I have a friend on Koh Phangan who needs to do her first ever visa run, and she wants to see Cambodia so she's headed there (for a single-entry tourist visa).

What's a cheap yet reasonably convenient way to do the run? She's going this week.

Edited January 9, 201412 yr by PoorSucker
edited on request

Not sure that Cambodia is ever cheap. When visiting, there is the 25 USD entry permit and the 20 USD exit permit (or is this only by air?). Sorry - never done an overland run from Samui.

Perhaps travel forum will be the go. Will move to there & leave link on Samui forum.

Thanks Rooo. I can't edit my post anymore, could you please change the post so it says "I have a friend on Koh Phangan"... Since now I'll receive replies from people who don't live here. Grazie.

Edited January 8, 201412 yr by AngThong

Not sure that Cambodia is ever cheap. When visiting, there is the 25 USD entry permit and the 20 USD exit permit (or is this only by air?). Sorry - never done an overland run from Samui.

No exit fee if travelling by land. Just need to pay for the visa to enter, maybe its too late to get an e-visa (advisable), but its usually also available at the border (at least in Poi Pet)

Edited January 8, 201412 yr by CaptainS

Anyhow it makes only sense if she wants to see the country, otherwise Malaysia is much easier.

Depending on the budget its a long way to get there. Could take a night bus to Bangkok and continue to Cambodia the next morning. Minivans to Cambodia depart many times a day from Victory Monument, taking about 3 - 4 hours to the border.

The wikitravel article of Poipet gives lotsa useful information:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Poipet

Another option would be to fly from Suratthani to Bangkok and fly further to Cambodia, wherever she wants to go there. Since you are asking for cheap I guess flying Bangkok Airways from Samui is out of the question.

Thanks, I'll pass on the info. How much are the minibuses to the border?

Yeah, she wants to see Cambodia, spend a week or two there.

Thanks, I'll pass on the info. How much are the minibuses to the border?

Yeah, she wants to see Cambodia, spend a week or two there.

As far as I remember its about 400 baht, maybe 440.

Swell, thanks a ton. Sounds like she can't fail to reach Cambodia in time if she takes the night bus to Bangkok (she wants to leave Phangan on the second last day of her current visa).

Edited January 8, 201412 yr by AngThong

Tell her to be careful around the border (on both sides and inbetween). As long as she reads and follows the wikitravel page she should be fine. Just ignore people talking to her and move on, and she should always watch her valuables, better not have people coming to close. Have been there twice and didnt feel so comfortable, even as an experienced traveller. I kept on looking around me 360 degrees all the time which seemed useful.

Tell her to be careful around the border (on both sides and inbetween). As long as she reads and follows the wikitravel page she should be fine. Just ignore people talking to her and move on, and she should always watch her valuables, better not have people coming to close. Have been there twice and didnt feel so comfortable, even as an experienced traveller. I kept on looking around me 360 degrees all the time which seemed useful.

Brilliant, I'll have her read this thread first thing tomorrow.

are u saying she is in Koh Phang nga?> Ie near samui?

nearest, easiest in Kota Bahru in Malaysia

Cambodia is a LONG ways

Cambodia is a great place, have been many many times.

Best is to fly if she has the cash,

otherwise train up to Bangkok, catch the 5 am train to Aran an tuk tuk to border, cross over to Poi Pet ( pay $20 for visa) than shared taxi to Siem Rep ( $12/seat) than travel by bus down to Phnom Penh ( 6-8 hours $7-10)

Note to get a regular tourist visa in PhnomPenh takes 3 days, can be done faster if u go thru one of the many travel agents in town but expect to pay more

Thanks. She wants to visit Cambodia as she's never been there. I'll pass the info to her