2019-10-01 Wanderlust

CAMBODIA

wanderlust.co.uk October 2019 77

Footnotes

Cambodia

TOPTIP

Ignorethe

backpackers–

KohRongisland

isnotpartiedout.

OnlyPoliceBeach

istrulybusy,with

noisyravesevery

Wednesdayand

Saturday.The

southernendof

SokSanbeachis

stillquietand

largelyresortfree.

THETRIP

Theauthortravelledwith

CambodiaRevealed(01932

424252,cambodiarevealed.

co.uk),onatailor-madetrip.

A 14 nightitineraryincluding

Battambang,PhnomPenh,

KampotandKohRong

SamloenonaB&Bbasiscosts

from£2,687pp,basedontwo

peoplesharing.Flightswith

ThaiAirwaysorCathayPaciŽic

fromLondonHeathrow.

Life and soul

A deserted stretch of Lazy

Beach on Koh Rong

Samloen, a cove backed by

verdant rainforest; (top)

Novice monks receiving

alms from a local

shopkeeper in Battambang

Vital statistics
Capital: Phnom Penh
Population: 16.5 million
Language: Khmer
Time: GMT+7
Visas: UK and Irish nationals are
required to pay $30 on arrival.
Money: The Cambodian riel (KHR)
is currently around 5,000KHR to the
UK£, but the US dollar is the main
currency used. There are ATMs in
large cities and major towns. Credit
cards will not always be accepted.

When to go
Cambodia is a tropical country with
average year-round temperatures
ranging between 25°C and 35°C.
October to December: The
coolest months of the dry season,
with temperatures are around 25°C.
March and April: The hottest,
most humid months, temperatures
frequently reach 35°C.
May to September: The wet
season, with high temperatures
around 35°C from May to July.
August and September have the
heaviest rainfalls.

Health & safety

Recommended immunisations

include Hepatitis A and B, tetanus

and diptheria. There is a risk of

malaria in north-east Cambodia.

Be aware of bag snatchers in

Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville –

thieves often travel in tuk-tuks and

on motorbikes. Women should be

careful walking alone at night in

Siem Reap and Sihanoukville.

Getting there

There are no direct Žlights from the

UK to Cambodia. Thai Airways

(thaiairways.com) Žly to Phnom

Penh via Bangkok. Flight time is

around 15 hours from London;

return fares from £543.

Getting around

Royal Railway (royal-railway.

com) operate Cambodia’s railway

network – see The Man in Seat 61

(seat61.com) for useful advice. Tuk-

tuks and motorbike taxis are cheap

and abundant in the cities.

Local airlines including Cambodian

Angkor Air (cambodiaangkorairline.

com) Žly throughout the country.

Motogirl Tours (motogirltour.com)

o’er a broad range of excursions

around Phnom Penh, including a

night city tour visiting markets from

$65 (£54). The Wildlife Alliance

(wildlifealliance.org) o’er full-day

tours of their wildlife sanctuary

from $150 (£125), which includes

a transfer from Phnom Penh.

Cost of travel

Cheaper than Thailand, but more

expensive than Vietnam, expect

to spend around £15 per day if

staying in hostels and eating street

food. Air-conditioned hotels and

dining at a mid-range restaurant will

cost between £20 and £50 a day.

Luxury living starts from £80 a day.

Accommodation

A French colonial building and

a relaxing haven in Phnom Penh,

The Plantation (theplantation.asia)

o’ers rooms set in lush gardens

dotted with lotus ponds. The Royal

Palace and Mekong river are a two-

minute walk away. B&B doubles for

two people start from $89 (£74).

A 15-minute walk from the town

centre of Battambang, Bambu

(bambuhotel.com) has bright

spacious rooms with French

windows overlooking a pool patio

and bar. The restaurant serves

excellent food, including Amok

curries. B&B doubles from $55 (£46).

In a plum location right on the

riverfront at Kampot, large rooms

at Rikitikitavi (rikitikitavi-kampot.

com) have four-poster beds and

private patios decorated with local

wicker crafts. There’s also a rooftop

restaurant and bar. B&B doubles

from $53 (£44).