Hello,

My family of 5 will be in Siem Reap in early January. I contacted Ponheary to see if she or her brother Dara were available to be our guide. Ponheary responded that Dara was available and would charge $70 per day for him and a driver (van with AC). Is this amount reasonable? I've seen previous posts of Ponheary and Dara charging $55 per day but maybe the gas prices have gone up? Thanks in advance for your help!

Perhaps it's because you have a family of 5 and are using a van (instead of a standard car.)

It was $50 or 55 for us (can't remember exactly) last year--but that was just 2 of us in a Camry.

It seems logical that they are asking for more due to the sheer number of people and the larger vehicle.

We paid $60.00/day in August for van/driver and Ponheary/Dara. It may be that prices have gone up for high season/gasoline prices/just gone up...it is not unreasonable I don't think it is considering they are at your disposable for the whole day and will even take you to dinner and back if you want.

unfortunately prices don't stay the same forever.....for 5 people $70 US a day is a steal

Aloha!

We paid $55 a day (total) for Ponheary, an ac van, and driver in January 2007, $10 more for Banteay Srey temple. There were 5 in our group, 4 family, one friend.
Perhaps the increase is due to higher gasoline costs; the price is still a bargain. Dara is very nice.

How would one get in touch with Ponheary? We are going to be in Siem Reap in July 2008 and are thinking that rather than a packaged itinerary I had seen, we would go with recommendations here to do it ourselves. Sounds like Ponheary and Dara come highly recommended. How would I go about contacting?
Thanks

We paid $55 for 5 last Christmas for the four of us. Ponheary found us a differnet guide- Sam- and we were very happy.

I'd guess prices have risen. Still a terrific deal, as you'll find out in January!

We were just there, Oct 28-31st. We paid $145 for two and half days. (two days w/ Ponheary, a half day with Dara). That included a trip to Tonle Sap and the school, which is farther afield. I'm still writing my trip report, but you can check it out under my name.

Just FYI - they tend to break up their guiding into morning and afternoon sessions. We loved this, as it gave us time to relax and go to the pool (and take a shower...if I lived in Cambodia, I would take 3 showers a day!)

oh - and Ponheary's email is [email protected].

I've reserved Dara for Dec. for two days, just me, and it's $135.

Zinders - thanks for the info on Ponheary and for your posting about your time in Siem Reap. They say that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" and if that's true then you should feel very flattered. I think we will be imitating your trip very closely (at least the Bangkok and Siem Reap parts). You did exactly what we wanted to do. I also REALLY appreciated your mention of the Tiger Temple in Kanchanburi - I don't know that I would have found out about that otherwise and we definitely want to go there.

As educators, I was very interested to read about your visit to the school with Ponheary. We may have to do that. One of my most enjoyable days in the Amazon of Brazil was visiting a school in a tiny village and talking with the teacher and the kids.

I know you are off to a wedding now, but I look forward to the rest of your postings. If you have the time and felt comfortable, I would love to talk with you more directly. My e-mail is [email protected].

Dara charged $150 for 2 days for 2 people plus we gave him a tip of $20USD and the driver $10USD. That included pickup/delivery to the airport. He took us to a night special that lasted until 20:30.

I just got a reply from Ponheary for November of 2008 for 4 days. She is charging $60 a day for her and a car/ driver. I have one half day and it's also $60. There will be extra charges to go to some of the more distant temples. Beng Mealea and Koh Ker is $150 extra. Youch! Must be really far away. Some of the other guides are charging $50 a day (John Teng). I'm thinking I may use a different guide.

Yes these sites are quite a distance from SR. Koh Ker is aout a 3hr trip to get there and Beng Mealea 11/2, both on the same route. I think that you would be hard pressed to see both in a day and spend some time at each. Beng Mealea would be my choice after reading about each.

$150 seems high for a days trip. I don't know what John would charge for this.

It was high season - Christmas/New Yr. Maybe that is why so high. (?) I didn't know. I should have maybe negotiated more. I guess I felt fortunate one of them was available since I didn't have any other guide's names.
So please report back on other guides used, what they charge and satisfaction rating.

I'm getting my travel report ready and will post it.

Going to Koh Ker is $150 for the following reasons:
1. Licensed tourguides prices are regulated by the governement. The day rate doubles when leaving Siem Reap Province.
2. There are tolls
3. Gas
4. Dara and Ponheary prefer to take the van (more expensive than the car) because if there is a breakdown, the van can be repaired by her driver very quickly. You really are out in the middle of no where going out there.

I don't think it's $150 plus the $60 day rate, I think it's $150 flat, so $90 more to Koh Ker and Bang Melea.

I've been to both places and both satisfy the need to get away from the ever-maddening hordes in Siem Reap. Seemed a small price to pay to me for the priviledge of being alone in some really great temples.

Entrance to Koh Ker is $10.00 per person, and to Beng Mealea is $5.00 per person - if you are two people, that accounts for $30.00 extra. There are toll along the way. Gasoline expense. I don't see how another guide's charge would be dramatically different. Seeing both in one day will be a very long day.

Another way to vist these sites is to hire a car/driver only and then get local guides to take you around. Last year friends went to Beng Mealea and then Banteay Srie on the way back and it cost them $45 for the car and $20 for guides plus the entrance fees. To go to Kok Ker, which is much further, would of course cost more maybe
$60+. Of course gas has gone up this year so the car may cost a bit more.

What tolls are you talking about or do you mean entrance fees of $5 and 10.

I thought there was a $5 fee to use the road...could be wrong, though.

http://www.canbypublications.com/maps/SR-KohKerMap.htm also says that part of the road to Koh Ker is a toll road, which is what Ponheary told us as well.