Crossing the border by motorbike from Laos to Thailand or Cambodia

As far as I know (and what people told me a while ago) it's not possible to cross the Lao/ Thai or Lao/ Cambodian border by motorbike as falang (foreigner). Is that true and does anyone know more about this? Are there any legal possibilities to do so or is it just a no go?

Information:

It's my own motorbike and I am not Lao..

It would be nice to read. Thanks in advance!

This is good site:
http://www.gt-rider.com/

Hacky: thanks for the reply. I checked the website but I only see information about border crossings between Laos and China & Laos en Vietnam. Unfortunately not about the crossing I am searching information about.

Horizons Unlimited is a good site to check out for international motorcycle touring info and community.

Kenl: thanks. I will try to find the information there. I hoped that there are people on this forum who had experience with this recently :-)

Looked at the site, but not information about crossing the borders by motorbike (a Lao one). Seems difficult to find out...

Tim, if it is at all possible to cross that border with your own wheels, I'm sure there must be members on the Horizons Unlimited site who done it and posted about it or who can point you in the right direction, since that is a travel site specifically for world motorcycle travelers.You'll probably have to sign up, post a question, and be patient, just like here. I haven't used that site too much myself for a while. Good luck and happy travels, and please post later to here and to H.U. to report on your progress!

Lao/Thai border with a thai regsitered motorbike: yes you can, and you can stay in Lao for up to a month but then you have to leave back to thailand. Several people I work with in Laos do this. You need to get the paperwork in place forst though.

Laos/Cambodia I do not know of first hand, but I am fairly sure you can, as there are cambodian regsitered bikes riding round Vientiane.

Kenl: thanks again for your advice!

Nabanga: thank you for your reply as well. But I need information about the other way around (I have a Lao motorbike and I'm living in Laos and wanting to go to Thailand or Cambodia by motorbike).

Laos to Thailand shouldn't be a problem provided you documents are in order. I've made several crossings from Thailand to Laos by car without a hitch.
Have yet to enter Cambodia.

Laos to Cambodia in a Lao registered vehicle should be OK but anecdotal evidence suggests it depends on the mood of the officials. One day they'll allow it, the next they'll state you need a Lao driver (and can only drive down to Stung Treng not to Phnom Penh) or a Cambodian driver's license. If you have the latter you should be OK. However, what I just referred to is for cars, for motorcycles it might be easier or then again it might be almost impossible.

Laos to Thailand is easy as but it's only straightforward for cars not necessarily motorcycles. Apparently motorcycles can only cross at crossings that don't have a bridge or perhaps if you are riding a big bike. There are no small motorcycles permitted to cross, either Thai or Lao registered at any of the busy crossings. There are never any differences between foreigners or Thais/Laotians crossing between the two countries by car or motorcycle. Both Thailand and Laos are straightforward but small motorcycles are definitely a problem - big motorcycles driven by foreigners may be easier to bring across than if you are a citizen of either country. I have never seen even one Lao motorcycle in Thailand and the only Thai ones in Laos are big bikes or train bikes, never 100 or 125cc scooters or motorcycles.

Crossing to a third country (e.g. Lao registered vehicle in Cambodia directly to Thailand) may be possible if you are LEAVING Cambodia for Thailand but you definitely won't be able to bring a Lao car or motorcycle into Cambodia directly from Thailand. In general, you must only cross directly between Laos and the foreign country you are heading to. If you want to visit both Thailand and Cambodia on the same trip you should consider first going from Laos to Thailand, then back into Laos to get to Cambodia.

To Tim: Chok dii!

To Sympho: Highly interesting! Just wondering, where did you get this information?

To anyone: Similar scene here, I'm looking for information on crossing a Thai-Lao border on a Thai bike, but the twist! is that it isn't registered to me. Borrowing it from a friend. Thoughts? Thanks!

Hi chibichild, the information I have is a combination of personal experience and stated experience of a professional Lao rental car agency that has experience crossing land borders with their vehicles.

Crossing over to Laos on a Thai bike registered in a friend's name should be straightforward if you get them to sign a power of attorney form known as "nangseu mob amnat" in Thai. Armed with that you'll get in. Thailand to Laos or vice versa is very straightforward - problems tend to be reported by crossings with vehicles into Cambodia and especially over to Vietnam.

As long as you have vehicle's registration in your name then no problem getting into Thailand, Laos or Cambodia. I have been doing it for years with my Cambodian Bike. Good site for info is GT Rider.

Edited by: benzer1

@ benzer1

Do you have any experience riding in India? I want to buy a 500cc in India and ride to Cambodia. I've rented motos in Laos Cambodia Vietnam and Thailand in the past usually 110 or 125 cc scoters. I just lecture SEA two weeks ago and will return in April but I want to buy a royal enfield in India and leave it for my major mode of transportation when I leave Cambodia next December as I will stay 8 months in SEA and 4 months in the states each year for the foreseeable future. Any info would be appreciated.