koastal wrote: want to either do Battambang or Mondulkiri / Ratanakiri but I am guessing I dont have enough time for all three as I want some down time.
Not in 8-10 days. Two might be possible if you didn't want much down time.
I found an old thread that talked of the horrendous road quality between Rattanakiri and Battambang
There is no road directly between these two places.
Have the roads improved ?
Evidently, the road up to Rattanakiri has been well upgraded between Kratie and Stung Treng. That was always the worst part. The trip up there would bring you through three other provinces en route, and you could stop for a night in at least two anmd do some sightseeing. K. Cham, Kratie, and Stung Treng are all interesting places with quite a few attractions. I haven't been on the road between Stung Treng and Banlung in about eighteen months, but when I did it before it wasn't overly challenging. The problem is that it's now raining quite a lot, and it becomes very slippery in parts.
The road to Mondulkiri (again, it's been about eighteen months) was similar: hardpacked dirt and gravel, well graded, but suffering from the effects of the rainy season. You'd also have a stop in K. Cham enroute.
The Battambang road (Ntl Hwy 5) has been in really good shape for at least three years. Stops in K. Chhnang (I was there again recently and did some excellent sightseeing) and Pursat.
What would those of you that ride regularly recommend ?
I guess that it'd be more practical to choose one of the three desired destinations and combine it with exploration of some of the other provinces along the way. The three places you want to visit are a bit farflung to combine in a 8-10 day trip.
i dont want to be riding every day all day so if there is a good spot i can ride to and then chill out where is ?
There is decent accomodation in all the provincial capitals. So you never have to go far. There are also passable guesthouses in smaller provincial towns.
If i went down to Sihanoukville first can i then somehow ride the eastern coast on a semi decent road up to Battambang ?
Unfortunately, Battambang is in the northwest. So riding up the eastern coast wouldn't get you anywhere near the place. From Sihanoukville, you can take the road to Kampot or the road to Phnom Penh. The latter road splits at the halfway point in Sre Ambel, and you can take that fork to Ko Kong, from which there are no alternate routes except the absolutely brutal Cardamom Mtn. trails, which would, however, get you to Battambang eventually. That road's out of the question at this time of the year, and you have to be in good shape and very confident to try it even in the best conditions. So, in short, Sihanoukville would be out of the way if you were intending to go to Battambang, Mondulkiri or Rattanakiri.
Also, and i know this question kind of negates the above BUT i really liked Kampot and was wondering if anyone has done NYE on Bokor MT ? Is it worth it ? It it a good night or a bit of a bunfight ?
Cold. Wet. With lots of tourists on drugs dancing to rave music. If you're into that sort of thing ...