There are a load of different ways to get from Laos to Cambodia so this post will concentrate on the one in southern Laos near the resort of Don Det. From there you can cross between Nong Nok Khieng and Trapaing Kreal and enter Cambodia. A few travel tips and money savers are revealed here. []
There are lots of buses available to book in Don Det and Don Khong. Shop around and book your bus!
When you go to Cambodia from Laos what do you need?
- A valid passport
- One passport photo (or two just in case)
- $27 Dollars US
- All the forms filled in
How to get the Cambodian Visa:
OK please listen to me here and do it yourself. Don't pay $30 or more to a bus driver or the company to do it for you. Yes they will get you across the border no problem and with the valid visa, but you're paying them money that you can save. Remember Cambodia and Laos are cheap and you can get a hostel, a beer and a meal any evening for $5 dollars, so keep the money for yourself. Tell them you are doing it yourself. You will get all your Laos and Cambodia visa forms at Ban Nakasang - fill them in while you wait for the bus.
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.
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.
How to cross the border from Laos into Cambodia:
You simply walk along the road across a bridge past the obvious border between the two countries, a flag on either side plus barriers mark the border. It was so quiet and not busy at all. The bus I had booked to Phnom Penh was waiting on the other side of the border for me, and once in Cambodia head to the immigration hut on your right hand side. Pay them $25, fill in the forms, give them a passport photo and you're in! Don't let them charge you any "animal fee" or "immigration fee" as there isn't any. $25 for your Cambodian Visa and that's it.
You are now in a place known as 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!
The total cost to get from Laos into 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.
There are lots of buses available to book in Don Det and Don Khong. Shop around and book your bus!
When you go to Cambodia from Laos what do you need?
- A valid passport
- One passport photo (or two just in case)
- $27 Dollars US
- All the forms filled in
How to get the Cambodian Visa:
OK please listen to me here and do it yourself. Don't pay $30 or more to a bus driver or the company to do it for you. Yes they will get you across the border no problem and with the valid visa, but you're paying them money that you can save. Remember Cambodia and Laos are cheap and you can get a hostel, a beer and a meal any evening for $5 dollars, so keep the money for yourself. Tell them you are doing it yourself. You will get all your Laos and Cambodia visa forms at Ban Nakasang - fill them in while you wait for the bus.
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.
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.
How to cross the border from Laos into Cambodia:
You simply walk along the road across a bridge past the obvious border between the two countries, a flag on either side plus barriers mark the border. It was so quiet and not busy at all. The bus I had booked to Phnom Penh was waiting on the other side of the border for me, and once in Cambodia head to the immigration hut on your right hand side. Pay them $25, fill in the forms, give them a passport photo and you're in! Don't let them charge you any "animal fee" or "immigration fee" as there isn't any. $25 for your Cambodian Visa and that's it.
You are now in a place known as 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!
The total cost to get from Laos into 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.
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