How to get to Cambodia

There are no direct flights to Cambodia from Europe, North America, Australasia or South Africa, so if you plan to fly into the country, you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in Southeast or East Asia.

There are direct flights to Phnom Penh from an increasing number of cities in the region, including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Seoul, Bangkok, Vientiane, Ho Chi Minh City and several cities in China (including frequent connections via Hong Kong). Alternatively, it’s also possible to fly directly to Siem Reap from Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur and several other Asian destinations.

Flights from the UK and Ireland

There are plenty of daily flights, many nonstop, from London Heathrow to Southeast Asian cities, with some airlines offering connections to Phnom Penh. The most direct routes are via Bangkok with Thai Airways (around 11–12hr from London, plus another 1hr on to Phnom Penh) and Dubai and Yangon with Emirates. 

There are also slightly more circuitous one- or two-stop connections via Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), plus a growing number of two-stop connections via the Gulf or South Asia. From Ireland, it’s a matter of getting a cheap connection to London Heathrow or flying to Cambodia via a different European (or possibly Gulf) hub. Expect return fares in the quieter months to start around £600.

Flights from the US and Canada

Flying from the East Coast of North America generally involves a stop in either Europe or the Gulf, followed by another plane change in Asia. There are currently a few one-stop options from New York travelling via Shanghai, Guangzhou, Taipei or Seoul, although these aren’t generally any quicker than more direct two-stop options. 

From the West Coast, it’s faster and cheaper to fly westward via an Asian city – there are currently one-stop options from Los Angeles via Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Seoul and Taipei. Return fares from both coasts start at around US$1,200. Total journey times from the East Coast range from around 24 hours upwards and around 20 hours from the West Coast, depending on connections.

From Canada, there are one-stop flights from Toronto and Vancouver via Taipei, Seoul and Shanghai (and also via Guangzhou from Vancouver). Depending on connections, flights take around 24 hours upwards from the east coast and around 20 hours from the west coast. Return fares from Toronto start at around CA$1,800 and CAD$1,200 from Vancouver.

Flights from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa

There’s a wide selection of flights from Australia and New Zealand to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City, with onward connections to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Return fares from Australia to Phnom Penh start at around AU$1,300; from Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, flights start from roughly NZ$2,200.

Travelling from South Africa to Cambodia via an Asian hub city, fares start at around ZAR13,000 return.

Round-The-World flights

If Cambodia is only one stop on a longer journey, consider buying a Round-The-World (RTW) ticket. For example, Cambodia can be added to itineraries offered by airline consortium Star Alliance (Wstaralliance.com). Bangkok or Singapore are the most common ports of call for many RTW tickets; UK prices start at around £1,400 for an RTW ticket, including either of these destinations.

Getting there from neighbouring countries

Numerous land borders into Cambodia are open to foreigners from neighbouring Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Visas are issued on arrival at all of these.

From Thailand

There are currently six border crossings between Cambodia and Thailand open to foreigners. All are open daily (7am–8pm), with visas being issued on arrival at all points; e-visas are currently only accepted at Poipet and Koh Kong for entry into Cambodia, although you can exit via any crossing. Travelling into Thailand, citizens of most Western countries can get a visa on arrival.

Far and away, the most popular of the six crossings is the mildly infamous crossing at Poipet, on the main highway between Bangkok and Siem Reap . The Trat/Koh Kong crossing further south is good for Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh. There are two further crossings in the east at Ban Pakard/Pailin (Psar Pruhm), an hour by road to Battambang, and at Ban Leam/Daun Lem (although this crossing is basically a casino development in the middle of nowhere, and of little practical use). 

Finally, there are two remote and little-used (by foreigners at least) crossing points in northern Cambodia at Chong Sa Ngam/Anlong Veng and Surin/O’Smach. The Anlong Veng crossing is relatively straightforward to reach. Getting to O’Smach is decidedly tricky; you’ll need to find a bus or shared taxi from Siem Reap or Sisophon to the town of Samroang and then another one onto the border. On the Thai side of the border, songthaews and motorbike taxis ferry travellers from the checkpoint to the minibus stop, from where air-conditioned minivans run to Prasat and on to Surin, 70km north of the border (every 30min 6am–5.30pm; 2hr).

From Vietnam

Seven border crossings are currently open to foreigners travelling overland from Vietnam (daily 7am–5pm). For entering Cambodia, note that e-visas are valid only at the Bavet crossing. Many Western nationalities now get automatic entry into Vietnam for 45 days, so check if that applies to you. The busiest crossing is at Moc Bai/Bavet , 200km southeast of Phnom Penh on the main road to Ho Chi Minh City. 

Also popular is the crossing at Chau Doc/K’am Samnar on the Bassac River. There are two further border crossings in the south at Tinh Bien/Phnom Den near Takeo and at Hat Tien/Prek Chak east of Kep, plus three little-used crossings in eastern Cambodia at Xa Mat/Trapeang Phlong east of Kompong Cham; Loc Ninh/Trapeang Sre, southeast of Snuol, and Le Tanh/O Yadow, east of Banlung.

From Laos

There’s just one border crossing with Laos, at Nong Nok Khiene/Tropeang Kreal in the far north of Cambodia, 57km beyond Stung Treng. The border is open daily (7am–5pm), and Cambodian and Lao visas are available on arrival. Cambodian e-visas are also valid for entry here.

Tour operators

If you want to avoid the hassle of making your own arrangements, consider travelling with a specialist tour operator. Cambodia is well covered; however, many tour companies only include it as part of a visit to another Southeast Asian country. Tour prices start at around £500 for land-only options and increase dramatically if flights are included.

Agents and operators

Agents

• North South Travel UK Wnorthsouthtravel.co.uk. This friendly, competitive travel agency offers discounted fares worldwide. Profits support projects in the developing world, especially the promotion of sustainable tourism.
• On the Go Tours UK Wonthegotours.com. This outfit runs group and tailor-made tours throughout the world, including Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.
• Trailfinders UK and Ireland Wtrailfinders.com. This is one of the best-informed and most efficient agents for independent travellers.
• Travel CUTS Canada Wredtag.ca/travel-cuts. A Canadian youth and student travel firm.
• USIT Ireland Wusit.ie. Ireland’s leading student and youth travel company also specialises in work opportunities.

Tour operators

• About Asia Charming City, Charles De Gaulle Avenue, Siem Reap Waboutasiatravel.com. One of the country’s leading travel specialists, offering upmarket private tours from their home base in Siem Reap. All their Angkor tours have been customised using scientific footfall studies and clever crowd-avoidance techniques, which enable you to see the temples at their best. They also offer a range of other countrywide tours, including a ‘Temples and Jungles Escape’ featuring three nights in a tented floating lodge on the Tatai River and an ingenious ‘Great Lake Circuit’ combining Siem Reap, Battambang and Phnom Penh with boat trips around and across the Tonle Sap. All profits are used to support local schools.
• ATCambodia Watcambodia.com. Kratie-based tour operators with a good range of countrywide tours, including an excellent selection of trips along the Mekong and up into the hills of the northeast.
• Cambodia Holiday Architects Wcambodiaholidayarchitects.net. These dedicated Cambodian specialists offer tailor-made, reasonably priced holidays designed by a team of destination experts.
• Earth Cambodia Wterrecambodge.com. This Cambodian company offers countrywide trekking and mountain bike expeditions (up to two weeks) with village accommodation or camping around Siem Reap.
• Exotissimo Travel Cambodia SSN Center No. 66, Norodom Blvd, Phnom Penh Wexotravel.com. Exotissimo offers a wide range of Cambodian itineraries, including culinary, photographic, family, wildlife, and responsible travel tours.
• Explore! UK Wexplore.co.uk. This small-group operator offers a good selection of tours, including soft adventure trips that include walking and cycling.
• Geographic Expeditions US Wgeoex.com. Luxury customised and small-group tours, including Angkor jaunts, alongside more off-the-beaten-track offerings, including Cardamom Mountains village homestays.
• Grasshopper Adventures Wgrasshopperadventures.com. An international company that organises half-day to 15-day cycling tours, such as ‘Angkor at Twilight’, and one that combines yoga and eco-stays.
• Hanuman Phnom Penh Whanumantravel.com. Phnom Penh–based Mekong region specialists since 1990 with a branch in Siem Reap, offering a vast range of tailor-made tours – mainstream itineraries alongside motorbiking, wildlife, bird-watching and cycling.
• Inside Asia Winsideasiatours.com. Small-group and tailor-made tours by a leading Asian specialist covering destinations nationwide. Both mainstream and alternative experiences are offered, such as Phnom Kulen hikes, Pre Rup sunrise visits, Tonle Sap bird-watching, etc.
• Intrepid Travel UK Wintrepidtravel.com. Intrepid has a solid range of Cambodia offerings, including cycling and culinary tours, with an emphasis on low-impact tourism.
• Responsibletravel.com UK Wresponsibletravel.com. This online travel agent offers a massive range of Cambodia tours run by various companies, all with an ethical emphasis.
• See Cambodia Differently Siem Reap Wseecambodiadifferently.com. These Siem Reap-based Cambodian specialists offer an extremely varied selection of tours ranging from birding and photography to beach and golfing holidays. Their ‘Secret Temple’ tour offers a brilliant way of getting to all the major off-the-beaten-track sites in a single trip.
• Spice Roads Wspiceroads.com. This international online company has a branch in Siem Reap that runs excellent cycling tours around Cambodia and Southeast Asia, including visits to Kampot’s pepper farms and the Cardamom Mountains.
• Trans Indus UK Wtransindus.co.uk. The leading Asia specialists with a small range of private and group tours, including interesting river trips and Mekong cruises.
• Wild Frontiers Wwildfrontierstravel.com. Worldwide specialists with a varied selection of Cambodian offerings, including luxury tours, family and responsible travel/volunteering itineraries, and tours that empower young female guides.