How to get from Siem Reap to Stung Treng
Located in northeastern Cambodia, Stung Treng is a small town that sees tourists pass by on their way to the towns of Banlung and Kratie, and the Virachey National Park. Being the last outpost before the Laos border, the town also encounters plenty of traffic as people pass through it on their way to the Cambo-Laos border crossing. Probably what attracts drivers most about Stung Treng is the 87 km of excellent road that leads to the border.
Though Stung Treng does not offer much in the form of activities, it is the perfect place to unwind on your trip and watch the sunrise and set over the landscape.
The 300 km road from Siem Reap to Stung Treng is paved and in good condition and will take you a little over five hours from one destination to the other. You’ll need about USD20 to purchase a ticket for this trip.
From Siem Reap to Stung Treng by bus
It is no secret that a bus is one of the most comfortable and convenient ways to travel Cambodia by road. Several commercial buses ply the route in the direction of the Lao border daily, but there are no direct buses from Siem Reap to Stung Treng. You have first travel to Kampong Cham and then hop onto another bus to Stung Treng. However, this does not mean you cannot travel directly from Siem Reap to Stung Treng because there are minivans that ply this route each day.
From Siem Reap to Stung Treng by van
A 12-passenger Asia Van Transfer minivan is scheduled to leave Siem Reap for Stung Treng each day at 8.00am. The journey takes 5 hours and 15 minutes with the van arriving in Stung Treng Asia Van Transfer station at 1.15pm if there are no delays along the way. The minivans are air-conditioned and only a few years old which means you’ll enjoy a somewhat comfortable trip.
It is, however, important to note that Asia Van Transfer does not accept cancellations or offer refunds, so to be on the safe side try to check in at least 30 minutes before departure. Ticket confirmation is manual and can take up to 24 hours, therefore, ensure that you buy your ticket, a day or two before you have to leave for your trip. If you have huge luggage, consider paying for an extra seat to avoid any inconvenience.
With the central bus station in Siem Reap being about four kilometres out of town, you can have the van pick you up at your hotel. Just email asiavantransfer@gmail.com with your name, booking ID, and hotel address 24 hours before departure and ensure that you are in the hotel lobby an hour before you are scheduled to leave.
From Siem Reap to Stung Treng by taxi
A private or shared taxi is by far the fastest way for you to get to Stung Treng from Siem Reap. It will, however, cost you more. Though several companies offer private taxi services, this route requires a pre-check for taxi availability. Most taxi drivers avoid driving from Siem Reap to Stung Treng because they rarely get customers on the drive back. Therefore, to make up for this, they charge USD100 or more.
General Information
With only one van scheduled to leave Siem Reap for Stung Treng, it is essential to ensure that you book your ticket early enough and arrive at the departure point for the check-in process on time.
Your driver may not speak English, which is not uncommon in Cambodia, therefore, ensure that you have all the information that you need before you embark on this five-hour journey.