Is It Safe to Travel to Cambodia in 2026?

Last updated: Jul 22, 2026

This guide breaks down exactly which parts of Cambodia are affected, what the current advisories actually say, and what to check before you book.

Key takeaways

Cambodia overall sits at Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”) with the US State Department; only the 50km-wide strip along the Thai border is rated Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”).
Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, and coastal Cambodia are not part of any elevated advisory.
All land border crossings between Cambodia and Thailand are currently closed.
As of July 22, 2026, no new exchange of gunfire has been confirmed since a February 24, 2026 border incident, though tensions escalated in early July with new Thai barbed-wire installations and a border patrol explosion that injured four Cambodian soldiers.
Check your travel insurance’s war and armed-conflict exclusion before assuming it covers the border zone.

Table of Contents

Is Cambodia safe to travel to right now?

The US State Department rates Cambodia overall at Level 2, “Exercise Increased Caution,” the same level it gives many popular destinations worldwide.

The exception is a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” zone within 50km of the Cambodia–Thailand border, citing ongoing fighting between Cambodian and Thai military forces. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel within 20km of the same border.

If your trip covers Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, or the coast, none of that changes your plans. If it involves the northern border provinces, it does.

Cambodia region by region: where’s actually affected

The border conflict is real, but it’s geographically contained. Here’s how the risk breaks down by region.

Avoid all travelCambodia–Thailand border zone

Within 50km of the border (US advisory) or 20km (UK advisory), including Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces. Land crossings are suspended and the Preah Vihear, Ta Krabey, and Tamone Thom temple sites are closed. Landmines and unexploded ordnance are present.

Normal precautionsSiem Reap & Angkor Wat

Not part of any elevated advisory. Flights are operating on normal schedules, and the temples are open as usual.

Normal precautionsPhnom Penh & coastal Cambodia

Also outside the elevated advisories. Ordinary big-city and beach-town precautions apply, same as any capital or coastal resort area.

Here’s a simple four-step routine to run through before any Cambodia trip while this story is still developing.

1Check the route. Confirm your itinerary doesn’t cross into the 50km border strip, and re-check the live State Department or FCDO advisory close to departure.

2Check your insurance’s war exclusion. Ask your provider directly whether travel to or within a government-designated conflict zone is excluded.

3Sign up for local alerts. Register with your embassy’s travel program so you get updates directly if the situation shifts.

4Follow in-country habits. Stick to marked roads and paths in rural areas, and skip the handful of closed temple sites near the border.

Is Phnom Penh safe to visit?

Phnom Penh is not part of any elevated advisory and functions as a normal Southeast Asian capital. Ordinary big-city precautions apply, most notably watching your phone and bag around crowded markets and riverside areas, where snatch-and-grab theft is the most commonly reported crime against visitors.

Getting around is straightforward: metered taxis, ride-hail apps, and tuk-tuks are all widely available and used by tourists daily. Flights to Phnom Penh are operating on their usual schedules.

Are Siem Reap and Angkor Wat safe?

Siem Reap city and the Angkor Wat temple complex sit well outside the border advisory zones and are not affected by the conflict.

Flights to Siem Reap continue on normal schedules, and temple access, guides, and tuk-tuk transfers are all operating as usual. Confirm your specific route and airline’s current schedule directly, since flight timetables can shift.

One nuance worth knowing: the US State Department lists rural areas of Siem Reap province among several provinces where landmines and unexploded ordnance are a lingering risk. That’s a broader, countryside issue explained below, and it does not apply inside Angkor Wat or Siem Reap city itself.

What about Cambodia’s coast?

Coastal Cambodia, including Sihanoukville and the southern islands, is not covered by any of the elevated border advisories. It carries the same general-caution rating as the rest of the country outside the border strip.

Landmines and unexploded ordnance: a separate, older risk

Cambodia has a landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) legacy dating back decades, unrelated to the current border conflict. The US State Department specifically names Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Pailin, Kampong Thom, and rural parts of Siem Reap province as areas where landmines and UXO still turn up.

Human Rights Watch documented a case in October 2025 in which an alleged unexploded cluster-munition remnant from the July 2025 fighting killed a 10-year-old boy and seriously injured his father in Preah Vihear province; Cambodia’s Mine Action Centre attributed the device to Thai artillery, a claim the Thai military disputes. The practical rule everywhere in rural Cambodia: never leave marked paths or roads, and never touch old ordnance if you see it.

Will your travel insurance cover you near the border?

Many standard travel insurance policies exclude claims arising from travel to or within a government-designated conflict or Level 4 zone. That exclusion is common industry-wide, not specific to one insurer.

If your trip touches the Cambodia–Thailand border area at all, call your insurer and ask directly whether the war or armed-conflict exclusion applies to your policy. Don’t assume standard coverage extends there just because the rest of your Cambodia trip is unaffected.

Practical safety tips for Cambodia in 2026

Category	What to do
Petty crime	Keep bags zipped and phones out of sight in crowded areas of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap; snatch theft from moving motorbikes is the most common complaint.
Border zone	Skip travel within 50km of the Thai border entirely, including the closed Preah Vihear, Ta Krabey, and Tamone Thom temple sites.
Land crossings	Don’t plan an overland Cambodia–Thailand crossing; all crossings are currently suspended, so fly between the two countries instead.
Rural travel	Stay on marked roads and paths, particularly in Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Pailin, and Kampong Thom provinces.
Stay informed	Bookmark your government’s Cambodia advisory page and re-check it in the days before you fly, since this situation continues to shift.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cambodia safe to travel to in 2026?

Yes, for the areas most travelers visit. Cambodia sits at Level 2 “Exercise Increased Caution” overall, with a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” zone limited to within 50km of the Thai border.

Is Phnom Penh safe right now?

Yes. Phnom Penh is not part of any elevated advisory and carries the same general precautions as any major Southeast Asian capital.

Is Siem Reap safe, and is Angkor Wat affected by the border conflict?

Siem Reap city and Angkor Wat are both outside the elevated advisory zones and unaffected by the conflict. Flights and temple access are operating normally.

Has fighting resumed since February 2026?

No confirmed exchange of gunfire has been reported since a February 24, 2026 border incident.

Tensions did escalate in early July 2026: Thailand installed new barbed-wire fencing in disputed areas, and on July 5 an explosion during a Cambodian patrol in Oddar Meanchey province injured four Cambodian soldiers. The cause is disputed and under investigation, and neither government has called it a resumption of armed conflict. Check the live State Department or FCDO advisory for the latest.

Will my travel insurance cover me near the Cambodia–Thailand border?

Possibly not. Many standard policies exclude claims tied to travel in a government-designated conflict zone, so check your policy’s war exclusion directly with your insurer before assuming coverage.

Are there landmines in Cambodia?

Yes, in rural areas of specific provinces, including Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Pailin, Kampong Thom, and parts of Siem Reap province. This is a longstanding, countrywide issue separate from the current border conflict, and it doesn’t affect Angkor Wat or Siem Reap city.

Planning your trip

For most Cambodia trips, this border conflict shouldn’t change your plans. It’s a serious, real situation, but a geographically narrow one, and Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, and the coast all continue to welcome visitors as usual.

Compare flights and hotels for Phnom Penh and Siem Reap on Wego, and check the live government advisory one more time before you fly.

Sources

Disclaimer: We’ve worked hard to make sure the information in this article is as accurate and up to date as possible at the time of publishing. Travel details such as prices, schedules, visa rules, and entry requirements can change at short notice, so it remains your responsibility to verify the current details with official sources before you book or travel. Wego accepts no liability for any loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this content.