Cambodia is usually overshadowed by Thailand and Vietnam as a Southeast Asian journey vacation spot. Long stays in Cambodia let you uncover the traditional wonders of Angkor Wat and the tragedy of the Killing Fields at a slower tempo.
Take a deep dive right into a tradition as previous as time. Enjoy the frenetic power of Phnom Penh, a metropolis the place historic and trendy structure sit aspect by aspect. Explore town’s riverside palaces and temples or store till you drop at one in all its many markets and procuring malls.
Escape Phnom Penh and go to the fascinating floating communities of Tonle Sap or uncover the get together scene on Pub Street in Siem Reap.
With pleasant locals, reasonably priced dwelling, and versatile visa choices, Cambodia is a improbable selection for digital nomads and long-term travellers desirous to get essentially the most out of a Cambodian sluggish journey journey.
In this information, we check out lengthy stays in Cambodia from Phnom Penh and past.
Are Long Stays in Cambodia For You?
If you’re drawn to wealthy tradition, mouthwatering delicacies, and a slower tempo of life that can stretch your journey greenback additional, a protracted keep in Cambodia may simply be excellent for you.
Spending extra time in Cambodia not solely permits you to go to the highlights however expertise the nation as greater than only a vacationer. You can settle in, discover your favorite road meals stall, and really get to know the group round you.
During our lengthy keep in Cambodia, we primarily based ourselves within the capital metropolis of Phnom Penh earlier than taking to the street to discover different locations in Cambodia.
Why Phnom Penh?
Over the years, we now have loved many lengthy stays all through Asia. Along the best way, we now have primarily based ourselves in Chiang Mai Thailand, Penang Malaysia, and Da Nang Vietnam.
In Cambodia, we selected Phnom Penh as our long-stay base. Being a big metropolis, it had all of the necessities we wanted to reside every day life. On our doorstep had been native and International eateries, trendy procuring malls and supermarkets.
Phnom Penh is full of character and historical past, reasonably priced and introduces every day life in Cambodia with out an excessive amount of of a tradition shock.
Phnom Penh Cambodia Overview
Phnom Penh sits on the junction of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac Rivers and is the capital of Cambodia. Known because the “Pearl of Asia,” town has an fascinating mixture of Khmer splendour, French colonial appeal and modern trendy skyscrapers.
Sitting aspect by aspect you’ll find golden temples, fashionable procuring malls and buildings of historic significance.
Though expansive and sometimes chaotic, Phnom Penh retains a relaxed way of life and welcoming native tradition. With an reasonably priced way of life and vibrant meals scene, Phnom Penh must be thought of for lengthy stays in Cambodia.
While in Phnom Penh uncover Cambodia’s tragic historical past with a go to to the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. For Khmer craftsmanship and a style of royal life, the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda are a should to go to.
Phnom Penh can also be the gateway to Siem Reap and the splendour of Angkor Wat, a world-famous UNESCO World Heritage web site.
Phnom Penh for Long Stays in Cambodia
Phnom Penh is an more and more fashionable base for sluggish travellers, digital nomads, and expats in search of an reasonably priced, culturally wealthy way of life in Southeast Asia.
The value of dwelling is low, with budget-friendly lease, low-cost native meals, and cheap transport. You will discover that English is extensively spoken in expat areas, and town affords a mixture of conventional markets and trendy facilities.
Additionally, Phnom Penh has quick web which is ideal for digital nomads and holding in contact with household and associates at residence.
Phnom Penh Cambodia Long Stay Information
Surprisingly, Phnom Penh will not be typically on the radar for lengthy stays in Asia. Depending on what nation you come from, Cambodia might provide a 30-day eVisa which can enable you loads of time to take in the historical past and tradition of this unbelievable nation.
Below we showcase info for lengthy stays in Phnom Penh Cambodia.
Phnom Penh Cost of Living
Although we now have seen a rise in the price of dwelling since our first go to, Phnom Penh remains to be an affordable possibility in comparison with its Western counterparts.
We discovered that transport, meals and alcohol in Phnom Penh had been cheaper than Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.
Phnom Penh Accommodation
Your selection of Phnom Penh lodging will rely in your size of keep in Cambodia, most well-liked location, funds and magnificence of lodging. There are a wide variety of Phnom Penh inns together with the 5-star Novotel Phnom Penh BKK 1 Hotel.
Click right here for Novotel Phnom Penh BKK 1 Hotel
Phnom Penh flats vary from luxurious to funds residences. Most travellers visiting Phnom Penh will both keep within the BKK1 or Riverside areas of town.
Click right here for Phnom Penh Hotels & flats
Phnom Penh Apartments
Renting an condominium in Phnom Penh is an efficient various for lengthy stays in Cambodia. It permits you to study concerning the tradition and get a really feel for day-to-day life dwelling in Cambodia.
You can guide a Phnom Penh condominium on resort reserving web sites which normally embody electrical energy, water and web within the complete worth. If you’re a first-time customer to Phnom Penh it is a good possibility for condominium looking as precisely what you’re paying up entrance.
Click right here for Phnom Penh flats
Another possibility is to lease an condominium by means of an actual property or approaching condominium blocks independently and negotiating a worth on your keep. These costs are sometimes cheaper than resort reserving web sites, however you will have to pay an extra safety deposit which is generally refundable while you depart.
Additional prices will embody water, electrical energy, and web, the utilization might be calculated on a time-frame that fits the owner. During our stays we now have discovered the utility costs to be affordable and reasonably priced.
Most flats ought to have a range prime and microwave, sitting space, eating desk and mattress. If you’re renting independently be sure that to examine for home equipment and cooking utensils on first inspection.
Best Area to Stay in Phnom Penh
Popular areas to remain in Phnom Penh are BKK1 and Riverside. Both have a vastly totally different atmosphere, BKK1 has a quieter expat vibe, and Riverside is get together central full of bars and nightlife.
Phnom Penh Food Scene
No journey to Cambodia can be full with out attempting native delicacies reminiscent of fish amok and beef lok lak. Though spicy, you’ll find that these Khmer dishes have a extra delicate flavour stability than its Thai counterparts.
As with most massive cities, Phnom Penh has a vigorous native and International meals scene. Along with road meals carts there are a mess of small eating places serving a mixture of each Western and native dishes.
If you’re in search of effective eating, Phnom Penh has a wide variety of elegantly appointed eating places to fit your wants.
Phnom Penh Shopping
Phnom Penh has a rare collection of procuring choices. Stylish boutiques, trendy procuring malls and the thrill of the Central and Russian Markets all await while you make a journey to Phnom Penh.
Across town you’ll find a set of small comfort shops promoting private gadgets, groceries and alcohol. For the long-term traveller lacking groceries from residence, head straight to your closest Super Duper, a wonderful little grocery store that can fulfill your cravings.
Aeon Mall Phnom Penh is the proper place to maintain cool on a sizzling day. This huge shopping center homes a grocery store, meals court docket and a bunch of International and native procuring manufacturers.
Phnom Penh Transport
Phnom Penh has all types of transport together with buses and taxis. By far the preferred types of transport are tuk tuk and Grab taxi which is a journey share firm like Uber.
During our keep we most well-liked to take Grab taxi as it’s low-cost, and the worth of the fare earlier than you start your journey. We even have our bank card linked to the Grab App to cease any quibbling over change as soon as we arrive at our vacation spot.
Getting Around Cambodia
There are quite a lot of bus firms that can take you from Phnom Penh to the favored Cambodian locations of Siem Reap, Kampot, Battambang, Kep and Sihanoukville.
We selected to take a Giant Ibis bus service from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and had a nice journey. We can extremely advocate the Giant ibis bus firm, we discovered them to be clear and dependable.
Click right here for Cambodia buses
The best and most snug transport possibility for journey round Cambodia is to take direct door to door personal transfers between your chosen locations.
Click right here for personal switch in Cambodia
If your time in Cambodia is restricted, you’ll be able to take a direct flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat.
Cambodia Currency
Cambodia embraces two currencies, the US greenback and Cambodian Riel. Most companies will wish to be paid in USD, and you may be given change in Cambodian Riel. The USD should be in pristine situation, or it is not going to be accepted.
During our keep we went to the financial institution to alternate Australian {dollars} and located that they wished the Australian {dollars} to be in excellent situation as effectively. You will discover ATM’s in all places throughout the vacationer areas.
We use and advocate the Wise debit card for worldwide journey
Cambodia Visas
Your size of keep in Cambodia will depend upon the visa entry necessities of your house nation and your journey time-frame.
For Australians Cambodia affords a 30-day single entry eVisa. This offers you loads of time to discover this fascinating nation.
Click right here for Cambodia Visa info on your nation
Phnom Penh Weather
Phnom Penh Cambodia has a sizzling, humid tropical warmth which is cut up right into a dry and monsoon moist season. The finest time to go to Cambodia is through the dry season between November and February.
Dry Season – November to April
Average Temperatures – 30C to 35C (86F to 95F)
During dry season Phnom Penh comes alive with vacationers wanting to go to the close by Killing Fields and infamous S-21 Prison. You will discover that December by means of to February is the best and most snug months to go to.
Dry season coincides with the Bon Om Touk Water Festival in November and Chaul Chnam Thmey (Khmer New Year) in April.
Wet Season – May to October
Average Temperatures – 28C to 33C (82F to 91F)
If you propose to go to Phnom Penh throughout moist season, be ready for heavy afternoon and night downpours, particularly through the months between July and September.
Phnom Penh Cambodia Health & Safety
Be cautious strolling round Phnom Penh as footpaths may be uneven or non-existent. Traffic is usually tightly squeezed alongside the perimeters of the street providing you with little house to stroll. Be conscious that motorbikes and automobiles can scoot by at any second.
Be conscious of scams and pickpocketing particularly alongside the Riverside Promenade path and surrounding space. It is advisable to take out journey insurance coverage earlier than you permit your house nation.
Click right here for journey insurance coverage and different journey financial savings specials
Last Words on Long Stays in Cambodia: Phnom Penh and Beyond
Long stays in Cambodia are excellent for anybody contemplating a sluggish journey way of life. Whether you propose to remain in Phnom Penh or discover additional afield, you’ll find a rustic which is reasonably priced and has heat, pleasant locals very happy to share their distinctive historical past and tradition.
If you’re in search of a laid again lengthy keep base in Southeast Asia, Cambodia must be put in your listing of locations to go to.
Have you had a protracted keep in Cambodia? Feel free to go away a remark we might love to listen to from you.
