Cambodia er mest kendte for de fantastiske Angkor templer og de mange miner fra Vietnamkrigen. Landet byder dog på meget andet; her finder du museer med minder og den frygtelige tid, hvor khmeerne regerede, fredelige landsbyer ved Mekongfloden og meget mere.
Kampuchea
Phnom Penh (1,000,000)
181.035 sq km
Khmer
Buddhism
10,500,000
Constitutional Monarchy
Cambodia borders on Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Three regions are mountainous: the southwestern region, the northern border and the northeastern corner. The remaining regions of the country consist (among other aspects) of fertile lowlands - and a large part is covered by tropical forest. The country is marked by the rainy season in several areas - from November to March in the northeastern region, and from May to October in the southwest.
The ideal time to visit Cambodia is in December and January, when it rarely rains and the humidity is tolerable. From February to April the heat can become unbearable, and the rainy season lasts from April to October.
Lonely Planet Cambodia
Riel (CRI)
The capital, Phnom Penh has a few Internet cafés - ask at the tourist agency for the addresses
Some hotels and restaurants add 10 per cent to the bill as a service fee, but if it isn't indicated on the bill, you usually give a 10 per cent tip.
When it is 12.00 (summer time) in Denmark, it is 17.00 in Cambodia.
When it is 12.00 (winter time) in Denmark, it is 18.00 in Cambodia.
Cambodia uses the metric system
Photographing other people without permission should be avoided as some may well resent it. At tourist-sights the rules of the particular place should be noted.
Tap water should be boiled before use.
In Cambodia, the following current is used:
220V, 50 Hz. Outside of Phnom Penh you can usually only get electricity between 18.30 and 21.30.
Take care if discussing politics with locals. You should furthermore avoid pointing at anybody with your foot, or touching anybody on their head. Women are advised to dress in clothes that cover the entire body.
Banks are open 7.30 to 11.30 and14.00 to 17.00 (Monday-Friday).
Shops are open 7.00 to 22.00 (Monday-Friday), Some shops close before this, and some shops are open Saturday.
Offices are open 7.00 to 11.30 and 14.00 to 17.30 (Monday-Friday).
A meal in Cambodia usually includes a soup before you receive the main course. One of the local specialities is freshwater fish wrapped in spinach and dipped in fish sauce. The French influence on Cambodian cuisine is obvious.
Only a few places in Cambodia are organised to accommodate disabled people, and getting around in a wheelchair can be very difficult.
New Year's Day, 1 January.
Women's Day, 8 March.
Traditional Khmer New Year, 13-15 April.
The International Worker's Day, 1 May.
The International Children's Day, 1 June.
Constitution Day, 24 September
The Day of Cambodia's Peace Agreement from Paris, 23 October.
The King's Birthday, 30 October - 1 November.
Independence Day, 9 November.
Human Rights Day, 10 December.
Camping isn't allowed in Cambodia.
The most luxurious hotels can be found in Phnom Penh and Siam Reap, while the rest of the country has cheaper and less luxurious hotels. By now, quite a few new hotels have been built in Cambodia and finding overnight accommodation isn't a problem.
Guesthouses can be found in most cities and areas, and even if they aren't always in the best condition, they're usually cheap.
There are quite a lot of hostels in Cambodia, but not in all regions, so you should check with the tourist agencies in the larger cities.
Royal Air Cambodge flies between the major cities on a daily basis, and this is the most complete means of transport if you want to get around the country.
There are buses in Phnom Penh and its suburbs, and buses between Phnom Penh and Siam Reap. Otherwise there are no long-distance buses.
The railroad has been wrecked by the war and is still under reconstruction. At the moment, tourists are advised not to try this means of transport. Check with the local tourist agencies for more information.
There are taxis in the major cities, both ordinary taxis and bicycle rickshaws. It's a good idea to settle the price before the ride.
A few car rental companies rent out cars without a driver, but the most common and also safest is to rent a car with a driver. It's a bit more expensive, but it isn't always safe to drive alone, and the Cambodians don't drive very sensibly either.
Most rivers have tour boats. Furthermore, there's a ferry between Phnom Penh and Siam Reap, but you have to be aware that soldiers often show up checking the passengers.
There is an official warning concerning landmines in Cambodia - it is the country with the highest concentration of landmines in the world. You should not travel about on your own, especially at night. It is inadvisable to visit certain regions of the country. British Foreign Office guidelines should be read before traveling to Cambodia.
