arrival / passport / history / health / water / hotels / food / medicine/ clothes / telephon- internet / security / geography / climate-season / language / religion / money -banking / Siem Reap / Phnom Penh / how to reach /events and festivals

AT THE ARRIVAL IN THE AIRPORT OF PHNOM PENH OR SIEM REAP
If you did not get a cambodia visa in your country, you can obtain it without problem at the arrival in these airports. There are 2 page to fill, you will find at arrival in airport or in plane, 2 identity photos and 20 dollars in cash for the visa. It takes about 20 minutes at the arrival for the obtaining of the visa.

After having pass through the immigration control with your visa, you get back your luggage, (According to airports, they asks you the luggage's numbers, and sometime, little checking by customs,

A representative of our agency ANGKORTOUR, wait for you outside, (there is only one exit) with a board at your name. (Please, look well at all boards, because sometimes there is a lot of ). our member wait for you with a car or a bus according to the number of persons, and he will accompany you to your hotel.

YOUR PROGRAM
After checking in the hotel, our representative, who is generally the guide of your tour, will have with him the same program which was sent to you. It is with him that you see for the detail of the visits.
TOP

PASSPORTS : Passport validity, valid another 6 month at the date of return + 2 identity's photos for the visa and 2 identity's photos for the permit to enter on the Angkor's site.
VISA
All Foreign Visitors are now able to obtain the Cambodia visa at arrival at the airport in about 20 min. Just prepare the following documents:
A Passport Photocopy 2 identity photos (3 x 4 cm). US$ 20 Cash for tourist visa fee (Paid directly to the Immigration)
The Cambodia Visa is issued officially at the following ports of entry:
By Air : Airport in Phnompenh & Siemreap Airport (Angkor Wat )
By Land: Travelers can travel to/from Cambodia by land through Aranyapathet- Poipet Border and Trat-Koh Kong Border of Thailand and Moc Bai - Bavet Border of Vietnam. Visa Validity: 30 days from the date of issue, *NOT* from the date of entry. TOP

HEALTH : No compulsory vaccine. Be up to date of the Tetanus and Poliomyelitis. Consult your doctor for the risks of hepatitis. The risk of malaria exists, and it is advised to use a Nivakine or others treatment to see with your doctor. On the other hand, take an antimosquito lotion, cream or stick for certain evenings.

TOP

WATER : The tap water in Cambodia is totally disadvised to drink. Drink the narrow-minded mineral water or the drinks in bottles, Sprite, Fanta, Pepsi, Coca, or the tea (Tia) very light, which one proposes you in certain restaurant and which was boiled several times.

VEGETABLES : No problems.

TOP

HOTELS RESIDENCES: That your residence is foreseen in guest house or in 5 stars, rooms are equiped with the air-conditioning, and with a private bathroom, W.C., shower or bath according to the hotel category. If you go to the National Parks, there is no air-conditioning in the guest houses, but some fans. For the journeys in hotels 3,4 or 5 stars, there is no hotels of this quality outside Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. The residences, in particular in Ta Keo, Kratié, Rattanakiri and Kompong Thom, are always foreseen in guest houses and standard hotels , of good quality , cleans, with air-conditioning.
TOP

FOOD: You will find in Cambodia, an excellent and varied food. That it is in the great or in the small restaurants of Phnom Penh (near to the central market) or in Siem Reap (to the central market). The price by meal varies of 2 dollars in the small restaurants, 5 to 7 dollars in the medium restaurants, to 15 dollars and more in the hotels of supérior category. Drinks are not included in the prices. The beer (from 1 to 2 dollars) is good quality and it is possible to find some French wine in many restaurants or shops. Also for alcohols. Food has base of meat (pig, beef) with jumped vegetables, pastas or rice, and fish under all its forms and a lot of varied soups, all this perfumed and little spiced (not as in Thaïland). Sea food is abundant in coastal areas with shrimps and crab among the favorites. Local specialties include Amok (fish-cooked in coconut milk) and a variety of soups, and curries similar in taste though not in spiciness to Thailand.
TOP

MEDICINES :
We advise you to take of Intetrix and Immodium against possible "Touristas". An antibiotic wide spectre such as Clamoxyl or other one. Aspirin, paracetamol. Eye-drops for eyes (especially if you are bearer of lenses). Lysopaïne or Locabiotal in case of troubles of gorges. Sun cream strong defender . A cream for the muscular pains. Vitamin C. (but it is possible to find betadine in pharmacies). Take your usual medicines. Preventive antipaludean treatment.
TOP

CLOTHES :
It is a warm country also in winter ( 20 to 25 degrees for winter). Light clothes rather in cotton for the day. Hat, bob, cap or scarf because strong sun and risk of dehydration. Light jacket for evening. Raincoat in case of rains. Pair of shorts or bermuda shorts. (No too short pair of shorts for the ladies in order to not offend the population). It is impossible to enter in the Royal Palace and in certain monastery, with a pair of shorts).

CLOTHES WASHING: Practically in all the hotels you can give some linen to be washed, wich is given back on the evening. But ask if your linen will back on the evening or the next day.

SHOES : Take light shoes, with non-skid sole, because you will walks a lot in the visits of temples and sometimes stones are slippery. But especially, take shoes with which you have already walked. Heeled shoes are not advised for the visits of temples.
TOP

TELEPHONE / INTERNET. You can phone practically everywhere abroad at little raised prices, by the telephone-internet system. In the important cities, there is quantity of cybercafes or internet shops.

TO COMMUNICATE: It is not very easy to communicate with the population, taxis, or motorcycles-taxis, except with those that work in the tourism. Very few persons in the population outside cities, speak another language (or then Thai or Chinese). The French language is almost totally disappeared, except at some old persons who came through Pol Pot's regime, or then to tourist guides. It exists in Siem Reap, 800 guides who speak English and 75 who speak French.
TOP

VARIOUS : Torch and extra battery, sunglasses.

PROSTITUTION: There is prostitution in most of the big cities, the level of AIDS is high.

10

SECURITY: No problem in cities, monuments and in the campaign. But, do not leave alone in the thick jungle in certain regions, it is better to be accompanied by premises. Not be lying dawdle at night far, outside of big cities, it can there have bad incounter.
TOP

The Kingdom of Cambodia
Country Conventional Name: Kingdom of Cambodia ( called Kampuchea by local)
Capital: Phnompenh
Location: Southeast Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand to the south, Thailand to the east, Vietnam to the West, and Laos to the North
Climate - Tropical
Raining Season: June to October
Cool Season: November to February
Hot Season: March to May
TOP

The Kingdom of Cambodia is an independent country with a population of more than 7 million people. With a surface area of 181,035 sq. km and once a French colony, is the least known Indochinese country. Cambodia has a distinct geographical personality: it is a wide basin surrounded by highlands. In this basin the farmer has created a simple life - an original civilization and philosophy of mildness. After many years of war, people rediscovered the meaning of "PEACE" They started to rebuild and reconstruct in all fields. Cambodia is divided into 20 provinces and rich in resources, forests, rubber, gems, fish and . It is bordered to the North by Thailand and Laos, to the East and South by Vietnam, and to the South and Southwest by the Gulf of Thailand. Much of Cambodia is relatively flat with vast tracts of land given over to rice production. Other areas of Cambodia are mountainous, including the Dangrek, Cardomen and Elephant mountain ranges.

the Kingdom of Cambodia is now safe to travel and tourism has once again become possible. Indeed, the country and Phnom Penh in partucular is undergoing something of a renaissance. Often overshadowed by the traumatic events of its recent past, Cambodia as home of the Khmer culture remains one of the most important and exotic countries in South East Asia.
TOP

Climate and Seasons
As a tropical country, Cambodia is bathed in almost all year sunshine and has a high average temperature. There are two distinct seasons, the dry and the monsoon. The monsoon lasts from May to October with southwesterly winds ushering in the clouds that bring seventy five to eighty percent of the annual rainfall often in spectacular intense bursts for an hour at a time with fantastic lightening displays. The dry season runs from November to April averaging temperatures from 27 to 40 degrees Celsius. The collest and most comfortable for those from cooler climates is from October to January.

Language
The Cambodian language, Khmer, is part of the Mon-Khmer family and has its origins in Sanskrit and Pali. It is spoken all over the country except in some tribal areas where local indigenous languages are used. In larger towns and cities English is spoken by an increasing number of educated people. French is spoken by some of the older members of society and Chinese by many of the business people. All facilities catering to tourists employ English-speaking staff who more often than not speak several other local and international languages including German, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese and even Russian
TOP

RELIGION
The majority of the people of Cambodia are followers of Thervada and Hinayana school of Buddhism which was introduced to Cambodia between the 13th and 14 centuries and was the state religion until 1975.
TOP

Currency and Banking
The official currency in Cambodia is the Riel which come in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 50000 and 100000 notes. However, in the major towns and cities, US dollars can be freely spent though travelers are recommended to use smaller denomination notes as change may be difficult. Most places will refuse old, tatty or damaged US bills. Due to the economic problems in the region, the currency has slipped 3600 riel per one US dollars in September 03. Popular local and international currencies can be exchanged openly and freely. Major credit cards are only accepted in a few places so travelers cheques or cash are recommended. You can exchange Euro for Riels or Dollars in banks.
TOP

ANGKOR WAT AND SIEMREAP
The glorious and world-famous Angkor Wat situates in Siemreap Province and is just a few kilometers from the town. One can reach Siemreap by taking daily direct flight from Phnom Penh. Temples of Angkor were built between 7th and 11th century when Khmer civilazation was at its height of its extraordinary creativity. Angkor Wat is the cultural home of the Khmer people and one of the ancient wonders of the world. Its magnificent architecture was the evidence of the Khmer's strong belief in religions - Hinduism and Buddhism. First discovered by Western archeologists in the late 19th century, the lost city of Angkor is just re-opening to the exploration to the modern civilization.

ANGKOR THOM.
The fortified city of Angkor Thom, some 10 sq km in extent, was built in its present form by Angkor's greatest builder, Jayavarman 7 (reigned 1181 to 1201), who came to power just after the disastrous sacking by the Chams of the previous Khmer capital, is enclosed by a square wall eight metres high and 12 km in length and encircled by a moat 100 meters wide, said to have been inhabited by fierce crocodiles. The city has five monumental gates, one in the north, west and south walls and two in the east wall. The gates, which are 20 metres in height, are decorated on either side of the passageway with stone elephant trunks and crowned by four gargantuan faces of the bodhisatva Avalokitesvara.
TOP

PHNOM PENH
The country's capital Phnom Penh is renowned for its beauty, particularly the area surrounding the Royal Palace where magificent Khmer towers share the boulevard with coloured French villas overlooking the banks of the Tonle Sap river.
TOP

HOW TO REACH CAMBODIA & ANGKOR WAT
There are direct flights to the capital of Phnom Penh and some to Siem Reap from Bangkok, Hanoi, Hochiminh City, Hong Kong, Kualalumpur, Singapore and Vientiane. From Phnom Penh, one can take direct flights to Siemreap (Angkor), 4 or 5 planes operates on daily basis and same from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. Because of its vast architectures and plentiful of myths and informations, visiting of the great Angkor Wat with a knowlegable and well-trained guide is highly recommended and fun.
TOP

Events and Festivals
Cambodia has a wealth of traditional and international festivals. Most of these are a time of great rejoicing for the predominantly rural populace, many of whom flock to the capital to join in the celebrations and witness the organized fireworks displays which accompany the festivals. It is at these times the nation unites with a shared common understanding of values and traditions and they are looked forward to with great expectation. Even in times of hardship people try even harder to make these times special. All the traditional festivals are influenced by the concepts of Buddhism, Hinduism and royal cultures. The following are the most important of the celebrations organized throughout the year.

Water festival (October or November)

Pchum Ben (September)

King Sihanouk's Birthday Celebration (October 31)

.Khmer New Year's Day (Mid April)

Angkor Festival (November or December): This festival is a showcase of performing arts with Angkor Wat as a backdrop. Performers from all over Asia attend this festival performing great epic stories from myths and legends, including the Ramayana, with their own national dance costumes and musical and rhythmic inter-pretations.

Royal Ploughing Day (May)

Independence Day (November 9)

Chinese New Year (January or February): Due to the large number of people of Chinese descent who run much of Cambodia's business enterprises; and also Vietnamese immigrant communities, the Chinese New Year is widely celebrated, especially in Phnom Penh.

National Day (January 7):One of the more recent additions to the festival calendar, this day marks the end of the Khmer Rouge Regime.

International Half Marathon (Late December)

Other Holidays and Festivals

Cambodia also celebrates other special days including: International Women's Day (8 March), International Worker's Day (1 May), Genocide Day (9 May), Vesak Bucha Day - the anniversary of the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha (Late May), Ploughing the Holy Furrow (Late May), Chol Vassa - Buddhist Lent (July), and International Human Rights Day (10 December). TOP