How to Get to Cambodia, Flights/Boat to Cambodia

Cambodia is relatively easy to access, given its two large international airports, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The country also has many well-maintained entry points along its borders with Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

Most travelers who visit Cambodia do so as part of a larger trip, including other Southeast Asian countries, and will thus enter from one of these.

Quick Facts

• The best way to travel to and around Cambodia is by air.
• Visitors from most countries can get a visa upon arrival at the airport.
• Cambodia is serviced by two international airports, Phnom Penh International (PNH) and Siem Reap International (REP).
• There are numerous local airports such as Sihanoukville and Steung Treng.
• Most major airlines, including Emirates Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Korean Air, have flights to Cambodia.
• It is generally cheaper to fly to an international travel hub such as Singapore or Hong Kong, before connecting to Cambodia.

Arriving by Air

Most visitors arrive in Cambodia by air. If you are traveling as part of a longer trip, this can be arranged for you. It may be advantageous to fly into an Asian travel hub such as Singapore or Hong Kong, before making a connecting flight into Cambodia.

If you fly into the country, you can opt to get an E-Visa before you go; or you can simply get a 30-day tourist visa at the airport when you arrive.

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The Major Airports

International flights occur daily on a 12-hour schedule. Depending on the airline, you may have the option of flying morning, noon, or night. Times vary and a more detailed schedule can be found on most online platform.

Airfares

As with any tourist destination, the cost of a ticket to Cambodia varies with the time of year. The busy season is November through March. During this period planes will often be fully booked, and you can expect to pay the full price for your trip, although there are budget airline options.

A more affordable time to travel to Cambodia is between May and October. This is because the climate becomes (some say) less accommodating for travel.

The Khmer New Year in April and the Moon and Water Festival in November will also create their own crowds at the airports. These are the two most widely celebrated holidays in the country. During New

Year most Cambodians like to return to their hometowns, creating traffic-jams. The dates of these festivals change from year to year.

If you travel to Cambodia with a tour group you will usually not receive a budget ticket. Asia Highlights accepts this, as budget tickets limit the amount of baggage you can carry, prevent you from choosing your seat, and may even limit your leg room! When in doubt, paying a little more may mean a lot more comfort.

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Purchasing Air Tickets

All major airlines that service Cambodia offer online purchasing and e-ticket options. Be wary of 3rd-party websites, as many of the smaller airlines serving Cambodia domestically use these, but without much consumer protection.

The best way to secure a ticket to Cambodia is through a tour company, which can help you avoid some of the hassle associated with flight changes, insurance, or lost baggage. Agents will be knowledgeable about all entry and exit regulations and will ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible.

Visas

Visitors from most countries need a visa to enter Cambodia. These are available on arrival in the airport (30-day visas cost $30) and all you will need is a passport photo and your passport. Make sure to check with the local government before you travel, as Cambodia requires extra information from citizens of certain countries.

The easiest way to secure a visa is to have a travel agent or tour company help you. Booking at Asia Highlights ensures that details are taken care of for you.

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Customs Regulations

As most typical duty-free goods (such as spirits) are so inexpensive in Cambodia, it is unlikely that you would be importing anything significant. Common sense dictates what to avoid; for example, pasteurized and perishable goods, and anything explosive or potentially dangerous.

Why to Fly

Below you can find information on Cambodia's land-border crossings. However, using a land-border crossing is not recommended. Whenever possible, one should fly into Cambodia.

Why? Time and money! To reach the Cambodia/Vietnam border you need to take a bus from Ho Chi Minh City then transfer to a ferry at Chau Doc, which can take about 12 hours. In other words, getting to any of these borders takes lots of time and frustration.

The other main reason to fly is that the land-border crossings cater to locals and not international tourists. You might have a hard time finding an agent who speaks English, and some travelers have reported being scammed for large amounts of money while trying to cross at a land border.

If you enter at an airport, none of these issues will occur.

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Arriving at a Land Border

If you are feeling adventurous you can enter Cambodia through one of the borders below.

Entering by Boat

If Cambodia is a port of call on a boat trip you are taking then your group will probably be issued a group visa or a handler will come and collect your passport ahead of time, to ensure you have the appropriate visa before you get off the boat.

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Customs Tips

In most cases if you have nothing to declare, going through customs should be a painless process. Keep these tips in mind to make sure your crossing goes smoothly.

• Make sure you fill out an entry/exit card before you approach the counter.
• If you travel with lots of cash, double-check it is under the permissible amount.
• Officials at land crossings might charge extra "fees". Entering by air is recommended.
• Visa regulations can change quickly, so always check prior to your departure to make sure your country is eligible for visa-on-arrival services.

Visit Cambodia with Asia Highlights

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