temperature is thirty degrees. And it doesn’t matter whether you need a beach holiday or want to explore local attractions, or maybe have an active holiday, or even work, you will certainly be interested in reading everything that will be written below in this article.

I think that independent travel to Cambodia should be different for everyone. If this planned trip is your first acquaintance with the country, and, moreover, you have never been to Asia before, then first you need to believe that Asia is a different world. Not even because the main religion here is Buddhism. In Asia, your ideas about the world of a person who has lived all his life in Russia are turned upside down. And you have to live this yourself. .

The state of Cambodia has a sad, bloody history, which is worth reading about separately if you are really planning to visit this wonderful country in Southeast Asia. Today, according to the constitution adopted this year, Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy with a multi-party system. It can be noted that this is one of the most underdeveloped countries in Asia, largely thanks to the almost twenty-year bloody regime of Pol Pot, when most of The educated population was destroyed, the infrastructure was destroyed. Since this article is not about history, let’s not talk about sad things. Despite any government regimes, the sun still shines every day, bananas grow on palm trees, and the Khmers (the local population) are happy simply because they live in this Kingdom of Miracles.

How to get to Cambodia, let everyone decide for themselves what they like and what they can afford. You can go by plane, you can take buses, you can also hitchhike.

You, of course, are wondering whether Russians need a visa to Cambodia. This is a classic question and can be answered simply: it is needed, and for a year it costs $300, which a year ago was a very insignificant amount. A monthly visa costs about $30, and it can be extended while in the country for another month. A business visa can be issued for three, six or a year at once, but for this you will need a work permit.

Transport in Cambodia

Traveling around Cambodia, you can easily notice that the country is not at all royal. railways. In fact, Cambodia has this moment Some of the worst railway networks in the world, where trains run without schedules, and the quality of the tracks leaves much to be desired, to put it mildly.. In some places you can find homemade bamboo carts, which were invented by locals, making their own railway connection in this way. These carts look funny and can be not only a means of transportation for tourists, but also a kind of attraction.

With air communication within the country, everything is also not so simple, there are only a few routes, mainly Phnom Penh - Siem Reap, Sihanoukville - Siem Reap, Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh.

The most common and practically the only public transport in Cambodia there are buses. All cities are connected bus routes. There are different buses, most of them are ancient and less comfortable, but there are also new ones, equipped with TVs and air conditioning. There are also night buses between Sihanoukville and Siem Reap with two-level sleeping areas, with mattresses, pillows, blankets and cozy curtains. Due to safety regulations, such buses are prohibited in the civilized world, but in Cambodia they are allowed. By the way, it is really very convenient and comfortable. It is convenient to rent a car (from $15 per day) and travel around the country, or a motorbike (from $5 per day) is the most common type personal transport. In this case, it is advisable to have insurance, since there are many accidents on the road, it is difficult to call the Khmers careful drivers.. A helmet is required, and if a local policeman stops you and asks for a license, you can give 1 dollar and wish Have a good day. By the way, traffic in the country is on the right, unlike neighboring Thailand. It is important to note that buses are used as almost the only possible connection between cities, not counting water transport, less popular and not available everywhere.

Inside the cities themselves, instead of buses, numerous tuk-tuks ply - the only public city transport. Based on the taxi principle. A tuk-tuk is a covered three-wheeled motorcycle, it can accommodate a group of up to 6 people, comfortably 4. Also, there is just a motorcycle taxi, for one maximum of two people, the trip will cost from 1 dollar.

Housing in Cambodia

Accommodation in Cambodia is also inexpensive, starting from $100 for a guest room with toilet and shower. It can be cheaper, for example, without air conditioning. And an air conditioner will definitely not be superfluous, although for many people a fan is enough, given that electricity is expensive in Cambodia. Expensive enough to be worth writing about. Of varying size, quality and content, houses can be rented from $200 to $1,000 with a contract for a year, or at best 6 months. hope for good design It’s not worth it, it’s still rare in Cambodia. Villas with a pool from 1000 to 5000 dollars per month. Hotels in Cambodia can also be found to suit every taste, prices are more than affordable and depend on the quality of the rooms, season, location and status of the hotel. It is strictly not recommended to brush your teeth with tap water, and even to cook - only with bottled water, which can be purchased at every step.

Food in Cambodia

Cambodia's cuisine is reminiscent of the cuisines of the kingdom's neighbors, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Also, you can notice the influence of French cuisine, because Cambodia was at one time French colony. I would like to note that the Khmers generally love to eat and they eat almost everything, in the literal sense of the word. Everything that crawls, flies and swims, and of course, grows on trees. It's about and about fried grasshoppers, spiders, larvae of all kinds of insects, snake and crocodile meat, for example. The Khmers also love dog meat, which is a delicacy and is not cheap. The Khmers are very fond of various herbs, plant shoots, algae, and, of course, numerous fruits and vegetables. The most common cereal is rice (more than two hundred varieties of rice are grown in Cambodia), it is never in short supply and is always present on the Khmer table.

To prepare rice, herbs and various vegetable oils are used, thanks to which it has a characteristic taste and aroma. Coconut and palm oils, as well as nut and peanut oils, are very common in cooking. Food from the sea, the so-called see food, is popular: squid, octopus, shrimp, all kinds of fish. Nature has generously rewarded the people of Cambodia with a wide variety of different foods; bananas themselves grow on trees, and fish can be caught by hand. You definitely won't have to die of hunger. Many foreigners open good cafes and restaurants, where you can find traditional European dishes, including Russian cuisine. If you like to cook yourself, then... local markets you can find whatever you want, except, probably, buckwheat and dill. A huge variety of fruits. Most products are imported from neighboring Thailand and Vietnam.

And although there is not much where to spend money in Cambodia, apart from the few entertainments in the country, it is worth writing about money separately. It is interesting and extremely convenient that Cambodia uses two currencies at the state level. Currently both dollars and local riel are accepted. The exchange rate is extremely stable, 1 dollar is 4,000 riel. By the way, you can write about entertainment separately.

Sights and entertainment of Cambodia

The main and practically the only seaside resort Cambodia is Sihanoukville, located along the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. The beaches of tropical Sihanoukville are one of the best beaches in Asia. If you are interested in a beach holiday in Cambodia, then by visiting this amazing country, you won't be disappointed. Among the advantages of numerous white sand beaches, in addition to almost crystal clear water, are a small number of people and the presence of numerous cafes and hotels. The sea here is almost always calm, since Sihanoukville is closed from the ocean by islands. It is thanks to this fact that Cambodia has not had a single flood in its entire history. Yes, this will scare away wave lovers and surfers, but it is great for swimming and a relaxing beach holiday. And at night, you can plunge headlong into the sea and see plankton, your body will glow and this is truly a wonderful sight. On the islands you can go diving, boating and fishing, and you can spend the night in bungalows right on the beach, there are even tree houses. The pleasure of sleeping in a treehouse with the sound of the waves will cost $35 per season. On Samloem Island there is a rope park and a museum of tropical animals. On rare days you can see jellyfish, depending on the season, and on the islands you can quite stumble upon sea ​​urchin, remember that your safety is in your hands and take precautions.

In general, oh safe travel in Cambodia you can write a separate article. The main thing is to always take care of your belongings, do not wear expensive jewelry to attract the attention of thieves, and, if possible, do not carry valuables and large amounts of money in your purse. This also applies to passports with credit cards, your purse can be snatched by young “bikers” passing by, and apart from subsequent problems and an unpleasant aftertaste, you will have nothing left. When leaving home, it is also better to check whether all doors and windows are closed, and if there is a safe, it is better to store everything important there. The country is really poor, and began to receive tourists relatively recently. For example, comfortable air traffic from Russia has still been established, that is, there are no charters from Russia. So far everything is at the level of negotiations. This does not mean that Cambodia is closed to Russians. It’s just that the number of tourists from Russia is hundreds of times, if not thousands, less than, for example, in Thailand. Many people come here just to see the eighth wonder of the world, the Angkor Watt temple complex. It was discovered in the jungle a little more than half a century ago, and since then Cambodia has become increasingly attractive to tourists. Near Angkor, Watt specially built the tourist city of Siem Reap, designed for the most comfortable stay of tourists. The center is a huge night market where you can buy any souvenirs, many restaurants with music programs, hotels, a circus, as well as various exhibitions and shops. The traffic here never stops day or night. If you want fun, you can safely settle in the center, and if you want relaxing holiday at night, it’s better to stay away; a hotel room can be found from $7 per night.

From what else is worth visiting on your trip - National parks Cambodia and, of course, Mount Bokor, the view from which is breathtaking. At the top of the mountain there is an old casino, inherited from the French, and operating at the hotel, where you can spend the night, eat, and dance. In general, the Khmers themselves don’t really like to dance, only at weddings and big holidays. But what they really love is singing karaoke and drinking beer. Although many city squares host collective aerobics classes, in general the average Khmer would prefer lying in a hammock and a can of beer to any dancing.

You should definitely visit the capital of Cambodia - Phnom Penh, a city with a centuries-old history. The presence of a small number of high-rise knowledge is evidence that until recently there was a ban on the construction of high-rise buildings. But now, the city is actively being built and growing literally before our eyes. It’s easy to navigate the city, because most streets are simply numbered. Among the main attractions of the capital of Cambodia are the Royal Palace, Wat Phnom Pagoda, National Museum, the Genocide Museum, the Independence Monument and the Mekong River embankment, popular among tourists. The most popular tourist place in Pont-Pen there is, oddly enough, the Central Market.

The Khmers are a gambling nation; locals love to play in casinos. This is a legal business in Cambodia, and many people come to the country for this very reason.

For lovers of extreme recreation, various motorcycle tours through the jungle, parachute jumping, wake riding and flyboarding and much more are suitable. The weather in Cambodia allows all this to be done for almost 9 months of the year, with the exception of the summer months, the so-called active “rainy season”. I would like to add that the average annual temperature in the country is 30 degrees, which cannot but please heat lovers.

In every tourist city You can easily find excursion bureaus where you can choose an excursion to suit your taste and budget. There are also Russian companies providing tourism services in Cambodia. The most popular, of course, is a visit to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, which is recognized as the eighth wonder of the world, a trip to Mount Bokor, as well as numerous sea excursions.

No matter what reviews you read about independent travel in Cambodia, this is definitely the place where you want to hang out. By the way, time really stops in Cambodia. It’s like you put the brakes on your thoughts and dissolve in the flow.