8 best modes of transport in Cambodia!

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Cambodia, in my view, is an elegantly chaotic country. The chaotic part is a symbol of traffic. Traffic consists mainly of SUVs, tractors, cyclists, motorbikes, buses, trucks and of course tuktuks. All these vehicles can therefore be found on the motorways that connect the large cities. The motorways in Cambodia are comparable to provincial roads in the Netherlands, most of them are well paved. In the evening and at night, road safety is worse off by ghost drivers and drivers who are under the influence of drugs. The provincial road in Cambodia consists mainly of many holes and cracks, so watch where and how fast you drive!

1. Hire scooter

It is of course the best thing to discover cities on your own. This way you often end up with hidden spots that you don't see with an organized trip. There are scooters for rent in every major city in Cambodia. The price for this is around $4,- and $10 per 24 hours, gasoline costs about $1 (4000 Riel) per 1 litre. Please note that you have to leave your passport as a deposit. It is mandatory to have a driver's license when riding your scooter, corrupt cops use tourists who are not aware of this. One plus is that you can negotiate the amount of the fine with an agent.

Tips:

  • Do this only if you have actually ridden scooter before. Traffic is not the same as in the Netherlands;
  • Take pictures of the scooter before you leave so that there can be no old damage on you afterwards;
  • Check the tyres, lamps, oil and brakes of the scooter;
  • Always wear a helmet! It's mandatory, but it's also for your own safety!
  • Honk on it nicely with your scooter when overtaking a car or passing a intersection, so you're sure road users have you in your sights.

2. Tuktuk

The Cambodian tuktuk is a different danger than sisi's well-known promotion tuktuk. They are scooters with a trailer that accommodate about 5 people. Short stretches of about 10 minutes cost around $2 dollars. Long stretches of suit it bit 40 minutes costing $5 dollars. The logic here is also a long way to go. It does require good negotiating skills, by the way. Most tuktuk drivers are open to negotiation and always give up. Remember that a tuktuk driver usually starts when asking the original price times 2. It is therefore wisdom to start negotiations with less than half the proposed price. Tuktuk drivers drive safely. Take a pass app or taxi at night. It has sometimes happened that tuktuk drivers call 'boyfriends' who are ready at your destination to rob you.

Tips:

  • The most reliable tuktuk driver in Cambodia is Sock (phone number: +885 11 779833), he drives 7 days a week from 06:00 to 22:00. He sometimes makes exceptions with time when you book;
  • Always hold your bags and personal belongings in the tuktuk! Picking runners-by-speed scooter riders, unceremoniously, all your stuff from the tuktuk;
  • Always follow your route on your smartphone, so that the driver doesn't unnecessarily turn around or take you to a place where you shouldn't be (hold your phone well and not unnecessarily in sight of passers-by on the road).

3. Passapp

This app is an invention first class. With this app can be chosen from a: SISI tuktuk, Cambodian tuktuk, passenger car or Suv. You enter the pick-up place and destination and voilà. Usually it takes 1 a 2 minutes to find an available Passapp. Following this you will receive a time to see how long it takes for the Passapp to arrive (usually between the 1 and 4 minutes). SISI tuktuk's are cheaper with short rides because price passapp is determined in advance. Passapp's are for my feelings evenings/at night safer because they are connected to an app and therefore easy can be found.

Tips:

  • Also here: Always hold your bags and personal belongings in the tuktuk! Picking runners-by-speed scooter riders, unceremoniously, all your stuff from the tuktuk!!
  • And also: always follow your route on your smartphone, so that the driver doesn't unnecessarily turn around or take you to a place where you shouldn't be.

4. On the back of the scooter

Since this year, another emerging app has been introduced in Cambodia from Vietnam, namely: Grab. This app generally works the same as the Passapp, but here's an extra choice: on the back of a local Cambodian on the scooter. You get a Grab helmet and there you go. The advantage is that you can move yourself quickly. The downside is that you don't think you're going to survive. Local scooter riders don't look so closely here. Although the Grab drivers are slightly more accommodating than 'random' scooter rider. It is also possible to contact a local Cambodian with a scooter on the street. 8 out of 10 times they will take you to your destination, this is an extra additional side-to-do for them. With this last option, I think safety is not at 1. Always agree a price in advance with this option. Do you choose this option, success with this adventure.

5. The train

Since April 2017, it is again possible to train to travel through Cambodia. The tracks between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, originally built by the French, they have been restored. This route is 254 km long and stops in Takeo, Touk Meas, Kampot and Sihanoukville. Currently they are working on the restoration of the railway to the north. A single ticket to Kampot costs $6,- and to Sihanoukville $7,-. The journey to Sihanoukville lasts 7 hours. This is about 2 hours longer than the bus (hangs By the way, away from traffic) though, the landscapes you use by train traverses its breathtaking. It's an experience in itself.

Tips:

6. The bus

Long distances travel in Cambodia are the cheapest by bus. From Phnom Penh to Siem Reap or Sihanoukville you pay about $11. Sihanoukville bus (south) to Siem Reap (the north) costs $22 dollars. Of course, you pay extra when you choose a more luxurious bus company. It is also possible to book a night bus with 'beds', please note that these beds are about 1 meter wide for 2 Persons. So if you book alone, you sleep very snugly past a stranger.

Tips:

  • on www.camboticket.com you can easily book tickets. Here you can also see how many stars a bus company has;
  • The bus makes at least 1 stop on the way, bring all your personal items when you leave the bus. The bus will not be closed 9 times out of 10.

7. The boat

Right through Cambodia runs the Mekong River. There are many boat companies in the Riverside neighborhood, Phnom Penh. Here you can book tickets to Siem Reap, Kratie and Vietnam. Please note that it is expensive and that the trip is long. In Sihanoukville, ferries go to the beautiful bounty islands: Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem.

Tips:

  • At www.buvasea.com you can book tickets to these destinations. When you arrive at the port in Sihanoukville you first have to confirm the tickets at the Buvasea office, here you get your actual entrance passes for the boat.

8. The plane

The fastest way to transport yourself in Phnom Penh is on the plane. Flights will be operated between and from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. For this luxury way you pay of course also more, think of prices between $40 and $100,-. These prices vary by trajectory and day.

Last but not least, always bring a copy of your identity, care pass, emergency number and some Dollars. You're in another continent, and you never know what's happening to you. Good luck and be safe!