Planning to travel from Koh Kong to Ko Chang and have a few questions.
This border is a minefield of scams and corruption. Crossed it in the other direction with minor incident almost getting into a fight with a tout who was demanding my passport and told to feck off multiple times.
However is there anything to be wary of on the way out? I will be with Mrs Squirrel who has a Khmer passport and if Poipet is anything to go by they will try to extort a few baht from her.
Also after crossing into thailand are there minibuses from the border directly to Ko Chang? Or do I as it would appear take one to Trat then get a songthoew? I guess there are dozens of touts trying to give me overpriced bus tickets but where can I find the office to get my bus directly?
Many thanks.
Koh Kong (Hat Lek) to Ko Chang
-
- I live above an internet cafe
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2014 10:07 pm
-
- I need professional help
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 1045
- Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:03 am
I assume you have a visa already, so at immigation, open the glass door (between the windows) w/$1 in your PPs and they'll do you immediately. There will be mini-buses when you cross, but try to get one that's full or almost, as they won't leave until they are. They'll drop you at the bus station in Trat. Then you have to get a songthaew to the pier. For us it was a tuk tuk, to a bus, to a tuk tuk, to a minibus, to a songthaew, to a ferry, to a songthaew. 7 hrs over & 9.5 back from SHV.
If you can avoid the busiest times the border is very simple to navigate and no need to pay any bribes in my experience. But if you time it wrong, such as when a bus load of backpackers have just been dumped off, you will need to wait a while of pay a bribe (as I did the other day). I have been told that the middle of the day is the time to avoid.
You may find bus touts offering tickets to all sorts of places, including Koh Chang, but in reality they all go via Trat bus station, so there is no advantage to buying a ticket that takes you all the way. Better to just buy a ticket to the bus station and jump on another bus or song thoew there.
One final tip: when you get off the ferry, try to get into a full song thoew. The cost is split between the number of passengers they carry. So if you are slow off the boat and on your own, you will have to pay the full price yourself (or wait for the next ferry to arrive).
You may find bus touts offering tickets to all sorts of places, including Koh Chang, but in reality they all go via Trat bus station, so there is no advantage to buying a ticket that takes you all the way. Better to just buy a ticket to the bus station and jump on another bus or song thoew there.
One final tip: when you get off the ferry, try to get into a full song thoew. The cost is split between the number of passengers they carry. So if you are slow off the boat and on your own, you will have to pay the full price yourself (or wait for the next ferry to arrive).
TheGrimReaper wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2019 1:45 pmSlavedog, you do not belong on this forum as you talk too much sense.
You will find that the Cambodian immigration officer will ask for 10,000 riel from your wife. This is for his time and trouble in completing the departure card form for her. It would be funny to see their reaction if she handed over her passport with the form already completed.
You want to avoid arriving at the border at the same time as one of the buses from PP or SHV. If you can arrive before 11 am that would be good. In that case there is no need for you to pay any bribe to expedite your exit.
I generally use one of the ladies with carts to carry my bags across the border. Not expensive and most relaxing. She will carry your bags right up to the minibus at Hat Lek. I have only ever seen one minibus available at a time for the 120 THB trip to Trat bus station. It's luck of the draw as to how full it is or when it will be ready to go. Never seems to take long. And, yes, do not buy any tickets from touts and buy each sector separately. Be polite with touts, no point in antagonising them.
You want to avoid arriving at the border at the same time as one of the buses from PP or SHV. If you can arrive before 11 am that would be good. In that case there is no need for you to pay any bribe to expedite your exit.
I generally use one of the ladies with carts to carry my bags across the border. Not expensive and most relaxing. She will carry your bags right up to the minibus at Hat Lek. I have only ever seen one minibus available at a time for the 120 THB trip to Trat bus station. It's luck of the draw as to how full it is or when it will be ready to go. Never seems to take long. And, yes, do not buy any tickets from touts and buy each sector separately. Be polite with touts, no point in antagonising them.
- Biker
- I've got internet at work
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 339
- Joined: Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:18 am
- Location: Koh Kong Cambodia.
If you are leaving from Koh Kong "DO NOT" have anything to do with Ritthy Koh Kong Eco Adventure Tours" (on the river front) as he is a scammer and liar. I just did this border crossing a few days ago to go shopping in Trat and had no problems with immigration at all, no need for bribes or such. Now getting back to "Ritthy" was asked by 2 Germans (across the border in Thailand) where to catch a bus with a ticket purchased from Ritthy, I had never seen this type of ticket before and also none of the bus touts had either, so they bought a bogus ticket from this crook. So beware. Just buy tickets at where ever you stop and not an onward ticket from !!!!!
If you are returning to Cambodia at this border without a Cambodian visa you will be in for a big shock, dealing with these immigration crooks.
Baht 1500 for a tourist visa.
If you are returning to Cambodia at this border without a Cambodian visa you will be in for a big shock, dealing with these immigration crooks.
Baht 1500 for a tourist visa.
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
-
- I live above an internet cafe
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2014 10:07 pm
Just a short report on the border situation. Cambodian side seems to have cleaned up its act a bit. Nothing asked from me or my khmer wife. The visa touts seem to have diminished and didn't see the folks coming in getting bothered much. Still some khmer offering to exchange money at a terrible rate and sell onward presumably fictional bus tickets. However much better than my previous crossings. The thai side was totally devoid of touts. Walked 100 meters up the road and buses were waiting. Price clear at 120 baht to Trat.
-
- Feminist Watch List
- Reactions: 38
- Posts: 5697
- Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2003 8:56 pm
- Location: Paradise sur Mer; aka Sihanoukville
Last time I did it in that direction it took me 23 minutes for both sides including Thai Customs for my KH Bike. I did not spend a cent, nor Riel nor Bhat.
Note to self: Must be nice to morons.
Same here, it seems the nightmare days are over! very quick and painless crossing, especially as I was there at a time when no large buses had arrived.
The production of too many useful things results in too many useless people.(Marx)
-
- 5 minutes to kill
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2015 2:44 am
Hello,
Any update about crossing at Koh kong border ?
I am not an avenger abd have no problem giving few more $$$, but what is the minimum that they usually accept ?
Also, can you get at this border an ordinary/business visa to extend later for 1 year ?
Thanks.
Any update about crossing at Koh kong border ?
I am not an avenger abd have no problem giving few more $$$, but what is the minimum that they usually accept ?
Also, can you get at this border an ordinary/business visa to extend later for 1 year ?
Thanks.
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 0 Replies
- 1324 Views
-
Last post by landseller
Sat May 11, 2019 6:41 pm
-
-
Chang guzzling Indian flashes her Punani Korma
by ricecakes » Wed Aug 12, 2020 9:49 am » in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Lao forums - 6 Replies
- 1777 Views
-
Last post by Felgerkarb
Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:33 am
-
-
- 0 Replies
- 836 Views
-
Last post by pedros
Thu Jun 17, 2021 6:46 pm
-
-
Looking for builders in Koh Kong
by Nearly Retired » Fri Mar 26, 2021 4:30 pm » in Houses, Apartments and Real Estate - 0 Replies
- 1571 Views
-
Last post by Nearly Retired
Fri Mar 26, 2021 4:30 pm
-
-
- 40 Replies
- 8411 Views
-
Last post by scobienz
Thu Jul 11, 2019 12:22 pm