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?
- A valid passport
- A passport photo (carry two just in case, I always carry them)
- In US Dollars You'll need $27
- All the forms filled in
Sorting out your Cambodian Visa:
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?
Realistically it should be free but the officials are corrupt and will try and charge you $2 US Dollars so be ready for them and argue as much as you can to try and avoid it.
So there shouldn't be a charge. However if it is a Saturday or Sunday they will try to charge you an "overtime fee" and that was what happened to us. So if you want a tip - don't cross the border at the weekend. You'll save $2 US Dollars.
Crossing the border itself from Laos to Cambodia:
It's a very short walk from the Laos border point across the road and bridge into Cambodia - an easy walk to do and suddenly all you need to do is get your visa. Pay them $25 at the booth, get the visa and on you go into the Kingdom of Cambodia!
You have arrived in the Cambodian border point of Trapeang Kreal.
This is just the border crossing village of Trapaing Kreak and there's nothing much to it. Be ready to wait a few hours for the bus and relax with some food and beers! You are now in Cambodia.
The sun was beating down and it was hot. I had paid $27 US Dollars to leave Laos and enter Cambodia and we then learned that a beer here was only 50 cents. Still on a slight budget, Anthony (from Cork) and I had a beer each and sat in the shade. I read my lonely planet book and we chatted about all things in life and relaxed. Within two hours we were safely on the bus to Phnom Penh. The bus took a further 12 hours that day to get us to the city of Phnom Penh just before midnight, but it was a great trip. If you want to break up the journey and get off the beaten track a bit - there are buses to Stung Treng, Kratie and Kompong Cham as well. I was happily heading straight to Phnom Penh though!
Total price I paid to get from Laos to Cambodia:
The grand total was $27 US, which was $2 US to leave Laos and $25 for the Visa for Cambodia. The cheapest you can really get this for is $25 US.
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?
- A valid passport
- A passport photo (carry two just in case, I always carry them)
- In US Dollars You'll need $27
- All the forms filled in
Sorting out your Cambodian Visa:
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?
Realistically it should be free but the officials are corrupt and will try and charge you $2 US Dollars so be ready for them and argue as much as you can to try and avoid it.
So there shouldn't be a charge. However if it is a Saturday or Sunday they will try to charge you an "overtime fee" and that was what happened to us. So if you want a tip - don't cross the border at the weekend. You'll save $2 US Dollars.
Crossing the border itself from Laos to Cambodia:
It's a very short walk from the Laos border point across the road and bridge into Cambodia - an easy walk to do and suddenly all you need to do is get your visa. Pay them $25 at the booth, get the visa and on you go into the Kingdom of Cambodia!
You have arrived in the Cambodian border point of Trapeang Kreal.
This is just the border crossing village of Trapaing Kreak and there's nothing much to it. Be ready to wait a few hours for the bus and relax with some food and beers! You are now in Cambodia.
The sun was beating down and it was hot. I had paid $27 US Dollars to leave Laos and enter Cambodia and we then learned that a beer here was only 50 cents. Still on a slight budget, Anthony (from Cork) and I had a beer each and sat in the shade. I read my lonely planet book and we chatted about all things in life and relaxed. Within two hours we were safely on the bus to Phnom Penh. The bus took a further 12 hours that day to get us to the city of Phnom Penh just before midnight, but it was a great trip. If you want to break up the journey and get off the beaten track a bit - there are buses to Stung Treng, Kratie and Kompong Cham as well. I was happily heading straight to Phnom Penh though!
Total price I paid to get from Laos to Cambodia:
The grand total was $27 US, which was $2 US to leave Laos and $25 for the Visa for Cambodia. The cheapest you can really get this for is $25 US.
About the Author:
For more stories like How to get from Laos to Cambodiavisit Jonny Blair's fantastic travel site Don't Stop Living, one of the Best travel blogs on the internet with perpetual travel tips.
