Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The other option to Battambang is a share taxi (20,000r, one hour) or private taxi
(US$35). The taxi stand is opposite Psar Samaki on NH57.
A rough track goes from Treng District, about 25km east of Pailin, southward through
the Cardamom Mountains to Koh Kong via Samlaut and Pramoay.
There's a new sealed highway, NH59, that originates about 6km west of Pailin and runs
north to Poipet along the Thai border.
GETTING TO THAILAND: PAILIN TO CHANTHABURI
Getting to the border
This laid-back
Psar Pruhm/Ban Pakard border crossing
( 7am-8pm) is
102km southwest of Battambang and 18km northwest of Pailin via rapidly improving roads. Scams
are fewer here than in other remote borders.
First get to Pailin from Battambang (
Click here
). In Pailin, patient travellers might get a share taxi
(6000r) to the border. If nothing is going, take a
moto
(US$5), private taxi (US$10) or catch the buses
coming through at about 1.30pm.
At the border
You actually pay the true price (US$20) for a Cambodian visa here - rare for a remote
crossing. Formalities are extremely straightfoward and quick on both sides.
Moving on
On the Thai side, you can avoid being overcharged for transport to Chanthaburi (150B by
minibus, one hour) by hopping on a
moto
(50B) to the nearby
sŏrngtăaou
(pick-up truck) station.
From Chanthaburi's bus station there are buses to Bangkok.
On the Cambodian side,
motos
and taxis whisk you to Pailin from a stop about 150m east of the
border post, near the Victoria Casino entrance. If you cross early enough, the 7.30am public buses
from the border straight to Phnom Penh via Battambang are an option. A private taxi from the border
to Battambang costs US$40.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Samlaut
The northernmost tip of the Cardamom Mountains - home to elephants, gibbons, pan-
golins, hornbills and many other endangered creatures - covers the southern half of Pailin
Province (pretty much everything south of NH57). Known as the
Samlaut Multiple Use Area
(600 sq km), this expanse of forested mountains is contiguous with two Thai parks, in-
cluding Namtok Klong Kaew National Park, with which it may soon be joined in a cross-
border
Peace Park
, following a successful joint ranger-training initiative in December
2010. Countless landmines make the area too dangerous for ecotrekking.
