Cambodia is open to international tourism
Cambodia reopened its borders to international tourism in November 2021. Currently, there are no requirements in place (such as health testing or quarantine) for all travelers entering the country, regardless of their vaccination status. All land borders between Cambodia and Vietnam, Thailand and Laos are now open.
The tourist visa program has been resumed: visa can either be obtained online in advance or on arrival.
International transit at Cambodian airports is currently not permitted. You should contact your airline for further information.
Practical tips
- If you are flying to Cambodia from abroad, you will most likely land at its main international airport—Phnom Penh International Airport
PNHin Phnom Penh (the gateway to the capital), Siem Reap International AirportREPin Siem Reap (the best choice for visiting the temples of Angkor Wat), and Sihanouk International AirportKOSin Sihanoukville (a convenient option when visiting Cambodia’s seaside and southern islands).
PNH in Phnom Penh (the gateway to the capital), Siem Reap International Airport REP in Siem Reap (the best choice for visiting the temples of Angkor Wat), and Sihanouk International Airport KOS in Sihanoukville (a convenient option when visiting Cambodia’s seaside and southern islands). Cambodia has also a number of provincial or regional airports, some used commercially for domestic flights, some only for occasional chartered light wing aircraft: Dara Sakor International Airport
DSY, Ratanakiri Airport RBE, Kampong Cham Airport KCA, Kampot Airport KMT, Kratié Airport KTI, Mondulkiri Airport MWV, and Thbeng Meanchey Airport OMY. The Kingdom plans to expand its airport network to help increase the international and domestic tourism industry. New airports being built in Cambodia include new Phnom Penh International Airport in Kandal, Dara Sakor International Airport and Koh Kong Airport in Koh Kong province, Siem Reap Angkor International Airport in Siem Reap, and Mondulkiri Airport in Mondulkiri province.
- Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, FlexFlight, JC International Airlines, Jetstar Airways, Shenzhen Airlines, SilkAir, Spring Airlines, ThaiSmile, VietJet Air, and Xiamen Air.
Flights to Cambodia
from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Cambodia. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Cambodia, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop.
- Cambodia is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Cambodia with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL, DallasDFW, DenverDEN, ChicagoORD, Los AngelesLAX, Las VegasDFW, MiamiMIA, SeattleSEA, HoustonIAH, New YorkJFK, and San FranciscoSFOin the United States and TorontoYYZ, VancouverYVR, CalgaryLAS, and MontrealYULin Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Cambodia from the US and Canada are: Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Emirates, EVA Air, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
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What is the best time to book flights to Cambodia?
The best time to book flights to Cambodia is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Cambodia flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Airfare prices for Cambodia flights fluctuate due to demand, seasonal trends, and competition, causing numerous price drops and increases as your departure date approaches. The airlines use sophisticated revenue management systems to adjust pricing for optimal seat sales.
Generally, as seats are sold, prices tend to become more expensive.
Don’t book too early
Most airlines start selling their flights 9–12 months in advance. However, booking a ticket too early in that window can be an expensive mistake – airlines typically start by setting prices at a relatively high level to capture early demand from those willing to pay more to secure their seats.
Peak seasons are expensive
Peak travel seasons are always expensive – due to higher base prices set by airlines for dates they expect to be popular. Try to avoid the high season during summer and major holidays including holidays in Cambodia. If you must travel during peak times, book your flight well in advance.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Cambodia less than 30 days before takeoff. Prices spike sharply then, as airlines are taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up.
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Cambodia, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. This is the “Prime Booking Window.” After some seats have already been sold, airlines start dropping prices to stimulate demand. They may also offer promotions and sales. This is the ideal time for bargain hunting.
Fly on weekdays
It makes a difference which day of the week you board the plane. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is less busy and likely cheaper than flying on weekends. Airlines charge higher prices for weekend travel due to the high demand from people going on short getaways or visiting family and friends.
Opt for early morning flights
To save on airfare, select a late night or early morning (1–5 a.m.) flight. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand—most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Moreover, morning flights tend to have fewer delays, and airport queues are usually shorter.
Flights to Cambodia from Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Cambodia — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia.
- Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Cambodia include Austrian Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Emirates, EVA Air, KLM, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, and Turkish Airlines.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Cambodia from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.
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Transport from the airport
There are a few options to get from Phnom Penh airport to the city center. A train ($2.50) will take you there in 30 minutes. Add another 30 minutes for the heavy traffic if you choose a shuttle bus ($5), public bus ($0.50), or taxi ($14). Tuk-tuk, the most common mode of transport in Cambodia (and a great way to experience an authentic way of traveling) will cost you around $6-$8 (try to haggle!) and will take you to the city center in less than an hour.
Get e-visa online
Every international traveler that visits Cambodia needs a visa. While you can get a visa on arrival, purchasing an e-visa online (extra $6 processing fee) will save you time standing in line at customs/immigration. It takes 5 minutes to go through online forms – your visa will be approved immediately and will land in your email inbox in another 5 minutes. Print out 2 copies (one to enter Cambodia and one to exit) and you’re ready to go. Interestingly, passengers arriving in Cambodia with e-visas don’t need to fill in arrival or departure cards.
Know your time zone
When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure/arrival times on your plane ticket and boarding pass are based on the time zone of the departure/arrival airport – this also applies to the connecting (layover) airports.
Cambodia has only one time zone – it observes Indochina Time all year, which is UTC/GMT +7. There are no daylight saving time clock changes.
Cambodia is 11 hours ahead of New York, and 4 hours behind Sydney. It shares the same time with Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos.
The cheapest time to fly to Cambodia
The best time to find cheap flights to Cambodia tends to be during the low season – May to September. It’s the country’s wet season and also off-peak tourism season with significantly fewer visitors. Everything – including airline tickets – is then cheaper.
Avoid the peak season – December to March, and local holidays. Cheap flights to Cambodia are non-existent during popular holidays such as Khmer New Year (26 January), Anzac Day (13/14 April), Pchum Ben (September to mid-October), Water Festival (November), and the Royal Ploughing Ceremony (May). If you have to travel to Cambodia during these peak periods it’s wise to book the flights well in advance.
Use Grab or PassApp to get around town
Uber is no longer available in Cambodia – it ceased business in 2018 and has been replaced by its Asian alternative – Grab.
Grab is the most popular rideshare app in the region, operating in many countries throughout Southeast Asia. It’s a good way for a cross-city journey: the cars are safe, secure, and usually air-conditioned. Similarly to Uber, it has fixed distance-based fees, so drivers can’t overcharge you for journeys. If you don’t have the Grab app yet, download it for your Cambodian vacation and set up your account, payment options, etc, before arriving.
In case you’re having a hard time booking a ride with Grab, there is a local alternative PassApp. The PassApp ride-sharing app on most occasions will be even cheaper than Grab.
Avoid currency exchange kiosks at airports
It is always a good idea to bring some cash with you to Cambodia. Even though the US dollar is still the unofficial second currency, that is starting to change and the Cambodian riel is becoming more widely used.
Airports are infamous for making an exuberant amount of money from their currency exchanges due to the extremely high margins, and Cambodian airports are no exception. Airport kiosks usually charge higher fees which are sometimes hidden within the poorer exchange rates they offer – their business is based on charging extra for being a convenient, last-minute option.
Plan ahead and exchange some money for the Cambodian riel at home, or use one of the many ATMs located at the airport or in Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Siem Reap, and some other major towns. ATM machines in Cambodia dispense US dollars and Cambodian riel, however, if you are using a foreign card, you will only be able to withdraw dollars.
Long waiting times when calling the helpline?
Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for Singapore Airlines, Jetstar Airways, Emirates, and others).
When it comes to Twitter there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: “@AngkorAirK6” for Cambodia Angkor Air). The social media team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.
Book a seat in a quiet zone
Some airlines (for example AirAsia X) start to offer child-free “quiet zones” for a peaceful flight experience. Children below 10 years old are not allowed in this section. Those seats are usually located in front of the plane (bonus: less noise from the engines) with soft ambient lighting and early meal service.
Airlines of Cambodia
Cambodia has two full-service carriers: Cambodia Angkor Air (the national flag carrier) and Cambodia Airways, both based at Phnom Penh International Airport. Together, they handle most of the international air traffic to and from Cambodia, serving nearby countries such as China, Hong Kong, Laos, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Most short-haul domestic routes in Cambodia are operated by its smaller airlines such as Sky Angkor Airlines, AirAsia Cambodia, JC International Airlines, Lanmei Airlines, and Bassaka Air. These budget carriers (AKA no-frills airlines) offer flights at lower prices in comparison to two major Cambodian full-service airlines. However, because they manage affordable tickets by cutting down on their operation costs, they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight refreshments, meals, or onboard entertainment. In most cases, their tickets are fixed and non-refundable in case of no show-up or cancellation.
Flights to Cambodia
from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand offer robust flight networks to key APAC locations, Cambodia included. While domestic carriers like Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand provide solid options, several major international airlines also serve these routes. These include ANA, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways — expanding your choices for travel between Australasia and Asia.
There are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Cambodia. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia. - Airlines have different pricing strategies for different routes. Depending on airline partnerships, demand, and even the time of year, a flight to Cambodia could be significantly cheaper from Sydney than from Melbourne.
Compare fares from main international airports in Australia: SydneySYD, BrisbaneBNE, MelbourneMEL, PerthPER, AdelaideADL, CairnsCNS, Gold CoastOOL, CanberraCBR, DarwinDRW, and in New Zealand: AucklandAKL, WellingtonWLG, ChristchurchCHC, and QueenstownZQN. - If you’re looking to save, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a primary Asian hub, then catch a connecting flight to Cambodia with a regional budget airline such as AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, FlexFlight, JC International Airlines, Jetstar Airways, Shenzhen Airlines, SilkAir, Spring Airlines, ThaiSmile, VietJet Air, and Xiamen Air.
For the initial leg of your trip, full-service airlines such as Qantas or Virgin Atlantic offer premium comfort and exceptional service, albeit at a premium price. However, many Asian airlines, including budget carriers, operate out of Australia and frequently feature sales and promotions. For instance, AirAsia runs deals to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore; Cebu Pacific to Manila; Scoot to Singapore; VietJet Air to Ho Chi Minh City; Jetstar to Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo; Bamboo Airways to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing; Batik Air to Jakarta and Singapore.
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Flights to Cambodia
from major hubs in Asia
- Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Cambodia look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Cambodia will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Cambodia and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
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Flights to Cambodia dataset
