Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING AROUND
Air
Airlines in Cambodia
Domestic flights offer a quick way to travel around the country. The problem is that the airlines themselves
seem to come and go pretty quickly as well. There is currently only one fully-operational domestic airline,
Cambodia Angkor Air
( 023-212564;
www.cambodiaangkorair.com
)
, and this company operates almost
as an offshoot of Vietnam Airlines. It serves the Phnom Penh to Siem Reap route. Flights between Siem Reap
and Sihanoukville have finally taken off after much travel-industry lobbying.
There are up to four flights a day between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (from US$75 one way). It's usually
possible to get on a flight at short notice. Book ahead in peak season. There are currently three flights per
week between Siem Reap and Sihanoukville (from US$110 one way).
Helicopter
Helicopters Cambodia
( 012 814500;
www.helicopterscambodia.com
) has offices in Phnom Penh and
Siem Reap and operates reliable choppers that are available for charter.
Helistar
(
088 8880016;
www.helistarcambodia.com
)
is a newer company offering similar services.
Bicycle
Cambodia is a great country for adventurous cyclists to explore. Needless to say, given the country's le-
gendary potholes, a mountain bike is the best bet. Top bikes, safety equipment and authentic spare parts are
now readily available in Phnom Penh at very reasonable prices. Many roads remain in bad condition, but
there is usually a flat unpaved trail along the side. Travelling at such a gentle speed allows for much more in-
teraction with the locals. Although bicycles are common in Cambodian villages, cycling tourists are still very
much a novelty and will be wildly welcomed in most small villages. In many parts of the country there are
new dirt tracks being laid down for motorcycles and bicycles, and these are a wonderful way to travel into re-
mote areas.
Much of Cambodia is pancake flat or only moderately hilly. Safety, however, is a considerable concern on
the newer surfaced roads, as local traffic travels at high speed. Bicycles can be transported around the country
in the back of pick-ups or on the roof of minibuses.
Cycling around Angkor is a rewarding experience as it really helps to get a measure of the size and scale of
the temple complex. Mountain biking is likely to take off in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri Provinces over the
coming years, as there are some great trails off the beaten track. It is already a reality around Chi Phat in the
