Cambodia border crossings. Independently from Pattaya to Cambodia (Siem Reap): methods, cost, border crossing, our experience. Applying for a visa at Seam Reap Airport

About three hours later we were in Aran. The minibus drops you off at a bustling frontier market, and you immediately find yourself in the center of the action. An incredible amount of action is taking place around you: merchants are dragging fruits on carts loaded so that you can’t even see the wheels; someone is rummaging through the rubbish exuding a violent stench; there and then puffed macarons with simple food and motorcycles scurry everywhere. Life is in full swing, and you are right in its epicenter.

Tourist Thailand, which many of our compatriots managed to visit, I must say, is such a “refined” Asia. I remember the culture shock I experienced when I first came to this place - Ceylon. I won’t even talk about Myanmar: I don’t know how it is now, but then there was a real untouched country. Not so in Thailand. There are decent roads, a relatively high standard of living and a developed economy. All Asian attributes, be it street food, numerous markets, metropolitan slums, bustle on the streets, are present, but in the Phuket, Bangkok and Pattaya regions they are more like scenery, and you get used to them quickly. But in the border Aran everything is real. As soon as you get off the bus, you feel that it will be even more interesting on the other side of the border.

From the market to the border crossing is only five minutes on foot. You can't go wrong with the direction: there is an endless stream of people going there. There is even a pointer “to the border”, the authenticity of which, having read stories about the Aranyaprathet border gopniks, we doubted at first, but it turned out to be even true. First, you will walk down a long covered corridor and go up to the Thai border control building, where you will be stamped to leave Thailand. And then the fun begins.

Cambodia. A small country that begins just beyond the border markers.

I've crossed quite a few land borders, big and small. On the Belarusian-Polish border near Brest, I once spent several hours waiting. At the Serbian-Montenegrin I saw a checkpoint in the form of a painted change house with a huge Serbian tricolor on a wooden stick. In the Turkish-Bulgarian language, questions about visas and invitations were raised for a long time. Complete chaos reigned on the Ukrainian-Romanian route and it seemed that even an elephant could be imperceptibly taken in ... But everywhere and always at land crossings there was first exit control, then after some distance entry control. Yes, in rare cases, exit and entry were united under one roof, but you will never pass by or drive past anyway.

In Cambodia, things are different. After Thai control, the traveler immediately finds himself in the Cambodian city of Poipet. No neutral stripes and other familiar border attributes for you. They already sell fried chicken and battered grasshoppers. Children fervently throw some kind of garbage, adults scurry back and forth - chaos reigns around. There is practically no through traffic between Thailand and Cambodia, but people are rushing across the border in an endless stream.
Our Czech fellow travelers, having received a visa at the Cambodian immigration window, which was not far from the border barrier, were already trying to leave for Sim Reap without an entry stamp. But we had visas from Moscow, and I was embarrassed that no one even checked them. I went to ask the immigration officers where the Cambodian control was, and whether we had inadvertently passed it earlier. The officer smiled and said "yu nid e stemp". It's already good, thanks to "cap", but I would like to know where we can put this very tempo. The officer pointed at length somewhere in the direction of a receding street full of merchants and barkers, and advised him to look to the right after a hundred or two hundred meters. We headed there.

There is more and more life around. We are already making our way through some kind of spontaneous market, where they sell everything, and there are no people who want to stamp us on entering the country. At that moment, I remembered how I read in blogs about Latin American borders that there, they say, a border guard with a stamp can sit in a booth a kilometer from the border crossing and wait for hours for a foreigner who needs this stamp. And then I began to take everything that I saw as a checkpoint. We walked past a greasy table, at which sat two men in uniform. “Here it is, the winner of my rating of the most gouging frontiers of the world,” I already thought, but no. The men in uniform again gestured to continue down the street. Finally, on some shed, I saw a small sign announcing that stamps were being placed here. Dusty half-open space, right on the sidewalk. A few windows, and an officer issuing migration cards. The broken fingerprint scanners looked like they came from another world. Now we have officially crossed the border and we can move on. Contrary to warnings from the Internet, crossing the border took no more than an hour, there were no queues anywhere. I think time played a role here - we arrived at the border at about three o'clock in the afternoon, when the main tourist flow had already subsided.

A little further from the control windows, taxi drivers are already on duty, ready to take you to Sim Reap. Prices fluctuate from $35 to $40 per car. If there is no time and the taxi driver offers to take you directly to the hotels, then you can agree. The main thing is that you are not divorced before they offer to divorce you in hotels. If you have time, you can walk a couple of hundred meters deeper into the town and try to leave for $ 25-30 per car. They will ask for money in advance, do not agree, they may deliberately lead the wrong way. As a rule, taxi drivers in Sim Reap drop off at the tuk-tuk parking lot, and the last ones take you to your destination. This option is also not bad - you can immediately agree with the tuker about your visit to Angkor Wat the next day.

As I said, there are almost no taxi alternatives from Poipet to Sim Reap. But there is a clever trick. In general, in Cambodia and Thailand you have to be on the alert, there are a lot of wirings, and sometimes, due to their naivety and simplicity, they work flawlessly. Yes, you will never even think that this can be used as a snag. It's like a game, and it's better to perceive everything that happens that way. For example, two years ago in Bangkok we were told half a day that the main attraction, the Royal Palace, was closed that day. And this myth was supported by everyone around. Passers-by, taxi drivers, sellers in the markets. As a result, the tukers drove us for several hours through the dubious temples of the outlying districts of Bangkok, with a stop at numerous shops. By the end of the day, we decided to look at the palace at least from the outside, and found that it was open. And after all, even fifty meters from the entrance to it, when you could already see an endless stream of tourists entering there, a man stood and told us: “What are you guys, the palace is closed, some famous Buddhist died today, and there is a ceremony! Come on, I’ll take you for a ride to other sights!”. At the ticket office of the palace there was a leaflet with a call not to believe strangers who claimed that the palace was closed.

So, about the wiring in Poipet. You will be offered a free bus to the bus station, from which there are supposedly regular buses to Siem Reap. Then you are taken to the international bus station of Poipet, which for some reason is located a few kilometers from the city, right in an open field, surrounded by beautiful flooded rice meadows. Is it because there is only one regular bus a day from this bus station to Siem Reap, and it is impossible to leave this bus station except on it? Do I need to say that taxi fares there will be higher than immediately at the border? Although people left from there for the same $35. In general, it’s better not to fool yourself, but to look for fellow travelers and comfortably ride a taxi directly from the border for the same money.

Border crossings by land/sea are becoming more and more popular among independent travelers. Firstly, it is cheaper than flights, and secondly, you have the opportunity to see the country “without censorship”. When making a choice, be guided by two main criteria: the budget and the number of days of your vacation. It is an undeniable fact that passport control and customs will take you longer if you cross the border by land.

BORDERS

Thailand and Vietnam are the most convenient and most popular border crossing points with Cambodia. This is mainly due to the fact that between Russia and Thailand/Vietnam, there is an agreement on visa-free entry for up to 30 days.

WATER ROUTES

You can cross the border with Cambodia by river and by sea.

Water border between Thailand and Cambodia lies on the south coast near the island of Krong Koh Kong.

Cham Yam – Hat Lek

The opening hours of the point are from 7:00 to 20:00.

From a small border town, high-speed boats run to the village, which is rightfully considered the best resort in all of Cambodia. This scenic route runs along the south coast of non-tourist Thailand and captures the breathtaking scenery of the islands of Cambodia. Unforgettable sensations and stunning photos to the envy of everyone are guaranteed.

In order to enjoy all the delights of this route you need:

2. From Bangkok to Sihanoukville

2.1 In Bangkok, buy a ticket for the Bangkok - Sihanoukville route and be sure to clarify that you want to get to Sihanoukville by sea! (*Last price was approximately $35-45 for the entire route).

2.2 Another option for experienced travelers: buy a ticket in Bangkok at the Trat bus station, which is located in the eastern part of the city (* ticket price to the border is approximately 210 baht, and travel time is from 5 to 6 hours). Buses run regularly from 6:00 to 23:30. The bus leaving at 23.30 arrives at the border of Krong Koh Kong quite early, which means you will have enough time to catch the ship, which leaves at 8:00 for Sihanoukville.

2.2.1 Another option is to leave Bangkok early and spend the night on the coast, in the town of Koh Kong, which is replete with inexpensive guest houses and beautiful views of the islands. You can also rent a motorbike there and start discovering the life of the villagers, as they say “without censorship”. Rent a moped for a day approximately 3$

Important: this route is only possible during the rainy season or immediately after it ends. Also, choosing option 2.1, do not forget that you will have to spend the night in Koh Kong. As a rule, a room in a mini-hotel is already included in the ticket price, but it would not be superfluous to clarify the information in advance with the seller.

Cambodia and Vietnam connects the Mekong River.

Border point - Kam Sumnor - Vinh Xong open since 2000.

At the moment, this point is the most popular among independent travelers. Needless to say, traveling through the Mekong Delta on a fast boat is much more interesting than languishing on a bus. As a rule, this route covers two cities: Phnom Penh and Sha Doc [Vietnam]. This route will reveal to you all the wonders of the authentic life of the river settlers, and the terracotta Mekong and the thickets of the tropical jungle along its banks will color your vacation photos in the colors of Indiana Jones movie hits.

In order to discover all the wonders of this route, you need to:

1. Buy a ticket from Moscow to Ho Chi Minh City

2. In Ho Chi Minh City, buy a bus ticket to the town of Sha Doc

3. Stay overnight at a hotel or guest house **

4. Ask the administrator of the guest house to book a ticket for the route Sha Dok - Phnom Penh, as well as clarify that in the morning you will need a transfer to the pier. (Last price approx $35-40 + (possibly) $2 transfer to the pier).

Customs service at the border point Kam Sumnor - Vinh Xong known for her sluggishness. Be patient and go through the bureaucratic red tape. The whole journey will take you approximately 4 hours.

If you find yourself in Sha Dok after dark, then after staying in the guest house, do not be too lazy to take a walk around the city. This walk will allow you not only to get acquainted with the way of life of the locals and enjoy the culinary delights in the cafe, but also will allow you to understand what prices for this route from other sellers and will give you the opportunity to orient yourself and find out where the local port is.

water border Laos - Cambodia.

House Kralor - Ven Ham is the name of the border point.

opening hours: from 7:00 to 17:00.

Making your route from Laos to Cambodia along the river is not a bad idea in general. Quite rightly, the life of the river inhabitants is very interesting and very different from the rest of the population. However, it is worth noting that for this route you will have to overpay a lot. Traveling on water is far from a budgetary pleasure. And in the case of crossing the Cambodia-Laos border, it especially hits the pocket.

Important: this route is only possible during the rainy season or immediately after it ends. It is also important to note that cases of robbery were observed on this border.

LAND ROUTES

Not so long ago it was believed that it was not safe to cross the border with Cambodia by land, but this opinion has long since sunk into oblivion. Checkpoints are now open at the borders with Vietnam, Thailand and Laos, and crossing the border is not a difficult or dangerous undertaking. However, it is important to note the fact that despite the abundance of border points on the borders of these states, some of them may be closed to foreigners. For the latest and more accurate information, we recommend that you check out this resource.

The most common mode of transport for road travel is the bus. Of course, any of the routes listed below can be traveled by any other land transport: taxi, motorcycle, bicycle, etc. However, we will focus on the description of travel by bus, because. in general, the procedures for some and for others will be the same.

Laos - Cambodia
House Kralor - Ven Ham- the border point is the same as in the journey along the river. Then by minibus to Phnom Penh.
Important: on this border (Laos - Cambodia) cases of robbery were noticed.

Thailand - Cambodia

Poipet – Aranya Pratyet

The transition is convenient for those who are going to visit.

opening hours: from 7:00 to 20:00.

The Poipet-Aranya Pratyet border remains the cheapest point to cross the border between Thailand and Cambodia. The bus route passes through the eastern part of Thailand and the western part of Cambodia. Feelings from this route are guaranteed to be unforgettable.

1. Buy a ticket from Moscow to Bangkok

2. From Bangkok to the border with Cambodia, or rather to the border checkpoint Poipet – Aranya Pratyet, you can get there using the following options:

2.1. Buy a bus ticket along the route Bangkok – Siem Reap. The most inexpensive tickets in Bangkok you can order in the Banglampu area and, of course, on Khao San Road. A ticket for this route costs approximately $ 25-30 (The price includes: payment for a ticket for the Bangkok-Siem Reap bus, the services of an English-speaking consultant, visa application forms and drinking water).

2.2. You can get to the border by train. It departs from Bangkok Central Station twice a day. A one-way train ticket to the Thai border costs 48 baht and travel time is approximately 6 hours. If you want to cross the border between Thailand and Cambodia in one day, you need to catch the 5:55 am train.

2.3. For the most seasoned, you can offer a route that is used by the bulk of the local population. From Mo Chit (central bus station) you can get to the northern part of Aranya Prathet and then, by tuk-tuk *, get directly to the border point Poipet - Aranya Prathet.

3. There are three main tourist destinations from Poipet - these are: Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and Battambang. Let's stop in the direction of Siem Reap.

You will get to Siem Reap when it is already dark. We recommend that you take care of booking a place in a hotel or guest house in advance, because. the bus driver will bring you to the hotel with which he has an agreement. As a rule, these are not very clean and not very good places, and besides, with inflated prices for accommodation. The presence of such a fact is not a cause for concern. From the place to which the bus will take you to the hotel or guest house of your choice, tuk-tuk drivers will deliver you without any problems.

Tuk-tuk - a local vehicle, which is a motorcycle or moped and a stroller attached to it

You can easily purchase bus tickets to all of the above destinations in Poipet. However, we strongly recommend that you provide yourself with tickets in Bangkok so as not to become a victim of scammers.

Important: The company that sells you tickets for the destination Bangkok – Siem Reap, should offer you assistance when crossing the border. There is usually a $10 surcharge for this service. For those who do not feel very confident or are visiting Cambodia for the first time, we strongly recommend using the help. Employees of the company are obliged to assist you directly at the border point, indicate the direction of movement and coordinate the actions of your group. Try not to lose sight of them. You will immediately feel the flavor of Cambodia and the resonance in comparison with Thailand. On the territory of Thailand you will be taken on a comfortable, double-decker bus with air conditioning and a toilet. Roads in Thailand are in excellent condition. However, as soon as you enter the land of Cambodia, the world around you will turn upside down. You will spend the road to Siem Reap in a completely different bus. And the road itself still leaves much to be desired…especially during the rainy season. But if you decide to go to Cambodia and get a lot of impressions, then this road is exactly what you need!

Vietnam - Cambodia

Bavet – Moc Bai.

Unfortunately, this route is not very picturesque and bright. The road runs mostly on flat terrain. But, despite this fact, this transition is very convenient, because. the road from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, including all procedures for passport and visa control and customs, will take you about 5-6 hours.

To follow this route, you need:

1. Buy a ticket from Moscow to Ho Chi Minh City.

2. In Ho Chi Minh City, buy a bus ticket on the route Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh. You can order the most inexpensive tickets in the Pham Ngu Lao area. The average price ranges from $9 to $12 and depends on the services provided (escort at the border, advice from an English-speaking guide, availability of drinking water, etc.) and the quality of the bus.

Choose the bus departure time from Ho Chi Minh City - the earlier the better. This will allow you to arrive in Phnom Penh before dark, which will make it easier for you to move around the city in search of a temporary location. Of course, you can book a hotel or guest house in advance.

OTHER BORDER POINTS:

Let's talk about other points briefly.

There are rumors about the imminent opening of another point on the Cambodia-Vietnam border. It will connect the Cambodian coastal cities of Kep, or Kampot, with Phu Kok Island in Vietnam, which means that independent travelers will have the opportunity to discover truly divine views of the islands of both states.

Not so long ago, the point Prek Chak [Cambodia] - Xa Xia [Vietnam] was opened. When traveling from Kep or Kampot to Vietnam, this point is the best option. This route is not only convenient, but also very interesting. combines the picturesque coast of Cambodia and the most beautiful views of the island of Phu Kok. Due to the fact that this point has recently opened, there is still a risk that there may be overlaps with regular transport. That is why we advise you to use the services of a motorcycle taxi, the cost of which will be: from Kampong Trech $ 3, Kep $ 6 or Kampot $ 9, directly to the border crossing point, and then, already in Vietnam, take a motorcycle taxi and get to the nearest town Ha Tien, which, like Sha Doc, is located in the Mekong Delta. The price for the whole road from the border to the city will be about $2.

Also, the relatively new point of O'Yadau [Cambodia] - Le Tan [Vietnam] connects the Cambodian province of Ratanakiri and the central highlands in Vietnam. The road can take you more than 5 hours and is quite tiring.

In the west of Cambodia, there are several points connecting, to put it mildly, little-known cities that are not even always marked on maps. These are Trapeng Plong [Cambodia] - Xa Mat [Vietnam] and Trapeng Sre [Cambodia] - Loc Ninh [Vietnam].

Xa Mat will likely be convenient for those traveling from or to Ho Chi Minh City who want to discover Khao Dai Temple. Also, after the roads were restored on the territory of both states, this route will be popular among those who travel between Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap.

The border point between Banteay Chakrey [Cambodia] and Dong Thap [Vietnam] is far from the usual tourist routes. It is not popular with foreign tourists.

Transit air ticket - an air ticket for a transit flight. A transit flight, in turn, is a flight that involves a transfer at an intermediate airport.

Many tourists who come to Pattaya on vacation tend to visit the famous one, which is located in Cambodia, near. Of course, you can buy an organized tour for two or three days (from 4000 baht), or you can go to Siem Reap on your own and explore the temples not running, but at your own pace, enjoying the architecture, and not pushing in the crowd of tourists. Today's article is about how to get from Pattaya to Siem Reap on your own and detailed instructions for crossing the border.

In order to get from Pattaya to Siem Reap, you need to do the following:

How to get from Pattaya to the Aranyaprathet border crossing

The Aranyaprathet border crossing between Thailand and Cambodia is not located in the city itself, but a few kilometers from it. You can get there from Pattaya in the following ways:

By taxi

The easiest (but also most expensive) way to get to the border is to take a taxi. The cost from Pattaya to the Aranyaprathet border crossing is 2200 - 2600 baht per car. Order a taxi >>

By bus

Buses to Aranyaprathet depart from Pattaya North Bus Terminal (from which buses depart to). This bus station is located on North Pattaya Road (Pattaya Nuea road), near the intersection with Sukhumvit Road (see map at the end of the article).

Tickets must be bought at the box office in the direction of Mukdahan to Aranyaprathet (the city bus station is located there) or to Rongkluea Market (there is another bus station, it is closer to the border crossing).

The cost of a bus ticket is about 250 baht, travel time is about 5 hours.

Cons of traveling to the border on this bus:

• Basically, all buses passing and landing on them are carried out not at the Pattaya bus station, but on the street. Sukhumvit
• Buses are often late, make many stops and are very slow
• From the bus stop to the border crossing you will have to take a tuk-tuk for 40-60 baht
• When disembarking from the bus, tourists often begin to scam, the tuk-tuk brings not to the border, but to the pseudo border, where they offer to buy a visa to Cambodia twice as expensive as its cost!

By own vehicle

You can get to the border by your own vehicle - a car or a bike. Near the border crossing, we saw a huge parking lot and several foreigners on bikes. But I still don’t understand whether it’s possible to drive into Cambodia on a rented or my own bike. Maybe someone knows the answer to this question?

On the minibus

The most convenient way to get from Pattaya to the Thailand-Cambodia border is by minibus. We have used this method.

Minibuses leave from three places, all three of these places are located near Big C, at the intersection of Sukhumvit Street and South Pattaya Street. We first found one place, and bought tickets there.

And in the morning, when we arrived for landing, we saw another office on the same street, but closer to Big C

We did not see the third office - but the taxi driver who drove us from the hotel in the morning said that there were three of them nearby. (See the map of the location of the points of departure of minibuses Pattaya - border crossing Aranyaprathet at the end of the article).

Important: as of August 2018, minibuses depart approximately from this point: 12.918029, 100.896253

The cost of a minibus ticket from Pattaya to the border is 260 baht.

Minibuses (small buses for 13-15 people) depart from Pattaya every hour from 3:00 am to 07:00 pm. Estimated travel time is 4-5 hours.

We drove exactly 5 hours (we left at 7 am, we were at the border at 12:00 pm) with one stop for 15 minutes at a gas station (there is also a coffee shop and the last 7 eleven on our way with cheap food), but at first we didn’t drive at all in that direction, and they took the locals from different places, respectively, then along the way they were dropped off at the bus stations of small towns. Of the tourists in our minibus were only us and two Europeans. If you leave at 3-4 in the morning, you can get there faster, locals usually don’t drive at this time and the minibus goes straight to the border without stopping.

I must say that in these minibuses there is absolutely no room for luggage! We put our two large backpacks right on the aisle and everyone stepped on them when entering and exiting. And it's good that there were no other people with things in the minibus besides us!

Aranyaprathet-Poipet border crossing

One of the most incomprehensible and unpleasant parts of the Pattaya - Siem Reap route is the border crossing. The border must be crossed on foot, even if you are on a direct bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap, you still need to get off the bus and cross the border on foot with all your belongings! I once already walked across the border on foot, from Ukraine to, but that was very, very many years ago, and then it seemed to me so fun and interesting. But not now.

Having read about evil border guards and money scams, long lines, and confusion at the border from the Cambodian side, I prepared for the fact that we would be a lot of nervous and spend at least 2-3 hours at the border. But everything turned out not so scary 🙂

Detailed instructions for passing the Aranyaprathet-Poipet border

The Aranyaprathet-Poipet border is not open around the clock (this is not usual for me, I always thought that border crossings work around the clock), but from 7 am to 8 pm. You can spend the night near the border in Aranyaprathet, choose and book a hotel.

Minibuses arrive at the square next to the border crossing. As soon as we got off the minibus, a crowd of “helpers” immediately attacked us, what they wanted, we didn’t recognize, we immediately answered everyone that we didn’t need help, firmly took our backpacks and holding on to all the bags and things went towards the border.

Walking very close, but in the heat, dust and with heavy backpacks is not easy. And nearby scurry tales, cars, carts. I apologize in advance for the quality of the photos - all photos were taken on the run in a hurry on the phone.

Follow the signs to passport control.

For Thais, passport control is on the first floor, for foreigners on the second.

Take the stairs to a large air-conditioned room

We stood in a small queue for 10 minutes, gave immigration departure cards, which we filled out and received a stamp in our passport. Everyone, we're in neutral territory.

How to get from the border town of Poipet to Siem Reap

Now from the city of Poipet you need to get to Siem Reap, where we have 6 days.

Right after crossing the border, we get to a mini bus station, where they offer a free bus to the bus station in the city of Poipet (12 km from the border).

But from the Poipet bus station you can go to Siem Reap at:

• minibus - 10 dollars per person
• on a public bus that runs on an incomprehensible schedule and costs $ 9 per person
• by taxi. According to information from the forum, they ask for 40-48 dollars for a car

By taxi from the border

It is better not to take a free bus to the bus station, but immediately after passing the border, arrange a taxi to Siem Reap. We were immediately offered a car for $40. I said that the real cost of a taxi is $ 25 (sometimes it can be brought down to $ 20) and prepared to bargain for a long time, but I didn’t have to bargain, we left for $ 25 (by the way, the cost of a taxi on the way back Siem Reap - Poipet is cheaper for some reason - 20 dollars ). We drove 160 km for about 2 hours and at 15:00 we were at our hotel in Siem Reap.

In total, the journey from the hotel in Pattaya to the hotel in Siem Reap took us from 6:30 am to 3:00 pm (8.5 hours). On the road Pattaya - Siem Reap we spent (the amount is indicated for two people):

• Taxi: hotel - place of departure of minbass from Big C - 200 baht ($ 6.25)
• Tickets for mini bass to Aranyaprathet - 520 baht ($ 16.25)
• Taxi Poipet - Siem Reap - $ 25

Total: road $ 47.5, visas to Cambodia - $ 60

What we managed to notice and learn on the way to Siem Reap

• Cambodia is very dirty and dusty, there is a lot of garbage on the roads.
• The police take bribes on every corner! Our driver, when he put us in the car, immediately gave some money to the policeman. We drove off a little, another policeman on a bike caught up with us - the driver tried to tell him that he had already paid, then slipped him some money. He told us that he had to pay a bribe of 10 dollars!
• For lack of rights, a bribe of 5-10 dollars.
• Our driver was very proud to have a driver's license!
• Yes, traffic in Cambodia, on the other hand, is not the same as in Thailand, but the same as ours - right-handed. It's very difficult to readjust.
• They drive here just awful, I haven’t seen such lawlessness on the roads for a long time, probably from India.
• The road Poipet - Siem Reap is more or less normal.
• The cost of a liter of gasoline is about 1 dollar.
• There are a lot of uncultivated fields along the road.
• There are no chain stores like 7 eleven.
• Makashnits in passing settlements were also not noticed.
• Fruit harvest in Cambodia is harvested once a year, and in Thailand 2-3 times a year.
• They sell a lot of coconuts. The cost of a coconut for tourists is 1 dollar, for locals 2500 riels (0.6 dollars).
• The exchange rate of the local currency (Cambodian riel) against the dollar in February 2015: 1 dollar = 4035 riel, but all calculations are made in dollars.
• I still don't understand this country...

Places of departure of minibuses from Pattaya to the border with Cambodia on the map

Click on the "Menu" icon in the upper left corner to see the name of the objects on the map

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So the story is ready about how we went on a visa run from Thailand to Cambodia. In this article, we answer the main questions: how much does it cost, why is it needed, how long does it take. And most importantly - how it all looks. A kind of look at the visaran from Pattaya to the border with Cambodia through the eyes of a Russian expat. Including - through the lens of the camera.

Here I sit now and think: when they ask me how many countries I have visited, what will I answer? To include Cambodia in this number or not? Because technically I was there. Physically, it wasn't. But first things first.

As we already wrote, after the first month of living in Pattaya, we had to go on a visa-time from Thailand to Cambodia to legalize your continued stay here and not pay a fine. For, recall, according to the entry stamp in the passport, a foreigner has the right to stay in Thailand for no more than 30 days (about what a vizaran is in Thailand). By the way, this was our first and last visa run: after that, we did not know grief.

In Pattaya, the organization of visa runs to Cambodia is a real branch of the national economy. In Thailand there are a lot of offices that will take you to a visa run for a moderate fee. From different regions of Thailand, visa-runs go to different places: from the north of the country - to Myanmar or Laos, from Phuket - to Malaysia, and from Pattaya - to Cambodia. Cost of a visa run from Pattaya to Cambodia different - as a rule, from 1800 to 2500 baht. We rummaged a little on the Internet and chose an office that takes foreigners to visa-runs inexpensively and has good reviews. It is located in Central Pattaya, on Soi 13/2. If you follow this jay from Second Road to Beach Road, the post office will be on the left, and the office you need will be on the right. But it is difficult to pass by because of the bright sign (see photo).

The office with which we traveled inexpensively to visaran from Pattaya to Cambodia is located on Soi 13/2, opposite the post office. Don't pass by.

We're in. They took 3600 baht from us, took copies of our passports, explained what size photos needed to be taken for a visa. Yes Yes, Russians need a visa to Cambodia not a stamp in your passport. In addition to a passport, no other documents are required for a visa to Cambodia for Russians, it is placed at the border and costs 600 baht, which is included in the price of the visaran. We agreed that they would pick us up at six in the morning, left our phones, took payment receipts and went to take pictures. Thus, together with photographs for a visa to Cambodia, the visa run cost us 1900 baht per person.

On the appointed day at exactly 6.00 a minibus pulled up behind us (we then lived in): an exciting travel from thailand to cambodia began! Moreover, 15 minutes before that, the driver called and warned us to wait for him at the entrance to our building. There were already two pairs of sleepy vissers on the bus. We hoped that we would immediately go to the border of Thailand and Cambodia, but no: for another half an hour the driver traveled around the city, collecting the rest from condominiums and hotels. As a result, there were 15 passengers. 12 of them are Russians, two Vietnamese and another woman of unknown nationality. She spoke Thai with the driver, looked like a Thai, but she needed a visa-run no less than we, pale-faced farangs.

On the way to the Cambodian border, we had only one stop - at a gas station near Rayong, for about 15 minutes. As always, there was a 7/11 shop (what else is found in Thailand at every step, ). We did not fail to buy some water there. The next stop was at the Ban-Pakkard border crossing. The driver gave each passenger a bottle of water and told them to follow him. So we went, like kindergartners, on the principle of a boy-girl))) First, we went through border control - we received stamps that we had left Thailand. And after the driver ended up at some strange building ...

Visa run from Pattaya to Cambodia: Baan Packard border crossing.

: they brought another batch of Russians. Our person can always be identified by facial expression: open, friendly.

Ban Packard border checkpoint: it's hard to believe, but on Visaran from Thailand to Cambodia Not only Russians go.

The border of Thailand and Cambodia was right in front of us, a few meters away, but we never went to it. And we stopped at this very strange building, around and inside of which the vissarans of all skin colors (mostly white, of course) were already languidly waiting for something. The driver collected our passports and went to the peasants, who were sitting at a table under the roof of a strange house and writing something.

Visa-run from Thailand to Cambodia: the Khmers and Thais kindly agreed to take on the job of filling out our paperwork.

This house deserves a separate description. Actually, it was a passport control point, that is, quite a serious office. Not what a sham. And by the looks of it, she's the one. If not for the inscription Welcome to Ban-Pakkard (Cambodia), it would be indistinguishable from a roadside shop. Which this office partly was: right behind the backs of the harsh Cambodian civil servants, into whose caring hands our passports temporarily passed, they were selling souvenirs and other rubbish. There were two stores.

Garbage sold badly in the morning (c).

And one more thing - a paid toilet! How can a serious state institution, but without a paid toilet? Anticipating a long way back, we decided to use his services. It does not deserve a separate description and even photographing, but here's what is interesting: a grubby Khmer (rarely) boy of seven years old took a fee for visiting. Moreover, he must be paid not before entering, but after the fact (truly the wise Khmer people - indeed, is it really possible to take a fee BEFORE entering, and what if it doesn’t work out)? I went out, I stand, I think about the laws of the Universe (as always, however). The boy is on the sidelines. A man comes out, a boy to him - five baht! He just waved his hand and left. Encouraged by the example of the cunning farang, we also saved five baht each. Twice. So if fate brings you to the border of Thailand and Cambodia, you should know: a grimy kid with a band-aid on his forehead is not a civil servant and takes payment illegally! So save your hard-earned five baht and spend later with benefit.

View of Cambodia from the Thai side: it seems that nature is the same, and people are similar, but somehow it doesn’t pull ...

I wonder what is being built on the other side of the border between Thailand and Cambodia? One hundred pounds, a hotel for visa holders.

Meanwhile, work was in full swing in the strange house at the Ban Packard border crossing. The driver only once asked everyone to sign some papers and soon returned our passports to us. Moreover, together with the arrival / departure card - the driver kindly took upon himself the responsibility of filling them out! Everything, the visa was received, we were given the right to enter the territory of the free and beautiful kingdom of Cambodia! But we perfidiously refused to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

Hooray! I am a happy visa holder of a free and beautiful Cambodia. Behind me is free and beautiful Cambodia.

After admiring the dusty road from the Thai side, some dirty house and the natives tortured by the vile Khmer life, we wandered in an organized crowd to our native Thailand. We passed the border control, received stamps for another 30 days, boarded the bus and went to Pattaya. By the way, they say that there was duty-free, but we just didn’t have time to go into it, everything flew by so quickly. Well, it’s good, otherwise they heard a lot of scary stories about the fact that you can buy only one bottle or one block of cigarettes per person, and if you have more, you will pay a huge fine. I don't know if it's true or not, but people are dancing, and there's no smoke without fire, that's what I'll tell you.

The border of Thailand and Cambodia, the view from not the best side. Now the border control will be passed, and we will be on the better side.

And the landscape on the way back was simply fantastic. Well, it’s not for me to tell you about the beauties of Thailand,. Better yet, come (if you haven't already) and see for yourself. And I'll tell you this: as you probably already understood, our driver turned out to be a guy of rare courtesy and philanthropy. So rare that it simply could not allow us to return from such an exhausting journey hungry. And he gave us a pleasant surprise in the form of a feast in the shade of a roadside cafe with an intricate Thai name. Having stopped and received food stamps from the driver, we gained the right to choose any of the offered types of food and a soft drink.

Visaran from Pattaya to Cambodia: the beauty of native Thailand outside the minibus window.

Having dined at the hospitable tables of a cozy restaurant, at 14.30 we drove up to the door of our condo. Here is the end of the story, and whoever read it to the end, our advice to him: make a visa on time and do not go to a visa run. Better get a job in a language school in Pattaya () and take a short trip to another country with a study visa. For a visa run is an expensive and tedious thing. Well, maybe once, for a change. Like us!

AND NOW - ABOUT INTERESTING TRAVEL

Dear readers! As you understand, a visa ran from Pattaya to Cambodia cannot be called a successful trip. And you can't even call it a trip. This is so, a sortie from hopelessness))) Real trips are different, and it is about them that we love to write so much! Therefore, we have compiled a list of five articles for you about our most interesting, unusual and fun trips.

Thailand and Cambodia are neighboring states, so in one trip abroad you can get acquainted with the amazing culture and numerous sights of both countries at once. The main thing is to correctly plan your route and understand all the nuances in advance.

There are several options for such a trip, differing in cost and time spent on the road. This article will help the traveler decide how to get from Thailand to Cambodia and choose the best route.

Visa application

Tourists from Russia who are going to travel from Thailand to Cambodia should definitely apply for a visa.

There are four options for obtaining:

1. The least common is contacting the embassy. The cost of a visa in this case will be $37. You will need to fill out an application form and bring a color photograph measuring six by four centimeters. The validity of the passport must be more than six months from the intended date of entry into Cambodia. The paperwork takes about half an hour.
2. Obtaining an e-visa. The cost will be $ 30, for registration you need to go to the website of the embassy. The application is considered for three days, the answer is sent to the e-mail specified during registration.
3. Obtaining a visa at the border with Thailand. Issued at the entrance to Cambodia at the border checkpoint. You only need to fill out a questionnaire and pay the border guard $20.
4. In the case of air travel, a visa can be issued at the airport in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.

In all cases, a visa is issued for a period of 30 days.

Traveling from Thailand to Cambodia: do it yourself or take a tour?

Many travel agencies in Thailand offer travelers excursions to Cambodia. As a rule, these are bus tours for a period of two to three days. During this time, you can have time to visit the main attractions of the country: numerous temple complexes, ancient pagodas, palaces and museums.

The advantages of a sightseeing tour are the opportunity to learn from the guide a lot of interesting information about the history and culture of Cambodia, as well as the complete absence of hassle with transfers and hotel reservations. Disadvantages - the inability to change the travel route or stay longer in the place you like.

In addition, the minimum cost of a three-day excursion is about 7,000 baht, which is about twice the amount that you have to pay for a self-guided trip (similar in duration). Therefore, many tourists prefer to travel to Cambodia from Thailand without purchasing a sightseeing tour.

If you decide to travel from Thailand to Cambodia on your own, the travel plan will be as follows:

• Drive to the border with Cambodia.
• Registration of an entry visa (in the event that it is not issued in advance).
• Passing the border.
• Drive to hotel in Cambodia.

To Cambodia from Thailand by road

Flights to the border town of Aranyaprathet are organized from all major cities in Thailand located near the border. The first travel option is on a tourist bus, a ticket for which can be purchased at the North Bus Station in Pattaya (cost about 250 baht).

Pluses - comfortable seats with reclining backs and the presence of air conditioning. Another option is to take a minibus: it is less comfortable, but it will take you much faster and pick you up directly from the hotel or office of the travel company that sold the ticket.

The cost of the trip is approximately 350 baht. It will take about four hours to get to the border with Cambodia, there are several stops along the way. The most convenient and fastest option is (cost - about 1000 baht).

Both the bus and the minibus will only reach the border with Cambodia - the Aranyaprathet border checkpoint. After passing the border, you will have to transfer to a free bus to the city of Siem Reap or use a taxi.

To Cambodia from Thailand by train

There is a train service from Bangkok Railway Station to the border town of Aranyaprathet twice a day. In this direction, only third-class carriages are provided, reminiscent of Russian electric trains.

The train takes about six hours to the border, making the journey to Cambodia by rail the longest of all options. But the ticket price is only 50 baht. After crossing the border, you can get to the city on a free bus or use a taxi.

Flight from Thailand to Cambodia

Air travel is the fastest and most expensive travel option. Three air carriers operate regular flights to Cambodia from Thailand: Air Asia, Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways. AirAsia has the lowest airfare (from 1800 baht), and if you take care of booking a ticket in advance, the price will be even lower.

In addition, all of the listed airlines provide passengers with discounts (especially during the high season), so it makes sense to spend some time comparing options: this will surely help save money.

Planes fly to Cambodia from Phuket and Bangkok (Old or New) to the city of Siem Reap and the capital of Cambodia - Phnom Penh. The number of flights per day depends on the season: there are more of them in the high season.

Phnom Penh Airport is located seven kilometers from the capital, so after the flight you will have to call a taxi to the city (the trip will cost about $ 3). If a visa was not issued before departure, it can be obtained at the airport upon arrival.

To Cambodia from Thailand by sea

It is possible to combine a sea cruise and a trip to Cambodia from Thailand by contacting a travel agency. The starting point of most routes is the cruise port of Laem Chabang, located 25 kilometers from Pattaya and 130 kilometers from Bangkok.

The cruise itinerary includes calling at the port city of Sihanoukville and Kohn Island. The cost of the trip is from 8900 baht.

Sights of Cambodia

angkor wat- the world's largest temple complex, located five kilometers from the city of Siem Reap. Angkor Wat, built in the early 12th century, is the main attraction of Cambodia, it is depicted on the emblem and flag of the country.

The temple complex covers an area of ​​2.5 square kilometers and consists of outer and inner walls, a majestic temple crowned with pointed towers and other buildings. Each stone of the temple complex is decorated with skillful carvings. Inside the temple, tourists can see stone panels and bas-reliefs depicting historical events and mythological scenes.

Preah Vihear- a temple complex on the border of Thailand and Cambodia, the construction of which began at the end of the 9th century. The buildings are located at an altitude of 625 meters above sea level on four tiers connected by stone stairs.

The temple complex attracts tourists from all over the world: majestic palaces and amazing sculptures will not leave anyone indifferent. Preah Vihear is open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

silver pagoda- a Buddhist temple built in the middle of the 19th century. It is known for its rich interior decoration: Buddha statues inlaid with precious stones, floors lined with silver slabs, the weight of which exceeds six tons. The walls of the temple are decorated with frescoes depicting the characters of the Indian epic.