Official Name: Kingdom of Cambodia

Capital: Phnom Penh

Religion: Buddhism (97 %), Christianity, Islam, Caodaism and Animism.

Ethnic Groups: Khmer (96 %), Chinese, Vietnamese, Cham and Hill Tribes

Population: 13.1 million (2001 est.)

Voltage: 220 Volt, 50 Hz

Time: GMT + 7 h

Currency: Cambodian Riel (1 $ = 4000 Riel)

Climate: December to February is cool-dry, March to May is hot-dry, June to August is hot-wet and September to November is cool-wet. The Temperature rarely gets over 36° and rarely under 19°.The best Time to visit Cambodia is between November and March.

Business Hours: 7.30 - 11.30 and 2.00 - 5.00, many places are closed Saturday afternoon and the whole Sunday.

Visas for Cambodia cost 25 $ Tourist and 30 $ Business, if you go to the Embassy in Bangkok ( open till 12.00 and again at 5p.m. for Passport pick up ). Otherwise the K.S.Road Travel Agent charges around 900 Baht for the Tourist Version, collectible the next day. Getting a Visa at the Boarder in Koh Kong and Poipet cost you (thanks to over charging Tourists) around 1100 Baht for the Tourist one and 1500 Baht for the Business one. Save your Cash and Nerves, get it in Bangkok. Be aware of Boarder scams when entering Cambodia overland.

Visas are not available on arrival for Vietnam at Moc Bai-Bavet and Chau Doc. For Laos at Voeung Kam. Get them before arriving !!!

If you plan a longer stay get a Business Visa which is easily extendable for up to one year at a time. Tourist Visas are only once extendable for a period of one month.

Travel:                                                                                       

1. Bangkok to Sihanoukville ( the most comfortable overland journey to Cambodia)

take the Bus leaving for Trat from the Eastern Bus station in Bkk or the Minibus from the K.S. Road. If you do not want to stay in Koh Kong overnight take one of the 11.30 p.m. buses from the Eastern Bus station to Trat. You arrive at 4.30 a.m. in Trat were you hop on the waiting minibus to the Boarder Hat Lek (1 h drive) and wait till the Gates open at 7.00 a.m.. After they overcharged you for your Visa you may take a moto or a car to Koh Kong proper were the boat leaves at 8.00 a.m. and arrives in Sihanoukville at noon. Alternative there is a Minibus from Koh Kong to Sihanoukville at 9.00 a.m.. Remember that in the big Buses or in the Boat you may be able to grab some sleep, while in the Minibuses ...well. There is no regular flight from Bkk to Sihanoukville.

2. Sihanoukville to Bangkok

the Boat is leaving at 9.00 noon from the "Port of Passenger Ship" in Sihanoukville. Watch out for cancellation due to bad weather. Arriving at 1 p.m. in Koh Kong means you have not to miss the Boarder closing at 5 p.m.. After the crossing you take the Minibus to Trat and switch to the Bus for Bangkok or stay in Trat. There is also a Minibus going every morning from Sihanoukville direct to the Boarder in Koh Kong. Bookable in every Guesthouse, it is cheaper than the Boat but take a bit longer. For those who want to arrive not to late in Bangkok it is a good option.

3. Bangkok to Siam Reap ( over Poipet )

K.S. Road Travel Agents are selling for around 200 Baht the whole trip. Can't be cheaper. Be aware that you arrive probably in the middle of the night in a "big commission" paying Guesthouse in Siam Reap. Check that you will get a real Bus in Cambodia and no Pick-Up Truck were you have to sit outside. You start in Bkk at around 7.00 a.m. for the Boarder near Aranyaprathet. After 5h you change for a Tuk Tuk bringing you to the Crossing. On The Cambodian site waits ( hopefully ) your new Transportation witch brings you then to Siam Reap. The Road is in a very poor condition and the rainy season doesn't really help with it. You can do the trip all yourself in buying a bus or train ticket in Bkk for Aranyaprathet, change to a Tuk Tuk for the Boarder, cross it and take a Shared Taxi or a Pick-Up Truck to Siam Reap. Start early and you probably arrive before the K.S Road Bus.

4. Phnom Penh to HCM City ( Vietnam )

take the direct Bus from the Bus Station near the Central Market in Phnom Penh bound for HCM City every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Alternative there is a daily Minibus going from the Capitol Guesthouse in Phnom Penh, which is a bit cheaper and the really cheap and really cramped option of taking a shared Taxi from the Chhbar Ampeou Market in Phnom Penh. Note that you have to change to another Transportation in Vietnam when doing the Taxi or Minibus version.

5. Phnom Penh to Saigon ( Chau Doc )

Capitol Guesthouse is one who offers daily trips to Chau Doc. The very scenic trip on the Mekong starts in Phnom Penh and goes via road to Neak Luong were you get on the boat. You have to change boats after crossing the boarder to Vietnam. In Chau Doc get a Bus to Saigon.

Travel inside Cambodia tends to be on the slow side with some exceptions. The Road from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville is one of the best in Cambodia and the Bus needs only 3h for the journey.

Inside Towns Motodups are handy and a short trip costs between 2000-3000 Riel. Hired Cars are available in bigger Towns. Outside the City you may have various options like a Bus, Pick-Up Truck or Shared Taxi. Normally they are found at the market. It is possible to rent all sorts of Vehicles, good would be a 200cc Dirt bike for driving out of Town and a 100cc scooter inside Town.