Tuk-tuk tips: hold on tight in Asia’s three-wheeled taxis

Dec 8, 2011 10:45:53 AM

Catherine Bodry
Lonely Planet Author

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Zipping through traffic in an adorable three-wheeled vehicle is a hallmark experience for many travellers in Asia and particularly in Thailand, where this type of taxi is called a tuk-tuk. These charming modes of transport and the etiquette of hailing them and bartering the fare can be a mystery to first-time visitors to Asia. But with Lonely Planet’s tuk-tuk survival tips you’ll be feeling the wind in your hair and weaving between cars in no time.

What is a tuk-tuk?

In various parts of Asia, the tuk-tuk also goes by the name rickshaw, trishaw or mototaxi, to name a few. These little sputtering taxis replaced the human-powered cycle rickshaws, as well as the human-pulled regular rickshaw. Able to zoom around cars in traffic jams and carry up to four passengers, the tuk-tuk sits between the motorbike and the regular taxi in terms of capacity and agility. They’re generally used for shorter distances in towns and cities, as their top speed is about 30 miles per hour.

The tuk-tuk usually runs on a scooter-style two-stroke engine, and makes a puttering noise from which it gets its name. Thailand is also working on lowering emissions from the exhaust-spewing tuk-tuks, with Bangkok’s fleet now running on quiet four-stroke engines and compressed natural gas.

Are tuks-tuks safe?

The safety of a tuk-tuk is questionable: passengers are exposed to the elements, with little or no barriers between them and whatever comes their way. It’s impossible to avoid pollution (especially when stuck in Bangkok’s infamous traffic) and weather. Accidents are relatively few, but that’s due to a low top speed more than anything. In general, a metered taxi offers more protection, plus air-con.

Styles of tuk-tuks

Tuk-tuks vary from country to country, and occasionally even within countries. In Thailand, for example, a small island called Ko Si Chang is home to a breed of larger, beefier tuk-tuks that use six-cylinder engines in order to handle the island’s steep hills.

In Cambodia, the tuk-tuk is actually a motorbike that pulls a separate cabin-style trailer. In India, where it is simply called a rickshaw, the tuk-tuk is painted black and yellow and has a slightly enclosed passenger area. In the Philippines, some tuk-tuks are actually a sidecar and can carry up to seven passengers if you count seating on the motorbike that pulls it. Thailand’s tuk-tuks tend to have more leg room (but a lower head area) than their neighbours’ versions.

Many drivers also personalise their tuk-tuks with varying forms of ‘bling’, from flashing neon to strings of fairy lights to bumpin’ speakers.

How to take a tuk-tuk

The tuk-tuk is a tourist vehicle; you’ll rarely see a local ride one unless they are burdened with packages. Thus, if you’re obviously a visitor, it’s not difficult to find a tuk-tuk. Drivers are notorious for seeking out passengers in touristy areas – often a driver will honk and/or yell ‘hello!’ to get pedestrians’ attention. They also tend to congregate outside popular tourist destinations. If you need to flag one down, do so with your arm outstretched, palm facing down. Then waggle your fingers or wrist in a flapping motion, as though you are waving goodbye to the sidewalk or patting a small child on the head.

Beware the fare

There are no meters in tuk-tuks so you’ll need to barter for your fare, and this can sometimes be difficult. Always settle on a fare before you climb aboard, or your driver might surprise you with a hefty charge at your destination. You’ll also need to beware of scams – though you should research countries individually, one popular and ubiquitous con is to charge passengers an extremely low rate and then take them to gem shops or tailors, where they will be heavily pressured into buying something. The driver will receive a kickback – often a gas voucher – in exchange. In general, if a fare seems too low, it probably is. (And if it seems too high, it probably is as well.)

If you’re revving for the ride of your life aboard a zippy little taxi, why not plan your Asian adventure with Lonely Planet’s Southeast Asia on a Shoestring travel guide and speak the lingo with the Lonely Planet Southeast Asia phrasebook?

Have you ever feared for your life when riding a rickshaw, or are they the best way to get around? Let us know in the comments!

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Comments

9 December 2011 3:51AM viratanka Report this comment
make sure you don't get ripped off.. know the fare.. the similar experience with bajaj in Indonesia. Not quite tuktuk, but a lot of similarities ttp://tinyurl.com/d9n6vr3
17 January 2012 7:39PM bigfatfurrycheese Report this comment
As a tourist; tuk-tuks are a great way to get around the towns & cities in Cambodia (the tourist frequented ones anyway). In 5 weeks I don't think I ever had to wave one down., as almost every driver called out "you want tuk-tuk?", sometimes "you want boom-boom?", "you want girl?", or "you want happy?" (I believe marijuana). Most driver's will not persist if you decline, except about girls, which they have a knack for bringing up in the middle of conversation.
Find a driver that speaks decent English, as they will understand your directions & in my experience; many of them were friendly, I learnt a lot about them & their country from just chatting.
I would suggest negotiating a price up front, if the driver won't agree to a fair price try walking away. If you're somewhere out of the way (say the Siem Reap War Museum, or a bus station), expect the drivers to demand a higher fare, try walking out into a public area & you'll may find a more reasonable fare.
17 January 2012 7:40PM bigfatfurrycheese Report this comment
P.S. There is such a thing as a free ride (if you're going to the right destination anyway). I arrived at the Battamang dock with a boat-load of other tourists & was greeted by a small mob of drivers, each one offering a free lift to their particular hotel.
17 January 2012 8:18PM ljoh Report this comment
I saw locals using tuk-tuks in Phnom Penh. Granted not as many as tourists. If you're staying in a place for awhile and know you're going to need transport frequently, find a driver that's reliable and is charging fairly and get his cell phone #. They're usually glad to give it to you. My longest tuk-tuk ride was about 14 mi. between Kep and Kampot. Interesting trip!
17 January 2012 10:13PM paulpt Report this comment
In Cambodia the tuk-tuk is (strictly speaking) known as a "remork" or "moto remork" - although most locals understand the term tuk-tuk. I made a 50k journey from Kampot to the Vietnam border (and back!) in one on a very wet day - great fun :-) See vid - http://www.voyageneverends.com/2011/06/cambodia-visa-run-day-trip-to-vietnam.html
17 January 2012 11:06PM jdubyu Report this comment
In India they are not just tourist vehicles, they are used by a lot of people. They are quicker than the cycle rickshaws and in my experience the drivers are more honest and reliable than proper taxi drivers. The taxi drivers' main preoccupation especially in Delhi, seems to be to get you to their cousin's travel agent where you will be talked into taking a houseboat in Srinagar which, despite protestations to the contrary, is still not a particularly destination. Try to have enough small notes to pay, when tuk-tuk drivers claim not to have enough change they're usually telling the truth.
18 January 2012 1:08AM monilonis Report this comment
I haven't been to Asia but had a ride on one of those in Peru - they're very popular over there too! Not just for tourists either, but for locals as well, as they're much cheaper than a regular taxi. If you're in Peru and fancy a short trip in tuk-tuk, you must visit Ica - apparently this reasonably small desert town has the biggest number of tuk-tuks in South America!
18 January 2012 6:26AM JerryMexico Report this comment
Sobre todo en Bangkok, son una mafia los Tuk-Tuk, te llevan a donde quieren, te hacen hacer pasar un mal rato, porque les dan comisión por llevarte a lugares aunque no compres, como joyerías, telas para que te hagan un traje, etc. Es mejor y mas seguro un taxi ademas de que llevas aire acond.
18 January 2012 6:43AM vooranneke Report this comment
This so brings back memories of my first trip to asia - thailand to be exactly. Me & my friend got lost walking and wanted to take a tuk-tuk back to the hotel. Problem was that the taxi-driver just kept smiling and saying yes when we sincerely starting doubting if he knew where to go or understand anything we said. More than an hour, us trying to give directions from the back and a visit to the embassy to ask directions further, we were finally on destination. But.. he didnt charge us and we had a lot of fun. But perhaps a tip to check if the driver speaks a little english. In later years I have travelled on tuk-tuks in more countries of which I thought the tuk-tuk rides around Angkor Wat were the best - we were lucky with a driver / great local guide in one!
18 January 2012 10:23AM toddles1968 Report this comment
I lived in India for a while and the rickshaws are used by locals more than tourists, in fact I became a spectacle for the locals each time I rode in one. It is generally expected that westerners would use a private car and driver. It was always a hoot riding shorts distances in a rickshaw :)
22 January 2012 6:01AM vantraveler Report this comment
Tuk-tuks are a great way to get around in Central America also. They were available in Copan, Honduras as well as many locations in Guatemala. The further north you go into the Yucatan Peninsula they seem to be replaced by three-wheeled bicycles.
27 February 2012 1:17PM tarrek2555 Report this comment
Thank you for nice article.