Cambodia by foot

When guesthouse/hostel rooms can cost as little as $2 USD I would say that carrying camping gear is unnecessary. If you are planning to walk across the country be careful, however most villages will let you kip down somewhere. In the more remote parts English is limited to non so communication could be an issue. Pack light also be aware it could be and likely to be wet at that time of year, enjoy!

thanks very much for the information! any must see sites along our route?? We are traveling through Kathmandu, Bangkok, Chaing Mai, Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bali.

I will say that tents, mozzy net, sleeping bag liners are all overkill you'll find plenty of decent accommodation. And personally buy all your pharmaceuticals over there because stuff from just isn't good enough!! I bought loads of stuff thinking I was well prepared and cleaver and I've ended throwing most of it and buying new stuff. Safe travels D

I am curious as to what you mean when you say "...by foot". Do you mean hiking from one town to the next? It is over 300km by road from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh.

You can't do Cambodia by foot, especially not in July when it's 40 degrees celsius each day + high humidity. Also I've never heard of anyone camping in Cambodia, it would be just too uncomfortable with the heat, mosquitos, and rain. Not to mention stray dogs, criminals, etc.

Forum2233 is closer to the real answer. I've lived in the boonies of Cambodia for over 13 years now. First, if you camped on my land, especially without asking, my dogs, not stray ones would attack you. That is why we have them. Also, there is much criminal activity in rural Cambodia and none of the parties involved want witnesses. You might possible by considered nosy NGO workers with bad attendant consequences. Also if a stranger enters a village where he or she is not known by anyone living there custom requires you to first visit the mepoom or village chief and explain what your business there is. Good luck finding one who knows a language other than Cambodian. You are simply running too many risks all in the name of good-heated adventure which the locals will not understand. And in these small villages food that you are used to is non-existent. There is plenty of adventure to be found in Cambodia without either inconveniencing or endangering yourself. One last word, hitchhiking as we know it does not exist here. Vans will stop for you, but you will pay more than the locals for a ride from hell if you have a cowboy driver.

I suppose I was just being nice..Never say never. It is possible to trek with Rangers etc and sleep in hammocks in the jungle but be cautious. You are better staying in homestays or cheap guesthouses, you will be more comfortable and safer, the locals will not always appreciate foreigners just turning up, as sanityclause mentions you must first get the go ahead from headman who in my experience normally speak no English.
I Can't see the OP walking everywhere if they only have a week to spend, maybe its a turn of phrase.

Forget tents and sleeping bags unless you have a vehicle to drive them around in and forget camping out unless you're experienced in the tropics or actually enjoy being eaten alive by mozzies. In most rural areas you'll need mozzie protection and a fan to get any decent sleep. It's a vaction - not an endurance test.

Thank you all very much for the further feed back. Based on what everyone is saying and in my gut I realize that there is potential for serious danger. So backpacking is not practical and staying in random villages is questionable, I will be looking for the safest route by bus, train, or renting a vehicle to get through the county in the most scenic fashion. Sanity Clause thank you for the brutal honesty and need to hear more advice like that. I am leaning towards packing as light as possible considering the heat and rain. Angkor Wat is our first destination and from there are leaving the rest to fate.