family visit to Siem Reap

[nanglong218]

My family from Australia are visiting Angkor week one December.  Which is the best way to get there. Previously I've gone Aranya Pratet/Poipet, but there is another crossing south of Surin.  Which would you advise and can I get a bus from there.

[iammike]

No need to go to the Aran / Poi Pet border, the Kap Choeng / Chong Chom (South of Surin) border is an easy border to cross and definitely not as much hassle as the Aran/Poi Pet border. However corruption is also rampant at this border.

You have to pay 1500 THB (or 30 ?? USD) to get the Cambodian Visa on Arrival which is then good for 30 days.

No idea about a Bus as we always went with a pre-booked taxi direct from Chong Chom to Siem Reap (less then 2 hours drive)

[nanglong218]

thanks, 1000baht for TM8, 1500 for visa on arrival, they have their hand in your wallet all the time.  I will do as you suggest.

[Starman]

If you used the Poipet crossing you could apply for an Evisa. They are 36 dollars. They are not accepted at the ChongChom/Osamach border. Below is a list of entry points where the Evisa is accepted.

Phnom Penh International Airport.
Siem Reap International Airpor.
Cham Yeam (Koh Kong Province) (from Thailand).
Poi Pet (Banteay Meanchey Province) (from Thailand).
Bavet (Svay Rieng Province) (from Vietnam).

[nanglong218]

I want this trip to go more smoothly than the last one. The mrs and I bought the full package, a room, breakfast, visas and escorted across to Poipet bus station.  There, with two UK girl backpackers, we discovered the next bus to SR would leave in maybe 8 hours. So we clubbed together and got a taxi.  I want to get there in a day, no overnight stops. Is there a shared taxi service anyone knows about?  I'm used to this, I backpacked around here, can take everything in my stride.  Does this evisa allow re-entry because I'm going to leave the mrs in charge of the farm and go walkabout on the promise of best behaviour.  Tricky I know but I'm 67 now, no rutting stag.  I loved Vietnam, especially Hanoi, and I missed out on Dalat last time. Lived in the boonies far too long.

[iammike]

Personally I think you are crazy (time wise) if you go to Siem Reap via Aran/Poi Pet border if you are living in Buriram, except maybe if you are living in Non Din Daeng

Edit: I just checked and it's +/- 133 KM from Nang Rong to Aran and +/- 110KM from Nang Rong to O'smach / Chong Chom, so it's only a saving of approx 20km

The last time I crossed at the Chong Chom Border it took me only 15 minutes to Exit Thailand and Enter Cambodia and most of that time was because of filling in the Cambodia VOA forms.

@nanglong2018 May I ask what kind of visa you are on ? Because there was a time (maybe Starman can elaborate) that at the Aran / Poi Pet border you couldn't enter Thailand when on a Thai Non-O ME Visa.

No Idea about Shared Taxis, but maybe you are lucky you will find someone who also wants to go to SR. BUT I think you will have more luck finding a shared Taxi at Aran/Poi Pet because that Border is WAY bigger.

[nanglong218]

I am on an extention of one year because my wife is Thai.  I need a TM8 to re-enter which I will get from Buriram Imm Office.  I'll get a bus if I can but failing that a taxi. I've done Angkor twice so I will find a comfy bar and good company while the family do the tourist bit.   Hopefully the roads have improved since 2004 so a bus trip to PP after 2 days in SR won't be the same adventure.
It's the re-entry business I'm looking at, I just need to go walkabout for a while, perhaps back through Laos

[CO-CO]

I detest Poipet but as Starman points out, there is one benefit in being able to pre-purchase an e-visa.

I would certainly do that if crossing at that border.

Iammike?s Google directions also suggest it is about 1 hour quicker from Nang Rong to Chong Chom.

At Chong Chom just give them $35 per Farang and if they try to get 1,500 Baht just tell them you don?t have Baht.


If going via Poipet consider a night in Battambang and take a run on the Bamboo railway ...before Health & Safety close it down.