1

howdy simon. i was looking into this route last year before deciding
on myanmar. if stopping in pailin, you could cross the border and
head north (smaller roads, not hwy 317) along the border to wang
nam yen where there is at least one guesthouse. about 115 km.

from there you can take the northern route (via sa kaeo and hwy 359,
115 km) or the southern route (via tha thakiap and hwy 3259, 130 km)
to phanom sarakham.

southern route much more scenic thru national park/elephant habitat,
light traffic and few villages.

when will you be there? i'll be passing thru pailin at the end of february.

it seems there are two border crossings in that area (in addition to poipet):
.
Ban Pakard, Chantaburi, Thailand/Phsar Prom Border Crossing: Pailin, Cambodia
Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas available.
(This is the one you'll probably take.)
.
Ban Laem, Chantaburi, Thailand/Daun Lem, Battambang, Cambodia
. Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas available.
(This one is 50km north, within the wildlife sactuary. google maps: kamrieng)

2

Over Christmas I'm doing a circuit from Bangkok to Khorat (Bus or Train) and then riding via Phimai, Phanom Rung, Anlong Veng, Siem Reap, Battambang, Pailin, Chanthaburi, Laem Singh and tightly along the coast to Chonburi. I might catch the (train/Bus) to Bangkok from there or ride to Muang Boran and catch a train at Kat Krabang to Bangkok.

3

Thanks for this Chou. How's life treating you, still in Hainan? Speak any Russian yet - seemed like the second language when I was there.

I will be at Pailin in about 4 weeks. Currently having a slow pedal round the Mekong Delta (Vn), I am flying home mid Dec from Bkk and was thinking of changing to Saigon, but as I have enough time, I think I will go via Cambodia (not been there for a couple of years). I want to do the boat trip from Chau Doc to PP, to make a change from pedalling. Then depending on time will cycle (done it, flat and not very inspiring) or bus to Battambang, then ride to Pailin and then Thai.

As I don't know how much time I will have I am not sure of my route in Thai, but will note your routes and look at them on a map. Worst case is pedal to Chantaburi and bus to Bkk. Thanks again.

Dandru - I loved Phimai, the ruins are excellent. Your ticket is valid all day so make sure to have a final visit just before sundown when the light is shining through the buildings. Wonderful. I normally recommend the train in Thai, but the day train to Khorat is so slow! A bus is a better option if you can get to bus station easily. Enjoy.

4

still in hainan, heading to cambodia for spring festival. no russian spoken
in this part...they're all in sanya.

as to routes, if you do end up in phanom sarakham, that should only be
about 60 km from kabinburi or prachinburi railway stations.

here's some info on hwy 3259:
http://www.captainslash.com/aranyaprathet-tha-takiap-reservoir-aranyaprathet/

but if you've already ridden to battambang, and want some hills, why not take
the southern route thru cambodia to koh kong and trat in thailand, then you can
bus to bangkok.

5

I did that southern route before the road was open - on the 'vomit comet' as the old boat was affectionately named. I don't remeber any particular hills on the bits I rode. Are there hills on the new road? Any info on the new road?

I hadn't really considered that route as I had done it before,but with the new road, hhmmmmmm? Maybe..

6

I like the profile thingy. It looks like a nice interesting ride. Not sure where you got the idea I want a tough ride. This is meant to be a relaxing trip!!

By the way, I took the ferry in 2007 and the road wasnt paved then. From memory I think it was a couple of years later that buses started to run on it. Before that you could use the road and some cycled it. but camping en route was required. Shame the boat has stopped. If it wasnt rough it was a great trip.

7

I was thinking of entering Cambodia from Thailand at Pailin to go to Battambang instead of going via Poipet. (I'm not going to SR - been already) - Is this a good idea?

Ban Pakard, Chantaburi, Thailand/Phsar Prom Border Crossing: Pailin, Cambodia
Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas available.
Located in Pailin, Cambodia, opposite Thailand's Chantaburi province. From Bangkok, bus to Chantaburi for about 150 baht (4 hours). Mini bus to border for about 100 baht (1-2 hours). Cross border. Motodup to Pailin. Taxi from Pailin to Battambang (shared taxi for 200baht, private for $25-$30.) 3 or 4 hours but road conditions change with the season.

Ban Laem, Chantaburi, Thailand/Daun Lem, Battambang, Cambodia
Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas available.
Located in Kamreang, Battambang province, Cambodia, opposite Thailand's Chantaburi province.

8

Do you realise that you have posted on the cycling branch?

Nonetheless, if you want to go to Battambang, then this seems a reasonable idea. Makes a change from the scam bus and all the hassles of the Poipet crossing.

9

Oops sorry, lol

Thx for the heads up