PATTAYA TO TRAT BUS
Bus from Bangkok will pick-up in Pattaya at 6am and 11am at any bus stand in the south bound lane on the Sukhumvit Hwy. The Thai border closes at 5pm so you must get the first bus to make it unless you are spending the night along the way. Photo shown is the 11am bus. The Pattaya bus stand on Sukhumvit Highway across from Pattaya Klang Road is shown at the right in the photo. This bus stops at all major cities along the eastern seaboard. NOTE: this bus stand is now under construction. Just stand.
BUS INTERIOR
Bus is clean and air conditioned. When you get on it might be standing room only. Hopefully the bus is full of students that are going to the Thai-Australian Tech College which is 15 minutes down the road. If it is a holiday or special event you might have to stand a while. Fare is 120 Baht from Pattaya, 147 Baht from Bangkok. 6am bus you got in Pattaya should arrive in Trat at 10:30 am.
MINIBUS TO HAT LEK
As soon as you get off in Trat someone will show you the way to this minibus which is only a few steps from the bus. One way fare is 100 Baht to the border. Ride takes about 1 hour or so. Be forewarned that the Trat to Pattaya bus leaves only at 5:00, 9:30, 12:00 & 15:00. Trat to Bangkok bus at 6:30, 8:30, 10:30, 13:30, 16:00, 17:30 & 23:30.
HAT LEK TAXI STAND
You get off here. Minibus back to Trat leaves on time every 45 min. Thai border closes at 5pm so relax, you have time. Notice that a major resort is being built around you called the "Koh Kong International Resort Club". Look it over as it is beautiful. You may enter the Casino to play or just have a look. Their cheapest room is 900 Baht if you wish to stay the night.
THAI IMMIGRATION BORDER POST
A few steps from the taxi stand is the Thai Immigration post. Get stamped out of Thailand and then walk a few more steps to the Cambodian side. As always I was treated very well with few problems and they are quick and efficient. You will be given a free 30 day visa on your return. NOTE: ask them nicely NOT to place their small 30 day entry stamp on an empty passport page. You will need them for Visa's.
CAMBODIAN IMMIGRATION POST
Get your Cambodian visa at the border for 1000 Baht or $20 usd. Bring one photo and fill out the forms BUT there have been many complaints of Cambodian Officials extorting money from tourists. The new scam is the "Sticker Visa Scam". They want 1100 baht for it. PLEASE make a written formal complaint at the Ministry of Tourism in PP if they refuse the $20 usd. Try your best to stop this.
NEW ROAD TO KOH KONG
There is a lot of development going on in this area and this new road is part of it. About 2 minutes down this road and your passport will be checked again. Then another 8 minutes to the river crossing. Motorbike taxi fee is 40 to 50 Baht and 30 to 50 Baht per person for a car. Bargain hard.
NEW BRIDGE
The bridge to cross the river and the road to Phnom Penh are now open. Taxi's found in the morning at the market will go to Phnom Penh and charge 400 baht per person but better to pay double and get the whole seat. Depending on weather it will take 6 to 12 hours. 3 ferry crossings are required. Some taxi's will go to Sihanoukville.
LARGE SPEEDBOATS
Speed boat to Sihanoukville leaves at 8am. From Sihanoukville to Koh Kong at 12:30pm. To Sre Amble at 7:15am and back at 11am. Either trip takes 3-1/2 to 4 hours. One way fare is ~600 Baht (500 for locals). From there an air-con bus or shared taxi that will take you to Phnom Penh. Don't be in a rush to leave Koh Kong. It is a great place and worth a few days stay here.
WARNING !!!
Tickets now come in two colors, one for locals and one for tourists. If you get a local to buy one for you make sure it is a tourist ticket with the higher fare written on it. Some reports from tourists warned of having their tickets ripped up and being forced to buy the right one. Cambodia needs to do something about the way tourists are being treated !
On the Sihanoukville to Koh Kong speedboat you will make a stop at Bah Klong Island. Locals will get off and on and you might have your passport checked. DO NOT listen to the touts that want to give you a short cut ride to the Thai border. You will be placed on small boats with old equipment on open ocean. It is not safe ! Stay on the speed boat and get off in Koh Kong. The boat to get to the Thai border will cross a river, not open ocean.
SPEEDBOAT TO SRE AMBEL
Cheaper and faster if you are going to or coming from Phnom Penh but I do not recommend it. They will stuff 40 people in this small boat and you will hit every wave. Departure times: Sre Ambel to Koh Kong at 11:00 am and Koh Kong to Sre Ambel at 7:15am. Fare is 450 Baht. 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Shared taxi for road portion is ~100 Baht.
TICKET BOOTH IN SRE AMBEL
On the way back you can buy your speedboat tickets here cheaper than in Koh Kong. Taxi's near here will take you to Phnom Penh for ~2.50 usd or get the whole front seat for ~$5.
TAXI STAND IN PP
You will be dropped off here in Phnom Penh at the Central Market or you can get your taxi here to get back to Sre Ambel. Trip is about 2 1/2 hours from Sre Ambel to PP.
THE BUS FROM HELL
For those who have been on it will never take it again. The service run by the Capital Guest House is for Hard Core Masochists. You have been warned. Read this story: Click Here.
BETTER BUS SERVICE
The Van pictured is from a Vietnamese company that sells tickets for $16 usd and they are 2 to 3 hours faster than the "Bus From Hell" ! Although the ride was rough at times it was completely survivable. They travel only 3 times a week. PP to HCMC Tues, Thurs & Sat, HCMC to PP Tues, Thurs & Sat at ~ 6am.
For their biz card Click Here
CAMBODIAN BORDER
You stamp out of Cambodia here. There has been many reports of corrupt officials extorting money from tourists. There is no charge for the quarantine forms and you only need the health book if you have traveled through some African and other questionable countries. It's a 5 minute walk to the Vietnam side.
ENTER VIETNAM
You will stamp in to Vietnam here and there is a small fee for the quarantine form. Expect about 1 to 2 hours to get through all the paperwork to cross these borders (Mostly just waiting). Good news, the roads are better from now on and HCMC (Saigon) is less than 2 hours away.
NORTH TO NHA TRANG
For $8 usd you can get a day or overnight air-con bus (9 hours). The bus from Sinh Cafe Tour is considered the best but it would of been a better trip if they would repair the seats ! Mine would not go back, notice the space between my seat and the one in front. They will also drive very slow on the return trip just so they can sell you breakfast at 6am (Oh those backpacker scams). Aircraft, train & state bus are also available to get here from HCMC.
To be honest it was a good trip. Smooth sailing to Koh Kong but rougher from PP to HCMC. All along the way I saw many great things. Do not travel during holidays or you will have a problem getting a seat in the buses (from Pattaya). Also had problems with Cambodian officials extorting money from me. I know how to bargain so the boat and taxi drivers didn't bother me but I did see a family having problems being overcharged. The road is very bad from PP to HCMC but from HCMC to Nha Trang the road is good, also Nha Trang is worth a visit as it is a beautiful resort.
Koh Kong was great. I have never been to a town (village) that could be walked around and yet had so much to see'n do and they have nightlife as well. Make Koh Kong a stop on your travels through S.E. Asia and you won't be disappointed. To date it is the easiest "Visa Run" for expats who live in eastern Thailand.
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