ENTERING THE COUNTRY
Cambodia has two international gateways for arrival by air, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and a healthy selection of land borders with neighboring Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Formalities at Cambodia’s international airports are traditionally smoother than at land borders, as the volume of traffic is greater. Crossing at land borders is relatively easy, but immigration officers may try and wangle some extra cash, either for your visa or via some other scam. Stand your ground. Anyone without a photo for their visa form will be charged about US$1 at the airport, and as much as 100B at land borders with Thailand.
Arrival by air is popular for those on a short holiday in Cambodia, as traveling overland to or from Cambodia puts a significant dent in your time in the country. Travelers on longer trips usually enter and exit by land, as road and river transport is very cheap in Cambodia.
Passport
Not only is a passport essential but you also need to make sure that it’s valid for at least six months beyond the end of your trip – Cambodian immigration will not issue a visa if you have less than six months’ validity left on your passport.
It’s also important to make sure that there is plenty of space left in your passport. Do not set off on a six-month trek across Asia with only two blank pages left – a Cambodian visa alone takes up one page. It is sometimes possible to have extra pages added to your passport, but most people will be required to get a new passport. This is possible for most foreign nationals in Cambodia, but it can be lime consuming and costly, as many embassies process new passports in Bangkok.
Losing a passport is not the end of the world, but it is a serious inconvenience. To expedite the issuing of a new passport, keep a copy of your passport details somewhere separate from your passport.
BY AIR
Airports & Airlines
• Phnom Penh International Airport
PHN – Tel: 023- 890520; www.cambodia-airports.com/phnompenh/en
PHN is the gateway to the Cambodian capital.
• Siem Reap International Airport
REP – Tel: 063-380283; www.cambodia-airport.com/siemreap/en
REP serves visitors to the temples of Angkor.
Cambodia has an open-skies policy, which means any airline can fly into and out of the country. This fact is encouraging more and more airlines to offer flights to Siem Reap.
Flights to Cambodia are quite limited, pricey for the short distances involved and most link with neighboring capitals. Bangkok has the most flights to Cambodia and it is usually possible to get on a flight with any of the airlines at short notice, although flying Bangkok Airways to Siem Reap can get very busy from November to March. If you are heading to Cambodia for a short holiday and want a minimum of fuss, Thai Airways offers the easiest connections from major cities in Europe, the USA and Australia. Singapore Airlines’ regional wing, Silk Air, is another good option, with at least one flight a day connecting Cambodia to Singapore. Other regional centres with flights to Cambodia are Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vientiane, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shanghai.
Airlines in Cambodia tend to open up and close down regularly. This means that those who have the choice should enter the country on an international carrier such as Bangkok Airways, Silk Air, Thai Airways or Vietnam Airlines rather than a local carrier.
Airlines flying to/from Cambodia
Air France
Tel: 219220 – www.airfrance.com
Add: Hong Kong Center, Samdecch Sothearos Blvd, Phnom Penh
Airline code AF, hub city Paris.
Bangkok Airways
Tel: 023-426624 – www.bangkokair.com
Add: 61 Ph 214, Phnom Penh
Airilne code PG, hub city Bangkok.
China Southern Airline
Tel: 023- 430877; www.cs-air.com
Add: Phnom Penh Hotel, 53 Moinivang Blvd, Phnom Penh
Airline code CZ, hub city Guangzhou.
Dragonair
Tel: 023-424300 – www.dragonair.com;
Add: A4 Regency Sq, Intercontinental Hotel, corner Mao Tse Toung & Monireth Blvds, Phnom Penh
Airline code F6, hub city Hong Kong.
First Cambodia Airlines
Tel: 023-221666
Add: 107 Norodom Blvd, Phnom Penh
Airline code F6, hub city Phnom Penh.
Lao Airline
Tel: 023-216563 – www.laoairlines.com
Add: 58 Sihanouk Blvd, Phnom Penh
Airline code QV, hub city Vientiane.
Malaysia Airline
Tel: 023-426688 – www.malaysiaairlines.com
Add: Diamond Hotel, 171 Monivong Blvd, Phnom Penh
Airline code MY, hub city Kuala Lumpur.
President Airlines
Tel: 023-993088
Add: A14 Regency Sq, Intercontinential Hotel, corner Mao Tse Toung & Monireth Blvds, Phnom Penh.
Airline code TO, hub city Phnom Penh, represents EVA Air in Cambodia.
Royal Phnom Penh Airway
Tel: 023-990564
Add: 209 Ph 19, Phnom Penh
Airline code RL, hub city Phnom Penh
Shanghai Airlines
Tel: 023-723999 – www.shanghai-air.com
Add: 19 Ph 106, Phnom Penh
Airline code FM, hub city Shanghai
Siem Riep Airways
Tel: 023-723963
Add: 61 Ph 214, Phnom Penh
Airline code FT, hub city Phnom Penh
Silk Air
Tel: 023-426807 – www.silkair.com
Airline code MI, hub city Singarpore
Thai Airways
Tel: 023-890292 – www.thaiair.com
Add: A15 Recency Sq, Intercontinental Hotel, corner Mao Tse Tung & Monireth Blvds, Phnom Penh.
Airline code TG, hub city Bangkok
Vietnam Airlines
Tel: 023-363396 – www.vietnamairlines.com
Add: 41 Ph 214, Phnom Penh
Airline code VN, hub cities Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
International Departure Tax
There is a departure tax of US$25, payable by cash or credit card on all international flights out of Phnom Penh International Airport and Siem Reap International Airport.
Tickets
When buying airline tickets, it is always worth shopping around. Buying direct from the airline is usually more expensive, unless the airline has a special promotion. As a rule, it is better to book as early as possible, as prices only get higher as the seats fill up.
The time of year you travel has a major impact on flight prices. If you are starting out from Europe, North America or Australia, figure on prices rising dramatically over Christmas and between July and August, and dropping significantly during lax periods of business like February, June and October.
Thailand is the most convenient gateway to Cambodia when traveling from outside the region. In Bangkok, the Banglamphu area, especially Khao San Rd) is a good place to buy tickets to Cambodia. Those who are traveling into Cambodia by air through Vietnam can easily pick up tickets in Ho Chi Minh City. When buying tickets in Cambodia, the biggest agents are in Phnom Penh, although many now operate branch offices in Siem Reap. Agents can normally save you a few dollars on the airline price, much more for long-haul flights or business class seats.
All travelers heading to Cambodia by air will have to either pass through or fly from one of the regional air centres. Bangkok is the most likely option, but Ho Chi Minh, City, Hanoi, Kuala Lampur, Singapore and Hong Kong are also popular.
China
China Southern Airlines has flights between Phnom Penh and Guangzhou in southern China (US$260/370 one way/return). Shanghai Airlines has flights connecting Phnom Penh with Shanghai (US$300/395 one way/return). Both airlines offer onward connections throughout China.
Hong Kong
DragonAir and First Cambodia Airlines connect Hong Kong and Phnom Penh (US$240/450 one way/return), and DragonAir has good onward connection to mainland China.
Laos
Lao Airlines (US$150/250 one way/return) and Vietnam Airlines (US$155/310 one-way/return) connect Phnom Penh and Vientiane, with an onward service to Hanoi. Lao Airlines also offers fights from Phnom Penh (US$78/149 one way/return) and Siem Reap (US$68/130 one way/return) to Pakse in southern Laos, sometimes continuing to Vientiane. Siem Reap Airways now offers several flights a week between Luang Prabang and Siem Reap.
Malaysia
Malaysia Airlines and First Cambodia Airlines fly between Kuala Lumpur and Phnom Penh (US$205/330 for one way/return). Malaysia Airlines also offers serviced to Siem Reap from Kuala Lumpur.
Singapore
Silk Air connects Singapore with Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (US$260/420 for one-way/ return). First Cambodia Airlines also serve the Singapore to Phnom Penh route.
Taiwan
SVA Air (www.evaair.com) has flights between Phnom Penh and Taipei (US$232/390 for one-way/return).
Thailand
Flights between Phnom Perth and Bangkok (US$120 to US$35 for one-way, US$170 to US$240 return) operate daily with Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and President Airlines.
Bangkok Airways also offers daily flight between Siem Reap and Bangkok (US$140/280 one way/return), from Siem Reap to Phuket (US$205/410 one-way/return) and from Stem Reap to Ko Samui (US$230/460 one way/return), via Bangkok.
Vietnam
Vietnam Airlines does the short hop between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh (US$75/130 for one-way/return) and also offers flights from the Cambodian capital to Hanoi (US$185/360 for one-way/return) via Ho Chi Minh City or Vientiane (in Laos).
Vietnam Airlines also offers daily fights between Siem Reap and both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Australia
Fares between Australia and Asia are relatively expensive considering the distance involved. All flights between Australia and Cambodia involve stopovers in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Vietnam Airlines sometimes offers cut-price deals via Ho Chi Minh City.
There are usually peak and off-peak rate for flights from Australia to Southeast Asia. The peak season is December to January. Flights are often heavily booked at this time as well as more expensive.
Canada
Discount tickets from Canada tend to cost about 10% more than those sold in the USA. From the Canada’s western side, best deals are available via Hong Kong or Bangkok. From the eastern side, it may be cheaper to go through London.
Continental Europe
Although London is the discount travel capital of Europe, major airlines and big travel agents usually have offers from all the major cities on the continent.
Recommended agents include:
• Airfair
Tel: 020 620 5121 – www.airfair.nl
Operating from the Netherlands.
• Barcelo Viajes
Tel: 902 116 226 – www.barceloviajes.com
Operates within Spain.
• CTS Vlaggi
Tel: 06 462 0431 – www.cts.it
This is an Italian outfit.
• Just Travel
Tel: 089 747 3330 – www.justtravel.de
Says it is ‘your English-language travel agent in Germany’.
• Nouvelles Frontières
Tel: 0825 000 747 – www.nouvellesfrontiers.fr
This agency operates from France.
• OTU Voyages
www.otu.fr
This French agency specialises in student and youth travellers.
• STA Travel
Tel: 01805 456 422 – www.statravel.com
STA has branches in cities throughout Europe.
• Voyageurs du Momde
Tel: 01 40 15 11 15 – www.vdm.com
Another French outfit.
New Zealand
The est way to get from New Zealand to Cambodia is to use one of the leading Asian cariers like Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines or Thai Airways.
UK & Inland
Discount air travel is big business in London and there are some great fares to Asia. Although the prices through to Cambodia are nowhere near as cheap as are those to Bangkok or Hong Kong. Many of the cheapest fares from London to Bangkok are with carriers from the Middle East, with long stopovers en route. Eva Air often has the cheapest direct flights to Bangkok, although look out for low season specials right through to Cambodia, particularly with Singapore Airlines and their regional wing, Silk Air.
There are oodles of agencies in the UK.
• Flightbooker: Tel 0870 010 7000 – ebookers.com
• North-South Travel: Tel 0124 560 8291 – www.northsouthtravel.co.uk; North-South Travel donates part of its profit to projects in the developing world
• Trailfinders: Tel 0845 056 5858 – trajlfinders.co.uk
• Travel Bag: Tel 087 890 1456 – travelbag.co.uk
America
Discount travel agents in the USA are known as consolidators, although you won’t see a sign on the door saying ‘Consolidator’. San Francisco is the ticket-consolidator capital of Australia, although some good deals can be found in Los Angeles, New York and other big cities. Hong Kong is a handy gateway for those coming from the west coast, although many of the cheaper flight end up passing through Bangkok. Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways both now offer non-stop services to New York. Otherwise you can go via the west coast or via Europe.
Useful online options in the USA include the following:
• American Express Travel – itn.net
• Cheap tickets – cheapticket.com
• Lowest Fare – lowstfare.com
• STA Travel – sta.com
• Travelocity –travelocity.com
LAND
For years overland travelers were restricted to entering Bavet – Moc Bai border crossing with Vietnam. However, several new land crossings between Cambodia and its neighbors have opened. There are now land crossings with Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
Bus
It is possible to use buses to cross into Cambodia from Thailand or Vietnam. The most popular way to/from Vietnam is a cheap tourist shuttle via Bavet on the Cambodian side and MocBai in Vietnam. From Thailand, many travelers take the nightmare ‘scam bus’ from Bangkok to Siem Reap via the Poipet-Aranya Prathet border crossing.
Car and Motorcycle
Car drivers and motorcycle riders will need registration papers, insurance documents and an International Driving License to bring vehicles into Cambodia. It is complicated to bring in a car, but relatively straight forward to bring in a motorcycle as long as you have a carnet de passage (vehicle passport). This acts as a temporary import-duty waiver and should save a lot of hassles when dealing with Cambodia customs. Increasing numbers of international bikers are crossing into Cambodia, while most of the foreign cars that tend to make it are Thai-registered.
River
There is a river border crossing between Cambodia and Vietnam on the banks of the Mekong. There are regular passengers: boats plying the route between Phnom Penh and Chau Doc in Vietnam, via the Kaam Samnor-Vinh Xuong border crossing. There is also a luxury fast boat service operated by Victoria hotel (www.victoriahotels-asia.com), and two river boats running all the way to the temples of Angkor in Cambodia, operated by Pandaw Cruise (www.pandaw.com). Both services use the Kaam Samnor-Vinh Xuong border crossing.
Border Crossings
Cambodia shares one border crowing with Laos, five crossings with Thailand and three with Vietnam. Visas are now available at all the land crossings with Thailand and two of those with Vietnam, but not at the land crossing with Laos.
Laos
• Dom Kralor – Voen Kham
Thailand
• Cham Yeam – Hat Lek
• Choam – Choam Strawngam
• Smach – Chong Jom
• Poipet – Aranya Prathet
• Pruhm – Daun Lem
Vietnam
• Bavet – Moc Bai
• Kaam Samnor – Vinh Xuong
• Phnom Den – Tinh Bien