Info: Cambodia

Pauche

0
Mar 2, 2006
84
0
0
I've put together some answers to most people's concern about riding into Cambodia. Keep in mind that the law, currency info, and/or road conditions in Cambodia change frequently, and this update is accurate as of January 2007.

cambodialarge.jpg


Fast Facts

Country Name: The Kingdom of Cambodia

Language: Khmer

Religion: Thervada Buddhism (97%), Islam, Christianity, Animism

Population: 13.1 million

Land Area: 181,035 km2

Voltage: 220v/50Hz

Time: GMT +7 hours

Country Calling Code: 855

Weather
November to February is the "cool season", which is dry and not too hot. In April it gets really hot, but not rainy. Starting around June it gets rainy and still hot. It rains off and on all the time, so roads are muddy and some areas are impassable, and it stays like that until November, when cool & dry comes back. Click here (http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/CBXX0001_f.html) for today's forecast for Phnom Penh.

Money
US dollars in cash terms is best. You will get some riel as change when you spend the US dollars. One USD is about 4000 riels. There are a few places that will change travelers checks. Credit cards are not too widely accepted around.

Visa
Not required if you hold a Singapore passport. However, for other passport holders require to pay 1,000Baht (US$25) for a tourist visa or 1,500Baht (US$38) for a business visa

International Overland Border Crossings
overlandcam.jpg


Aranyaprathet/Poipet Checkpoint
Open 08:00-20:00hrs (+7 GMT)
overlandsr.jpg

AR-POI-map-2.gif


Cham Yeam/Koh Kong Checkpoint
Open 08:00-20:00hrs (+7 GMT)
overlandks.jpg

HT-CY_map.jpg


Other International Overland Border Crossings
Bavet (Svay Rieng Province)
Kaam Samnor-Koh Rokar (Kandal-Prey Veng)
Cham Yeam (Koh Kong Province)
Poipet (Banteay Meanchhey Province)
O'Smach (Oddar Meanchhey Province)
Phnom Den (Takeo Province)
Dong Krolor (Stung Treng Province)

Road Conditions

Poipet to Sisophon (Route 5, 51km, 1hr)- This section is surfaced but quite rough in spots. A lot of big big potholes that will keep your speed below 50km/h.

Sisophon to Siem Reap (Route 6, 105km, 2hrs) - The first 75km is unpaved road, some are paved, while some are loose sand with plenty of red dust. Lots of broken bridges are under construction. Meanwhile, you need to divert quite a number of times. The last 30km is broken tarmac roads with plenty of potholes.

Sisophon to Battambang (Route 5, 68km, 1hr)- Nice tarmac roads. Beware of some 4x4 drivers who honk their way through at speed of over 100km/h.

Siem Reap to Kg Thom (Route 6, 147km, 2hrs) - Nice tarmac roads. Smooth journey.

Kg Thom to Phnom Penh (Route 6-6A-5, 168km, 2hrs) - Nice tarmac roads on most of the roads. Traffic begins to build up when within 10km of the Phnom Penh vicinity. Has a bike lane across the Japanese bridge over the Tonle Sap.

Phnom Penh to Phnom Chisor (Route 2, 52km, 1.5hrs) - Tricky road if you decided to head from the Killing Fields to Phnom Chisor as the narrow offroad trail is being divided by a river. I managed to detour and find a bridge to get to the other side and head back to the tarmac road on Route 2 South to Phnom Chisor after that.

Phnom Penh to Kep (Route 3-31-33, 164km, 2hrs) - New tarmac roads along Route 31 and Route 33 with beautiful scenaries... More breathtaking once u reach the beach of Kep. It has a hill on the left and the road is bordered by the sea on the right.

Kep to Kampot (Route 33, 25km, 20mins)- Narrow roads with a couple of bridge crossings that are underway.

Kampot to Sihanoukville (Route 3-4, 132km, 1.5hrs) - Great tarmac road leading to Cambodia's premier beach area. Has a toll plaza along the way, but its free for bikes anyway!

Sihanoukville to Koh Kong (Route 4-48, 239km, 4hrs) - This is the most interesting part of the ride in Cambodia as it comprises of 4 river crossings. Pretty smooth tarmac roads (about 87km) from Sihanoukville till the turn off into Sre Ambel. From Sre Ambel to 1st river crossing is made of hard compact soil/gravel. At the 1st river crossing, the platform is connected by 2 small boats and you ride onto a narrow plank to get onto the platform. Construction of the bridge looks like its more than 60% done. Road from the 1st river to the 2nd river has nice compact soil/gravel and the 2nd river crossing is on a similar platform like the 1st river crossing.

Here comes the fun part. The paths from the 2nd river to 3rd river is fun if you are on a dirt bike. Lots of road works along the way, with loose soil/mud along the way. Dusty red sand everywhere as well. At the 3rd river crossing, its on a big boat, where bikes cross with cars/trucks and you need not balance on narrow planks to get on the boat. Similarly, the path from the 3rd to 4th river is a little challenging, with up/down slopes on loose soil/gravels. Can see that road works are on the way, and should complete by end of the year. Also, at the 4th river crossing, the big boat sends the bikes & cars/trucks together across.

After crossing the main bridge from Koh Kong to the Khlong Yai border, there is a toll plaza and bikes need to pay 1200 Riels. Its about a couple of minutes away from the border .

Travel Guides / News / Magazines

Tales of Asia - The most updated & comprehensive guide to Cambodia
http://www.talesofasia.com/

Travel Guides & Tourist Reviews
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/As ... bodia.html

Canby Publications Travel Guide
http://www.canbypublications.com/

Comprehensive Guide to the Angkor Temples
http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/srtemples.htm

Bayon Pearnik - Cambodia's Tourism & Infomation Magazine
http://www.bayonpearnik.com/

Cambodia Travel Tips
http://www.garella.com/rich/travcam.htm

Cambodia Pocket Guide
http://www.cambodiapocketguide.com/

Cambodia Online - Cambodia's Gateway Portal
http://www.cambodianonline.net/

The Phnom Penh Guide
http://www.phnom-penh.biz/restonet/pp/a ... ument&l=gb

Info on Sihanoukville
[email protected]

Best of Cambodia
http://www.bestofcambodia.com/

The Cambodian Scene Magazine
http://www.cambodianscene.com/

Motorbiking in Cambodia

Golden Triangle Riders
https://www.gt-rider.com/

Adventure Rider Forum
http://www.advrider.com/

Dancing Roads
http://www.dancingroads.com/index.html

Voyage Vietnam
http://www.voyagevietnam.net/eng/38.php

Hidden Cambodia Adventure Tours
http://www.hiddencambodia.com/

Cambodia Red Raid Motorcycle Tours
http://www.motorcycletourscambodia.com/

The Motorcycle Shop in Cambodia - Rental & Repair
http://www.motorcyclecambodia.com/

Angkor Dirt Bike Tours
http://www.toursintheextreme.com/

Cambodia Expeditions
http://www.cambodiaexpeditions.com/

Motorcycle And Motorbike Rental, Hire And Tours in Cambodia
http://www.ridetheworld.com/98_Cambodia.html

Cambodia Motorcycle Tours
http://www.ecosea.com/eco/HTM/Cambodia% ... 0Tours.htm

Field Reports and Blogs

http://www.pauche.blogspot.com/

http://cambodia.mellenthin.de/

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/everett/

http://www.cafecaliforniaphnompenh.com/motorcycle.htm

http://trip-reports.blogspot.com//

http://cardrona.spaces.live.com/

Maps

http://www.canbypublications.com/maps/maphome.htm

http://www.cambodianonline.net/homemapsgallery.htm
 
Mar 15, 2003
1,527
16
38
www.daveearly.com
Pauche-

What a great post! I know the amount of time and effort that goes into compiling a post like this. Copied and bookmarked it. I have not been to Cambodia and keep saying it is on my list of "Things to Do". This post just makes it that much easier and should alleviate some of my procrastination.

Good Job!
 

Pauche

0
Mar 2, 2006
84
0
0
#1 - At the Aranyaprathet/Poipet border
CIMG4776.jpg


#2 - Plenty of casinos between Thailand & Cambodia, on the no-man's land
CIMG4780.jpg


#3 - Route 5 from Poipet to Sisophon...... very dusty roads
CIMG4790.jpg


#4 - Stung Sangker in Battambang
CIMG4845.jpg


#5 - Battambang Town..... lots of French architect
CIMG4856.jpg


#6 - Phsar Nath is the landmark in the centre of the town
CIMG4860.jpg


#7 - Road conditions in Battambang
CIMG4863.jpg


#8 - Ta Dambong Statue
CIMG4870.jpg


#9 - Dusty leaves at the lake
CIMG4871.jpg


#10 - Off the beaten track
CIMG4880.jpg
 

Pauche

0
Mar 2, 2006
84
0
0
#11 - Stairs leading to Phnom Sampeau
CIMG4904.jpg


#12 - These are skulls and bones of "Killing Cave" victims
CIMG4892.jpg


#13 - At the top of Phnom Sampeau, it has a stunning view of Battambang Town
CIMG4901.jpg


#14 - Plenty of road diversions along Route 6 from Sisophon to Siem Reap
CIMG4909.jpg


#15 - Bridge crossings are one-way only
CIMG4918.jpg


#16 - Topping up gas at a manual pump station
CIMG4920.jpg


#17 - First sight of Angkor Wat
CIMG4998.jpg


#18 - Very very steep stairs to the top
CIMG5013.jpg


#19 - Fine carvings on the temple walls
CIMG5021.jpg


#20 - Banteay Kdei
CIMG5041.jpg
 

Pauche

0
Mar 2, 2006
84
0
0
#21 - Face of Banteay Kdei
CIMG5058.jpg


#22 - Amazing trees at Ta Prohm
CIMG5079.jpg


#23 - Phimeanakas
CIMG5131.jpg


#24 - Terrace of Leper King
CIMG5144.jpg


#25 - Sunset view from Phnom Bakheng
CIMG5239w.jpg


#26 - After sunset, the view is even more breath-taking!
CIMG5308.jpg


#27 - Lovely sunrise behind Angkor Wat
CIMG5378.jpg


#28 - Golden rays on Banteay Srey
CIMG5387.jpg


#29 - Pre Rup
CIMG5439.jpg


#30 - Inside Pre Rup
CIMG5469.jpg
 

Pauche

0
Mar 2, 2006
84
0
0
#31 - Photo classic at Ta Som
CIMG5482.jpg


#32 - Preah Khan
CIMG5532.jpg


#33 - Full of carvings at Preah Khan
CIMG5558.jpg


#34 - Faces of Bayon in Angkor Thom
CIMG5569.jpg


#35 - My bike in Angkor Wat
CIMG5573.jpg


#36 - Floating store at Tonle Sap
CIMG5598.jpg


#37 - Chong Khenas floating village at the Tonle Sap
CIMG5599.jpg


#38 - Independence Monument in Phnom Penh
CIMG5627.jpg


#39 - Royal Palace
CIMG5639.jpg


#40 - Silver Pagoda
CIMG5660.jpg
 

Pauche

0
Mar 2, 2006
84
0
0
#41 - National Museum
CIMG5698.jpg


#42 - Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (former S21 prison)
CIMG5716.jpg


#43 - Victims of the Khmer rougue
CIMG5728.jpg


#44 - Russian Market
CIMG5747.jpg


#45 - Sunrise at the Tonle Sap & Mekong River mouth at Sisowath Quay
CIMG5802.jpg


#46 - Choeung Ek Memorial killing fields
CIMG5835.jpg


#47 - Skulls at the Choeung Ek Memorial killing fields
CIMG5833.jpg


#48 - Tonle Bati.... popular lake for the locals
CIMG5844.jpg


#49 - Beautiful lake with beautiful flowers
CIMG5846.jpg


#50 - Climbed 503 steps to get up to Phnom Chisor
CIMG5855.jpg
 

Pauche

0
Mar 2, 2006
84
0
0
#51 - Living conditions in Phnom Penh
CIMG5876.jpg


#52 - Krong Kep
CIMG5901.jpg


#53 - Sunset at Koh Tonsai (Rabbit Island)
CIMG5954.jpg


#54 - No rabbits on Rabbit Island.....
CIMG5975.jpg


#55 - It's animal kingdom here!
CIMG5994.jpg


#56 - Babe!
CIMG6003.jpg


#57 - Isn't he cute????
CIMG6103.jpg


#58 - Guesthouse on Koh Tonsai
CIMG6023.jpg


#59 - Clean waters at Koh Tonsai
CIMG6027.jpg


#60 - Entrance to Bokor Mountains
CIMG6134.jpg
 

Pauche

0
Mar 2, 2006
84
0
0
#61 - Ochheuteal Beach at Sihanoukville
CIMG6142.jpg


#62 - Cars cross the rivers on this platform
CIMG6178.jpg


#63 - Motorbikes cross on this platform at the 2nd river
CIMG6182.jpg


#64 - 3rd river crossing is on a huge RPL
CIMG6188.jpg


#65 - 4th river crossing is also on a huge RPL
CIMG6206.jpg


#66 - Bridge works over the 1st river is about 60-70% completed
CIMG6174.jpg


#67 - Bridge works at the 2nd river crossing just started not long ago
CIMG6183.jpg


#68 - Bridge works at the 3rd river crossing has just begun too
CIMG6189.jpg


#69 - Bridge at the 4th river crossing will soon be completed
CIMG6207.jpg


#70 - Road works along the way.... muddy, sandy, pebble-ly!
CIMG6185.jpg
 

Pauche

0
Mar 2, 2006
84
0
0
At the end of the trip, I didn't fall or drop my bike, but suffered the following damages through the rocky/bumpy/sandy terrains......

#71 - Broken sub frame
CIMG6585.jpg


#72 - Broken RHS rear signal
CIMG6591.jpg


#73 - Missing LHS rear signal
CIMG6592.jpg


#74 - Loose screw followed by a missing number plate eventually
CIMG6594.jpg
 

phuah

0
Feb 7, 2003
39
0
0
Thanks Pauche.

Your details information come at the right time for me as my cambodia trip will start in another 10 days time.
 
Jan 22, 2005
118
1
0
Hi Pauche,

Excellent job!

Here are a couple of more points that mught be of interest.

When crossing into Cambodia due North of Anlong Veng, while they are super friendly and Fast, beware that Customs will only give you a stamp on your Thai documents and NO Cambodian paper work. This can/will give you at least an hours worth of headache and the loss of 500 Baht when you go to leave via the border crossing into Southern Laos.

Geko map does not show a road going Southwest from Kho Ker to Siem Reap, but it is there. Kho Ker is almost due west of Tbeng Meanchey. And the road is OK (only in the dry season), being rough fine gravel and plenty of dust. Trip takes about 6-7 hours - And Very Easy to be lost more times then you would like.

In NE Cambodia, Geko map shows the distance from Stoeng Treng to Banlung as being about 230K. After about 120K we stoped to eat a can of tuna fish and have some water, only to get on the bike, ride 5 or so klcks down the road and find we were there.

Loney planet guide book should not be trusted when they say that the lake just outside of Banlung is an "intriguing circular crater-lake"..."it is one of the most peaceful, beautiful locations Cambodia has to offer"... It's kind of a sad looking thing about 200 meters across... And Banlung must be just about the dustiest town in Cambodia!!

And again - beware if you try to leave Cambodia via crossing into Southern Laos and all you've got is a stamp on your Thai documents.Customs was not fun. But Immigrations was wonderful.

This info is first hand from last months riding.

Cheers,
David and Mai
650GS
Chiang Khong
 

cdrw

0
Oct 6, 2006
572
2
16
Pauche....good post and info, to which I'll add some corrections/additions:

Money: ATM's are readily available in PPenh; some in Sihanoukville. Surely in Siem Reap and Battanbang...but I've not been these latter cities in a number of years. But the banks have been constantly adding new outlets in the larger communities for the last 2-years.

Visa: The _correct_ price for a Cambodian visa has
always been: Tourist: $20-US, Business $25-US. Best to pay in US-$$
Those paying anything more are simply falling prey to the
scamming Immigration officials. I've been going through Ban Hat Lek/Cham Yeam/Koh Kong for 7-years...and never paid more than the
proper price. You will have to stand up to them or be scammed!

Trat/Ban Hat Lek/Cham Yeam/Koh Kong;
Corrections: New bus station in Trat (April 2006).
The mini-vans from Trat to the border are now located at the
far end of the new bus station. Fare is now 110-Bt.
Ferry to Koh Kong is $15-US for tourists, not $12.
The road from Koh Kong to PPenh or Sihanoukville is the
cheaper method: 4-500-Bt for a seat in a van or taxi, but
you must negotiate. Road can be rough (during rainy
season especially!) but will be great when fully paved and
bridges finished. Currently one bridge completed, 1-partial completed, so ferry boats still used for 3-of the 4 bridges.
 

Pauche

0
Mar 2, 2006
84
0
0
quote:

Originally posted by cdrw

Currently one bridge completed, 1-partial completed, so ferry boats still used for 3-of the 4 bridges.








Thanks for the updates, appreciate it.
Reference to the above quote, I just went through the rivers less than 2 weeks ago and all the 4 bridges are still impassable. Which one is opened now, the bridge nearest to Koh Kong?
 

cdrw

0
Oct 6, 2006
572
2
16
correction, sorry Pauche...I should have added...1-bridge is completed (appearance)...but not as yet open to any traffic
 
Nov 14, 2004
239
0
0
Pauchy, M8, thanks for the hard yards, the info on your post is the Bomb of info.
Your pickies capture the feeling of cambo, the people an the country.
Keep it up.....Regards to you...Scott..."OZ"
 

Pauche

0
Mar 2, 2006
84
0
0
Thank you guys, will do as advised.
This is a consolidated thread of info on Cambodia for the benefit of all.
Anyone with any updated info are encouraged to share it here.
Cheers.
 
Jan 19, 2007
133
0
0
just a quick one, rode from phnom penh to poi pet yesterday ( 17-1-07 )went to cross on my kymer registered bike ( as i have done many times before ) only to be told by the thais "you need thai insurance to come with a bike into thailand " really .well how do i get that when im in cambodia ? anyway to cut a long story short i had to cross on my own go in to arran town, get thai insurance, leave thailand, go back into cambodia, get the bike and go into thailand !, at 35 celcius i was not a happy camper , be warned, best bet is to obtain it or have a friend get it and post it to you .all the best, and stay the right way up !
 

Rhodie

0
Mar 5, 2006
842
5
18
Pauche
Really appreciate your great post.
It will be much appreciated by new hands at the cambo dancing roads game - tho I see some of those with experience have already complimented you.
Well done & thank you - it's posts like these that makes the GT Rider fraternity so very worthwile.
ATB
Rhodie
 
Sep 22, 2004
16
3
3
Greetings - Hidden Cambodia Dirt Bike Tours - I have the geko map north of Siem Reap map scanned if any one wants it, drop a line and i'll send it on. Great to zoom in and look at the areas - Anlong Veng, Kog Ker, Preah Vihear Tbenge Meanachey. We are based on road to Angkor, Siem Reap open to fellow riders to drop in for up to date info on road etc

Host of great photos of dirt bike trips in Cams at http://www.hiddencambodia.com/pics.htm

Best regards,

Sheila
 

cr9434

0
May 1, 2007
2
0
0
great posts, much appreciated advice and ideas! we rode with no probs at all on a vietnamese registered bike to moc bai and through the border this week. highway 1 from bavet to the ferry crossing at neak luong is great tarmac road, however, the other side to phnom penh took nearly 4 hours on a potholed sandy road under construction and heavy traffic, expect this to take some months to complete so dont leave bavet later than 2pm if you wanna make the capital by dark. Any ideas on journey north from stung treng to laos border??? Chris + Georgia