Stung Treng to Siem Reap

There is a VIP type bus that leave about 6.30 AM from Strung Treng to Siem Reap

Your agent/,Guest House might try and tell you to go to PP first but be firm and say you want to go to Seim Reap.

Its a long trip, about 15- 18 hours.

The bus i had was very nice, to start with, but by the end there where a few bags of sick and such around.

The trip goes almost down to PP, then you will be changed bus to go along the road that follow the great lake thing to Seim Reap.

Its very easy and they do everything for you so you do not have to worry about missing your connection.

I believe it cost me 18USD.

Its a long trip, mine was air con so comfortable and people on the bus wanted to practice their English, you also get to pass through lots of small towns and see parts of Cambodia you would miss if you went by plane.

Nic

This is a fairly common question, but understandably the solution is unclear. From Stung Treng the main road (route 7) goes south to Kratie and onward all the way to Phnom Penh. To go to Siem Reap you travel down to where route 7 and route 6 (the road to Siem Reap) intersect. The bus will stop when it meets the bus coming the other way going up route 6 and you change buses (maybe even at the roadside). It sounds goofy but it's actually pretty easy. All together Stung Treng to Siem Reap will take about 12 hours (all day, so get an early start). I prefer Kratie as a place to stop for a couple days. Stung Treng is a hole.

Bob, are we almost agreeing on something?

Thank you both Bob and Nic.

"Stung Treng is a hole." I've been reading that a lot. Maybe it would be better to go as far to Kratie and then from there head to Siem Reap. I don't really fancy a 12-18 hour bus ride, A/C or not.

Thanks again for the info!

Definitely book your trip from the Lao side to Kratie. You might want to overnight there and have a look at the freshwater dolphins the next morning. Try for the direct transport to Siem Reap, if it's left hop a ride to Kampong Cham (or the little town called Soutip) on the junction with NR 6, change transport there and then carry on to Siem Reap. No need to go all the way to PP (you'll be saving about 80km or 160 return).

I wouldn't necessarily catagorise Stung Treng as "a hole" but agreed it's not the most exciting or interesting town to overnight in. Krachie is indeed a much nicer place to stop off with more to do & see & is an easy days travel from Sii Phan Don in Laos, especially if you use the package option advertised everywhere on Don Det (& presumably other islands).

Yeah, I'm going to try to book the trip from Savannakhet. It looks like Kratie will be a decent to place to overnight in. I really didn't want to go all the way to PP before Siem Reap.

Thanks again for the great info. It's been very helpful!

Definately choose Kratie over Stung Treng, plus you can go and check out the endangered freshwater Irawaddy dolphins whilst you are there...

"I really didn't want to go all the way to PP before Siem Reap"
Unfortunately you have to go almost all the way to PP before changing buses to SR, as above. You can cut across the north of Cambodia but it would take ages(!)
Also, just my op. but while booking from Savannakhet is fine you really shouldn't miss the 4000 islands if your're passing through, and you can readily buy your onward transport there.