Preah Vihear - Revision history

202.93.153.4: /* From Cambodia */

2013-04-08T13:02:57Z

‎From Cambodia

202.93.153.4: /* From Cambodia */

2013-04-08T12:56:56Z

‎From Cambodia

175.100.70.252: /* Sleep */

2013-01-28T10:42:03Z

‎Sleep

175.100.70.252: /* From Cambodia */

2013-01-28T10:35:58Z

‎From Cambodia

175.100.70.252: /* From Thailand */

2013-01-28T10:13:52Z

‎From Thailand

175.100.70.252: /* Get out */

2013-01-27T14:38:48Z

‎Get out

111.92.242.150: /* From Thailand */

2013-01-24T01:47:16Z

‎From Thailand

Seligne: /* Contact */

2012-12-19T12:32:23Z

‎Contact

Seligne: /* Sleep */

2012-12-19T12:31:25Z

‎Sleep

Seligne: /* From Thailand */

2012-12-19T12:29:45Z

‎From Thailand

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 Dancing Roads [http://www.dancingroads.com] regularly arranges multi-day bike trips from [[Phnom Penh]] to Preah Vihear.
-You can also reach the place on a three day motorbike trip from [[Kompong Thom|Kompong Thom]] as the highway between is completely sealed and in great condition (April. 2013).
+You can also reach the place on a three day motorbike trip from [[Kompong Thom|Kompong Thom]]. The highway between is completely sealed and in great condition (April. 2013).
-Cambodian soldiers have established defensive positions near Preah Vihear, though they welcome tourists. Soldiers no longer seem to expect gifts and are quite hospitable when you are on the ancient staircase (eastern) side. Although there's no entrance fee, you do need to stop by the ticket office at the base of hill and get a ticket, which will be checked on the way up and at the temple. The ticket office also arranges transport by pickup truck ($25 roundtrip) and moto ($5 roundtrip). A new road for the first 3 kilometers has reasonable grades, but the last 2 kilometers are on the old road and have extremely steep sections. The "Ancient Pathway" on the east side of the temple is now open to visitors; it's a pleasant descent with more than 2,000 steps through the forest; a modern wooden staircase parallels the largely ruined stone staircase, though two sections of old path are used. (Jan. 2013) The base of the staircase (which is more preserved than the rest can also be accessed via a graded dirt road which is signposted to the east of the ticket office.
+Cambodian soldiers have established defensive positions near Preah Vihear, though they welcome tourists. Soldiers no longer seem to expect gifts and are quite hospitable when you are on the ancient staircase (eastern) side. Although there's no entrance fee, you do need to stop by the ticket office at the base of hill and get a ticket, which will be checked on the way up and at the temple. The ticket office also arranges transport by pickup truck ($25 roundtrip) and moto ($5 roundtrip). A new road for the first 3 kilometers has reasonable grades, but the last 2 kilometers are on the old road and have extremely steep sections.
 == Get around ==

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 Dancing Roads [http://www.dancingroads.com] regularly arranges multi-day bike trips from [[Phnom Penh]] to Preah Vihear.
-You can also reach the place on a three day motorbike trip from [[Kompong Thom|Kompong Thom]].
+You can also reach the place on a three day motorbike trip from [[Kompong Thom|Kompong Thom]] as the highway between is completely sealed and in great condition (April. 2013).
-Cambodian soldiers have established defensive positions near Preah Vihear, though they welcome tourists. Soldiers no longer seem to expect gifts. Although there's no entrance fee, you do need to stop by the ticket office at the base of hill and get a ticket, which will be checked on the way up and at the temple. The ticket office also arranges transport by pickup truck ($25 roundtrip) and moto ($5 roundtrip). A new road for the first 3 kilometers has reasonable grades, but the last 2 kilometers are on the old road and have extremely steep sections. The "Ancient Pathway" on the east side of the temple is now open to visitors; it's a pleasant descent with more than 2,000 steps through the forest; a modern wooden staircase parallels the largely ruined stone staircase, though two sections of old path are used. (Jan. 2013)
+Cambodian soldiers have established defensive positions near Preah Vihear, though they welcome tourists. Soldiers no longer seem to expect gifts and are quite hospitable when you are on the ancient staircase (eastern) side. Although there's no entrance fee, you do need to stop by the ticket office at the base of hill and get a ticket, which will be checked on the way up and at the temple. The ticket office also arranges transport by pickup truck ($25 roundtrip) and moto ($5 roundtrip). A new road for the first 3 kilometers has reasonable grades, but the last 2 kilometers are on the old road and have extremely steep sections. The "Ancient Pathway" on the east side of the temple is now open to visitors; it's a pleasant descent with more than 2,000 steps through the forest; a modern wooden staircase parallels the largely ruined stone staircase, though two sections of old path are used. (Jan. 2013) The base of the staircase (which is more preserved than the rest can also be accessed via a graded dirt road which is signposted to the east of the ticket office.
 == Get around ==

@@ Line 96: / Line 96: @@
 '''Cambodia''': the village at the foot of the mountain provides two or three very basic "guesthouses" in simple wooden shacks.
 There is also a wooden, very basic guest house (shower and toilet outside) at the bottom of the steps, where the locals live. Shower is from a barrel of rain water and a bucket. Very, very basic but very clean. Electricity from 18:00 to 22:00.
 '''Thailand''': the nearest place with a variety of accommodation is the town of [[Kantharalak]] (approx. 30 km), which is also the nearest place with direct bus services to [[Bangkok]], [[Si Saket]], [[Ubon Ratchathani]], etc.

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 === From Cambodia ===
-A packed laterite access road from [[Siem Reap]] via [[Anlong Veng]], a distance of over 200 km, was completed in 2003.  The road from Siem Reap to Anlong Veng has recently been fully paved, and most of the road from Anlong Veng to Preah Vihear has been paved, with an approximately 20 km stretch remaining a dirt road but in the process of being paved.  While a 4x4 is not necessary to make it to the base of the hill on which Preah Vihear is located, a 4x4 or moto will be required to scale the steep road going up the hill.
+The road from [[Siem Reap]] to the base of Prasat Preah Vihear via [[Anlong Veng]], a distance of about 210 km, is now fully paved. A 4x4 or moto will be required to scale the steep road going up the hill, which you can arrange at the ticket office near the base of the hill; a 4x4 costs $25 roundtrip and a moto $5 roundtrip.
 Dancing Roads [http://www.dancingroads.com] regularly arranges multi-day bike trips from [[Phnom Penh]] to Preah Vihear.
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 You can also reach the place on a three day motorbike trip from [[Kompong Thom|Kompong Thom]].
-As of June 2010, Preah Vihear could only be accessed by going through a Cambodian military base.  While the temple can be accessed by tourists, you should bring both a native Cambodian guide and small denominations of Cambodian Riel for "gifts" to soldiers and their families.  In addition, while there is no official entrance fee, to scale the road leading to the temple, you may be required to give gifts to military closing off the road.
+Cambodian soldiers have established defensive positions near Preah Vihear, though they welcome tourists. Soldiers no longer seem to expect gifts. Although there's no entrance fee, you do need to stop by the ticket office at the base of hill and get a ticket, which will be checked on the way up and at the temple. The ticket office also arranges transport by pickup truck ($25 roundtrip) and moto ($5 roundtrip). A new road for the first 3 kilometers has reasonable grades, but the last 2 kilometers are on the old road and have extremely steep sections. The "Ancient Pathway" on the east side of the temple is now open to visitors; it's a pleasant descent with more than 2,000 steps through the forest; a modern wooden staircase parallels the largely ruined stone staircase, though two sections of old path are used. (Jan. 2013)
-As of March 2012, Preah Vihear could only be accessed by bying ticket for 5 USD by tickets office downhill. For this you get motorbike with driver, who brings you uphill to temple for couple of hours. No gifts required for soldiers.
 == Get around ==

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 {{cautionbox|Due to a lingering border dispute, Thailand periodically blocks access to the site from its side: as of February 2009, the park including Moh I-Daeng cliff are open, but it is not possible to cross the border.  Inquire locally before travelling.
-As of June 2010, the Thai-Cambodia border was closed off completely with razor wire, and thus Preah Vihear is unable to be accessed from Thailand. In January 2013 the border was again opened, now as an international crossing.}}
+As of June 2010, the Thai-Cambodia border was closed off completely with razor wire, and thus Preah Vihear is unable to be accessed from Thailand. In January 2013 the border remained closed, but has been peaceful lately and Cambodian soldiers expect this to continue. Until the border does reopen, you can visit only from Cambodia, which is easy to do.}}
 The nearest significant Thai town is [[Ubon Ratchathani]].  The temple is at the end of Route 221, but public transport options are limited and the easiest option is to charter a car for the day (1000 baht and up, plus gas). The roads are surprisingly good and, depending on how hard your driver hits the gas pedal and/or how many water buffaloes decide to cross the road along the way, you can get there from Ubon in an hour and a half.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:38, 27 January 2013
Line 121:		Line 121:
	== Get out ==		== Get out ==

−	* In ~~[[Si_Saket_(province)#See\|Preah vihear~~ Province]] on the ~~Cambodia~~ side of the border, the '''Temple of a Million Bottles''' (''Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew'' - more commonly known as ''Wat Lan ~~Khuad~~'') ~~near~~ Khun Han is a worthwhile detour.	+	* In Si Saket Province on the Thailand side of the border, the '''Temple of a Million Bottles''' (''Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew'' - more commonly known as ''Wat Lan Khuat'') just west of Khun Han is a worthwhile detour.

@@ Line 116: / Line 116: @@
 == Contact ==
-The province government can be reached at tel. 064-393-940.
 == Get out ==

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 If this is out of your budget, the nearest town of any size is [[Kantharalak]], which can be accessed by frequent public bus in 2 hours or so from the nearby towns of [[Ubon Ratchathani]] and [[Si Saket]].  For the last leg of the trip (34 km), however, you will have to hitchhike or charter a [[Thailand#Songthaew|songthaew]]/tuk-tuk/moto taxi.
-At the entry gate into '''Khao Phra Wiharn National Park''', you will have to pay a 200 baht entry fee (Thais 20 baht); note that the park is open only from 8 AM to 3:30 PM. The road ends at a large parking lot, the final leg (less than a kilometre) into Cambodian territory you will have to cover on foot. At the Thai immigration post you'll be charged an additional 5 baht for a second ticket, and you'll also have to show your passport - they'll take a photocopy, but no stamps are issued and no visas are needed. After the road ends, walk over the smooth rock surface to the entry gate and pay another 200 baht fee (this one to enter Cambodia) and get your ticket punched, and now you can proceed to the ruins.
+At the entry gate into '''Khao Phra Wiharn National Park''', you will have to pay a 200 baht entry fee (Thais 20 baht); note that the park is open only from 08:00 to 15:30. The road ends at a large parking lot, the final leg (less than a kilometre) into Cambodian territory you will have to cover on foot. At the Thai immigration post you'll be charged an additional 5 baht for a second ticket, and you'll also have to show your passport - they'll take a photocopy, but no stamps are issued and no visas are needed. After the road ends, walk over the smooth rock surface to the entry gate and pay another 200 baht fee (this one to enter Cambodia) and get your ticket punched, and now you can proceed to the ruins.
-''How to get there:'' From Bangkok, use highway 1 (Pahol Yothin Rd.) turn right at Saraburi into highway 2 (Mitraphap Rd.). At Amphoe Si Khew, turn right into highway 24, and travel via Amphoe Pak Thongchai, Sangka, and Ku Khan. Turn right into highway 221, and head to Amphoe Kantaralak and keep going to the park.
+''How to get there:'' From Bangkok, use Hwy 1 (Pahol Yothin Rd) turn right at Saraburi into Hwy 2 (Mitraphap Rd). At Amphoe Si Khew, turn right into Hwy 24, and travel via Amphoe Pak Thongchai, Sangka, and Ku Khan. Turn right into Hwy 221, and head to Amphoe Kantaralak and keep going to the park.
-From Ubon Ratchathani, use highway 2178 and 221 via Amphoe Varin Chamrap, Samrong, Benjalak, and Kantaralak to the park.
+From Ubon Ratchathani, use Hwy 2178 and 221 via Amphoe Varin Chamrap, Samrong, Benjalak, and Kantaralak to the park.
 === From Cambodia ===