Coronavirus (COVID-19) and travel: The situation around the world is changing dramatically. Various governments have changed their travel warnings to restrict travel during this time. To understand how this may impact cover under your policy, please go to our FAQs and select your country of residence.
For the latest travel warnings and alerts around the world, read about lockdowns and border restrictions.
Our LGBTQ+ travel expert Ed Salvato gives us the lowdown on how LGBTQ+ travelers can stay safe while enjoying beautiful Cambodia.
Photo © Getty Images/ValentinWolf
Compared to many other Asian countries, Cambodia is surprisingly queer-friendly for visitors. There are no major pride events, and legal recognition of same-sex unions or even anti-discrimination laws are still far off. Still, LGBTQ+ travelers will feel welcome and safe everywhere they travel. There is a relatively large queer scene in the capital, Phnom Penh.
LGBTQ+ legal status
The country is known for its abysmal human rights record and gender inequality. Though there are no anti-LGBTQ+ laws, local authorities and police have reportedly used various laws to infringe on the local community's rights. However, while homosexuality is not celebrated culturally, LGBTQ+ locals enjoy a degree of visibility and acceptance in society (especially in larger cities) not seen in many other more conservative countries.
There is a small pride celebration that has taken place annually in Phnom Penh since 2003. The Cambodian government also announced it will introduce a new queer-friendly course in schools called "Life Skills" to teach students about LGBTQ+ issues, sexuality and gender.
LGBTQ+-friendly areas
You will see fellow LGBTQ+ travelers and locals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, especially in higher-end accommodation, and locals are used to seeing same-sex couples and groups. In remote areas, locals will not react with any hostility to LGBTQ+ travelers, though they may watch you with curiosity. If you request a single bed, your wishes will be respected without question. Tour guides will most certainly have seen many other queer visitors, and the tour operators mentioned below hire LGBTQ+-qualified guides when possible, vetting all their guides to ensure they are comfortable with queer guests.
The only caveats about traveling in southeast Asia as a LGBTQ+ traveler is to respect the local norms and customs. Open displays of affection (whether same-sex or opposite-sex) are very uncommon.
If you want to be meet other LGBTQ+ travelers, consider joining a tour. Check with your government travel advisory prior to travel for LGBTQ+ safety information.
Trip Planning
- Utopia is a good source for LGBTQ+ information in southeast Asia especially for bar, sauna, and sexually focused information.
- Travel Gay Asia offers information on bars, clubs, saunas, beaches, and hotels. You can book hotels here which are fulfilled by a gay-owned and gay-managed travel agency, OutOfOffice.com.
- NomadicBoys is the blog published by Stefan and Sebastian, a gay male couple writing about their global adventures, including those in southeast Asia.
Legal Services
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) publishes an annual survey of sexual orientation laws.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) conducts top-notch reporting and advocacy including for LGBTQ+ people around the world.
LGBTQ+ Tour Operators
While the following highly recommended tour companies cater primarily to gay men, most welcome lesbian travelers.
LGBTQ+-Friendly Mainstream Tour Operators
The following mainstream river cruise companies extend a warm welcome to LGBTQ+ guests.
- Pandaw offers luxury small ship river cruises in Asia. The manager is openly gay and the staff is LGBTQ+-friendly.
- Aqua Expeditions offers luxury cruises on the Mekong River and is known for excellent food, service and a focus on sustainability.
Get a travel insurance quote for Cambodia
You can buy at home or while traveling, and claim online from anywhere in the world. With 150+ adventure activities covered and 24/7 emergency assistance.
Related articles
Simple and flexible travel insurance
You can buy at home or while traveling, and claim online from anywhere in the world. With 150+ adventure activities covered and 24/7 emergency assistance.
Get a quote
4 Comments
Thanks for the article. I just wanted to point out that although you surely didn't mean to discriminate, you wrote a whole article asking whether or not it was safe to travel if you were LGBTQ and answered - yes, if you're gay. There's a lot more that just the G in LGBTQ. I personally was looking for information about safety for a trans woman. It may be useful to connect the article with the title.
Thanks
This article was okay, but only if you’re gay. What about the T in LGBT? This was quite discriminatory and useless for anyone looking for trans related info, male or female.
Hi Griffin and Charly,
First of all thanks for your feedback! You’re right, the focus is mostly on gay male travelers, despite the inclusive name.
We're working to add more safety information for our lesbian, bisexual and transgender travelers. But in the meantime our writer, Ed Salvato, does offer information for trans and women travelers here: https://www.manaboutworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/LGBTQ-Guide-to-Travel-Safety.pdf
These general principles may help, but are not specific to Cambodia.
Cheers,
Amelia, World Nomads
I know as a gay bloke I’m meant to be super inclusive of everyone’s needs and desires but I’m gay - not queer or trans or Q or bi or whatever else is the current flavour of the week minority group. I want info on what I need as a gay traveller, I don’t need info on any other group, partly because what e.g. a trans male/female, needs is no more relevant in a gay forum as it is in a straight forum. Let’s keep things (specific info) separate and come together and support each other when it’s actually beneficial to do so.