Driving to Cambodia from Thailand.

[Hep]

Hello boys and girls,

I'm going to Thailand in July/August for 3 weeks vacation with my wife. We will take 1 week in Phuket and 2 weeks with her family in Khorat.

I have always dreamt about going to Cambodia and seeing Angor Wat. I was thinking about driving from Khorat to Cambodia in our car.

Anyone that have tried that? is there any problems with driving from Thailand and into Cambodia?

Any information you have would be appreciated. I'm especially interested in knowing if you can get a visa for Cambodia (I'm Danish) on the border or I need to get one in advance. Do Thai nationals need a visa for Cambodia?

Thx in advance!

Best regards,
Hep

[Dodger]

January we drove from Phuket via BKK to Sat Keow and then did a visa run across the border into Cambodia. You can get a visa on entry think it was $20, take a passport sized photo with you or they charge extra.

Roads are really bad in Cambo, mainly just mud so pick your time of year as wouldn't want to drive too far in a car in them if in rainy season.

Never done the drive to Angor Wat but kind of think it would be okay and really interesting to explore cambo a bit, but then think thats the explorer boy in me coming out!!

[Hep]

Excellent Dodger.. That doesnt sound too bad. Just gotta get a big ass 4 wheel drive then I guess.

I think we are going to have a go at it.

[Premier]

You can get a Visa at the border, make sure you have passport photos, it will cost you $20 I think. I took a Thai girl to Angkor Wat with me last year, I can't recall but I think she had to get a Visa as well, I may be wrong.
I drove from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap with my brother's driver, it should take about 5 hours but we did it in 3.5, lets just say my nerves were absolutely shot by the end of it.
The road from PP to Siem Reap is not too bad, just the usual potholes to look out for. Unless you have some sort of experience driving in absolute chaos where nobody observes road rules I would not recommend it. Cars also drive on the left hand side of the road in Cambodia, the opposite to Thailand. They also have an unofficial "middle" lane, you'll see what i mean when you get there.
Basically my advice is to fly Siem Reap or otherwise get a bus there, and get the most expensive bus possible, a few bucks extra either way can make a big difference.
Angkor Wat is definitely worth the effort to see, the crowds can be pretty bad, also the beggars, best to get there asap, in 5 years time the place will be ruined by crowds the way things are going.

[LivinLOS]

There are complexities.. I have been trying to find out how to get into and through cambo..

You can take a vehicle in.. But then (so I am told) its limited to the province town that the vehicle crossed the border to.. and for a short duration.. Going further opens you up to police shakedown.. The cambodian embassy wont answer my questions...

See my threads on ThaiVisa in the motoring section.. Info there about cambo Loas (easy) and vietnam (must be LHD)..

[steve@thaib]

The road from Poi Pet on the Thai border to Siam Reap is a shocker, as has been said around 3.5 hours for the trip. It was dry as a nun's nasty when we did it (the other way - Cambodia to Thailand) and I never thought about rain, but thinking about that road and a lot of water now makes me shudder.

It should be possible to leave your own car on the Thai side and arrange a car on the Cambo side for around 30/40 dollars; maybe an option. If you do find yourself in Poi Pet looking for transport, or for any other reason, watch yourself. It's a fairly dodgy town and there are some desperate characters there.

For me, Cambodia is worth the effort, but it is an effort. I posted some pictures from our road trip on another thread, I will see if I can find it. Good luck whatever you decide.

[steve@thaib]

Here is the link for a few Cambodia pics.

[MrDK]

You may also want to check you rental car agreement. You may not be allowed to take the car out of Thailand and even if you are allowed you may need supplemental insurance.

[LivinLOS]

No way a rental car will go international without specific authorisation (often rental cars here say not off the island !!)..

Theres a car passport you get called I think a tabien rot and you get romanized letters for your number plate to travel for some countries, not sure if Cambo needs that, but at very least proof of ownership etc will be needed. Cambodia doesnt use the carnet system sadly.

Vietnam wont let in RHD cars, Cambo are being very tough, Myanmar is a total no no at this time.. Only Laos of the northern neighbours is being easy..

[Mr Lucky]

Tales of Asia is a good Cambodia website that has a frequently updated section on the condition of the Poipet-Siem Reap road. Also lots of info on border crossing issues.

[billpay]

About two years ago drove was feeling adventurous, so entered Cambodia just South of Songkha, Th. Got necessary visas in Paong, Cam., then took a taxi to Siem Reap. The road was a disaster...mostly dirt with a plethora of potholes. Just over 100 k took about four hours. Would not want to take the same route again. Acouple of times I did not think we would make it.

[steve@thaib]

96% of the roads in Cambodia are still un-sealed, you are going to find that everywhere.

[Mr Lucky]

I was at a press conference once with their old tourism minister, a clever guy named Veng (longest-serving tourism minister in ASEAN, incidentally).

One reporter asked him, "When are the roads going to be fixed in Cambodia?"

He said, "Well, it will happen someday for sure. Our old roads will eventually be fixed." The he grinned, "So you should come to Cambodia now, while you still have the chance to experience some nice, bumpy Cambodian roads. They won't be around forever!"

Funny guy....

[jimholio]

Is it safe to be driving alone in Cambodia?

From what ive heard there are still lots of bandits around in some provinces.

[LivinLOS]

I would say its definitely a place you should be aware of your surroundings..

My brother and I bribed a border guard to let us take rental bikes off of Bali and onto Lombok, the Lonely planet we had said "Check with other travellers for status of Bandits" !!! Does focus the mind somewhat..

[nelsonone]

Originally Posted by jimholio

Is it safe to be driving alone in Cambodia?

From what ive heard there are still lots of bandits around in some provinces.

anywhere off the main route.....Siem Reap-PP-Sihanoukville....would definitley be a worry IMHO.....especially up north above SR

If you can get the right sort of boat....which I didn't-crammed in with about 1000 Cambos-....I'd say a trip down the river from SR to PP would be pleasant.....I went on a ferry type boat which had a metal hull and glass encased top/cabin..........hot as hades.....never again!!!

[Hep]

Thanks for all your great answers guys.

Maybe I jumped to conclusions earlier when I wrote that we would have a go at it.

Many valid points for concerns have been raised here so I think that we will do this some other time and then fly into Cambodia and stay for maybe one week instead of just a short trip to Angor Wat.

My most major concern is in regards to the car. When we are in Thailand we normally rent a Toyota Vigo privately. They do have the best insurance on it and they have also checked that it is okay to let a "falang" drive it. However, taking that car into Cambodia might be pushing it a bit.

Maybe it's better to postpone our Cambodia trip to a later time and then just cruise around Isaan instead.

[LivinLOS]

Very rare to be able to take a car out of the country when not in your name.. Also usually rental agreements stipulate you cannot..

[Hep]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Very rare to be able to take a car out of the country when not in your name.. Also usually rental agreements stipulate you cannot..

True it's a very good and valid point, which I overlooked because I was so exited about Cambodia

[Mr Lucky]

You might consider just flying in to Siem Reap for an overnighter. Angkor Wat is pretty impressive....and at the rate of development there, it might not look so nice in a few years.

[nelsonone]

Originally Posted by Mr Lucky

You might consider just flying in to Siem Reap for an overnighter. Angkor Wat is pretty impressive....and at the rate of development there, it might not look so nice in a few years.

Totally agreed and I say this every chance I get............Go to Siem Reap and see Angkor and the other Wats NOW whilst it is still has some resemblance to a "travellers" experience........... it is fast heading toweards being just a tourist/Disneyland destination

[nickels]

Originally Posted by Premier

Angkor Wat is definitely worth the effort to see, the crowds can be pretty bad, also the beggars, best to get there asap, in 5 years time the place will be ruined by crowds the way things are going.

Funny, I had that same thought when I went in 2002....