Culture & Customs

Etiquette and cultural differences

Experiencing different cultures is one of the joys of travelling and it’s important that these differences are respected. Cambodia has cultural norms and taboos which we encourage visitors to understand and abide by.

• Try not to get angry. Showing any frustrations or annoyances by shouting or becoming abusive is extremely impolite and it is unlikely to achieve a positive outcome. The Khmers don’t like to ‘lose face’.
• Refrain from public displays of affection, they are considered offensive. It’s extremely rare to see couples holding hands. However, it’s quite common for friends of the same sex.
• It’s polite to remove your shoes before entering a house - look for shoes at the front door as a clue.
• Cambodians greet each other with a slight bow and a prayer-like gesture, with the younger or lower-ranked person usually initiating the gesture. For foreigners handshakes are acceptable.

Temple visit etiquette

Foreigners are always welcome in temples. However, it is important that a few simple rules of etiquette are followed:

• Dress appropriately and act with the utmost respect when visiting Wats (pagodas) and other religious sites, including the temples of Angkor.
• Do not wear shorts or tank tops and make sure your shoulders and knees are covered.
• Remove your shoes and hat before going into a vihara (monastery).
• If you sit down in front of the dais (the platform on which the Buddhas are placed), sit with your feet to the side rather than in the lotus position.
• Never point your finger or the soles of your feet towards a person or a figure of the Buddha.
• A woman may accept something from a monk but should never touch a monk.
• Show respect and turn off mobile phones, remove headphones, lower your voice and avoid inappropriate conversation.

Donations and gift giving

Although there is poverty in certain areas of Cambodia, please read the following points about donations and gift giving.

• Do not give money to people begging, especially children. This reinforces the belief that begging is an acceptable way to make a living. If children make money from begging, their parents are less likely to send them to school.
• Children working on the streets are also vulnerable to abuse.
• However in many places, it is considered acceptable to give to money disabled people or the elderly. Please ask your guide for advice.
• Giving money and goods to beggars can accentuate an unequal relationship between locals and visitors, with tourists being seen as purely money givers.
• Do not give sweets to children in villages that we visit.
• Do not feel that you necessarily have to give material things. Sometimes, giving your friendship, time and interest to locals can be the best gift of all.

Tipping

Tipping is a personal matter and travellers are encouraged to tip any amount they feel is appropriate. For your convenience, we have included a suggested tipping guide below:

• Bellboy: $1-$2 per room 
• Chambermaid: $1 per day 
• Guides: $4-$8 per day, per person (depending on group size, performance  and duration)
• Drivers: $1-$3 per day, per person (de-pending on group size, performance and duration) 
• Restaurants: in smart establishments, you may find that the tip is already included in the bill. In local restaurants, tips are not expected but you may wish to leave loose change on the table.

Helpful Tips

Money

The official currency is the Riel but we recommend that you take US Dollars as you will find the dollar is the de facto currency when paying for meals, drinks etc.

You’ll find that everything from buying a T-shirt to a smart meal will be billed in dollars, so there’s no real need to change much / anything into local currency. Low denomination dollar bills are useful for tipping. These notes should be clean, and free from rips and tears where possible.

There are ATMs in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for local currency and debit / credit cards are widely accepted.

Post and telecommunications

Post in Cambodia is routed by air through Bangkok, making the service much more reliable than in the past.

Telephone connections are widely available but not cheap. A Cambodia SIM card is a less expensive way of calling other countries, however your phone will need to be unlocked in order for it to work.

Internet access is available in all major tourist places and you will find WiFi in most cafes in urban areas.

Transportation

In Siem Reap and Phnom Penh you’ll find that Tuk-tuks are used around town and cost approx $1-3 per journey in Siem Reap and around $2 - $3 in Phnom Penh.

In both cities, short journeys of less than 1km are about $1 and prices tend to increase at night. Negotiation is encouraged. Please note that we don’t recommend motorbike taxis and it may not be covered by your travel insurance.

Health and wellbeing

Please be aware that Cambodia is still a developing nation and so some areas lack effective medical facilities. Rural areas may not have pharmacies and hospitals so make sure you travel with a full supply of any prescribed medicine you take.

If you need medical assistance please ask your guide or hotel. Please make sure that you have travel insurance for your trip. You should also consult your doctor or local travel clinic for the latest information and advice on travelling to Cambodia before departure.

Vaccinations

Before travelling, at least two months before departure, please contact your doctor for the latest medical advice on the vaccinations you need. 

Travel insurance (compulsory)

Please ensure that you have adequate travel insurance that covers all activities planned on your trip.

Food & drink

It’s not advisable to drink tap water in Cambodia. Bottled water is cheap and widely available.

Khmer cuisine, considered one of the healthiest in the world, has much in common with the food of neighbouring Thailand, although it is generally not as spicy. It is also similar to Vietnamese food, due to its shared colonial French history. The most well-known Cambodian dish is amok.

Price guide

Things are generally cheap in Cambodia. Here is a rough guide of how much things cost in main cities outside the hotels. Bear in mind that outside of the cities, things will be much cheaper.

• Khmer food: from $3
• Western food: from $4 

• Soft drinks: $1
• Local beer: $1
• Bottled water: Small $0.50, large $1
• Juice: $2 

Passports & Visas

Flights

Cambodia is serviced by a broad spectrum of scheduled airlines and we have access to preferential rates on all of them.

As part of the booking service we will run through the options available and offer a choice of flights.

We have no affiliation with any airline and so our recommendations with be purely based on your requirements and the best price.

Which Airline?

No airline flies direct to Cambodia from the UK, but there is a good selection that offers a one-stop service with good connections.

From Heathrow the most popular options include Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Vietnam Airlines, Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines. From Manchester, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific are the most popular.

Other airports and airlines are available with 2 stops in at least one direction.

Class of Travel

Keen competition means that most longhaul economy flights are a good standard, offering broadly the same level of service, but you may have a favourite or one you would prefer to avoid.

Increasingly popular are the enhanced economy classes with airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Vietnam Airlines and Singapore Airlines, who charge a more affordable premium for increased legroom and improved service.

Stop-overs

As flying to Cambodia involves a change of plane you may like to add a couple of nights in for example Hong Kong, Singapore or Bangkok and this is easy to arrange.

Regional Flights

Those who live close to Heathrow can read on, but for those further away from the capital it may be worth considering a regional flight.

Some airlines have a better regional structure than others and by booking a regional flight through your international carrier you will be able to check your bags through and have protection if there is a problem with your domestic UK connecting flight as the international carrier will have a duty of care until you reach your destination.

ATOL Financial Protection

When you book your Ex UK flights with us you will be automatically protected under our ATOL number and so fully protected financially.

You also have the added benefit of having your whole holiday organised by one travel company which should not be overlooked.

When To Book?

The algorithm that calculated that 8 weeks prior to departure was the optimum time to book a low cost flight doesn’t really apply to longhaul travel.

Generally with scheduled airlines the majority of cheaper tickets are available on a first come, first served basis, particularly around peak periods such as Christmas, New Year and school holidays.

You can book your seats up to 11 months in advance and we recommend early booking to gain the cheapest fares. Flexibility of dates and routes also help if you are looking for the best deals.

Offset Your Carbon Footprint

It’s well publicised that air travel contributes to the rising levels of greenhouse gases and if you would like to offset your carbon footprint there are a number of organisations that offer the service.

Below are a couple of choices that we think are good examples, planting trees to in the UK and overseas.

And Finally

Please remember that when booking your flights we need you names exactly as they appear in your passports including any middle names.