getting around Cambodia
Jul 8th, 2010, 12:16 AM
#1
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getting around Cambodia
I am looking to travel around Cambodia a bit and posibly end up in Saigon. Has anyone traveled by boat from Sien Riep to Phohm Pehn and from there to Saigon. How long does it take? Was it interesting? Where can I book it from?
I have about 10 days for these destinations so I realise that I can only get to see a minimal part of these places but it suits my onwards flights (to Philipines).
Thanks,
panlou
I have about 10 days for these destinations so I realise that I can only get to see a minimal part of these places but it suits my onwards flights (to Philipines).
Thanks,
panlou
Jul 8th, 2010, 01:03 AM
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These sites provide a lot of in depth info on getting around Cambodia and booking travel:
http://www.travelfish.org/getting-around-cambodia.php
http://talesofasia.com/
I did the Phnom Penh - SR trip quite a few years ago and can't recall how long it took but I do rember being VERY hot and quite bored after the novelty quickly wore off. Most hostels in Cambodia will book travel for you at "no" cost and this will include travel to and from departure points. Hotels will often charge a booking fee (Beware other travel agents on the street who can often not deliver teh promised services.
http://www.travelfish.org/getting-around-cambodia.php
http://talesofasia.com/
I did the Phnom Penh - SR trip quite a few years ago and can't recall how long it took but I do rember being VERY hot and quite bored after the novelty quickly wore off. Most hostels in Cambodia will book travel for you at "no" cost and this will include travel to and from departure points. Hotels will often charge a booking fee (Beware other travel agents on the street who can often not deliver teh promised services.
Jul 8th, 2010, 07:34 AM
#5
I did Saigon to PP with Delta Adventures - definitely budget but I enjoyed the trip. When you cross the border you immediately see the difference between the two countries - Vietnam is much more "industrialized" (fish farms) than Cambodia, which was a picture of rural quiet. Pandaw is expensive and takes a while. talesofasia which crellston linked will have info on how to do it more cheaply.
Jul 8th, 2010, 08:10 AM
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Another good site for travel information is Canby Cambodia Guide ( http://www.canbypublications.com/ )
By boat from Siem Reap there are the luxury ones that will take you all the way to Saigon. There are 3, the Pandaw, the La Marguerite and the Jayavarman. Expect to pay from $2400 and up in low season and higher in the peak season. The regular boat from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh is to be avoided. It is overpriced at $35, uncomfortable and the trip quite boring for a good part of the trip. Far better is the bus (Mekong Express is the best) takes around 5hrs and cost $12 or take a taxi for about $50-60. With a taxi you can stop if you see something of interest.
There are no boats that go from PP to Saigon other than the luxury ones. Three boats, the Victory Hotel at $95, the Blue Cruiser ($35-40) and Hang Chau ($24) run from PP to Chau Doc. From here you can make your way to Saigon by a combination of boat/bus or bus only.
A great boat ride when the water is high is between SR and Battambong. Takes around 5-7 hrs and cost around $25. Take the big boat rather than the smaller ones. There are drinks and snacks but it does stops to pick up passengers which makes it kind of interesting. Battambong is worth a couple of days and from here you can take a bus or taxi to PP.
From PP you can also go north to Kratie or south to the beaches if you have time and depending on the time of year Beaches are no fun in the rainy season.
By boat from Siem Reap there are the luxury ones that will take you all the way to Saigon. There are 3, the Pandaw, the La Marguerite and the Jayavarman. Expect to pay from $2400 and up in low season and higher in the peak season. The regular boat from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh is to be avoided. It is overpriced at $35, uncomfortable and the trip quite boring for a good part of the trip. Far better is the bus (Mekong Express is the best) takes around 5hrs and cost $12 or take a taxi for about $50-60. With a taxi you can stop if you see something of interest.
There are no boats that go from PP to Saigon other than the luxury ones. Three boats, the Victory Hotel at $95, the Blue Cruiser ($35-40) and Hang Chau ($24) run from PP to Chau Doc. From here you can make your way to Saigon by a combination of boat/bus or bus only.
A great boat ride when the water is high is between SR and Battambong. Takes around 5-7 hrs and cost around $25. Take the big boat rather than the smaller ones. There are drinks and snacks but it does stops to pick up passengers which makes it kind of interesting. Battambong is worth a couple of days and from here you can take a bus or taxi to PP.
From PP you can also go north to Kratie or south to the beaches if you have time and depending on the time of year Beaches are no fun in the rainy season.
Jul 11th, 2010, 11:44 PM
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Panlou,
If you are planning on going by boat from PP to Siem Riep, make sure you travel during rainy season. I just moved here and heard about someone who took the boat which is meant to take 4-5 hours and it got stuck in the river due to not enough water. They had to walk and take a bus and only arrived there 10 hours later!
If you are planning on going by boat from PP to Siem Riep, make sure you travel during rainy season. I just moved here and heard about someone who took the boat which is meant to take 4-5 hours and it got stuck in the river due to not enough water. They had to walk and take a bus and only arrived there 10 hours later!
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