Cambodia remains generally safe to visit if you stay well away from the Thai border and monitor official travel advisories closely, but the border areas themselves are currently unsafe and subject to “do not travel” warnings.
Major tourist hubs like Phnom Penh and central Siem Reap are operating normally, while several northern and western provinces face active conflict and mass displacement.
- Several governments now rate Cambodia overall as a place where travelers should exercise increased caution, with strict “do not travel” warnings for zones along the Thai‑Cambodian frontier.
- Fighting since early December 2025 has involved heavy weapons and airstrikes, causing civilian deaths and large‑scale evacuations in multiple border provinces.
- International advisories urge against all travel within roughly 50 km of the Thai‑Cambodian border, especially around Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey (Poipet), parts of Battambang, Koh Kong, and border temple areas like Ta Krabey and Ta Muen Thom.
- These regions have seen artillery fire, airstrikes, land mines, and over half a million people displaced, which makes them unsuitable for tourism at present.
Situation in main tourist destinations
- Phnom Penh and core urban areas of Siem Reap province are currently calm, with normal daily life and tourism; some countries have even lowered special alerts for these cities to standard caution levels.
- Tours are being rerouted away from northern border temples and land crossings, but city sightseeing, Angkor visits (away from the far north), and domestic flights continue to operate.
- Most land border checkpoints between Thailand and Cambodia (including Poipet/Aranyaprathet and several others) are closed or heavily restricted because of the fighting.
- Air travel into Phnom Penh and Siem Reap from non‑Thai hubs remains unaffected, so flying in and avoiding overland routes from Thailand is currently the safest way to enter.
Practical safety recommendations
- Check your own country’s Cambodia travel advisory right before booking and again before departure, paying special attention to maps of restricted zones.
- If you do travel:
- Avoid any trip to border provinces or remote northern/western districts.
- Stick to central Phnom Penh, core Siem Reap, Kampot, Kep, and similar low‑risk areas, and register with your embassy if possible.
- Monitor local news and follow instructions from Cambodian authorities, who are issuing regular situation updates about shelling and evacuations near the frontier.
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Read more at Wonders of Cambodia: wondersofcambodia.com
