What to Pack for Cambodia: Temple Dress Code and Weather Checklist for Americans
What to pack for Cambodia comes down to two things: lightweight clothing for serious tropical heat, and shoulders-and-knees-covered outfits for the temples. Here is the full packing list, the Angkor Wat dress code, and the short list of documents you actually need at the airport.
What should Americans pack for Cambodia, and what is the temple dress code?
Pack light, breathable clothing for hot, humid weather, plus modest outfits that cover your shoulders and knees for the temples — the Angkor Wat dress code is enforced, and travelers in tank tops or short shorts are turned away at the gate. The essentials are quick-dry shirts, longer shorts or lightweight pants, a knee-length skirt or trousers for women, comfortable walking shoes, a lightweight scarf or sarong, strong sunscreen, insect repellent, and a packable rain layer in the green season. On the documents side, the load is tiny: a printed copy of your Cambodia eVisa PDF and a submitted e-Arrival Card. Cambodia does not ask you to carry a flight itinerary, hotel booking, or bank statement to the immigration desk.
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- The Angkor Wat dress code is strict and enforced: shoulders and knees must be covered for both men and women, or you will be turned away at the entrance — no exceptions for the heat.
- Cambodia is hot and humid year-round, so pack light, breathable, quick-dry fabrics in natural colors; cotton and linen beat synthetics that trap heat and sweat.
- A lightweight scarf or sarong is the single most useful item you can bring — it covers shoulders at temples, doubles as sun protection, and weighs almost nothing.
- Pack a small travel umbrella or packable rain shell in the May-to-October green season; afternoon downpours are short but heavy.
- Your documents are the lightest part of the trip: a printed Cambodia eVisa PDF (Tourist $80 USD, approved in 3 business days) and a submitted e-Arrival Card are all you carry to the immigration desk.
Two jobs your suitcase has to do
Packing for Cambodia is really about solving two problems at once. The first is the climate: it is hot and humid almost every day of the year, and you will sweat through anything heavy within an hour of leaving the hotel. The second is the temples: Angkor Wat and most active religious sites enforce a modest dress code, which means the breezy, minimal hot-weather outfit you would wear on a beach is exactly the thing that gets you turned away at the gate. Your suitcase has to cover both jobs without weighing a ton.
The good news is that the same handful of items solves both. A lightweight long-sleeve shirt keeps the sun off and covers your shoulders at a temple. A scarf or sarong does triple duty as shoulder cover, sun shield, and an emergency layer in an over-air-conditioned bus. Once you understand the two jobs, the list almost writes itself — and it is shorter and lighter than most first-time American visitors expect.
This guide walks the full Cambodia packing list, the Angkor Wat dress code in detail, what changes between the dry and green seasons, and the short stack of documents you actually carry through the airport. If you are still shaping the trip itself, our 10-day Cambodia itinerary for first-timers sequences the days, and you can apply for the visa whenever your dates firm up.
The Angkor Wat dress code, and why it is non-negotiable
Start here, because this is the rule that actually gets enforced. To enter Angkor Wat and most working temples in Cambodia, both men and women must have their shoulders and knees covered. That means no tank tops, no spaghetti straps, no bare midriffs, and no shorts or skirts that sit above the knee. Staff at the upper levels of Angkor Wat — particularly the central Bakan tower — check this at the entrance, and travelers who show up in beachwear are turned away on the spot, in the heat, with no way to fix it unless they happen to have a cover-up in their bag.
The reason is simple: these are active places of worship, not just photo backdrops. Cambodians treat the temples with genuine reverence, and the dress code is a sign of respect, not a tourist tax. Dressing modestly is also just practical — covered shoulders and a hat will save you from a sunburn that a tank top guarantees by mid-morning. You lose nothing by covering up and you avoid the single most common, most avoidable disappointment at the temples.
What actually counts as covered
- Shoulders: a t-shirt, short-sleeve shirt, or anything with a real sleeve is fine. Tank tops, vests, and strappy tops are not.
- Knees: shorts or skirts must reach the knee or below. Longer walking shorts, capri pants, lightweight trousers, or a knee-length skirt all pass.
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What is the dress code for Angkor Wat?
Both men and women must cover their shoulders and knees to enter Angkor Wat and most active temples. That rules out tank tops, spaghetti straps, bare midriffs, and shorts or skirts above the knee. The upper level of Angkor Wat is checked most strictly, and travelers in beachwear are turned away at the entrance. A t-shirt or short-sleeve shirt plus longer shorts, lightweight pants, or a knee-length skirt is all you need to pass. A scarf or sarong over bare shoulders is also accepted.
What should I pack for Cambodia?
Pack light, breathable clothing for hot, humid weather, plus modest outfits that cover your shoulders and knees for the temples. The core list is two or three lightweight long-sleeve shirts, longer shorts or light pants, a scarf or sarong, comfortable walking shoes, high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, insect repellent, and a packable rain layer if you travel May to October. Add a reusable water bottle, a power bank, and any prescription medication in its original packaging.
What fabrics work best in Cambodia heat?
Light, breathable, quick-dry fabrics. Cotton and linen feel good and breathe well, though cotton stays wet a long time in the humidity once it soaks through. Technical quick-dry blends are the most practical choice in the green season because they dry fast after a downpour or a sweat-through. Choose light, natural colors that reflect heat and hide dust, and avoid heavy, dark synthetics that trap sweat.
Do I need to cover up in the heat at the temples?
Yes, even when it is brutally hot. The shoulders-and-knees rule is enforced regardless of temperature, and there is no exception for the weather. The practical fix is light, breathable long-sleeves and longer shorts or pants that cover you while still letting you breathe, plus a scarf or sarong you can throw over bare shoulders at the gate. Covering up also protects you from sunburn, which a tank top guarantees by mid-morning.
What documents do I need to carry into Cambodia?
Far fewer than most people expect. You need your physical passport with at least six months of validity and a blank page, a printed copy of your Cambodia eVisa PDF, and your e-Arrival Card QR code. Cambodia does not ask you to carry a flight itinerary, hotel booking, or bank statement to the immigration desk. Bring a card with no foreign transaction fee and a little USD cash for the ride into town.
What is the e-Arrival Card and do I need it?
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