In 2 months I wouls like to cross overland from Cambodia
(say Siem Reap) into Laos.
Is this possible, save, fun?
Who knows?
[There are 5 posts - the latest was added on Thu 20 May, 7:12]
Use the form at the end of this page to add your own post.
Topics
| Thorn Tree
| Home
I work at the Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh and know the
Immigration goss here, so please do not dismiss what I say.
The Laos-Cambodia border is not open, is not legal and
isn't safe.
Maybe it could be fun, perhaps the last fun, but definetely
not easy and right now illegal as there are not opened
border point between the countries, and need cross some of
the dangerous places in both countries, a real adventure
but perhaps too much to tempt luck.
I wouldn┤t even dare to think about it. Why not Afganistan
or Argelia, maybe wiser alternatives.
Sth Laos is entirely safe & there is a border crossing for
locals. Come with a Cambodian Visa & you might get stamped,
I'm sure a few greenbacks will speed that up. Nth cambodia
is safe if you keep away from the mekong & the roads closer
to Phomn Phenh were bandits operate, never travel in the
dark. There are also a few airplanes between PP & Nth
towns. Don't take ferries down the mekong. Have a great
time& keep your ear to the ground
You can get up the road northwards from Stung treng by
motobike charter to the border crossing with Laos; a tough
trip over a completely beaten road; it took me 5 hours in
April 98 - dry season; and even then at a lot of places in
the jungle the road was moisty and wet. What's more, the
whole area is totally deserted; the last village you'll
pass is about 8 km north of Stung Treng; from there it is
still ca. 50 km before you'll get to Dong Kro Lo, the
border station of Cambodia that consists of one single
wooden shack; It is very clear and obvious that this
forgotten road is not used anymore and there even is no
local traffic or border trade going over this track. This
means that this routing will stay still a long time "off
limit" and you can forget about border crossings Cambodia -
Laos for still many years. On my way to the border I passed
some very beautifull small ranges of thick jungle. Most of
the way the vegetation is lowgrowth bushes and a some
tracks of illegal logging can't be missed; this might be a
potential danger if you run into these culprits - I didn't
pass or saw nobody on my moto-trip. At the border point,
you'll meet two lone officials, they welcome you friendly
and you are allowed to go over to the Lao side of the
border; however there you can't go any further; the
Laotians are not in the bribing mood and you must return.
The whole trip is quite an adventure - be sure to take
along enough water and drinks with you because there is
nothing along the way and at Dong Kro Lo there also nothing
is to be found, into Laos the Laotian officials don't even
let you pass to ride up to the first Lao village some 10 km
further northwards; I had to sent my Cambodian guide
driving over there to buy me some stuff because I was
hungry and thirsty. At the small track of land between the
two border stations, you can still admire a high stone
pillar from colonial cement construction that marks the
border line.
So if you want to try this adventure, be sure you take
along an english speaking Cambodian who knows the area
well, don't even think of going alone - I encountered s.o.
working with Unicef who joined me. Figure on a full day
trip; the real danger that I encountered (in dry season !!!)
is esp. weather conditions - if you get caught by a sudden
rainshower, the road becomes that slippery that simply
moving on becomes almost impossible and you will have to
wait until it dries up, meaning losing a lot of time and
spending the night under the stars in the jungle ! but it
is definately a real adventure you will never forget.