Welcome to Cambodia!
We’re so glad you are coming to visit our Alongsiders team! We’re excited to share with you a glimpse of what God is doing - in 30 countries around the world, and in the lives of the 75,000 Alongsiders and Little Brothers and Sisters in the movement.
As a grassroots discipleship movement, Alongsiders International does not have a “Headquarters” - but instead we have a Support Centre, here in Phnom Penh, that manages the logistics of the global movements. Many of the team in our Support Centre are former little brothers and sisters and Alongsiders themselves. We hope you will have a chance to hear their stories and see their work.
We also hope you will be able to visit Shalom Valley - Cambodia’s first adventure camp - an “impact business” that financially supports the work of Alongsiders and is a beautiful place of transformation and impact.
To make your visit as smooth as possible please fill in this form with as many details as you can (leave any fields blank that you need to for now.) This form is required for all visitors to the Support Centre. Thank you and welcome!
Cambodia Visa and e-Arrival FORM
A Cambodian visa can be obtained online before arrival, or on arrival at the Phnom Penh International Airport. We recommend you get a 30 day Tourist Visa which costs $30. You can apply online here. If you are staying more than 30 days you must get an Ordinary Visa which costs $35 for one month and can be renewed.
There is now a new requirement for an e-Arrival form which can be completed online here or on arrival at the airport (recommend you try to do this online before arrival if possible).
Pick-Up
On arrival at the airport, we will be waiting for you in the arrivals area if you have arranged a pick up with us beforehand (by filling in the form above).
We recommend you buy a tourist SIM card (about $10 USD) from the Cellcard or Metphone booth once you come through the arrivals gate into the public welcoming area. They will set it up on your phone while you wait.
You may wish to take cash out of the ATMs in the same area. You can take out USD or Khmer riels. Both are able to be used throughout the country - although Khmer riels are slightly easier to spend and get change. 200,000 Khmer riels = approximately $50 USD. Ripped or damaged US notes are not accepted at most shops.
You can get a Grab taxi or tuk tuk from the Grab Shelter just outside the airport perimeter. Download the Grab app before you arrive in Cambodia and set it up, so you are ready to hit the ground running. This app can be used in any country where Grab is present.
As a last resort, airport taxis are also safe, reliable, and easily available from the arrivals area in the airport but will be a little more expensive (maybe $15 USD).
Phnom Penh Accommodations
We recommend two places that are near our Support Centre Office.
This is a simple guesthouse with clean airconditioned rooms costing around $15 USD per night. It is walking distance to our Support Centre Office as well as a market and 7-Eleven and other local shops and cafes. There is no fridge in the room and breakfast is not provided. If you wish to stay here we can make a booking for you. It is not listed on normal hotel booking sites unfortunately.
This is a nice hotel with air-conditioning and a pool and cafe/restaurant. Rooms cost around $45 USD per night. We recommend you book this place yourself through Booking.com or a similar site.
Getting to Alongsiders
The Alongsiders Support Centre is located about 15 minutes from the airport. If you are using Grab tuk tuk or taxi, be sure to select “Alongsiders Supp” NOT Alongsiders International HQ (our old office which we have not yet been able to get unlisted on Grab). Our office is open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.
If you’d like to join in with some of our regular rhythms you are welcome: prayer each morning at 8:15am, lunch together Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and worship/Bible study Fridays at 1pm.
Getting to Shalom Valley
Shalom Valley adventure camp is located in the coastal town of Kep, about 3 hours from Phnom Penh. You can book a taxi to get there with Sareth Taxi (WhatsApp +855 16 509 371) for about $50 USD, or you can buy a train ticket which is cheaper but more complicated and takes longer.
We may also be able to bring you there using our Alongsiders office car.
Child Protection Policy
Alongsiders is committed to the wellbeing and safety of all the children we work with, including campers at Shalom Valley. Please read the following guidelines and indicate your agreement in the Visitor Information Form.
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As a visitor to Shalom Valley we ask you to abide by the following guidelines:
• Wear your Shalom Valley security ID (armband) at all times.
• Dress modestly, especially when participating in water/local beach camp activities (shorts and t-shirt for swimming).
• Take care of the buildings, facilities and grounds of Shalom Valley and report any problems or breakages to the Shalom Valley staff immediately.
• Shalom Valley has separate toilet/bathrooms for visitors and campers. Always use the appropriate bathroom and visitors should not enter the camp dormitories.
• Respect each other’s privacy, especially when using shared bathroom/shower areas
• Always maintain appropriate physical boundaries with all persons and avoid all situations where you are alone with a child.
• Always use positive, non-violent methods to manage camper’s behavior.
• Rewards, treats, gifts and prizes should always be given in the context of a group/team.
• Use electronic devices mindfully and do not provide children access to mobile phones or electronic devices that may expose them to inappropriate content.
• Avoid posting photos of children onto the internet or social media and should only occur with permission from the camper’s parent/carer.
• Shalom Valley is a NO-ALCOHOL and NO-SMOKING site. Use of or being under the influence of alcohol, tobacco or any other drug while on-site or participating in the activities of Shalom Valley is not permitted.
• Do not engage in any behaviors of a physical, emotional, verbal or sexual nature that may be considered inappropriate or unsafe.
• Immediately report any reasonable suspicion, knowledge or disclosure of inappropriate behaviour or abuse to the Shalom Valley Director/s.
• Be willing to comply with any child protection related investigations and make available any documentary or other information required for the investigation.
• Please note: Participation in events and all activities at Shalom Valley are undertaken at your own risk. The staff and ownership of Shalom Valley cannot be held responsible or liable for any loss, theft, damage, expenses, personal injury or harm (including death) which may be suffered or incurred to property or person, which may arise directly or indirectly in respect to your attendance at Shalom Valley.
Immunizations
Official immunization information can be found here. Note that Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Kep - the most likely places you will visit are not generally considered malaria zones.
Phnom Penh Activities
The capital city of Cambodia is home to all kinds of interesting eating places and site seeing. You can see some of the undiscovered spots here. We do strongly recommend that you visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum if you have never done so. It will give you an essential glimpse of the history of Cambodia that still has so many impacts today.
Here are a few more options to explore…
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• Killing Fields - about 1 hour by tuk tuk outside of PP (get the audio guide) – really worth going to. Use a Grab car or tuk tuk to get there. Will take 2 hours or so to walk through the whole area and watch the film.
• Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in BKK2 - highly recommended!
• National Museum Traditional Dance Performance – 4 shows a week – 7pm – Monday Wednesday Friday Saturday. https://experience.cambodianlivingarts.org/
• Royal Palace
• The Factory https://factoryphnompenh.com/ (shops, cafes, Skate-istan, Fly PP)
• Fly Phnom Penh (Trampoline Park) at the factory
• New Garden City Water Adventure Park – similar to WaterBomb in Indonesia and Bali –expensive but an all-day outing.
• Khmer Cooking schools
• Massage – One Day (on Street 155 near Russian Market), Honestwood (Near PP Thmei) or Spa Bliss (on Street 240) or the higher end is Bodia Spa (really nice). Near Larimar Hotel there is a sports and eating centre called Keila Park with a very nice massage and spa area.
• Shopping at the Russian Market or Central Market and the heaps of export shops that surround them (like Zando)
• Bloom Café - this project is focused on training ex-sex workers how to create cake masterpieces. Definitely worth a visit for the cakes and to appreciate their work http://bloomasia.org/
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These places are not too far from our Support Centre office…
• L’mut Tom (House 26, Street 606)
• Café Studio (on Hanoi - attached to Larimar Hotel)
• Phka Prey Café – Khmer food - (close to HOPE School)
• Jars of Clay 2 (above One and One minimart and close to HOPE)
These places are 10 minutes away in Tuol Kork….
• Java Café Tuol Kork
• The Shop Toul Kork (good for little kids)
• Brown Coffee (big one at Toul Kork, across from Zando)
• One More Restaurant – Khmer food – great for big groups because it has private rooms
• The Greek Souvlaki Restaurant TK – Mediterranean food
• Urban Space (great for little kids)
More central city (about 30-40 minutes drive away)…
• Bassac Lane (near Independence Monument)
Bassac Lane is a few little alleyways with heaps of good places to eat such as…
• Mamas Wongs – my favourite dumplings and noodles place in PP
• Elia Greek
• Piccolo Italia – genuine Italian best pizza (fave)
• Namaste Indian
• Sushi
• Burgers
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• Rooftop at Penh House (Italian food/Khmer food/rooftop pool)
• Rukkha on the riverfront (great location $5 cocktails Monday to Friday 5-7pm)
• Juniper Gin Bar - Small sky bar close to the Riverfront - smaller than most – great views of the river, nice decor. Dodgy street (St. 130) where you enter through a small hotel, but worth it when you get up the top. Serves good pizza and a few bar snacks. Happy hour 5-7pm
• The Lantern Bar (in the hotel called Baitong) lovely décor, more expensive
• The Deck – at the top of the new Courtyard Marriot Hotel – happy hour 5-7pm
• Eclipse Sky Bar - top of Prudential Phnom Penh Tower - very popular. Go for the view at sunset happy hour from 5-7 (30% off cocktails) - eat elsewhere, food is overpriced.
• Sora Bar (in the Vattanac building/Rosewood Hotel) – most expensive – higher dress standard - great views – expensive drinks (higher than Western prices) and food but good for a special occasion.