Your Complete Guide to Backpacking Cambodia

Cambodia is one seriously impressive country to visit. I mean, this place is more diverse than a craft brewery's IPA list and more beautiful than all the TikTok doggos combined (that's an admittedly brave shout.) However, there is so much more to the country than Angkor Wat. If you are thinking 'what is the best route around Cambodia?', or 'what are the must-visit spots and hidden gems?', we're here to give you some much-needed travel inspo on exploring this stunning part of the world.

 

 

 

5 ESSENTIAL THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CAMBODIA

 

1. Currency: Cambodian Riel is their official currency; however, they do often use US dollars, so it’s worth having some as a backup. £1 is the equivalent of around 5,075KHR, so dropping 50k on a night out is not as reckless as in Vegas (and might we add a much more authentic experience in our humble opinion).

 

2. Visa: A 30-day tourist visa is required for all tourists, which you can get on arrival for $30 at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Preah Sihanouk. Alternatively, if you are super organised, you can buy an e-visa online too.

 

3. Safety: Cambodia is generally a safe country, and the locals are super friendly and welcoming to tourists. However, as with all places, it’s important to keep your wits about you, like any normal human being. Keep your belongings safe and try not to wander on your own in rural areas. It’s better to be safe than sorry, but in the main, it is a wonderful and safe place to visit, especially with a Tru Leader on your shoulder to guide you.

 

4. Best Known For: The simply magnificent Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap and one of the most iconic sunrises anywhere in the world. Cambodia is stunningly beautiful but has a tragic and violent past, something that is guaranteed to have a lasting effect on all those who visit. Visitors to Cambodia will also wax lyrical about the wonderfully friendly and accommodating locals. Their pride for their home seeps from every pore, and it's really infectious.

 

5. Tru Tours: As a destination, Cambodia has become a must-visit addition to Southeast Asia over the last 20 years. We have a great way to explore Cambodia and four regions within this incredible country. This 11 day trip takes you to the main cities, beautiful beaches and everything in between...

 

 

TRAVELLING TO CAMBODIA

 

 When planning how to get around Cambodia, a common route is to travel Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam altogether, as they are all on each other's doorstep (hint hint - Total Asia could be for you.) If you are starting your trip in a neighbouring country, there are plenty of options to get yourself around when backpacking Cambodia.

Both of our Cambodia itineraries begin in Siem Reap with a number of different ways of making your way to meet your group:

 

1. You can get a bus from Bangkok (Mo Chit) to Siem Reap, which costs approximately 750 Baht (around £20) and takes 6-7 hours.

2. The quickest way is to fly. If you are in Thailand, you can fly from Bangkok to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, which will take around 1 hour and cost approximately £100. Alternatively, from Hanoi to Siem Reap it costs around £50-£100.

3. If you are in Vietnam, the cheapest option would be to get an overnight bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, which costs £15 and takes around 6.5 hours.

 

 

3 HIGHLIGHTS OF CAMBODIA

1. Siem Reap

Touch down in Siem Reap and learn to make your own authentic Khmer food & even better, you can feast on it after! The perfect way to indulge yourself in their culture is to kick start your travels there. Afterwards, get an early night to catch the sunrise at the famous Angkor Wat temple, you can’t miss this experience if you are travelling to Cambodia! Spend the evening at the famous Pub Street - a real backpackers hub & perfect to meet lots of other like-minded travellers. If you're thinking Pub Street sounds good, you are terribly underprepared for the absurd fun that is had here pretty much around the clock. Like-minded, fun-loving backpackers plus the social lubricant of a few cold beers (or not, whichever you prefer) is not an experience you'll forget in a hurry (once you take it relatively easy!).

 

2. Kampot

Hop on a bus from Phnom Penh to take a short ride to Kampot. Arrive at this cool little town where you can take a boat trip along the river surrounded by lush green trees. A great destination for various activities. From rope swings to pontoons & tubes, the place to get your adrenaline pumping!

 

3. Koh Rong

If you are looking for paradise, then look no further! Arguably the most beautiful place in Cambodia, where you can relax on the beach, cool off in the crystal clear waters & get your idyllic photos on the sea hammocks. We could drone on about Koh Rong, but we process visual information 50,000 times faster than textual...you get the idea!

 

So there you have a few ideas to give you an idea of the best route to travel in Cambodia!