Travel to Cambodia

Flying to Cambodia

Cambodia Angkor Air (www.cambodiaangkorair.com) is the national airline and operates flights from Thailand and China to Cambodia.

Most long-haul flights to Cambodia require a stop-over in Bangkok, Hong Kong or Singapore first. Air Asia (www.airasia.com), Bangkok Airways (www.bangkokair.com) and Thai Airways (www.thaiair.com) fly between Cambodia and Thailand.

The major airport is: Phnom Penh International Airport.

Airport Guides

Flight times

To Phnom Penh: from Bangkok - 1 hour; London - 14 hours (including stopover); New York - 21 hours (including stopover).

Air passes

Many airlines offer air passes in Asia – meaning you could include a few more countries on your trip.

The Discovery Airpass (www2.bangkokair.com/en/plan-your-trip/discovery-airpass/discovery-airpass.php) is a voucher system that gives discounted travel on Lao Airlines and Bangkok Airways, making travel cheaper if you’re flying around the region.

The Visit Asia Pass from oneworld alliance (www.oneworld.com) which includes carriers such as Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines, also covers flights to Cambodia, along with the rest of South East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, China and Japan.

Departure tax

Included in air fare.

Travelling to Cambodia by Rail

Cambodia's rail network is being reconstructed after decades of neglect, but there are currently no passenger services. Plans for a new line connecting Cambodia with the Vietnamese border is likely to be years away from completion.

Rail note

Anyone dead set on getting the train may find it possible to hitch a ride on a cargo train – but this is far from luxury travel!

Driving to Cambodia

It is possible to drive from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City in a day but there are formalities involved regarding the use of the same vehicle all the way. Right-hand drive vehicles (quite common in Cambodia) are not allowed entry to Vietnam. You must obtain Vietnamese visas in advance, but you can obtain Cambodian visas at the border.

Getting to Cambodia by boat

Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville are the main ports. You can reach Phnom Penh via the Mekong Delta through Vietnam. This route is served by regular passenger ferry services from Chau Doc in Vietnam, with tickets available through travel agencies or at the dock. You can reach Sihanoukville from Thailand through the border crossing at Hat Lek and the boat from Koh Kong. Tickets are sold at the dock in Sihanoukville.

Water note

There is also a more sketchy border crossing from Cambodia on the Mekong River to Laos. Tourists travelling to Laos have to obtain a visa beforehand.

Cruise ships

Those looking for an exclusive boat trip to Cambodia can book a luxury river cruise to Angkor in Cambodia. You can buy tickets from the ports at booking agencies.