Nightrider70
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2011
- Bikes
- DRZ400SM
A friend and I wanted to check out how far the main roads have been completed in north-west Cambodia. We also wanted to see if we could cross into Laos from Cambodia. We entered Cambodia at Poi Pet and exited Laos at Pakse. All you need to ride your bike into Cambodia is your passport, a passport photo and the bike's green book. You have to own the bike or bring an authorization from the owner. VISA on arrival is available.
Download POIs and tracks for GPS (.gpx) or Google Earth (.kmz)
The numbers written in superscript in the text are references to these files. The Google Earth file shows where all the pictures were taken.
View POIs and tracks in GPSvisualizer
All roads and POIs mentioned in this text are updated to OpenStreetMap
20130131 Wednesday
Before we entered Cambodia at Aranaypratet/PoiPet[SUP]01[/SUP] we went to see Sdok Kok Thom[SUP]02[/SUP]. This temple turned out to be a little gem. No other people inside the site and no fees. This temple is in very nice condition. It has been restored to some extent with addition of new building stones in places.
After the temple we entered at Poi Pet. This time we asked for the computer forms at Thai customs but they said they can not issue them!? See the end of my last ride to Cambodia.
Then onto Sisonpon were we stayed at Bo Toum Hotel[SUP]03[/SUP]. $15 for an A/C room with TV, hot shower and fridge.
This guesthouse is next door to a place[SUP]04[/SUP] selling Anchor beer towers for $5.
The restaurant in the guesthouse was under construction, actualy only a hole in the ground, so we got some food pretty much next door at Phkay Restaurant[SUP]05[/SUP]. The food was not very good.
20130201 Thursday
Then north on 56 up to Banteay Chmar temples[SUP]06[/SUP], bad bumpy and dusty road all the way.
At Banteay Chmar temples they charged us $5 to enter, Cambodians enter for free. We also noted that there are few if any options to stay here over night.
Drove on to Samrong, the road was bad and dusty the whole way. We spent the night at Choeun Prakkap Hotel[SUP]07[/SUP] in Samrong. The place seemed new. $15 for an A/C room with TV, Wifi, hot shower and a small restaurant seemed good. The wifi was broken, the restaurant had no English menu and noisy construction work started behind the building at 07:30 next morning. If you come here, you may want to look at Oddamratha Guest House[SUP]08[/SUP] instead.
20130202 Friday
Checked out 68 going south and it was good asphalt. We turned around and went north on 68 up to Osmach and the border crossing[SUP]09[/SUP] there. The road was all paved. Very different from last time I was here and it was a dirt track. We also noted three guest houses in Osmach.
Then to Along Veng and PolPot's cremation site[SUP]10[/SUP] at the Choam border crossing next, the road was new asphalt all the way. They are constructing a big hotel, maybe with a casino. Will this become an international crossing? There was a guard at PolPot's cremation site that wanted $2 for us to have a look. Hard to say if the view of a pile of ash was worth the $2. It pleased me that this site is in bad shape because it indicates that Pol Pot does not have many supporters anymore. Looks like not more than $50 was spent on this memorial.
Interesting cliff[SUP]11[/SUP] on the way up to the border.
Then on to Sra Aem village and Prasat Preah Vihear[SUP]12[/SUP] which sits on a cliff on the edge of the Khorat plateu. At the bottom of the cliff they asked us for tickets.
We had to double back to a school[SUP]13[/SUP] to get tickets that were free, strange. Then up the hill, a 500 meters climb. They have improved the first half of the road up the hill by taking out the turns a bit so it is less step. It is all paved except for the last 500 meters.
Nice view from here.
Then down again, slow in first gear. Stopped at the "ancient stairs"[SUP]14[/SUP] leading up to the top.
New stairs have been built next to the old ones.
We spent the night in Sra Aem in Reaksmey Sokun guest house[SUP]15[/SUP]. This guest house is just built. They charged $16 for an A/C room, with TV, fridge and wifi. The power went on and off, the drain in my shower was clogged, the wifi did not work, the restaurant was not finished. On the upside you could park inside the lobby over night. If you come here in the near future before they are up to speed you may want to check out the two places next door.
Last time I was in Sra Aem it was all dirt roads and no guest houses or nothing, just a three way crossing and some shacks. Today they have pavement, guest houses, places to eat and gas stations. This is welcome in my book because it makes seeing Preah Vihear very simple.
20130203 Saturday
Then to Tbeang Meanchay/Preah Vihear City on 62, all good asphalt. Drove past where the road to Stung Treng starts[SUP]16[/SUP] to have a look at 62 towards Kampong Thom, it was good asphalt. Drove back to where the road to Stung Treng starts[SUP]16[/SUP]. It could be a good idea to fill your tank here at a Tela station because this was the last proper gas station until Stung Treng. We did not and had fill up from a barrel. The road to Stung Treng was under construction but the dirt was mostly smooth and soon to be paved with some bridges being built that you bypass around.
In Stung Treng they are building a bridge over Mekong[SUP]17[/SUP] but it will not be done for another two years the workers told us.
We took this mini ferry[SUP]18[/SUP] to get over a small river to get to the ferry across Mekong.
Ferry over Mekong[SUP]19[/SUP].
This is the bridge over Mekong in progress seen from the ferry.
This is the bridge going north from Stung Treng crossing a river feeding Mekong, also seen from the ferry.
Checked in at Sun Tha Restaurant and Guest House[SUP]20[/SUP]. $13 for an A/C room with TV, hot shower and Wifi. First impression of Stung Treng is was not very good, the place seemed filthy with garbage laying around on the streets. When the road from Preah Vihear city is paved and the bridge is open I don't see any reason to stop here unless the town is cleaned up by then.
20130204 Sunday
Had a look at the construction of the new bridge from the east side.
Drove north to the border to Laos[SUP]21[/SUP] on 7, road all paved. Pooked around on the Cambodian side for a deal on a boat to see the Mekong dolphins. They wanted $20 on the Cambodian side[SUP]22[/SUP]. We passed it up as I have seen them before. This border crossing have new buildings in progress. Some old shacks looking like caravans were in use at this time however.
Crossed the border. It was very easy. Stamped out from Cambodia. Got VISA for Laos, stamped in, done deal. VISA was $31 for Swedes and $30 for Germans. Strange enough they did not care to even see the books for our bikes. I think this was the most hassle free entrance to Laos with bike I ever done. Checked for a boat to the dolphins on Laos side[SUP]23[/SUP], price was now down to $12. Passed it up and drove to Khong Phapheng Waterfall[SUP]24[/SUP] which is not far north from the border. This waterfall is better described as big rapids.
Stopped for food at Delta Cafe[SUP]25[/SUP], good food at reasonable prices. They got WiFi too. After asking around we checked in at Dao Vieng Hotel 2[SUP]26[/SUP], pretty well maintained place. 100.000 kips, about $12 for an A/C room with TV, fridge, hot shower, elevator and wifi in the lobby which have seating and beverages. No restaurant but Delta Cafe is just up the road. Parking was not very good on the sidewalk but right in front of the reception.
20130205 Monday
Did a loop to visit some waterfalls. The area east of Pakse has many beautiful waterfalls that puts most of Thailand's in the backseat. My pictures here don't do them any justice. See at least Tad Fane and Tad Yuang if you come here. They shaft you with entrance and sometimes parking fees but they are not very high. The most expensive we visited, Tad Yuang, was 13.000 kips which is less than $2. Sure beats the 400 bath sometimes asked from "guavas" in Thailand.
E-Tu Waterfall[SUP]27[/SUP].
Tad Fane Waterfall[SUP]28[/SUP].
Tad Yuang Waterfall[SUP]29[/SUP].
On the way to Katamtok waterfall the pavement ended[SUP]30[/SUP] and construction begun. Dusty to say the least.
Katamtok Waterfall[SUP]31[/SUP].
After Katamtok the dirt went on until we came out on 16[SUP]32[/SUP], then it was paved all the way back to Pakse.
20130207 Tuesday
Did another loop to visit two more waterfalls.
Champee Waterfall[SUP]33[/SUP].
Tad Lo Waterfall[SUP]34+35[/SUP].
I should mention that the waterfalls shown here are not all the waterfalls in this area.
On the road back to Pakse I came across this. I wonder what happened here.
Read this news article in Vientiene Times. The word 'corruption' is not used for some reason.
20130207 Wednesday
Crossed the border[SUP]36[/SUP] back into Thailand. The crossing was very fast, they did not say anything about the temporary export form from Aranayapret. Drove the long boring way back to Pattaya. From Pakse 750 kilometers.
Download POIs and tracks for GPS (.gpx) or Google Earth (.kmz)
The numbers written in superscript in the text are references to these files. The Google Earth file shows where all the pictures were taken.
View POIs and tracks in GPSvisualizer
All roads and POIs mentioned in this text are updated to OpenStreetMap
20130131 Wednesday
Before we entered Cambodia at Aranaypratet/PoiPet[SUP]01[/SUP] we went to see Sdok Kok Thom[SUP]02[/SUP]. This temple turned out to be a little gem. No other people inside the site and no fees. This temple is in very nice condition. It has been restored to some extent with addition of new building stones in places.
After the temple we entered at Poi Pet. This time we asked for the computer forms at Thai customs but they said they can not issue them!? See the end of my last ride to Cambodia.
Then onto Sisonpon were we stayed at Bo Toum Hotel[SUP]03[/SUP]. $15 for an A/C room with TV, hot shower and fridge.
This guesthouse is next door to a place[SUP]04[/SUP] selling Anchor beer towers for $5.
The restaurant in the guesthouse was under construction, actualy only a hole in the ground, so we got some food pretty much next door at Phkay Restaurant[SUP]05[/SUP]. The food was not very good.
20130201 Thursday
Then north on 56 up to Banteay Chmar temples[SUP]06[/SUP], bad bumpy and dusty road all the way.
At Banteay Chmar temples they charged us $5 to enter, Cambodians enter for free. We also noted that there are few if any options to stay here over night.
Drove on to Samrong, the road was bad and dusty the whole way. We spent the night at Choeun Prakkap Hotel[SUP]07[/SUP] in Samrong. The place seemed new. $15 for an A/C room with TV, Wifi, hot shower and a small restaurant seemed good. The wifi was broken, the restaurant had no English menu and noisy construction work started behind the building at 07:30 next morning. If you come here, you may want to look at Oddamratha Guest House[SUP]08[/SUP] instead.
20130202 Friday
Checked out 68 going south and it was good asphalt. We turned around and went north on 68 up to Osmach and the border crossing[SUP]09[/SUP] there. The road was all paved. Very different from last time I was here and it was a dirt track. We also noted three guest houses in Osmach.
Then to Along Veng and PolPot's cremation site[SUP]10[/SUP] at the Choam border crossing next, the road was new asphalt all the way. They are constructing a big hotel, maybe with a casino. Will this become an international crossing? There was a guard at PolPot's cremation site that wanted $2 for us to have a look. Hard to say if the view of a pile of ash was worth the $2. It pleased me that this site is in bad shape because it indicates that Pol Pot does not have many supporters anymore. Looks like not more than $50 was spent on this memorial.
Interesting cliff[SUP]11[/SUP] on the way up to the border.
Then on to Sra Aem village and Prasat Preah Vihear[SUP]12[/SUP] which sits on a cliff on the edge of the Khorat plateu. At the bottom of the cliff they asked us for tickets.
We had to double back to a school[SUP]13[/SUP] to get tickets that were free, strange. Then up the hill, a 500 meters climb. They have improved the first half of the road up the hill by taking out the turns a bit so it is less step. It is all paved except for the last 500 meters.
Nice view from here.
Then down again, slow in first gear. Stopped at the "ancient stairs"[SUP]14[/SUP] leading up to the top.
New stairs have been built next to the old ones.
We spent the night in Sra Aem in Reaksmey Sokun guest house[SUP]15[/SUP]. This guest house is just built. They charged $16 for an A/C room, with TV, fridge and wifi. The power went on and off, the drain in my shower was clogged, the wifi did not work, the restaurant was not finished. On the upside you could park inside the lobby over night. If you come here in the near future before they are up to speed you may want to check out the two places next door.
Last time I was in Sra Aem it was all dirt roads and no guest houses or nothing, just a three way crossing and some shacks. Today they have pavement, guest houses, places to eat and gas stations. This is welcome in my book because it makes seeing Preah Vihear very simple.
20130203 Saturday
Then to Tbeang Meanchay/Preah Vihear City on 62, all good asphalt. Drove past where the road to Stung Treng starts[SUP]16[/SUP] to have a look at 62 towards Kampong Thom, it was good asphalt. Drove back to where the road to Stung Treng starts[SUP]16[/SUP]. It could be a good idea to fill your tank here at a Tela station because this was the last proper gas station until Stung Treng. We did not and had fill up from a barrel. The road to Stung Treng was under construction but the dirt was mostly smooth and soon to be paved with some bridges being built that you bypass around.
In Stung Treng they are building a bridge over Mekong[SUP]17[/SUP] but it will not be done for another two years the workers told us.
We took this mini ferry[SUP]18[/SUP] to get over a small river to get to the ferry across Mekong.
Ferry over Mekong[SUP]19[/SUP].
This is the bridge over Mekong in progress seen from the ferry.
This is the bridge going north from Stung Treng crossing a river feeding Mekong, also seen from the ferry.
Checked in at Sun Tha Restaurant and Guest House[SUP]20[/SUP]. $13 for an A/C room with TV, hot shower and Wifi. First impression of Stung Treng is was not very good, the place seemed filthy with garbage laying around on the streets. When the road from Preah Vihear city is paved and the bridge is open I don't see any reason to stop here unless the town is cleaned up by then.
20130204 Sunday
Had a look at the construction of the new bridge from the east side.
Drove north to the border to Laos[SUP]21[/SUP] on 7, road all paved. Pooked around on the Cambodian side for a deal on a boat to see the Mekong dolphins. They wanted $20 on the Cambodian side[SUP]22[/SUP]. We passed it up as I have seen them before. This border crossing have new buildings in progress. Some old shacks looking like caravans were in use at this time however.
Crossed the border. It was very easy. Stamped out from Cambodia. Got VISA for Laos, stamped in, done deal. VISA was $31 for Swedes and $30 for Germans. Strange enough they did not care to even see the books for our bikes. I think this was the most hassle free entrance to Laos with bike I ever done. Checked for a boat to the dolphins on Laos side[SUP]23[/SUP], price was now down to $12. Passed it up and drove to Khong Phapheng Waterfall[SUP]24[/SUP] which is not far north from the border. This waterfall is better described as big rapids.
Stopped for food at Delta Cafe[SUP]25[/SUP], good food at reasonable prices. They got WiFi too. After asking around we checked in at Dao Vieng Hotel 2[SUP]26[/SUP], pretty well maintained place. 100.000 kips, about $12 for an A/C room with TV, fridge, hot shower, elevator and wifi in the lobby which have seating and beverages. No restaurant but Delta Cafe is just up the road. Parking was not very good on the sidewalk but right in front of the reception.
20130205 Monday
Did a loop to visit some waterfalls. The area east of Pakse has many beautiful waterfalls that puts most of Thailand's in the backseat. My pictures here don't do them any justice. See at least Tad Fane and Tad Yuang if you come here. They shaft you with entrance and sometimes parking fees but they are not very high. The most expensive we visited, Tad Yuang, was 13.000 kips which is less than $2. Sure beats the 400 bath sometimes asked from "guavas" in Thailand.
E-Tu Waterfall[SUP]27[/SUP].
Tad Fane Waterfall[SUP]28[/SUP].
Tad Yuang Waterfall[SUP]29[/SUP].
On the way to Katamtok waterfall the pavement ended[SUP]30[/SUP] and construction begun. Dusty to say the least.
Katamtok Waterfall[SUP]31[/SUP].
After Katamtok the dirt went on until we came out on 16[SUP]32[/SUP], then it was paved all the way back to Pakse.
20130207 Tuesday
Did another loop to visit two more waterfalls.
Champee Waterfall[SUP]33[/SUP].
Tad Lo Waterfall[SUP]34+35[/SUP].
I should mention that the waterfalls shown here are not all the waterfalls in this area.
On the road back to Pakse I came across this. I wonder what happened here.
Read this news article in Vientiene Times. The word 'corruption' is not used for some reason.
20130207 Wednesday
Crossed the border[SUP]36[/SUP] back into Thailand. The crossing was very fast, they did not say anything about the temporary export form from Aranayapret. Drove the long boring way back to Pattaya. From Pakse 750 kilometers.
