Laos Travel Forum

Hi
has any body crossed the border from laos to cambodia? Any problems encountered? I may be doing this in mid october (or crossing back from cambodia to laos). What is the weather like in southern laos at that time?

thanks
Brian

Hi, it shouldn't be any problem because it has recently become quite popular border crossing. Nowsadays you're able to get Cambodian Visa on arrival there but if you're entering Laos you still need to get it in advance from Lao embassy in Phnom Penh.
If going by yourself from Laos by local transport: there is a 'gang' of a few young men at border who speak a bit of English and will try to sell you their service (boat ride or 'taxi' driver) to Stung Treng for a lot of money (in Cambodian sense) and will insist there's no other way to get out of there. It is of course not true. Real price should be less than 10 usd per person for boat ride and there are always some fishermen by the Mekong who will take you to ST.
If you don't like going by yourself and negotiate prices and things again and again you can book mini bus tickets directly to PP or ST or Kratie from agencies in Pakse or Si Phan Don. It's probably the easiest and most comfortable way to get there from Laos.

When I made the trip from Si Phon Don to Stueng Treng, the main difficulty was the local boat mafia. The trip down from Laos to Stueng Treng gets gouged, but it's not THAT expensive, and you have no options beyond improvising the overland route.

When you get to Stueng Treng, you will need to set up your own passage by share-taxi or share-mini-bus to wherever you are going next. Start talking with the folks on your boat about it early, so when you get there you can negotiate with a common front.