A review of the Japanese KiHa 183 series train that operates between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. In 2024 the Royal Railway of Cambodia acquired 11 KiHa 183 series train carriages from JR Hokkaido in Japan. The trains were converted from 1067mm gauge to metre gauge, and a test service began on the Phnom Penh to […]
Battambang to Phnom Penh by train
Battambang is on the Northern Line that operates between Poipet and Phnom Penh. Here is what to expect on the train from Battambang to Phnom Penh. Battambang – Phnom Penh train details The Northern Line is the train line from Phnom Penh to Poipet (on the Cambodia-Thailand border). There is usually one train per day […]
Train No. 275: Bangkok to Ban Klong Luk Border (train to the Thailand-Cambodia border)
The Bangkok to Ban Klong Luk Border train service goes from Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) to the Thailand-Cambodia border in Aranyaprathet. There are two trains a day in each direction, but the early morning service (Train No. 275) is the best if you are planning onward connections in Cambodia. Train number: 275 Service: Ordinary […]
Southeast Asia train travel guide
A guide to train travel Southeast Asia, featuring resources for buying tickets and reviews of rail travel in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia railways index Cambodia Indonesia Laos Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Southeast Asia train travel resources Southeast Asia train travel FAQs Future Southeast Asia railways Cambodia Railway Operator: Royal Railway. Buy Cambodia train […]
Where to stay in Phnom Penh: The best areas and hotels
Phnom Penh is a fascinating city that should be included in any trip to Cambodia. That sounds logical to include the capital and biggest city in Cambodia in your itinerary, but I’m surprised by how many people I meet who just go to Siem Reap and skip Phnom Penh. This Where To Stay guide is […]
Cambodia Railways: A guide to train travel in Cambodia
Cambodia has two railway lines that operate from Phnom Penh. There is a line from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville (Southern Line), and Phnom Penh to Poipet via Battambang (Northern Line). The railways of Cambodia were established during the French colonial era. The lines fell into disrepair during and after the Khmer Rouge era, and they […]
Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh by bus
Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh is 240 km apart by road, and getting the bus is the cheapest way to travel between the two cities. Despite the relatively close distance and flat terrain, the roads are congested and not built for highway cruising. Google Maps says the trip can be done in 5 […]
Notes on Kep – Fake beaches, ruined villas, crabs (of course), and a cool cafe of Cambodia
Kep is a province in Southern Cambodia, facing the Gulf of Thailand and surrounded by Kampot Province. It was actually part of Kampot Province up until 2008 when this little corner of Kampot was carved out to become the smallest province in Cambodia. [Kep Province, shown within Kampot and Cambodia (map via Wikimedia.)] I’ve not […]
Notes on Kampot – There’s been a vibe shift
Kampot is the capital city of Kampot Province in southern Cambodia. The city title doesn’t seem fitting for a place that is often described as sleepy. In Australia we would call it a big country town. It has a population of over 30,000 people, so it does earn its city status, and it feels more […]
Notes on Koh Rong – An island in transition
Koh Rong is an island off the coast of Sihanoukville in Cambodia. Its undeveloped beaches have been a backpacker favourite for years, offering an unvarnished island travel experience that is slowly disappearing in Southeast Asia. Despite a few previous visits to Sihanoukville, I had never been. I was in Sihanoukville at the start of 2022 […]
