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Tag: solo travel cambodia

  • Safest Places in Cambodia for Solo Female Travellers (2025)

    Safest Places in Cambodia for Solo Female Travellers (2025)

    I’ve spent time in Cambodia, and while it wasn’t my favourite destination on a personal level, it had nothing to do with safety. I picked up a respiratory virus while I was there, and the pollution in places like Phnom Penh hit me hard. The air quality index was worse than Delhi while I was there. That definitely coloured how I felt about it, but not the safety itself.

    Because when it comes to solo female travel, I actually felt very safe in Cambodia. I walked around on my own during the day, explored unfamiliar towns, and never had an issue. The people are warm, the history is deep and complex, and there’s a quiet strength to the country that stays with you. It doesn’t try to impress you, it just is. And that’s part of what makes it so compelling.

    So if you’re thinking of heading to Cambodia, here’s a list of the safest places for solo female travellers, based on experience, research, and the reality of what it’s like on the ground.

    General Safety Tips for Solo Travel in Cambodia

    While I was travelling solo in Cambodia, these were the things I did to feel safe:

    • Didn’t go out alone at night
    • Stuck to drinks that were opened in front of me
    • Booked tuk tuks or taxis through my accommodation or used trusted apps
    • Read accommodation reviews carefully, especially from other solo travellers
    • Felt fine walking around during the day, just stayed aware of my surroundings
    • Kept valuables in a zipped cross-body bag and split my cash between bags or pockets
    • Shared my location with a friend and checked in regularly while I was there

    Safest Places in Cambodia for Solo Female Travellers

    1. Siem Reap

    Type of place: Cultural city and gateway to Angkor Wat

    Safety summary: One of the safest and most tourist-friendly cities in Cambodia. Walkable, relaxed, and full of cafés, markets, and temples

    Best for: Exploring Angkor Wat, night markets, the Kulen Mountains, and solo city wandering

    2. Battambang

    Type of place: Small riverside town with a local vibe

    Safety summary: Feels quiet and authentic. First impressions can be a bit intimidating, but it’s generally very safe and welcoming once you settle in

    Best for: The Killing Caves, the bat caves at dusk, Phare Circus, and a glimpse of everyday Cambodian life

    3. Phnom Penh

    Type of place: Capital city with heavy traffic and history

    Safety summary: Busy and a bit overwhelming, but not unsafe in tourist areas. Petty theft happens, so stay aware, especially at night or on tuk tuks

    Best for: Museums, recent history, city atmosphere

    4. Kampot

    Type of place: Laid-back riverside town

    Safety summary: Calm, slow-paced, and popular with long-term travellers. Safe to walk around during the day, and people are friendly and helpful

    Best for: River views, pepper farms, local markets

    5. Kep

    Type of place: Small seaside town near Kampot

    Safety summary: Very quiet and extremely low-crime. Great for a peaceful stop, especially if you want to escape the cities

    Best for: Seafood, coastal walks, national park hiking

    Monkeys on a cliffside near Battambang, one of the safest places in Cambodia for solo female travellers exploring beyond the cities
    Monkeys perch above the plains near Battambang with dramatic views and surreal little encounters along the way

    6. Koh Rong Samloem

    Type of place: Island escape with basic infrastructure

    Safety summary: Much quieter than Koh Rong. No major crime concerns, though power cuts and limited services mean you need to be self-reliant

    Best for: Beaches, digital detox, hammocks and sunsets

    7. Koh Rong

    Type of place: More developed island with a party scene

    Safety summary: Generally safe but busier than Koh Rong Samloem. Stay in quieter areas if you’re not into the party crowd

    Best for: Beach parties, snorkelling, nightlife

    8. Kratie

    Type of place: Mekong riverside town

    Safety summary: Very quiet and safe. Known for the Irrawaddy dolphins and a more local feel. Great for solo travellers who like slow travel

    Best for: Dolphin watching, sunsets, rural cycling

    9. Sen Monorom (Mondulkiri Province)

    Type of place: Mountainous jungle town in the east

    Safety summary: Very safe and community-based. Eco-tourism and ethical elephant projects are the main draw. Roads can be rough, but the vibe is calm

    Best for: Nature, trekking, ethical wildlife experiences

    10. Banlung (Ratanakiri Province)

    Type of place: Remote jungle town

    Safety summary: One of the most remote places on the list, but considered safe if you’re used to basic travel. Homestays are common and welcoming

    Best for: Crater lakes, waterfalls, local markets

    11. Preah Vihear

    Type of place: Northern temple complex

    Safety summary: Not overly visited, but safe for solo travellers. Best accessed with a tour or private guide. Basic infrastructure

    Best for: Temple exploring, off-the-path travel, historical interest

    12. Bokor Hill Station (near Kampot)

    Type of place: Abandoned colonial site in the hills

    Safety summary: Safe for day trips. Can feel eerie if you’re solo, but not unsafe. Popular with domestic tourists

    Best for: Day exploring, misty mountain views, abandoned buildings

    13. Tonle Sap Lake (floating villages)

    Type of place: Vast lake with stilted and floating homes

    Safety summary: Boat tours are safe when booked through reputable guides. Very tourist-oriented in parts like Chong Kneas, so expect some touting

    Best for: Water-based culture, photography, unique experiences

    14. Otres Beach (near Sihanoukville)

    Type of place: Coastal beach area south of Sihanoukville

    Safety summary: Sihanoukville itself has changed drastically and is best avoided, but Otres Beach remains a safe and chilled alternative

    Best for: Quiet beaches, budget bungalows, calm sunsets

    Solo traveller hiking in the Phnom Kulen Mountains, one of the safest places in Cambodia for solo female travellers who love nature
    Hiking through the Phnom Kulen Mountains is peaceful, scenic, and a great solo escape just outside Siem Reap

    Final Thoughts on Solo Female Safety in Cambodia

    Cambodia might not have been my favourite place personally, but it’s still one of the most fascinating countries I’ve been to. It’s not trying to sell itself to you with perfection. It’s layered, sometimes confronting, but filled with heart. And while the pollution and a respiratory virus hit me hard, safety was never the issue.

    As a solo female traveller, I never felt threatened. I didn’t go out at night, and I kept to the usual safety habits, but I walked alone, took buses, explored new cities, and always felt okay doing so.

    If you’re thinking of visiting, Cambodia is absolutely worth your time. The history runs deep, the temples are unforgettable, and the people are quietly brilliant. Just be prepared for the rawness, go in with respect, and you’ll come out with stories you wouldn’t trade.

    I hope this post on the safest places in Cambodia for solo female travellers helps you feel more confident about planning your trip. If you want to talk through routes or get advice while you’re travelling, check out the Solo Travel Lifeline.

    If you’re vegan and reading this (or just interested in the food side of travel), I run a whole blog for that over at Vegan Verity. It’s where I put all the good eats, product finds, and tips for plant-based life on the move.

    Before You Go…

    Need a ready-made plan? Check out my 3-day travel itineraries for popular destinations – they’re packed with tips and can save you a lot of guesswork. If you want something more personalised, I also offer custom itinerary planning to make sure your trip goes smoothly.

    And if you want real time action, follow me on Instagram, TikToK or join the Sisterhood of Solo Travellers on Facebook for tips, stories, and the occasional travel mishap.

    If you’re interested in Southeast Asia, you might also enjoy my posts about Phu Quoc and Siem Reap.

    If you’re planning a solo trip to Southeast Asia take a look at my safest places to stain Thailand and Vietnam.

    Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe below for the latest from Sisters Uncharted – straight to your inbox!


  • Solo Travel in Battambang, Cambodia: Not Quite Bliss, But Definitely a Story

    Solo Travel in Battambang, Cambodia: Not Quite Bliss, But Definitely a Story

    After two weeks in Siem Reap, I was ready to move on and travel solo in Battambang. Not because I’d had enough, but because my hotel was booked out for Chinese New Year and I had to leave. I’d been ill, I’d seen a lot, and although I probably could’ve wandered Angkor Wat for another month, it was time. Phnom Penh was my end goal, but Battambang felt like a stop I shouldn’t skip, mainly for the Killing Caves.

    Getting there wasn’t awful, just not straightforward. I wasn’t well enough to navigate coaches, especially with most options running through Phnom Penh first. That seemed pointless, so I booked a taxi. It cost £60 and took about three and a half hours. The driver stopped so I could go to the loo halfway, which is common in Cambodia. There’s always somewhere to stop, usually near someone’s cousin’s café.

    The Hostel I Ended Up In (And Shouldn’t Have)

    Accommodation was tricky because of Chinese New Year. The only place I could find with a pool, which is important to me especially in cities, was a hostel. I’d never stayed in one before. The moment we started driving there, I knew I’d made a mistake. It wasn’t in the main part of Battambang but tucked away down rough streets full of stray dogs and kids setting off firecrackers.

    The hostel itself had a good atmosphere and I used the pool every day, which was probably the best thing about it. But I was absolutely convinced they had bedbugs. They didn’t offer any vegan food, and no one really knew what vegan meant. There was a fully vegan place in town, but the food was honestly dreadful. I did later discover that the gym café next door to the hostel could make something vegan-ish, but I had no idea it was there at first. It was very random.

    View looking up at the opening in the Killing Caves of Battambang, Cambodia, where victims were thrown to their deaths during the Khmer Rouge regime.
    Looking up from inside the Killing Caves in Battambang. This opening at the top of the cave was where victims were thrown during the Khmer Rouge era.

    Phare Ponleu Selpak : The Circus With a Story

    The circus was a real highlight. It’s not the main one you see in Siem Reap. This is the original school where the performers are trained. It was founded by a French woman and Cambodian refugees after the Khmer Rouge, to give kids access to education, creativity, and a different kind of future.

    The show I saw was called Red, and it was about the Khmer Rouge. It was powerful and emotional. There was no narration, just raw physical storytelling. I had a vague idea of what was happening, but even without full context, you could feel the weight of it.

    Just a heads-up: The next photo shows human remains from Cambodia’s Killing Caves.

    Glass case filled with human skulls and bones inside a memorial at the Killing Caves of Battambang, Cambodia.
    A sobering memorial at the Killing Caves of Battambang. A stark reminder of Cambodia’s dark past under the Khmer Rouge.

    The Killing Caves: Confusing, Sad, but Worth It

    This was the main reason I went to Battambang. My tuk-tuk driver dropped me at the bottom of a mountain, pointed vaguely to the top, and said, “Come back down those steps for 5 o’clock to see the bats.” That was the extent of the plan.

    So up I went, completely unguided. I had no idea which caves were which. There were multiple temples, shrines, and detours. At one point, I found a cave that I was definitely sure was a killing cave. There was a glass cabinet filled with skulls, which made it very clear.

    This cave was one of the Killing Caves, used by the Khmer Rouge during their regime (1975 to 1979). Prisoners were taken to the top of the mountain and thrown through a hole in the roof to die below. Some were killed beforehand, others were beaten and left to fall. Their remains were later collected and placed in the cabinet I’d just seen. The cave felt quiet, confusing, eerie, and overwhelmingly sad. I wasn’t prepared for how it would feel to stand in a place where something so horrific had happened: it was hard to process.

    I left, walked up further and came across a disused temple at the top of the mountain, which offered a lovely view and had monkeys everywhere. There were stalls selling drinks, insects, and snacks, but nothing vegan. I was thirsty and tired, so I bought a drink and wandered for a bit.

    Eventually I found what I think was the actual cave temple. It was beautiful, peaceful, and one I’d really wanted to see. But I rushed through it, thinking I had to get down the steps for 5pm sharp.

    The Bats (Eventually)

    I flew down the stairs thinking I was about to miss something amazing. The tuk-tuk driver had stationed himself far from the action, at what I suspect was his friend’s beer stall. I sat with him because I didn’t know any better, until around 7pm when someone finally shouted, “The bats are coming out!”

    I ran over and managed to catch them, just. It wasn’t quite the spectacular moment I’d expected. It was pitch dark, you couldn’t really see much, and the smell coming out of the cave was absolutely vile. Still, it was an experience.

    Wandering Battambang

    I spent the next day or two walking around. The river didn’t have the charm of Siem Reap’s. Battambang felt hectic and heavily polluted. I was still sick, which made it harder to enjoy, and Chinese New Year meant karaoke, fireworks, and pigs laid out as offerings on tables everywhere. There were some interesting statues on roundabouts, and I wandered around to look at a few. I’m sure there were other things to do, but I didn’t find them.

    I skipped the bamboo train. It just sounded like a tourist trap and not in a fun way.

    Monkeys near the temple viewpoint above the Killing Caves in Battambang, with a hazy view over the city in the distance. Seen during Solo Travel in Battambang
    A quiet moment at the temple viewpoint above the Killing Caves. Monkeys wandered freely as the city of Battambang stretched out in the distance.

    Getting to Phnom Penh

    When it was time to leave, I booked a cheap ticket, about five or six pounds. A tuk-tuk picked me up and took me somewhere vague where a tiny minivan turned up, already packed. They squeezed in all of us and our bags, and off we went.

    The trip took hours and stopped constantly. By the time we arrived in Phnom Penh, I was exhausted and the air was thick. I tried to use Grab but realised I should’ve just taken a local tuk-tuk after a 40 minute wait. The pollution was overwhelming. At the time, Phnom Penh had a higher air pollution rating than Delhi. You could feel it in your lungs the second you stepped outside.

    Statue of Ta Dambong, the guardian figure of Battambang, holding a staff at a roundabout in Cambodia. Seen during Solo Travel in Battambang
    Ta Dambong Wat Pith: Battambang’s iconic guardian statue at the heart of the city.

    Final Thoughts

    Solo travel in Battambang wasn’t the easiest part of my Cambodia trip. I’m glad I went, but I wouldn’t rush back. If you go, take a guide for the Killing Caves, don’t expect much in the way of food if you are vegan, and be ready for vague instructions and unexpected smells. But sometimes, that’s just part of the story.

    Before You Go…

    If you’re planning your own solo trip my Solo Travel Lifeline might come in handy. It’s like having a travel buddy in your pocket – without the awkward small talk.

    Need a ready-made plan? Check out my 3-day travel itineraries for popular destinations – they’re packed with tips and can save you a lot of guesswork. If you want something more personalised, I also offer custom itinerary planning to make sure your trip goes smoothly.

    And if you want real time action, follow me on Instagram, TikToK or join the Sisterhood of Solo Travellers on Facebook for tips, stories, and the occasional travel mishap.

    If you’re interested in Southeast Asia, you might also enjoy my posts about Koh Lanta and Phu Quoc.

    If you’re planning a big trip, don’t miss my guide on how to survive long-haul flights in economy—it’s painfully honest and full of hard-earned wisdom.

    Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe below for the latest from Sisters Uncharted – straight to your inbox!