Friday, March 21, 2008Carl Parkes -- FriskoDude
Almost all visitors to the famed Cambodian temple on the Thai/Cambodian border arrive from Sisaket on the Thai side, but some folks think it's good fun to spend several days on the back of a rented motorcycle, dodging horrible roads, and certainly hurting like hell to make the arduous journey from Siem Reap to Preah Vihear. I mentioned a Bangkok Post letter last month that described such a journey, and today I found another brave soul who describes the ordeal over at Matador Trips.
Whoever coined the term ‘dancing roads’ to describe Cambodia’s unmaintained thoroughfares was a master euphemist. Backpackers have supposedly made it to Preah Vihear via moped, but ruts a foot deep or more swallow tires to their axles and destroy shock absorbers. There’s a fine line between adventurous and crazy: don’t attempt this trip on anything less than a dirtbike (or a 4×4 if you have a bigger group).
Long days of riding will exhaust you, and it just takes one bad move to send you flying over the handlebars. With the nearest medical facilities hundreds of kilometers away in Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, this is best avoided.
Unless you’re an experienced rider, hire a driver who knows what he’s doing. Whatever you do, don’t attempt this trip in the rainy season. Depending on your budget, you have a few options for finding a driver and bike in Siem Reap. Hidden Cambodia is a western run outfit, and will set you up with safety gear, guides, and bikes…all at premium prices. Rates range from USD 155 to USD 185 per person/per day depending on the number of travelers.
On a tighter budget, consider Chaioffroadtrip. Chai is a safe driver, and you won’t meet a more friendly or honest Cambodian. Chai quotes USD 80 per person per day on his website. All of the above prices include bike, driver, gas, food, accommodation, and admission fees. Another option is to watch for locals riding around Siem Reap or Anlong Veng on dirtbikes. Most are amenable to negotiating impromptu trips for the right price.
Whoever coined the term ‘dancing roads’ to describe Cambodia’s unmaintained thoroughfares was a master euphemist. Backpackers have supposedly made it to Preah Vihear via moped, but ruts a foot deep or more swallow tires to their axles and destroy shock absorbers. There’s a fine line between adventurous and crazy: don’t attempt this trip on anything less than a dirtbike (or a 4×4 if you have a bigger group).
Long days of riding will exhaust you, and it just takes one bad move to send you flying over the handlebars. With the nearest medical facilities hundreds of kilometers away in Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, this is best avoided.
Unless you’re an experienced rider, hire a driver who knows what he’s doing. Whatever you do, don’t attempt this trip in the rainy season. Depending on your budget, you have a few options for finding a driver and bike in Siem Reap. Hidden Cambodia is a western run outfit, and will set you up with safety gear, guides, and bikes…all at premium prices. Rates range from USD 155 to USD 185 per person/per day depending on the number of travelers.
On a tighter budget, consider Chaioffroadtrip. Chai is a safe driver, and you won’t meet a more friendly or honest Cambodian. Chai quotes USD 80 per person per day on his website. All of the above prices include bike, driver, gas, food, accommodation, and admission fees. Another option is to watch for locals riding around Siem Reap or Anlong Veng on dirtbikes. Most are amenable to negotiating impromptu trips for the right price.
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