How to get the cheapest flight to Cambodia

Logically, the cheapest time to fly to Cambodia is during the off-season from June until September. As there are not many tourists visiting the country, the airlines and hotels seem to offer promotion to attract more tourist and try to fill-up the plane. If you are ok with the heat and some sudden rain, this is the time for you.

According to cheapflights.com.au, the cheapest flights to Cambodia are usually found when departing on a Monday. The departure day with the highest cost is usually on a Friday.

Moreover, Cambodia flights can be made cheaper if you choose a flight at noon. Booking a flight in the morning will likely mean higher prices.

Simply follow this, sometimes you can have the promotion of 40-50% discount.

Wonderful!!!

Hold on, this sounds perfect, but it seems not always to be your case. We believe you want to see Cambodia at its best or you cannot change the tight travel schedule date.

Is there any chance to have the cheap price during high-travel or even peak-travel period???

The answer is yes!!! And it just requires a little plan ahead and simple skills to do so.

We will first need to know...

Cambodia is a year-round destination, so the best time to visit the country depending on what you’re looking for. Most travelers visit Cambodia from November to March as this is the best time for most of the activities that you may plan to do in the country.

If you prefer to dodge the crowds and go when prices are lower, the best time to visit Cambodia is from May to early October.

Cambodia is warm year-round with temperatures rarely dipping below 68°F (20°C), wherever you go. Seasons are broken into wet and dry season. Wet season, from May to October, is usually marked by a brief downpour in the afternoon. This rarely affects travel plans and still includes many hours of bright sunshine. It is known locally as green season as the countryside springs to life.

Travel in the dry season, from November to March, is marked by hot dry days.

There’s no particular ideal time for booking cheap flights to Cambodia but in general searching six to eight months in advance will give you the best deals on flight tickets. 

Tickets are often cheaper than at the last moment and not necessarily more advantageous if you book it 1 year in advance.

Avoid buying your plane tickets on weekends and during the day or evening. Privilege, the middle of the week and late at night. 

When buying tickets online you should also make sure to activate the incognito feature of your browser to avoid getting tracked and therefore experience higher prices. This is one of the 9 hacking tips below to book the cheap flight to Cambodia (or anywhere)

"Searching for airfare can often feel like going into battle - one in which only those armed with a lot of time on their hands win" said Brooke Porter Katz from Medium

Many times, when we try to search the flight for our clients or friends, the price would increase when we refreshed the search page.

Based on the cookies in your browser, flight prices do increase when a particular route is repeatedly searched, as the site wants to scare you into booking the flight quickly before prices get even higher. 

To avoid this, don’t let the website read your cookies. And the best way to do so is to delete all the cookies every time you close your browser. If there are no cookies, there is nothing to read.

Here is how to delete your cookies with some popular web browsers: https://www.purevpn.com/blog/how-to-delete-cookies-at-browser-exit/

If you know when and where you're going, don't wait on an unknown sale. More often than not, your biggest savings come from booking far ahead when you can.

As mentioned above, it is better to book the ticket in advance, about 5-6 months before.

Budget airlines offer significantly cheaper tickets than their full-service counterparts. It should be obvious, but this comes with compromises such as less leg room and no “free” food/drink on-board (which by the way, is normally covered in your higher-priced ticket with full-service airlines).

NOTES ON BOOKING BUDGET AIRLINES.

Always read the fine print and do the following:

• Check where the airport location is (some budget airlines fly to airports further out of town).
• Ensure you've booked & paid for your luggage allowance. Adhere to restrictions on weight, height, and # of bags allowed. Some airlines (e.g. Ryanair) will charge hefty fee if you're over. Remember, paying only for the exact luggage space/weight you need is how budget airlines keep their prices lower than traditional airlines!
• Read the fine print. The best example is that Ryanair WILL CHARGE A FEE if you do not print your own ticket or adhere to their strict luggage weight and dimensions. A warning of this fee is clearly stated in all capital letters in the first sentence of your e-confirmation. In a nutshell, always read and follow instructions!

Remember, if you want to book the cheapest flight possible (not service-of-the-year-award-winner), be adaptable, do your research, and know the budget airline's requirements & restrictions.

Some website advises you to buy the round-trip ticket to save money for the way back home; some advises you to buy 2 one-way tickets separately even from different airlines and airports which may offer the promotion on both.

Our advice: do your research and find the best price for your travel plan. The booking engines now are very intelligent, it bases on the availability of the flight to set your price. 

Sometimes you can have the best price with a 2-way ticket; but the other times, you can enjoy the promotion on both 2 separate one-way tickets.

With a little effort, you can save 20-30% on your flight ticket. Is that worth a try?

Consider neighboring cities when selecting your departure as fares can vary quite a lot according to the airport: it might be worth the extra time even if it is not the closest airport to your home. 

Whether it be by choice or by obligation, stopovers allow you to move and forget the possible lack of comfort of the plane. It also represents a good opportunity to visit other cities without a mandatory visa through stopovers. 

When looking for indirect routes that include stopovers, we advise you to check the website kiwi.com which mixes and matches airlines in order to find the cheapest price. For long-haul flights especially, this can make a huge difference at the end.

Concerning the arrival airport, you will likely land in either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap which are the two main cities in Cambodia. In general, the cheapest flights to Cambodia will fly into Phnom Penh as it services more airlines. It is something to keep in mind when crafting your tour itinerary.

The cheapest solution is to buy your plane ticket directly on the Internet and not at a physical travel agency available at your place to avoid extra costs.

Even with the online travel agencies, the price also varies among the different websites. So, our next tip is...

The online flight searching engines will help you compare the price offered by different suppliers.

Here are the 3 best price comparisons websites:

1. Skyscanner
2. Google Flight
3. Kayak

Do not forget to check the option: "flexible travel date" to find the best price for Cambodia. This option will allow you to estimate the price month by month.

Airlines sometimes make mistakes when posting their fares, leading to seriously discounted flights. This can happen for various reasons – currency conversion mishaps, technical glitches, or human error. If you're in the know-how on where to find airline error fares, you can save yourself some serious bucks on a ticket.

Don’t be tempted to try a “hidden city” flight. That’s when you buy a connecting flight that goes through your desired destination and skip the final leg. Airlines keep track of travelers who do this and aren’t shy to ban folks. Plus, if you’ve booked it as a round trip, your return will automatically be canceled.

Remember that no matter which airline you choose and which native English-speaking countries you are coming from, your route will necessarily include at least one stopover.

Once you arrived in the stopover city, you have two options for your connecting flight to Cambodia: 

• Selecting the same airline as for the first part of your trip, providing that they also serve either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap airports. This is more convenient and will make your transfer smoother. 
• Using a different airline which frequently serve Cambodian airports, such as AirAsia. It is often a cheaper solution, but you should plan enough time between the two flights to avoid transit troubles.  

There is a wide selection of flights from Australia to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City, with onward connections to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Return fares from Australia to Phnom Penh start at around US $500 in low season and US $750 in peak season. 

The most convenient routes usually involve one stop in either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Expect travel time to be around 13 hours from Sydney or Melbourne and 10 hours from Perth.

There are plenty of daily flights, many nonstop, from London Heathrow to Southeast Asian cities, with some airlines offering connections to Phnom Penh. Flight times vary depending on routing. The most direct route is via Bangkok, count around 12 hours from London, plus another 1 hour on to Phnom Penh. 

You can also fly via Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City. There are also a growing number of connections via the Gulf, although these will entail at least two stops. 

Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines offer some of the most competitive fares to Cambodia, with return fares to Phnom Penh starting at around US $850.

Flying from the east coast of North America to Cambodia it is quickest to travel via Europe, which will take approximately 20 hours. Conversely, from the west coast it may well be quicker and cheaper to fly westward via an Asian city such as Hong Kong or Taipei (the latter has direct connections to Phnom Penh on EVA Air). 

There are daily flights from New York and Los Angeles to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, all of which have onward connections to Phnom Penh. Fares from both the east and west coasts to Phnom Penh start from around US $1300. 

From Canada, low-season return fares from Toronto to Phnom Penh start at around US $1400, and US $1100 return from Vancouver.

That said, when comparing the ticket price, you should recheck if it is the full fare with all the services included. Usually, there are hidden costs such as handling fee, payment charges, travel insurance, luggage, choice of the seat or simply meals.

Keep in mind that each airline has its own policy and it is wise to check for instance the cancellation conditions and refund possibilities before buying your ticket.

Also check the total amount and do not hesitate to compare the different companies to find the ones that best meet your expectations. Believe us, you do not want to issue the ticket with the low-cost airlines with $50 cheaper then find out that the checked luggage is not included and you need to pay $70-100 for that.

Finally, to guarantee maximum satisfaction, here is the list of the 6 airlines recommended by our travelers during a trip to Cambodia:

• Thai Airways
• Malaysia Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• Eva Air
• Fly Emirates
• AirAsia

Until now, there is no direct flights from Europe, Australia, or America to Cambodia. All of the tourists from those areas need to take the transit flights via Vietnam and Thailand. Hence, it is good to know how to get to Cambodia from these neighbor countries together with from Laos or Myanmar. 

In general, Cambodia has 3 international airports (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville) and has border with Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos. Hence, you have the options to get to Cambodia via both flight and border crossing.

We will go through the way to get to Cambodia from each of its neighbor countries below.

From Vietnam, you can get to Cambodia by both flight and border crossing. There are 3 international airports in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and Da Nang that serve the flight to Cambodia. If you choose to go to Cambodia by overland, there are 7 border crossings for you to do so.

Let's check the below maps to see the locations of the airports and border checkpoints that help you get to Cambodia from Vietnam

By flight

From Vietnam to Siem Reap

As a tourist hub of Cambodia, there are plenty of flight to Siem Reap from Vietnam every day.

From Hanoi, there are 3 direct flights per day operated by Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air. The flight takes about 2 hours with the price ranges from $76 to $125/ticket. You can either have the option to transit in Luang Prabang with Vietnam Airlines. The flight is still convenient enough as you do not need to change the flight during the transition.

From Ho Chi Minh city, there are more than 4 departures per day operated by Vietnam Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air. The flight will take about 1 hour 30 minutes and costs about $100-180/ticket.

The option to flight from Danang is quite limited, there is only 1 departure per day operated by Cambodia Angkor Air. The flight takes more than 2 hours and costs about $120/ticket.

From other tourist hubs such as Halong, Nha Trang, or Phu Quoc, you need to take find the connection flight via Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city, or Da Nang.

From Vietnam to Phnom Penh

Though the capital of Cambodia, there is less flight from Vietnam to Phnom Penh than to Siem Reap.

From Ho Chi Minh city, there are at least 5 direct flights per day to Phnom Penh operated by Cambodia Angkor Air, Vietnam Airlines, or Qatar Airways. The flight takes about 1 hour and costs about $72 to $170/ticket.

From Hanoi, there is no direct flight yet. The best way is to take the transit flight via Vientiane or Ho Chi Minh city. This option is still convenient enough as you do not need to get out of the plane during the transition. 

The option via Vientiane costs higher (about $230-250/ticket) but it takes less time (about 3 hours and 20 minutes including the transiting time)

The option via Ho Chi Minh takes longer travel time (about 5 hours in total) but it costs less ($150/ticket)

From other cities, you need to go to Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi to take the flight to Phnom Penh

From Vietnam to Sihanoukville

There is only the direct flight from Ho Chi Minh city to Sihanoukville with 1 departure per day operated by Cambodia Angkor Air.    The flight takes about 1 hour and costs about $90-130/ticket

From other cities including Hanoi, you need to take the transit flight via Ho Chi Minh.

By bus

1. O Yadao / Le Thanh crossing (Google Maps)

The crossing here is very remote, and hardly used by foreign tourists. Connecting Ban Lung in northern Cambodia with Pleiku in Vietnam and takes around six hours to travel. There are transports to the border on both sides, and the average cost for the whole trip is around US$ 25.

2. Snoul  / Hoa Lu (Google Maps)

This border gate connects the remote northeast of Cambodia with the southwest part of Vietnam in Binh Phuoc Province. It is popular for the bus from Pakse (southern Laos) running to Ho Chi Minh city via Cambodia.

It is also the shortest route to the light of Ho Chi Minh city after the wildlife exploration in Cambodia.

3. Trapang Thlong / Xa Mat (Google Maps)

This is one of the least visited border gate by tourists between the two countries. This border crossing is more popular among the local passengers from the two countries, especially for Vietnamese gamblers go to Cambodia and try their luck (most of them cannot make it)

4. Bavet / Moc Bai (Google Maps)

This is the oldest and still the most popular crossing point from Cambodia to Vietnam that is open to foreign tourists. There are regular buses that run daily from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City, and they are fast and cheap. The average crossing time is normally around six hours, including the stopping time at the border for passport checks.

5. Phnom Den / Tinh Bien (Google Maps)

Lying around halfway between Ha Tien and Chau Doc, this border crossing is one that is rarely used by foreign tourists, although it does allow foreign transit. It is a couple of hours drive from the towns either side of the border to the crossing point, which makes it hard to get to by independent travelers.

6. Prek Chak  / Ha Tien (Google Maps)

Set on the coastal border point between Cambodia and Vietnam, this crossing is now open to foreign tourists, and transport from Ha Tien to the border is frequent and cheap. On the Vietnam side, there are moto taxis waiting to transport passengers to the nearest town of Kep, which cost around US$ 7.

By boat

7. Kaam Samnor / Ving Xuong (Google Maps)

The seventh land border crossing is the river crossing that links Phnom Penh with the town of Chau Doc in Vietnam, using the Mekong River. There are regular ferry services that ply the route across the border, or if you are feeling adventurous, you can get a speedboat crossing. The speedboat crossing takes around four hours, while the regular ferry, while fast, still take 6-7 hours. When you get to the border point on the river, the boats pull to the shore, and a “fixer” will gather up all your documents to process the paperwork for you. You can accompany them if you wish, although it is not required.

It is the fact that most of the tourists travelling to Cambodia will first arrive in Bangkok before taking another flight to Cambodia. There is also the option to get to Cambodia via various border crossing between the two countries.

Below is the maps for you to see the 3 international airports and 6 border crossings that help you get to Cambodia from Thailand

By flight

From Thailand to Siem Reap

There are the direct flights from Bangkok and Phuket to Siem Reap.

That said, from Bangkok, there are daily frequent flight departing for Siem Reap. The flight will take roughly 1 hour and cost more than $100/ticket for full-services airlines (half price if you choose low-cost airlines).

From Phuket, there are now 3 departure per week to Siem Reap with Thai AirAsia. The flight takes about 1 hour 30 minutes and costs about $90/ticket.

From Thailand to Phnom Penh

It is the same story as Siem Reap above. There are plenty of choice to depart from Bangkok (about 15 departures per day) operated by both Thai airlines (Bangkok Airways or Thai Airways), Cambodian airlines (Cambodia Airways or JC International), and some low-cost airlines (Thai AirAsia, Thai Smiles, or Lanmei Airlines). The flight will take roughly 1 hour and cost more than $100/ticket for full-services airlines (half price if you choose low-cost airlines).

From Phuket, there are only 4 departures per week from Phnom Penh with Thai AirAsia, which take more than 1 hour and cost about $50/ticket.

From Thailand to Sihanoukville

There is only the option departing from Bangkok if you intend to enjoy the beaches vacation in Sihanoukville and the southern coast of Cambodia. There are more than 1 departure per day with the options of JC International or Thai AirAsia. If you choose the flight with Thai AirAsia, the price is about $50/ticket. If not, the price is double with JC International.

By bus

There are 6 main international border gates connecting Cambodia and Thailand. The 2 most popular borders are Cham Yeam, which connect the southern part of the two countries with plenty of beautiful sandy beaches and isolated islands; and Aranyaprathet, which give you the direct access to Siem Reap.

Anlong Veng / Chong Sa Ngam (Google Map)

This is the least popular crossing as it connects the least visited part of the two countries. However, if you do, this is the unforgettable trip with beautiful nature view along the way especially Cambodia part.

Poipet / Aranyaprathet (Google Map)

The border crossing is ideal if you finish your Cambodia journey in Siem Reap or Battambang then continue further to Bangkok to continue further exploration in Thailand or take the flight back home.

Cham Yeam / Khlong Yai (Google Map)

This southern border is suitable for the ones who want to continue their journey to Thailand for the vacation on the southern beaches of the country.
Below are the 3 more borders that you can cross to go to Thailand from Cambodia

• O’Smach / Chong Chom (Google Map)
• Ban Laem / Duan Lem  (Google Map)
• Pailin / Ban Pakard (Google Map)

By train

There are two daily trains that leave from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet. From Bangkok's Hualamphong Station, get on either the 5.55am or 1.05pm train for a journey that takes about six hours, crossing 40 stations along the way. From Aranyaprathet, the trains to Bangkok leave at 6.40am and 1.55pm

There is quite limited flights or border gates that help connect the two countries, but for sure it is more than enough if you have a little plan ahead.

Below is the map showing the 3 international airports and 1 border crossing where you can get from Laos to Cambodia

By flight

There are the direct flights from 3 international airports of Laos (Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse) to Cambodia.

From Laos to Siem Reap

There are the direct flights from Luang Prabang and Pakse to Siem Reap.

From Luang Prabang, you can choose to fly with Vietnam Airlines (direct flight), or Lao Airlines (most of the departure transits in Pakse, some days they have direct flight). The direct flight will take about 1 hour 30 minutes and cost about $140-180/ticket. If you choose the transit flight with Lao Airlines, it will take about 3 hours and a half and cost $160-190/ticket.

From Pakse, there is normally 1 departure per day to Siem Reap (The flight actually departs from Luang Prabang and makes a short stop in Pakse to pick up the clients from here to Siem Reap). The flight will take about 1 hour and cost $120-150/ticket.

If you depart from Vientiane, you need to find the connecting flight in Pakse or Bangkok by yourselves.

From Laos to Phnom Penh

There is only the option to fly to Phnom Penh from Vientiane with 1 departure per day operated by Vietnam Airlines. The flight will take 1 hour 20 minutes and cost $140-170/ticket.

From Luang Prabang, you need to transit in Vientiane or Bangkok. From Pakse, you need to transit in Siem Reap.

From Laos to Sihanoukville

There is no direct from Laos to Sihanoukville at the moment. Hence, you need to find the connecting flight in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, or Bangkok

By bus

There is only 1 border checkpoint between Laos and Cambodia at Veun Kham (Champasak) – Dong Kralor (Stung Treng). There are daily buses connecting Laos and Cambodia, from Vientiane, Pakse, 4000 Islands (Don Det) to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap through Stung Treng, Kratie and Kampong Cham. The service is provided by a Lao bus company and a Cambodian bus company in rotation basis.

Notice: it is a little complicated if you mean to take the bus from Laos to Siem Reap. From Vientiane, you need to change the bus 2 times. The first time is at Pakse bus station, and the second time is at Kampong Cham bus station.

As there is no shared border between the two countries, there is only the option of taking the flight to Cambodia from Myanmar.

The flight from here is also quite limited. There are 3 departures per week from Yangon (RGN) to Phnom Penh (PNH) operated by JC International. The flight will take about 2 hours and cost $160-190/ticket. You can also either have the option to take the transit flight via Bangkok to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville

How long does it take to fly to Cambodia?

This will depend on where you are from. For more detail, you will find above in this article in the part of Which airlines operate flights to Cambodia? And Getting to Cambodia from its neighbor countries.

Please keep in mind that there is no direct flight from Australia, Europe, or America, you need to take the transit flight in the regional airport before connecting with the flight to Cambodia, that will make the travel time longer than normal.

Do you need the visa to go to Cambodia?

Yes, you do. But there is nothing to worry. Cambodia has one of the easiest and most comprehensive visa policies compared with other countries in the area, thanks to the development of tourism. You will likely be able to apply for online visa or visa on arrival to Cambodia. More detail, please check out dedicated article our Cambodia Visa Policy

How to get from the airports to city center?

Siem Reap International Airport

When traveling the 9km distance from Siem Reap Airport to the city center, you have 3 options: you can take a taxi, a tuk-tuk, or a motorbike taxi. Travel time is about 20 minutes and costs $2-$10.

Getting a taxi from the airport is the safest option. You can get to the city center in just 20 minutes and expect to pay the fixed rate of $10 for a 3-passenger taxi.

A tuk-tuk ride from the airport takes around 20 minutes and is a good way to start sight-seeing around the city. However, a tuk-tuk does not provide a lot of legroom. The tuk-tuk only fits 1-4 passengers and there is not a lot of space for your backpack/suitcase.

Not the most comfortable, but the cheapest option when traveling alone is the motorbike taxi. You can find motorbike taxis at the airport and they can bring you to town for $2 to $9.

Phnom Penh International Airport

There are 5 options to get from Phnom Penh Airport to city center. A train will take you to the city center in 30 minutes. If you’d like to risk the traffic, you can choose among a shuttle bus, public bus, taxi, and tuk-tuk, which will take you to the city between 30 to 60 minutes.

The train is the newest mode of transport from the airport to the city center and vice versa. The train brings you in 30 minutes to Phnom Penh Railway Station in the city center.

Taking the shuttle bus is a good alternative. It makes 7 stops, with its last stop at Tokyo Inn located in the city center of Phnom Penh.

The city bus is a very cheap way to reach the center and is a great way to travel like a local. Last stop is at the Night Market on Street 106.

The taxi is the easiest way to get from the airport to the city center. Taxi fares are fixed and are a quick and safe way to travel from and to the airport.

Tuk-tuks are the most common mode of transport in Cambodia. This can be a great experience for backpackers who want to experience an authentic way of traveling. However, be cautious about your belongings!

Sihanouk International Airport

There are 2 options when traveling from Sihanoukville Int’l Airport to the city center: you can take a 30-minute taxi ride or a tuk-tuk. There are no buses operating this route.

We recommend taking a taxi from the airport to Sihanoukville. Taxis cost $20 and the ride will take a bit less than 30 min to the city center.

There are a few tuk-tuks waiting at the airport, but it won’t save you much money compared to the taxi. Tuk-tuk drivers in Sihanoukville are in general not price-friendly and don’t offer you much comfort.

Where to go in Cambodia?

Cambodia is dotted with an array of unforgettable views, people and experiences that will ensure you have a memorable time visiting the Kingdom of Wonder.

Here is the full list of places to visit in Cambodia.

What to do and see in Cambodia?

Whether you plan on just traveling around Cambodia to see the ancient temples of Angkor Wat or to visit its many historic museums, or even go on the many adventures to do, Cambodia has a bit of everything for everyone. As well as being an amazing historical and scenic place to behold, Cambodia also offers a vibrant adventure scene perfect for intrepid travelers.

Check out the full list of Things to do in Cambodia here

Is Cambodia safe to visit?

Generally, the kingdom of Cambodia is safe to visit and travel around. The only exception to this rule is remote areas at night. Violent crime in the country is rare. Petty crimes like a bag, purse snatching, pick pocketing and other types of petty crimes prevail. In order to make your trip safe, please follow our safety guide for Cambodia

Check out the safety and precaution for Cambodia

What to pack for Cambodia?

Cambodia has classic visit, adventure activities, or beach vacation. So, what to pack is really depends on what you plan to do there.

Here is the guide for Cambodia packing list for your reference