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How To Get From Laos To Cambodia

By Jonny Blair


There are obviously a few routes you can take to go between these two countries Laos and Cambodia. I was staying in Don Det down near the Cambodia border so I did the Nong Nok Khieng to Trapeang Kreal crossing. This is also a money saving tip by the way as you want to cross your borders and get your visas in the cheapest way possible. For this basis of this post and all my world borders, I'm talking about using a British or Irish passport as those are the two I travel on. I happen to know that Russians and Luxembourg passports don't need visas for Laos and that other nationalities will pay different amounts for their Cambodian Visa. []

To get a bus that goes across the border from Don Det to Cambodia just shop around to find one.

What do you need to get from Laos to Cambodia?

- Your valid passport

- 1 or 2 passport photos

- $27 Dollars US

- All the forms filled in

How to sort out the Visa for Cambodia?

The best advice is to do things yourself - don't let the bus drivers or tour guides take extra unnecessary money off you. Laos and Cambodia are cheap but you can save even more money by paying for the visa yourself. They will give you the forms to fill in at Ban Nakasang - do that and get ready for Cambodia.

Do you have to pay to leave Laos at Nong Nok Khieng?

They told us we were free to walk across without the departure stamp but that we would be charged in Cambodia. We had to bite the bullet and in the end paid them $2 US Dollars each. Just to leave Laos. A horrible end to a time in a country I don't have a lot of positives for.

On the weekend the corrupt Laos officials will try and charge you $2 US this is only on Saturday and Sunday so try and avoid those days and you'll already have saved $2.

Crossing the border itself from Laos to Cambodia:

It's just a mere 1 minute walk across a bridge and it won't be too busy. Once you arrive on the Cambodian side you just pay them $25 and they check your forms and photo then they put your visa on ready to go and explore Cambodia!

You will be in the area known as Trapeang Kreal.

Just so you are aware this is not really a village at all - it's just the border crossing but ultimately you board your bus there and head onwards, south through Cambodia. I don't know if this is unusual but our bus waited for about two hours there at the border so we were sitting around for two hours. I quite enjoyed this as my Irish travel buddies (who got the bus with me but sorted their visas through the bus driver) were waiting for me there! So with two Irish guys and an Irish girl sitting on the border having just entered Cambodia (I was on country number 68), it was time for a beer!!

After arriving in Cambodia at Trapaing Kreal you may have to wait for a few hours for your onward bus so just relax. Time to admire your visa, read your guidebook and have a beer and some local food before your onward journey. The bus down south to Phnom Penh could take up to 12 hours but you'll love it.

Total price I paid to get from Laos to Cambodia:

$27 US Dollars ($2 US to leave Laos, $25 for the Cambodian Visa. The cheapest price you can get it for is $25.




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