Gay Cambodia Travel Guide: I have travelled to Cambodia twice, most recently in 2026 and visited key gay popular cities including Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. I explored the gay scenes, travelled with a group of queer travellers, and met and interviewed local gay Cambodians.
The country itself is incredibly beautiful, full of adventure, a unique culture and a deep history. The people of Cambodia are incredibly friendly and warm, it’s clear they are proud to welcome you to their country.
Cambodia felt very welcoming to me as a gay traveller, and the sentiment was shared with the wider group of LGBTQ+ people I travelled with.
This guide will help you plan an LGBTQ+ trip around Cambodia, covering key LGBTQ+ travel information and sharing key destinations.
The two key cities you have likely heard of are Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. For a detailed look into both of these see my Gay Phnom Penh Travel Guide and my Gay Siem Reap Travel Guide – and for more South East Asia inspiration, see my Gay South East Asia Travel list.
Is Cambodia Gay Friendly?
Yes, Cambodia is a very gay friendly destination.. During my time in Cambodia, I felt safe and welcome throughout the trip, as did the wider group of LGBTQ+ people I was with.
It was especially apparent in cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, as both these cities have a very visible and growing gay scene with some gay bars in Phnom Penh having been around for over 14 years!
You can also expect to find gay hotels in these cities and then more widely across Cambodia, plenty of gay friendly hotel options.
Please note, like any country you travel to, your experience moving through a country as an LGBTQ+ tourist is likely to be very different to that of a gay local in Cambodia – if you would like to hear about the local LGBTQ+ experience living in Cambodia, please read my interview with gay local and gay bar owner, Sopheap.
LGBTQ+ Rights in Cambodia
During my travels I felt extremely welcome and most importantly I felt safe. Equally the sentiment from my interview with gay local Sopheap indicated a level of social safety and acceptance, albeit some social challenges remain. However, it is key to always remember that social attitudes don’t always match the legal position and LGBTQ+ people living in Cambodia have not yet achieved legal equality.
The push for legal equality for LGBTQ+ Cambodians is very active, and it appears there is not a strong opposition to equal marriage, a lot of the difficulty lies in the legal logistics of their laws and constitution.
On a positive note, LGBTQ+ people and consensual relationships are legal in Cambodia. However LGBTQ+ couples don’t yet have legal marriage and there are no specific laws addressing discrimination based on sexuality or gender (albeit they do have broad discrimination laws based on equality principles).
Similarly, there are no systems in place for gender recognition as of yet.
That all being said, with society being in a generally safe and welcoming position and with groups actively campaigning to work towards the necessary changes, I’d like to hope that positive change has a good chance to come in the future at a legal level.
As a summary:
- LGBTQ+ relations are legal.
- Equal marriage is not legally recognised, but marriage equality continues to be discussed and advocated for.
- There are no comprehensive LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination protections, although general equality is mentioned in the law.
- Legal gender recognition remains limited.
Where to Go in Cambodia for Gay Travellers
If you are planning a gay trip to Cambodia, there are a couple of key destinations I would recommend, plus a couple of lessor known spots that are worth exploring if you have time.
In order or priority:
Gay Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and the largest city. As such, it is home to the longest running and most well established gay scene.
In Phnom Penh you will find several gay bars and clubs, as well as sauna/massage venues and a growing pride. Space Hair Salon and Bar being my favorite gay bar in Phnom Penh from my visit. You will also find gay hotels like Arthur and Paul, as well as plenty of gay friendly hotel options options.
It is worth noting that the gay scene in Phnom Penh is relatively spread out, with no official gay area. However getting around is cheap and easy, use Grab (Uber equivalent).
Beyond the gay scene, key things to do in Phnom Penh include the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, S21 Museum * K1lling Fields and Silk Island.
I’d suggest 2-3 nights here.
Read my complete Gay Phnom Penh Travel Guide.
Gay Siem Reap
Siem Reap was my favorite destination during my visit to Cambodia. Siem Reap is much smaller than Phnom Penh and is surrounded by lush jungle and hundreds of ancient temples. Angkor Wat is the main attraction here, but of course make sure to tour more temples, spend an evening watching Phare Circus and get lost in the night markets.
Top tip for tours, please use Tuk Tuk Lady Driver – her story is incredible, breaking into a male dominated field and being super successful.
Siem Reap is now home to a growing and active gay scene, with 5 gay bars (plus one gay owned Tuk Tuk bar) currently active and all within minutes of each other. So whilst there is no official gay area, the cluster of gay bars in all close proximity (on Street 7 predominantly) effectively creates one.
My favorite gay bar was Barcode, they had a great drag show on with the queens on a non-stop rotation. Venues have changed frequently over the years, read my complete Gay Siem Reap Travel Guide to find out more.
Accomodation wise, there is a gay hotel called MEN’S Resort & Spa.
Depending on how slow you want to go, 3-5 nights here could work well. They have a lot of wellness and massage options here with some being around $8 for an hour long Khmer massage.
Other Gay-Friendly Places in Cambodia
Whilst Siem Reap and Phnom Penh are the key gay destinations in Cambodia, if you have time to travel further afield please do.
Sihanoukville: On my first visit I spent a couple of nights in Sihanoukville, although there is not much to do there, people use Sihanoukville to access Koh Rong island which looks beautiful.
Some guides list gay hotels in Sihanoukville, however a little bit of research indicates that the property mentioned is no longer active (given reviews are over 8 years old).
Koh Rong: something you currently won’t find online, I chatted with Beach House Cambodia on Instagram and the owner Rob, told me that he is gay and would love for me to share that his Beach House welcomes all travellers.
From Rob: Since 2015, gay built, owned and managed Beach House Cambodia on Koh Rong Sanloem, has warmly welcomed gay travellers to their island chill time for over 10 years
As such, for the rest of Cambodia, it’s less about seeking out the gay scene and simply about going on your own adventure.
Gay Bars in Cambodia
Cambodia’s gay nightlife scene is concentrated in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
Key gay bars in Phnom Penh include Space Hair Salon and Bar, POC Lounge and Blue Chilli.
Read more about Gay Bars in Phnom Penh (full list).
Key gay bars in Siem Reap include Barcode, GOD, Halo, Peacock and Rendezvous. Also check out Cheeky Monkey Cocktail Truck, a gay owned street bar.
Read more about Gay Bars in Siem Reap (full list).
Gay Hotels in Cambodia
I am happy to report that there is one dedicated gay hotel in Siem Reap and one dedicated gay hotel in Phnom Penh.
Arthur & Paul – Phnom Penh
Arthur & Paul is a dedicated gay men only boutique hotel in Phnom Penh. They have a restaurant, bar, spa, pool, hammam, jacuzzi and sauna on site – look out for some of the cheeky artwork on display.
The hotel is also clothing optional in certain areas including poolside and parts of the spa.
Address: 27 St 71, Phnom Penh 120302, Cambodia
Read more: gay friendly accommodation in Phnom Penh.
MEN’s Resort & Spa – Siem Reap
MEN’s Resort and Spa is a men only gay hotel in Siem Reap along with an on site sauna, massage spa, outdoor saltwater pool and gym.
Read more: gay friendly accommodation in Siem Reap.
Other Gay-Friendly Hotels
Of course, there are plenty of gay friendly options, either explicitly stated on their website, gay owned or have done training to show their commitment to LGBTQ+ travellers (such as those properties that have the Travel Proud stamp on booking.com – you can use this as a filter when searching!).
Key places to check out in Siem Reap include Rambutan Hotel and Resort, Viroth’s Hotel, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor (the height of luxury!).
For Phnom Penh, check out Sonitori Resort – formerly Rambutan Resort (explicitly gay friendly) and Rosewood Phnom Penh (another one that is the height of luxury).
For Koh Rong check our gay owned Beach House Cambodia.
Gay Pride in Cambodia
You will find Pride celebrations in Cambodia, these remain very local and have not become commercialised (like many Prides do around the world).
As such, you can expect to find Pride activities in Siem Reap and in Phnom Penh during May and June each year. The number and scale of activities is gradually growing with Siem Reap having its first Pride Walk in 2026.
Much of this is run by local organisations, often the same ones that are working hard to campaign for equal rights in Cambodia.
Read more about Gay Pride in Phnom Penh and Gay Pride in Siem Reap.
Best Time to Visit Cambodia
The best time to visit Cambodia is November to February when you can expect dry, comfortable weather.
I went in October which was the rainy season and had a mix of rain and sun (but when it rained it poured).
How Long Do You Need in Cambodia?
I did a 5 day tour with G Adventures, that allowed me to see the key highlights in a packed itinerary with Siem Reap and Phnom Penh .
7 days would be enough for Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, plus some downtime and wider exploration into these destinations.
10-14 days will give you a chance to add on other spots like Koh Rong.
Getting Around Cambodia
If you are doing a tour like I did with G Adventures, transport between destinations will be included. If travelling solo, you can book bus travel between key cities.
Within the cities, I suggest using Grab (Uber equivalent) – you can book taxis or Tuk Tuks on Grab without the need to haggle.
The main airports are in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap so you can fly into one and out the other.
Quick Gay Cambodia FAQs
- Is Cambodia gay friendly? Yes, it is one of the most gay friendly countries in South East Asia.
- Is homosexuality legal in Cambodia? Yes, as are relationships.
- Does Cambodia have gay bars? Yes, in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
- What is the best city in Cambodia for gay travellers? Phnom Penh has Cambodia’s most established gay scene, while Siem Reaps scene is growing. Siem Reap was personally my favourite.