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TRANSPORTATION IN CAMBODIA
Cambodia is still as much a country of carts, motorcycles and pedestrians as one of cars and trucks. In both the cities and the countryside many get around in carts with a capacity of 20 or so people that are pulled by motorcycles. Many Cambodian still use oxcarts similar to the one pictured in the bas-reliefs at Angkor Wat.
Hundreds of motoscooters swarm the streets of Phnom Penh. Many of them are Honda Dream machines and Suzukis. Many drivers carry passengers and talk on their cell phones at the same time. Motorcycles carry entire families and a large variety of goods. Bicycles are piled with firewood, roots and greens. Motorcycles carry live pigs In the cities men who lost their legs to land mines ride around on wheeled platforms with hand cranks.
Urban Transportation in Cambodia Motorcycle Taxis known as motodop are the most common way to get around in Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap and other Cambodian cities and towns. They are fast but frightening (although they drivers will slow down and drive more carefully if you ask them.) They charge about $1 per ride. Agree on price before you set out. Helmets usually aren’t available. Most people in Phnom Penh and the Angkor Wat hire a motorcycle and driver for the day for between $5 and $10. Arrangements are usually made with the hotels or drivers that hang around outside the hotels. Two people usually take two separate motorcycle taxis.
Cyclos are three-wheeled, human-powered vehicles with the driver sitting behind a seat that has a cover that can be raised in rainy weather. The seat is large enough to sit two Cambodians comfortably and two Westerners uncomfortably. Cyclos are found in Phnom Penh and Siem Riep and other towns. Their drivers generally charge one dollar for a ride and can be rented for the day for about $5.00.
Cyclos are slow but cheap, and a fun and unique way to get around. Their drivers tend to congregate around tourist areas and some of them can be very pushy. Some speak English and offer their services as guides. Make sure to negotiate the price before setting off. Cambodian cyclos are identical to those found in Vietnam.
Public Buses Introduced to Phnom Penh
In February 2014, Suy Se of AFP wrote: “Motorcycles, cars, tuk-tuks and the humble rickshaw dominate its traffic-clogged roads, but now the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh is launching a new weapon in the fight against chronic congestion: its first public buses in over a decade. Cambodia is lagging behind many of its Southeast Asian neighbours who long ago turned to public transport in a bid to ease traffic gridlock in major cities. The last time the kingdom tried to introduce public buses in the capital Phnom Penh in 2001, they were a flop. [Source: Suy Se, AFP, February 8, 2014 >>>]
“However, it remains to be seen how popular the service will be in a city where the “moto-dup” is still king thanks to drivers waiting on str Cambodia Angkor Air Cambodia Angkor Air is the national flag carrier airline of Cambodia. Headquartered in Phnom Penh, the airline is owned by the Cambodian government (51 percent) and Vietnam Airlines (49 percent). Cambodia Angkor Air was founded on 31 July 2009, replacing national airline Royal Air Cambodge Cambodia Angkor Air concentrates on serving tourist routes within Cambodia, most notably catering for visitors of Angkor Wat. It serves the following destinations. A) Cambodia: 1) Phnom Penh – Phnom Penh International Airport; 2) Siem Reap – Siem Reap International Airport; and 3) Sihanoukville – Sihanoukville International Airport. B) Thailand: Bangkok – Suvarnabhumi Airport. C) Vietnam: 1) Ho Chi Minh City – Tan Son Nhat International Airport; and 2) Hanoi – Noi Bai International Airport. There are plans to start services to : A) China: Guangzhou – Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Future; B) Hong Kong – Hong Kong International Airport Future; C) Singapore – Singapore Changi Airport Future
Railroads in Cambodia
Cambodia’s single railway line runs for 160 miles between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand coast. Completed in 1969, a year before the Cambodian civil war began, the train passes through lovely southern Cambodian countryside and is particularly beautiful after Kampot, where the tracks wind along the sea at the edge of the Elephant Mountains. Trains from Phnom Penh to Battambang Province depart from Phnom Penh about 5:00am or 6:00am with travel taking much of the day.
Riding the Cambodian Tuk-Tuk
Tuk tuk is the most popular mode of transport in Cambodia, with the two-wheel carriages being pulled out by motorbike. Again, there’s no shortage of tuk tuks — although the number drastically decreases after about 10pm — waiting to take tourists about, usually at heavily inflated prices.
The tuktuk is really a stylized two-wheeled carriage that is drawn by a motorcycle attached to it by a specially designed joint. It can snugly sit six normal-sized passengers, and only four if the passengers have really big-built bodies.
The seats are upholstered to be soft and they are arranged as two seats facing each other, one facing forward and the other facing aft. The space betwen them, making the center of the carriage, gives enough room to accommodate the knees of passengers pointing at each other without difficulty of movement.
It has a canvas roof and the headroom is enough for effective avoidance of the welded iron structures that make the internal frameworks of the rooftop. The rear part behind the back seat is open and sturdy arm rests secure the passengers on the sides. Tarps are rolled up at the back and sides ready to be rolled down in case of rain.
Local tip: Make sure you negotiate a price before getting in the tuk tuk to avoid any awkward over-charging issues when you alight. Also, carry around a pocketful of small dollar bills and riel because it’s rare your driver will have change.
Boat
There’s nothing more exciting than getting out on the water while on holiday. Luckily, there are various options for travelling by boat in Cambodia, from the coastline to the huge Tonle Sap Lake. You can also reach Koh Rong Sanloaeum – a beautiful island with a range of activities on offer – via an exhilarating speedboat ride
Hundreds of motoscooters swarm the streets of Phnom Penh. Many of them are Honda Dream machines and Suzukis. Many drivers carry passengers and talk on their cell phones at the same time. Motorcycles carry entire families and a large variety of goods. Bicycles are piled with firewood, roots and greens. Motorcycles carry live pigs In the cities men who lost their legs to land mines ride around on wheeled platforms with hand cranks.
Urban Transportation in Cambodia Motorcycle Taxis known as motodop are the most common way to get around in Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap and other Cambodian cities and towns. They are fast but frightening (although they drivers will slow down and drive more carefully if you ask them.) They charge about $1 per ride. Agree on price before you set out. Helmets usually aren’t available. Most people in Phnom Penh and the Angkor Wat hire a motorcycle and driver for the day for between $5 and $10. Arrangements are usually made with the hotels or drivers that hang around outside the hotels. Two people usually take two separate motorcycle taxis.
Cyclos are three-wheeled, human-powered vehicles with the driver sitting behind a seat that has a cover that can be raised in rainy weather. The seat is large enough to sit two Cambodians comfortably and two Westerners uncomfortably. Cyclos are found in Phnom Penh and Siem Riep and other towns. Their drivers generally charge one dollar for a ride and can be rented for the day for about $5.00.
Cyclos are slow but cheap, and a fun and unique way to get around. Their drivers tend to congregate around tourist areas and some of them can be very pushy. Some speak English and offer their services as guides. Make sure to negotiate the price before setting off. Cambodian cyclos are identical to those found in Vietnam.
Public Buses Introduced to Phnom Penh
In February 2014, Suy Se of AFP wrote: “Motorcycles, cars, tuk-tuks and the humble rickshaw dominate its traffic-clogged roads, but now the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh is launching a new weapon in the fight against chronic congestion: its first public buses in over a decade. Cambodia is lagging behind many of its Southeast Asian neighbours who long ago turned to public transport in a bid to ease traffic gridlock in major cities. The last time the kingdom tried to introduce public buses in the capital Phnom Penh in 2001, they were a flop. [Source: Suy Se, AFP, February 8, 2014 >>>]
“However, it remains to be seen how popular the service will be in a city where the “moto-dup” is still king thanks to drivers waiting on str Cambodia Angkor Air Cambodia Angkor Air is the national flag carrier airline of Cambodia. Headquartered in Phnom Penh, the airline is owned by the Cambodian government (51 percent) and Vietnam Airlines (49 percent). Cambodia Angkor Air was founded on 31 July 2009, replacing national airline Royal Air Cambodge Cambodia Angkor Air concentrates on serving tourist routes within Cambodia, most notably catering for visitors of Angkor Wat. It serves the following destinations. A) Cambodia: 1) Phnom Penh – Phnom Penh International Airport; 2) Siem Reap – Siem Reap International Airport; and 3) Sihanoukville – Sihanoukville International Airport. B) Thailand: Bangkok – Suvarnabhumi Airport. C) Vietnam: 1) Ho Chi Minh City – Tan Son Nhat International Airport; and 2) Hanoi – Noi Bai International Airport. There are plans to start services to : A) China: Guangzhou – Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Future; B) Hong Kong – Hong Kong International Airport Future; C) Singapore – Singapore Changi Airport Future
Railroads in Cambodia
Cambodia’s single railway line runs for 160 miles between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand coast. Completed in 1969, a year before the Cambodian civil war began, the train passes through lovely southern Cambodian countryside and is particularly beautiful after Kampot, where the tracks wind along the sea at the edge of the Elephant Mountains. Trains from Phnom Penh to Battambang Province depart from Phnom Penh about 5:00am or 6:00am with travel taking much of the day.
Riding the Cambodian Tuk-Tuk
Tuk tuk is the most popular mode of transport in Cambodia, with the two-wheel carriages being pulled out by motorbike. Again, there’s no shortage of tuk tuks — although the number drastically decreases after about 10pm — waiting to take tourists about, usually at heavily inflated prices.
The tuktuk is really a stylized two-wheeled carriage that is drawn by a motorcycle attached to it by a specially designed joint. It can snugly sit six normal-sized passengers, and only four if the passengers have really big-built bodies.
The seats are upholstered to be soft and they are arranged as two seats facing each other, one facing forward and the other facing aft. The space betwen them, making the center of the carriage, gives enough room to accommodate the knees of passengers pointing at each other without difficulty of movement.
It has a canvas roof and the headroom is enough for effective avoidance of the welded iron structures that make the internal frameworks of the rooftop. The rear part behind the back seat is open and sturdy arm rests secure the passengers on the sides. Tarps are rolled up at the back and sides ready to be rolled down in case of rain.
Local tip: Make sure you negotiate a price before getting in the tuk tuk to avoid any awkward over-charging issues when you alight. Also, carry around a pocketful of small dollar bills and riel because it’s rare your driver will have change.
Boat
There’s nothing more exciting than getting out on the water while on holiday. Luckily, there are various options for travelling by boat in Cambodia, from the coastline to the huge Tonle Sap Lake. You can also reach Koh Rong Sanloaeum – a beautiful island with a range of activities on offer – via an exhilarating speedboat ride