Capital: Phnom Penh. Has a  population of around 1.3 million. Religion: The official religion is Theravada Buddhism, as is also practiced in Thailand, Burma, Laos and Sri Lanka. About 90% of Khmers are of this religion. The country also has minority religions of about half a million Muslims, and 60,000 Christians. Local Time: is 7 Hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).

Bangkok to Siem Reap via Aranyaprathet/Poipet border crossing 466km, 9-12 hour trip from Bangkok to Siem Reap.  4-5 hour bus or train ride from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet (‘Aran’),then a short tuk-tuk ride 6 km to the border crossing. Cambodian visas available. From Poipet on the Cambodian side, 3-8 hour bus or taxi to Siem Reap. From Poipet through Sisophon to Siem Reapyou can take: tourist bus, pickup , or  shared/private taxi. Tourist Bus:varies & watch out for touts taking you to a bus then extracting money and running while the driver isn't there. Buses are slow. 4-8 hours. Pickup: 30 baht (back) - 100 baht (inside, 2 seats) to Sisophon. Change vehicles in Sisophon. 50 baht (in the back) - 200 baht (inside, 2 seats) to Siem Reap. 3-5 hours. Taxi: 150-200 baht per seat in a shared taxi. 900- 1200 baht for the whole car. 3-4 hours. This is the easiest, fastest, most expensive option

Cambodia Visa: 2011:

Visiting Cambodia most nationalities need a visa. Make sure your passport has a min six month validity left. Philippine and Malaysian nationals don't need a tourist visas forstays of up to 21 and 30 days. Visa on arrival is not permitted for the following passports: Afghanistan; Algeria; Bangladesh; Iran; Iraq; Pakistan; Saudi Arabia; Sri Lanka; and Sudan. You need a visa before going plus a sponsor letter or invitation from a company / organization / travel agent, and it may pay to have a valid return ticket. Singaporean nationality is also exempt from the usual visa requirement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cambodia and International Cooperation has launching e-Visa that enables traveler to apply for a travel visa online. The applicant does not need to visit a Cambodian Embassy to submit an application or even need to sent an application to the Embassy and wait for a response. All they need is to access the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, http://www.mfaic.gov.kh, get their passport and credit card information ready and e-Visa will deliver the Visa to their mailbox for them to print. You can always review our website for more information. http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh. Payment by credit card. US$25 for a 30 day visa (three month validity.)

Passport/visa requirements:

30-day tourist visa (Type ‘T’): US$20 Tourist visas may be extended for one month, but only one time.

30-day business visa (Type ‘E’): US$25 Business visas can be renewed indefinitely, one month, three months, six months or one year at a time.

Visa requirements and price:

Issuance of a visa on arrival at the airports and international border crossings is relatively quick and easy, taking about 20-30 minutes. One 4x6 photo is required and if coming via plane then you just hand in your passport with photo and the Immigration form. The take at one window then you pay at the next window where they call your name out. Only normally takes 5 minutes then proceed to the immigration & out to the luggage. The airport is nice and new and easy to get around with free internet at the departure lounge to use. Internet is everywhere in Phnom Penh and quick broadband. Its amazing to see even western countries like NZ and Australia still make you pay and the broadband network not as good as Thailand or Cambodia still as at April 2011. In fact in NZ it costs far too much???.

The Mekong River front has many Guesthouses & Hotels

Visa Renewal:

Renew visas through a travel agent or the ‘Immigration Department’ on Confederation de Russie (‘Airport Road’), located opposite Phnom Penh International Airport. Tel: 012-581558. Fax: 023-890380. E-mail: visa_info@online.com.kh. Renew Diplomatic, Courtesy and Official visas at the Consular section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Validity and cost: Border crossings with Thailand: Cambodian visas and 30-day Thai transit visas are available at all of the Thai/Cambodian border crossings. Thai transit visas are free of charge.  Poipet and Koh Kong crossings, Cambodian immigration charge 1000 baht ( tourist visa) and 1500 baht (business visa). No dollars.  Baht is more expensive than the official prices of $20 and $25. 

Visitors arriving by air can obtain a visa for up to 30 days on arrival at Pochentong International Airport, Phnom Penh. One month visa costs US$20, up to 3 months US$40 and more than 3 months US$60 & extensions may be granted by the Immigration Office in Phnom Penh. However first check prices with your Travel agent or the Consulate.

O’Smach Checkpoint Cambodia visas available & Thai transit visas: between Siem Reap, Cambodia and either northern Thailand, or southern Laos via Thailand. From Siem Reap take taxi or pickup to the border via Anlong Veng town.  5-8 hour trip on a rough road from Siem Reap to the border. Price in a pick-up truck: $5-$9.  Nearest Thai city is Surin.

Border Scams Cambodian border guards & touts, especially at Koh Kong and Poipet.  Drivers and touts will insist that you need their help to obtain a visa--crap. Don't let touts take you to the bus saying they work for the company. They will put you on the bus, you then pay and they run away. The visa process is easy, straightforward and do-it-yourself. The guards may charge 50 baht for a SARS form. The form may be required, but it is free. Immigration police try to overcharge 100-300 baht for the visa, or charge 100 baht for the normally free exit/entry stamp. Ask for a receipt or bycet".

Application to: On arrival $20 or 1000 baht.  Business visas cost $25. Tourists on package tours will normally have their visas arranged by the tour operator.

Application requirements: (a) 3 completed application forms.

(b) 2 passport-size photos. (c) Passport. (d) Fee. (e) Business card, if applying for Business visa. (f) Proof of sufficent funds to cover stay.
Visas valid for one month only may also be issued at Pochentong airport and at border towns like Hat Lek and Aranyaprathet.

[ See Visa runs ]