Major city · Cambodia
Pailin
Visit Pailin for a half‑day if you are in the Cardamom region; otherwise skip it.
Pailin is a small gem‑town in the Cardamom and Elephant Mountains, reachable by a 2‑hour bus from Battambang. Its main sights are O'Tavao Waterfall and Wat Phnom Yat, both reachable on foot or by cheap motorbike taxis. The town offers basic guesthouses and a market for meals, but limited attractions beyond the waterfall and hilltop pagoda.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (dry season)
- avoid May–Oct (heavy rain, road issues)
- Airport
- PNH
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Cambodia ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra. Some nationalities can also get a visa on arrival.
- Cambodia ↗Angkor Wat and other active temples enforce a dress code: shoulders and knees covered, or you are turned away at the gate.
- Cambodia ↗US dollars are used for most tourist prices; carry clean, undamaged small notes and some riel for change under one dollar.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Pailin117 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Pailin, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?US dollars for hotels, tours and restaurants; riel (KHR, about 4,000 to the dollar) for change and small street purchases.Cambodia-wide
- SIM or eSIMSmart, Cellcard and Metfone sell tourist SIMs at the airports with passport registration; a week of data costs a few dollars.Cambodia-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Cambodia-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Round up or leave US$1–2 where no service charge is added.Cambodia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/G. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Cambodia-wide
- SafetyGenerally safe for daytime visits; watch for land‑mine warnings on outskirts and avoid night travel on unpaved roads.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, restaurants and at the Angkor ticket office and main temples; squat toilets with a hose or scoop on the road.Cambodia-wide
- Emergency numbers117 police · 118 fire · 119 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany shops close for Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben; government offices close all public holidays; Angkor temples open every day.Cambodia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportPNH Phnom Penh International Airport (about 300 km (186 mi) by road, 6‑7 h bus).PNH Phnom Penh International Airport (about 186 mi (300 km) by road, 6‑7 h bus).
- Getting aroundTown is walkable; motorbike taxis (motodops) cost about 1,000 riel for short trips and US$3‑5 to the Thai border.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealMeal at market stall$1–$2
- BeerBottle of local beer$0.50–$1
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Motorbike taxi (short ride)1,000 riel (~$0.25)
- Budget bedGuesthouse room, a night, per personUS$5
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$10 · Mid US$20 · High US$35
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- PNH Phnom Penh International Airport (about 300 km (186 mi) by road, 6‑7 h bus)PNH Phnom Penh International Airport (about 186 mi (300 km) by road, 6‑7 h bus)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Feb
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Mar
not flagged
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Apr
not flagged
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
May
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Jun
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Oct
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Nov
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Dec
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Best: Nov–Feb. Avoid: May–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)), coolest Jan (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C) low), wettest Jul (13 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Pailin: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
2 rd
Feb
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
2 rd
Mar
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
3 rd
Apr
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
5 rd
May
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
9 rd
Jun
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
12 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
13 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
13 rd
Sep
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
11 rd
Oct
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
7 rd
Nov
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
4 rd
Dec
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
3 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Town is walkable; motorbike taxis (motodops) cost about 1,000 riel for short trips and US$3‑5 to the Thai border.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
O'Tavao Waterfall
goDoor to door: ≈30 min each way
Motorbike taxi from town, about 6 km (3.7 mi) on a rough trackMotorbike taxi from town, about 3.7 mi (6 km) on a rough track
US$1 entry, US$7 round‑trip motorbike fare; may be closed in heavy rain.
Wat Phnom Yat
goDoor to door: ≈15 min climb
Walk up the hill 500 m south of town
Free entry; offers panoramic views.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Gemstone Guesthouse
US$5 fan room, US$7 window view; only clean new guesthouse in town
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $5–$10 excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse room2 × 3 nights × US$7 | US$42 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × US$20 | US$120 |
| Trip total≈ US$27 per person per day, bed included | US$162 |
2026 estimate; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Meal at market stall | $1–$2 |
| Bottle of local beer | $0.50–$1 |
| Motorbike taxi (short ride) | 1,000 riel (~$0.25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Land‑mine signs around the outskirts; stay on established paths.
- Waterfall track can be treacherous in wet season; check conditions.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 117
- Fire
- 118
- Ambulance
- 119
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
PailinPailin
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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សូមយកទៅអាសយដ្ឋាននេះTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police117
- Fire118
- Ambulance119
Embassy
US consular services are in Phnom Penh; check for updates.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Battambang → Pailin bus: about $4, 2 h (Paramount Bus, check schedule)
- Motodop town lift: about $0.25 (1,000 riel) per short trip
Say or show
- ជំរាបសួរ — Hello (chom reap suor)
- តម្លៃប៉ុន្មាន? — How much? (tamlay ponman?)
- អរគុណ — Thank you (aw kun)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Pailin. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Feb (dry season) · avoid May–Oct (heavy rain, road issues) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 1 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 2 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Add a bus link from Battambang (2 h, $4) for day‑trippers.
- Provide eSIM guide for cheap data (US$0.50/hr).
Sources
Ask about Pailin
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