Trip readiness checklist for Cambodia
Cambodia is gentle, devout, and carrying heavy history with grace. Here's the trip-readiness checklist for Cambodia: what to pack, when to go, entry rules for your passport, and the official sources to confirm before you fly.
Build my checklistEntry rules for a US passport
E-visa required
Source: U.S. Department of State, checked September 14, 2026. Other passports get their own answer in the app. Confirm at the official source before you book.
What to pack
Cambodia is temples, heat, and the mighty Angkor. Pack light, quick-dry clothes, modest cover for the temples, and good sun protection — Angkor days start before dawn.
Modest temple clothing
Angkor and other temples require covered shoulders and knees — light long layers work.
Light, quick-dry clothing
Hot and humid year-round; you'll sweat through heavy cotton.
Strong sun protection and a hat
Exploring Angkor means hours in fierce sun; hydrate and cover up.
Slip-on shoes
Lots of walking and clambering at temples; shoes off at sacred spots.
When to go
The dry season (Nov–Mar) is the pleasant, peak time; it gets very hot Mar–May, and the wet season (Jun–Oct) is green with afternoon downpours. Angkor at sunrise is busy whenever you go.
Money & getting around
Cambodia uses the riel (KHR), but US dollars are the de facto currency — prices are often in USD and you'll get riel as change for small amounts. Bring clean, smaller USD bills; ATMs dispense dollars. Cards work at hotels. Tipping is appreciated.
Local quirks worth knowing
Cambodia is gentle, devout, and carrying heavy history with grace. Dress for the temples, mind the monks, and visit the hard places respectfully.
Angkor enforces its dress code
Knees and shoulders covered — checked at ticket control and again at Angkor Wat's upper level. A scarf won't pass; wear real sleeves.
Monks and women don't touch
Women shouldn't hand anything directly to a monk (place it down instead) or sit beside one on transport. It protects his vows, not your dignity.
Visit the genocide sites with care
Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields are memorials, not photo ops — many guides are survivors' children. Quiet respect is the only correct behavior.
Bargain like it's a game, because it is
Markets expect gentle haggling with smiles; a dollar matters more to them than you. Win kindly.
A week in Cambodia, the list starts here
Quantities scale with your dates, the weather groups arrive once we have your travel days, and your own plans add their gear on Trip Pass.
- Passport & travel documents1
- Phone charger & adapter1
- Wallet, cards & some local cash1
- Toiletries bag1
- Any daily medicationsenough for the trip
- Underwear7
- Socks7
- T-shirts / tops5
What am I forgetting?
A real answer from Trip Happens for a sample week in Cambodia, departing in five weeks with a checked bag and nothing packed yet. Yours is built from your own trip.
Five weeks out, a week in Siem Reap. Three gaps.
- 1.
Shoulders, knees, and rain
Late October still sits at the tail of the wet season, and Angkor's temples expect covered shoulders and knees. Pack light long trousers or a skirt plus a cover-up that dries fast after an afternoon downpour.
- 2.
Clean, small US dollars
Dollars are the de facto currency and you'll get riel as change, but worn or torn bills get refused. Bring a stack of crisp small denominations before you fly, since you can't fix this at the temple gate.
Entry, advisories & health
These change. Confirm at the official source before you book.
Entry and visa requirements depend on your nationality. Confirm the current rules for Cambodia with the official source below before you book.
U.S. State Department travel advisory for Cambodia — check the current level and any alerts before you go.
CDC traveler health page for Cambodia — recommended vaccines, health notices, and a packing checklist.
Get the full Cambodia checklist
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