We have compiled a list of everything that is easily forgotten before leaving for Cambodia — and things that seem trivial but can ruin the first days of a trip (a power adapter, an eSIM, covering clothes for temples). Check everything off before you close your suitcase.

How to use this checklist

The items in red are absolutely essential — without them, you may not be able to enter Cambodia or face an emergency without resources. The others are highly recommended for a comfortable and peaceful trip.

Documents & Administration

  • Valid passport at least 6 months after your entry date into Cambodia ESSENTIAL
  • Confirmed Cambodia visa — e-visa at evisa.gov.kh ($30 / 30 days) or visa on arrival ($35 cash, available at PNH, SAI, KOS) ESSENTIAL
  • E-Arrival Card completed — mandatory since July 2024 for any arrival by plane, free at arrival.gov.kh, to be done within 7 days before the flight ESSENTIAL
  • Printed or offline accessible flight tickets on your phone
  • Confirmed hotel reservations for the first nights (sometimes requested at immigration)
  • Travel insurance with medical evacuation — assistance number noted in your phone ESSENTIAL
  • Digital copy of all your documents in the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox) — accessible even if you lose your phone
  • Paper photocopy of your passport — to leave in a different bag

Health & Hygiene

  • Up-to-date vaccinations — consult your doctor or an international vaccination center (CVI): Hepatitis A, Typhoid, DTP minimum
  • Prescriptions for your chronic medications + sufficient quantity for the entire stay +1 week
  • Sunscreen SPF 50+ — cheaper and easier to find than in Cambodia
  • Insect repellent DEET 30-50% or IR3535 — effective against dengue and malaria
  • Small travel pharmacy: Smecta (diarrhea), paracetamol, antiseptic, antihistamine, band-aids, rehydration salts
  • Light travel mosquito net if you plan to stay in basic guesthouses or rural areas

Money & Finances

  • US dollars in cash — $200 to $300 for the first days (before finding an ATM) ESSENTIAL
  • International bank card Visa or Mastercard — for hotels and emergencies
  • Revolut or Wise activated and funded before departure — avoids exchange fees on ATM withdrawals
  • Clean, unwrinkled bills — crumpled or pre-2009 bills may be refused
  • Multiple places to spread your cash (wallet, luggage, hotel safe)

Communication & Connectivity

  • eSIM set up before departure — activate it upon landing to have internet immediately without searching for a SIM shop (see our eSIM guide)
  • Emergency numbers noted offline: French embassy in Phnom Penh (+855 23 430 020), your travel insurance, a local contact if you have one
  • PassApp app downloaded — tuk-tuk and taxi ordering in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
  • Google Maps with Cambodia areas downloaded offline
  • VPN installed if needed — some services may be limited depending on local networks
  • Power bank — charged before departure

Equipment & Luggage

  • Power adapter — type A (flat US plugs) or universal DON'T FORGET
  • Lightweight and breathable clothing — cotton and linen for the tropical heat
  • Covering clothes for temples — shoulders and knees must be covered to enter pagodas and Angkor Wat (sarong available on-site, but better to have your own)
  • 1 light jacket or thin sweater — for restaurants, buses, and fully air-conditioned planes
  • Comfortable walking shoes (sandals for the beach, closed shoes for temples and hikes)
  • Hat or cap — essential under the tropical sun
  • Sunglasses
  • Small lock for dormitory lockers or guesthouses
  • Light backpack for day trips

Logistics & Organization

  • Transport from the airport booked — especially for Siem Reap SAI (about 50 km from the center, opened in October 2023): taxi or shuttle to be booked in advance
  • Cancellation insurance if your flight exceeds $500 — coverage in case of trip cancellation
  • General itinerary shared with a close contact in France (emergency message)
  • Round-trip ticket or proof of onward travel — sometimes requested at Cambodian immigration
  • Plan B for the visa if your e-visa has a problem — visa on arrival is available at the 3 main airports
The 5 essentials never to forget
  1. Valid passport 6 months after the entry date
  2. Cambodia visa (e-visa at evisa.gov.kh or visa on arrival)
  3. E-Arrival Card completed at arrival.gov.kh (mandatory since July 2024)
  4. Travel insurance with medical evacuation
  5. $200-300 US in cash for the first days

To go further

Each point of this checklist deserves its own guide. Here are our detailed articles to prepare every aspect of your trip:

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