Cambodia has two seasons like many other tropical countries- a dry season (between 25-30 degrees) and a rainy season "the monsoon" (minimum 35 degrees). The best time to visit is between October and March.

Your passport must be valid for more than 6 months beyond your date of arrival in the country. The cost and delay period for visas depend on your nationality.

There are three main ways to apply for a visa:

- Consulate of Cambodia in your country of origin: you must present your passport and photocopy, a photo ID and fill out a form.

- On arrival (international airports): 30 USD (extra if you do not have an identity photo).

- E-visa: 37 USD in addition to completing a form beforehand (to print in two copies) and provided with a photo ID.

Here are some things you may want to consider:

-Clothing appropriate for religious sites
- skirts or pants that cover the knees, and sleeves or a scarf to cover your shoulders
- A rain coat in case of rain
- A sweater for cooler evenings or trekking in the mountains
- Sneakers for long walks in Angkor
- Socks to protect your bare feet from the hot ground when visiting temples
- A sunscreen and sunglasses
- Mosquito repellent (for skin and for clothes)
- A hat or cap and a swimsuit
- A torch
- A cell phone to use locally with a local SIM card
- A small first aid kit and your prescription medicines

If you’re hiking a trek:
- Good walking shoes
- Long thick trousers and high socks to cover the bottom of the trousers, to protect you from leeches

It is strongly recommended being up-to-date on universal DTP (diphtheria-tetanus-polio) vaccines. Subject to the advice of your doctor or a vaccination center, the following vaccines are recommended: Typhoid Fever / Hepatitis A-B.

If you are staying in rural areas, it is also advisable to get vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis (especially in rice fields) and rabies. In case of bite or injury caused by a dog, clean the wound well and consult a doctor.

Finally, you are in tropical land, so there is a risk of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes including malaria, dengue and Zika virus. There is treatment against malaria (mosquitoes at night) in contrast to dengue and zika virus (mosquitoes during the day). It is thus important to protect oneself well with repellents especially in the risk zones, like the temples of Angkor, for example.

Following internal conflicts (the Khmer Rouge), Cambodia has become relatively safe. However, as in any country, you have to be careful and trust your instincts. Thieves are often present in tourist places, where there is a crowd. To avoid problems, keep an eye on your belongings and use the safe in the room for valuable items.

The local currency is the Cambodian Riel. February, 2021, 1 USD = 4068 KHR.

For travelers, it is easier to use the US dollar because it is accepted everywhere. If you change your euros to riel in advance, you risk traveling with a lot of bills in your wallet. Instead, you will easily find ATMs and you can pay by credit card in large establishments (but there is a commission between 1% and 3% in both cases).

It is very easy to travel in Cambodia. To get around town, you have the choice between tuktuks, motorcycle taxis or pickups. The traffic in Cambodia can be intense which takes some getting used to as speed limits and the traffic lights are often disregarded. If you want to take the bus, we wish you good luck! Local buses are economical though not always safe or punctual, but it is fun to experiment with them. The best bus companies are Mekong Express and Giant Ibis. There is also the Sorya Company but less reliable.

The official language is Khmer which has easy grammar but a pronunciation that varies a lot. Street signs are translated in to English or sometimes French. The new generations are learning English and it is possible to meet French-speaking post-conflict locals.

Buddhism is considered the state religion but Hinduism is just as important, with a more tolerant system than in India because there is no caste system. In general, there are also animistic influences and many superstitions.

Here are a few tidbits that may help you along the way as you visit this wonderful country:

In the event of a conflict, take care not to cause anyone "to lose face" as they may react very badly or possibly even become violent.

It is considered rude to point fingers at people or touch someone on the head.

Respect for Buddha is taken very seriously- please do not turn your back on Buddha and do not take selfies at the temple.

Being a country with a conservative trend, especially in the style of clothes, wear appropriate outfits especially in religious places. Note that you often have to remove your shoes before entering places of worship.