Visiting the Mighty Mekong: Tips to Plan a Perfect Cambodia & Mekong Itinerary

Asia is a continent full of surprises, culture, adventure, knowledge, diversity, and spirituality. It’s the common ground for many different cultures and religions and one of the most exotic places on Earth. Thus, many tourists plan their holidays on this marvelous continent to explore its beauty.

If you’re considering a trip to Asia anytime soon or even next year, it’s always good to be prepared as much as possible and learn more about the places you’ll be visiting.

This brief article will guide you through the essentials of planning a perfect trip to Cambodia and Mekong since these two are on our list today. And we want to get you prepared for it and get the most out of your journey. Cambodia and Vietnam have been in the limelight of South Asia always due to the flourishing floating markets, marvelous sea beaches, and breathtaking temples.

So, let’s dive in and get your hands on the planning right away.

Choose the Best Time to Travel

First and foremost, when is the best time to travel to Mekong? Is there any particular season you need to be aware of when booking your flights and planning the itinerary? Even though the Mekong River is accessible all year round, the best time to book a cruise and explore the wilderness is from November to April.

This period is the dry season, so the rainfall and temperatures usually drop, and you can enjoy better evenings and warm, dry days. The weather allows the tourists to explore the region, sip a cocktail on some of the most beautiful beaches or visit some remote islands via a day tour.

Nevertheless, if you’re traveling on a budget, it’s worth mentioning that the dry season is usually the most expensive period to travel since it’s the peak season. As an alternative, you can book a river cruise during the wet season, from May to October.

Who said it’s only beneficial to travel during the dry season? There are plenty of benefits when traveling during the wet season, including the lush forests, fewer tourists, access to areas available only in this season, etc.

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Consider the Travel Details

Now that you’ve decided on the season, it’s time to move forward and decide on the means of transport to Cambodia and Mekong. There are no direct flights to Cambodia at the time of this writing. However, many airlines have connecting flights. As a matter of fact, Phnom Penh has 2 international airports connecting the country with the rest of the world. So it shouldn’t be hard to find a suitable flight at your convenience.

Remember, you always have the choice of booking a cruise and embarking on a different type of trip, so keep that in mind!

Where to Stay?

Another inconvenience that troubles tourists when traveling to an exotic and distant destination is the place where they’ll stay. Boutique hotels are becoming more popular in Cambodia since they offer a lot of amenities and high-quality services.

Or, if you’ve booked a cruise, your stay will be taken care of. Planning a cruise to the Mekong has a lot of benefits, including the place of stay as one of the major ones.

Keep your Distance from the Monkeys

While this might sound weird or funny, you need to keep your distance from the monkeys since they can bite you and even cause rabies in the worst-case scenario. That doesn’t mean you can’t take pics of them or see them; as long as you are safe, you can get closer to them.

Copyright: Hieu Do Quang on Unsplash I License: CC0 Public  Domain

Bring Essentials

On the way to explore the Mighty Mekong and get immersed in its beauty, don’t forget to bring the essentials like remedies, bug spray, sunscreen, a hat, comfortable walking shoes, a passport and visa, a universal adaptor, and appropriate clothes for the season.

While these are the most important things to pack for your upcoming trip to Asia, make sure to check whether you need to get vaccinated before entering the country or if you need to exchange more money for the local currency.

Be Careful with the Street Food

It’s understandable and normal to want to taste traditional cuisine and try as many dishes as you can. However, you need to be careful with street food. If you’re determined to try out street food, ask your guide for recommendations, and stay safe.


Have Fun!

Probably the most important thing to remember from this article is to learn how to have fun! It’s already a big move to organize a trip to the Mighty Mekong and explore its surroundings, but all of that would be complete if you get the most out of it and enjoy every second!

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