How to get from 4,000 Islands (Don Det) to Siem Reap, Cambodia
In looking for ways to get from the 4,000 islands of Laos to
the Cambodian border, there were seemingly two options. Each entailed taking
the local ferry from the island to Nakasong, the mainland, followed by a bus or mini van to the border of Cambodia and Laos, then another bus to SIem Reap. There are two agencies providing transport to the Cambodia
border that I had found. One was Green Paradise with ticket booths located
on the island and open from 9am until 11pm. The other was with AVT (Asia Van
Transport). I read reviews of each and decided on AVT. There were no ticket
booths to buy from, rather, you go on their website, and send them an email
inquiry on availability and cost. I sent the email at 10pm and received a
response an hour later. The email response is very detailed and gives you all
the info you need from how to get to the ferry, where to get the ticket, where
to catch the van, and how to transfer at the border. They also included info on
how to avoid common border crossing scams and what buildings to avoid in order
to not be charged for unnecessary things. By purchasing through AVT, a ferry ticket is need to get off of Don Det and onto mainland (Nakasang) to board the bus to the border. You could either purchase the ferry ticket at
the ferry pick up point on the island, go through one of the travel/tour
stands, or book a combo ticket for the ferry and the bus ride. I opted to walk
to the ferry ticket office in town (Green Paradise) and buy the ferry ticket the
night before (for the 8am ferry the next day). It was just easier/less hassle
(though in reality it would not have been difficult to buy the morning of as
they operate as many ferrys back to the mainland as needed based on the line of
people waiting).
I boarded the ferry at 8am and got to Nakasang shortly after.
From there, I walked to the right on the gravel road, then took my first Left, which is the main drag through town. I walked up the street for 1/2 mile or so until I came to a dirt parking lot on the left side of the road, the entrance to the lot is just after 2 ATM's also located on the left side. There is a market on the right side of the road across from the parking lot. There are picnic tables in the shade to wait for the minivan which was scheduled to arrive at 9:30 to take us from Nakasang to th
e Laos Cambodia border, a mere 30 minute ride. Once there, the bus dropped us off and we walked to the first building on the right, just ahead of where we were dropped off. Here is where I paid $2 to exit Laos and where I received my departure card. From here, I continued to walk to the next building, a little farther walk (1/4 mile maybe) in the blazing heat and sun. Here I stopped at the 'health scan' booth - a glass booth in the middle of the roadways, where they simply handed me a yellow piece of paper - no health questions asked. From there, I filled out my departure card and walked into the building on the far left, where I paid $35 Visa entry fee to Cambodia.
They take your passport while you are being fingerprinted, and give it back at the very next window. By now, its 11:30/12:00pm and you walk another short distance, hand off your passport one more time for a quick check at a booth next to a toll looking gate, and then you walk through the gate
and are in Cambodia.
There is a little AVT sign - I just asked someone "AVT?" and was pointed to the right shop. There, we waited 20 minutes and were corralled into a mini van with more people and luggage than space.
But it was a short ride (45 mins) to the next stop where we would once again switch vans after having 1.5 hours to grab lunch and walk around the area.
We arrived at Siem Reap around 7pm and are greeted by AVT staff who then shuffle us into tuk tuks to our hotel(s). The Tuk Tuk was included in the ticket price.
I boarded the ferry at 8am and got to Nakasang shortly after.
From there, I walked to the right on the gravel road, then took my first Left, which is the main drag through town. I walked up the street for 1/2 mile or so until I came to a dirt parking lot on the left side of the road, the entrance to the lot is just after 2 ATM's also located on the left side. There is a market on the right side of the road across from the parking lot. There are picnic tables in the shade to wait for the minivan which was scheduled to arrive at 9:30 to take us from Nakasang to the Laos Cambodia border, a mere 30 minute ride. Once there, the bus dropped us off and we walked to the first building on the right, just ahead of where we were dropped off. Here is where I paid $2 to exit Laos and where I received my departure card. From here, I continued to walk to the next building, a little farther walk (1/4 mile maybe) in the blazing heat and sun. Here I stopped at the 'health scan' booth - a glass booth in the middle of the roadways, where they simply handed me a yellow piece of paper - no health questions asked. From there, I filled out my departure card and walked into the building on the far left, where I paid $35 Visa entry fee to Cambodia.
They take your passport while you are being fingerprinted, and give it back at the very next window. By now, its 11:30/12:00pm and you walk another short distance, hand off your passport one more time for a quick check at a booth next to a toll looking gate, and then you walk through the gate
and are in Cambodia. 
There is a little AVT sign - I just asked someone "AVT?" and was pointed to the right shop. There, we waited 20 minutes and were corralled into a mini van with more people and luggage than space.
But it was a short ride (45 mins) to the next stop where we would once again switch vans after having 1.5 hours to grab lunch and walk around the area. 
We arrived at Siem Reap around 7pm and are greeted by AVT staff who then shuffle us into tuk tuks to our hotel(s). The Tuk Tuk was included in the ticket price. 
Hello , thanks for writing to AVT you can
travel with us to Siem Reap from the Laos border, so we have two options.
1) If you are in
Don Det or Don Khone - 4000 islands and want to travel with us you must
come to the border by yourself. And we will explain you step by step on next
email so is very easy to go from the islands to the border just a 20kms
distance.
And
our price is 20$ per passenger starting from the border to siem reap.( stop for
lunch time at Stung Treng)
2) Go to Green Paradise
Travel in Don Det or Don Khone and book ticket just to the border, and then you
book with us from border to Siem Reap, and you also have another option which
is to buy all the way to Siem Reap ( but sometimes this option is not available
),
With any option you will
meet our man of AVT at the border and will board our van at the border, and our
van departs from border at 11.30am and we will bring you to stung treng and
then at 2 pm from stung treng to siem reap...you will arrive to central siem
reap .to our agency at 7 pm in our agency which is in central siem reap 5
minutes walking to old market and pub street area, and we will give you a free
delivery to the guesthouse or hotel you want to go inside the city limits.
And to book on the
internet with us we need to kn ow the day you want to travel with us....names
of passengers... and we will send you instructions for the border.
And voucher reservation right away.
And the payment of ticket will done with our
man of AVT at border in cash khmer riel, laos kip and us dollar..
Kind Regards...AVT
And another email confirming:
Hello , here you have the instruction of to meet us at the border, for payment
you have to pay with our man at the border which is Mr, Hout..in
cash.
So
from don det or don khone you have to take a boat at 8.00am to Nakasang first
and then find a bus to border or you can go to buy the boat +bus ticket on
don det to border with our partner agency which is call Green paradise
tour and travel .
Once
you are at the border around 10:30am you will meet Mr.Hout...which is our man
at the border from AVT and he will waiting for you and he will bring you
first from the border at 11:30am to Stung Treng to our agency there which is
the Riverside Guesthouse..and then after to siem reap..arriving siem reap at
7pm to our agency in central siem reap and just 5 minutes walking from old
market area...and we will give you a free delivery to the guesthouse or hotel
that you want to go.
After you do the Health checkpoint, turn left enter the
building and process your visa and
then do the stamping. and then you will exit the immigration
police building, and walk
to
find our man of AVT, Mr. Hout that will be waiting for you.
This is Mr. hout our AVT man at the border..he will meet you
when you are at the border..
here goes image of Mr.Hout and his bar...Pictures were included/attached
here goes image of Mr.Hout and his bar...Pictures were included/attached
579 Hup Quan Street,Mondul 1 Village,
Sangkat Svay Dongkum
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Sangkat Svay Dongkum
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Phones: (+855) 063963853 | 012505673 |
0718443566
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