Planning your trip to Babel and Siem Reap?
We are here to help you!
What should you make sure to have ready before you leave your home?
Passport. Make sure to have a valid passport. To enter Cambodia your passport must be: valid for at least 6 months from the date you arrive in Cambodia. Undamaged and Complete - entry is refused if you have a damaged passport or pages missing.
Visa. There are two options for a tourist visa: visa on arrival, or e-visa.
This is the website for the e-visa. Do not use any other websites. https://www.evisa.gov.kh/
Upon arrival in Cambodia travelers can show the printed copy of the visa letter and get their passport stamped.
Once issued, a Cambodia e-Visa:
Is valid for entering Cambodia up to about 3 months from the issue date
Allows a stay of up to 30 days after you arrive.
Visa on arrival can be obtained at any Cambodian border, by air or by land. The price is 30 USD. There is no longer a requirement to bring a passport photo. From 2024 you can pay for your visa on arrival by cash or card.
Arrival Card. Everyone entering Cambodia has previously been given a paper called “Arrival Card” that needs to be filled out for immigration.
From 2024, all passengers traveling to Cambodia is required to submit an electronic arrival card, this can be done up to 7 days before arrival.
For those who do not have time to submit the card prior to arrival, don't worry, tablets and Wi-Fi are available at airports.
- First make a profile, then submit your arrival information afterwards.
This new 'Cambodia e-arrival card' can be accessed and submitted via the official website here:
or through Apple's App Store and Google Play Store. The same platform can be used to obtain and pay for your visa.
v- PASS. As of , 2025, there will not be any more entry stamps or stickers. All foreigners who have cleared immigration in Cambodia will receive the new v-pass via email, or on your Cambodia e-arrival app. When departing the country, just hand over your passport to the immigration. Your departure will be recorded in the system. No physical exit stamp is needed.
What is Cambodian v-Pass? v-Pass is an innovative border control system that replaces traditional passport stamps and QR code stickers for foreign visitors.
Currency. Cambodia operates on a dual currency system, meaning two currencies are used in everyday transactions:
Cambodian riel (KHR) – the official national currency
US dollar (USD) – widely used. Many menus are still only in us dollars - this does NOT mean you have to pay with us dollars, Riel is always accepted.
Do not bring old, damaged US dollar notes. These cannot be used in Cambodia. Cambodia is in the process of de-dollarization, and prefers the local currency, Riel.
In general, 1 USD equals 4000 Riel.
Most ATMs have an option of withdrawing either currencies.
The new payment app. “Bakong Tourist” is the name of the new payment app by the National Bank of Cambodia. This app allows visitors to link their cards from their home countries and make digital payments by scanning the KHQR code.
New Airport. The old airport closed, and the new international airport opened in October 2023. This had a huge impact on all of us, but especially our loyal tuk tuk drivers who had been picking up our guests for over two decades. This first impression, meeting our wonderful drivers and being taken through the city in an open-air tuktuk, is now something that is in the past.
We are still providing a pick-up service for our guests, but only with cars and minivans. The new airport is almost an hour away, and the road is not safe for a tuk tuk. We now have a great group of drivers with cars and minivans, and we follow the official rate of the airport for our pick-ups. Please contact us directly if you are interested!
Car Seats. We also have booster seats for kids and baby car seats available.
Electrical plugs. Both our guesthouse and the hotel have international plugs.
Type A, Type C, Type G
Sim cards. Can be bought at the airport or at any phone shop in town. You will see plenty of signs offering “Tourist sim”. Companies like Smart and Cellcard are the most popular.
Is Cambodia safe?
Crime. Cambodia is generally a very safe country for tourists.
Keep an eye out and protect your belongings. Petty theft can happen in crowded places (as anywhere else). Most incidents of theft are bag snatchings, often by thieves riding past on motorbikes.
To protect yourself and your belongings:
use a hotel safe for your valuables
take extra care at night and in isolated areas and stick to well-used, well-lit roads
minimise the items you carry with you
carry bags on the side of you that is furthest from the road
do not place bags in the front basket of bicycle
Road travel. Road safety can vary considerably across the country. Unfortunately a lot of drivers do not drive safely or respect traffic laws. Drinking and driving is common, and often the cause of accidents, especially around major holidays. Make sure to exercise caution when driving or walking. Be particularly vigilant during the holiday periods. Travel after dark significantly increases the risk of accidents. However, the road standard in Cambodia continues to improve, but dogs, cows and trucks driving too fast, is still a huge reason for road accidents. Please ask us for recommended bus companies and taxi drivers.
LGBT+ travellers. Same-sex relationships are legal in Cambodia. The LGBT+ community is becoming more visible, through gay clubs, club nights and the work of some human rights organisations.
Some useful facts
When to visit? Anytime!
We love Siem Reap all throughout the year!
The winter months of November to February are the busiest season in town, and prices do tend to go up a bit. Book early if you would like to come for Christmas and New Years. The New Years celebration is popular with both locals and tourists, gathering around the river and in pub street to count down to the new year.
November is a beautiful month to visit. Temperatures are not too high, and our town is green and lush after months of rain. November also brings the festive celebrations of the Water festival. This festival celebrates the end of the monsoon season, and the reversal of the flow of the Tonle Sap Lake. Our beautiful riverside gets lively with plenty of street food, games and festivities for almost a week. Both our hotels are located a short walk from the river.
December and January are peak months in Siem Reap, and the rest of the country. Mostly because of the very pleasant weather, and low humidity. The rain has stopped and the temperatures can go down to as low as 16 -18 celsius in the early mornings and evenings. Siem Reap celebrates both Christmas and New Years, and our town gets very festive. If you're looking for a fancy dinner or brunch to celebrate, there are plenty of alternatives available.
February and March are still busy months. The temperature can be anything from very pleasant, to scorching hot. Its been a while since the last rain, and the countryside can be less green and lush. The water level in Tonle Sap lake will be low by the end of February. The weather can feel much hotter in Siem Reap, than on the islands and the coastal towns.
April means HOT in Cambodia. It also means it's time for the Khmer New Years celebrations. This is a very fun time to visit, if you're ready for it. Temperatures will hit the low 40’s during the day, and spending time in the pool is a must. It is also mango season! The streets of Siem Reap will be filled with locals selling delicious, juicy mangoes for as low as 25 cents per kilo. Be sure to try our Mango Margaritas and Mango Daiquiris!
Khmer New Year celebration is the busiest time in Siem Reap (mostly local tourists). Watch the entire town have a blast with water fights for 3 days, non-stop. If you are here for the celebrations, make sure to join the fun and get wet!
May usually brings in the rain, and the beginning of the monsoon season, or green season as we prefer to call it. All the dust will be washed away and the temperatures will drop after the heavy rainfalls.
June, July and August are pleasant months to visit. The town, the temples and the Tonle Sap Lake have gotten some much needed rain, and the temperatures are not as high anymore.
September and October are the most quiet months in Cambodia. This means you can get some pretty good deals! The countryside is absolutely beautiful, and so are the temples. The rain will mostly happen in the afternoons and evenings, so make sure to get out and about in the mornings. Bring a lightweight raincoat or poncho.
Official Public Holidays 2026
Jan 1 - New Year’s Day
Jan 7 - Victory over Genocide Day
Mar 8 - International Women’s Day
Apr 14, 15, 16 - Khmer New Year (3 days)
May 1 - International Labour Day
May 5 - Royal Ploughing Ceremony
May 11 - Visak Bochea Day (Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, passing)
May 14 - King Norodom Sihamoni’s Birthday
May 15 - Royal Ploughing Ceremony
Jun 18 - Queen Mother Norodom Birthday
Sep 24 - Constitution Day
Oct 10, 11, 12 - Pchum Ben (Ancestors’ Day)
Oct 15 - Commemoration Day of the King Father (Norodom Sihanouk)
Oct 29 - King Norodom Sihamoni’s Coronation Day
Nov 9 - Independence Day
Nov 23, 24, 25 - Water Festival (Bon Om Touk)
Dec 29 - Peace Day (National Peace Day)