The Royal Kingdom of Cambodia or Kampuchea has a population of 11.6 million and area of 181,035 sq. km. The capital is Phnom Penh with a population. approx. 1 million.

Cambodian people are famed for their welcoming smiles and friendliness. Despite three decades of tragedy and war, their present day positive and optimistic nature reflects the dawn of a new era as the country becomes a major tourism destination. Tourism offers new opportunities and the people are eager to play their part in this burgeoning sector and this is reflected in the happy smiles and eagerness to help those who arrive to see this slice of paradise in South East Asia.

Present day Cambodia is the successor state to the mighty Khmer empire which once ruled vast swathes of land across what is now Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The remains of this empire can be seen at the fabled temples of Angkor – monuments that are unrivalled in scale and grandeur anywhere else in Southeast Asia. The country covers a land area of 181,035 sq-km. It is bounded in the west by Thailand; the north by both Thailand and Laos; the east by Vietnam and in the south by the Gulf of Thailand. Administratively, the country is composed of 25 provinces, 26 municipalities, 159 districts, 1,633 communes, and 14,221 villages. Cambodia’s two dominant topographical features are the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake.

Cambodia has three international airports: Phnom Penh International Airport, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Phnom Penh is now served by flights from the Middle East and multiple Asian destinations, Siem Reap is very well connected to almost all Asia hubs and Sihanoukville is just starting to open up to new routes in Southeast Asia and China.

The currency of Cambodia is the Riel but the US dollar is accepted across the country and can be withdrawn from all ATMs and Banks. Please be aware that ripped, torn, or old dollar bills will not be accepted and neither will $2 bills or US coinage. Only $1, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills are accepted. Note that $50 and $100 bills are often refused at smaller local businesses but are widely accepted at hotels and higher end restaurants. For current conversion, please visit www.XE.com.

The standards of hotel accommodation across Cambodia are excellent and diverse with options for all budgets. Most staff at key positions (front office, reception, restaurants etc.,) speak excellent English, but please be patient if you do not get what you want right away. During check-in you will be requested to complete a registration card. The hotel may ask for an imprint of your credit card as a guarantee for extra purchases. Ask the cashier to return this slip upon check out. Please check that you receive meal coupons (where applicable) with your room key. Many hotels do have a hotel directory inside each room where all facilities are described. Reception desks are usually open 24 hours. For Internet connections please check with reception for login requirements, (extra costs may apply). General check-in time is from 2-pm and check out time is 12-noon. If you require a late check-out (extra costs may apply) please check with reception.

Buddhism is the dominant religion in Cambodia with nearly 95 per cent of the population followers of this faith. Islam is practiced by a small percentage of the population, mainly the Cham people resident near the border with Vietnam. Christianity and Hinduism account for less than one per cent.

Cambodia has two distinctive weather patterns: Rainy from June to October; and dry from November to May. The hottest days of the hot season rarely climb above 35C (95F) and the cool season may push the mercury as low as 16C (60F) in the early hours. The monsoon between June and October follow the same pattern with clear mornings and rain for around one-to-three hours in the afternoon. Afternoon rains can make touring a bit more difficult but a big bonus is that the rains turn the jungle and rice paddies lush and green. The dry season can be very dusty, but it ensures treks through the jungle terrain are more manageable.