Northeast Cambodia Ride (Death Highway)

[belgarathc]

Dec 2006 / Jan 2007 (Dry Season) - Northeast Cambodia

 

Route: Phnom Penh -> Kampong Cham -> Kratie -> Strung Treng -> Rattanakiri -> Mondulkiri -> Prey Veng -> Phnom Penh

Distance: ~1500km

Reference: Adventure Cambodia by Matt Jacobson, gt-rider.com

Bike: Honda Degree from Angkor Motorcycles at US$9 per day

Comments: A long, hot and dusty ride through some of the most remote parts of Cambodia.

Full Report: Click -> Northeast Cambodia (Death Highway) trip report

 

Route

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/cambodia-route-map.jpg

Map of Cambodia and route taken

 

Motorcycle

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/rented_honda_degree.jpg

Honda Degree 250 from Angkor Motorcycles

 

Day 1 (Phnom Penh - Kampong Cham)

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/skuon-fried-spiders-tarantula.jpg

Creepy snacks. Fried tarantulas at Skuon aka Spiderville.

 

Day 2 Part 1 (Kampong Cham)

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/kampong-cham-sunrise.jpg

Sunrise at Kampong Cham along Mekong river. On the right is the Cambodia’s first bridge to span the Mekong River.

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/kampong-cham-nokor-temple.jpg

Nokor Temple

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/kampong-cham.jpg

Not for the faint-hearted

 

Day 2 Part 2 (Kampong Cham - Kratie)

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/kratie-colonial-building.jpg

Colonial looking building in Kratie town

 

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Looking out for Irrawaddy dolphins.

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/kratie-sunset.jpg

Sunset at Kratie

 

Day 3 (Kratie - Ratanakiri)

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/ratanakiri-banlung.jpg

Banlung in Ratanakiri. Does it look like a scene out of a war movie?

 

Day 4 (Ratanakiri)

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/ratanakiri-yeak-lom-lake.jpg

Almost perfectly round, Yeak Lom lake is 45m deep and 750m in diameter.

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/ratanakiri-road.jpg

Road to Lumkud Lake

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/ratanakiri-chunchiet-cemetries.jpg

Tompuon cemetery

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/ratanakiri-chinese-haka-village.jpg

A Chinese school

[belgarathc]

Day 5 (Ratanakiri - Mondulkiri)

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/tonle-srepok-apocalyse-now.jpg

Tonle Srepok river of Apocalypse Now fame. The Death Highway awaits across the river.

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/sen-monorom-death-highway-company.jpg

My three riding companions

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/death-highway.jpg

My new guide

 

Day 6 (Mondulkiri)

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/mondulkiri-sen-monorom-view.jpg

Rolling hills of Sen Monorom

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/mondulkiri-sen-monorom-airfield.jpg

Sen Monorom airstrip has been closed since 2000

 

Day 7 (Mondulkiri - Phnom Penh)

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/neak-loeung-ferry-to-phnom-penh.jpg

Taking the Neak Loeung ferry across the Mekong River

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/phnom-penh-sunset.jpg

View from my guesthouse - Sunset at Phnom Penh

 

 

Day 8-9 (Phnom Penh)

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/killing-fields.jpg

Memorial stupa at Choeung Ek where more than 8000 skulls are stored

 

http://adventurevacationtrip.com/photos/200612/Cambodia/phnom-penh-sunset-mekong.jpg

Sunset by the Mekong river

[FB666Y]

Looks like a good ride -

Becoming quite the photographer!

You been going around Southeast Asia long enough -

I think its time you wandered a bit further out.

[belgarathc]

Looks like a good ride -

Becoming quite the photographer!

You been going around Southeast Asia long enough -

I think its time you wandered a bit further out.

Still not as good as you and Pauche but I will try to improve on my photography. I think photographs are about the best souvenirs I can get from overseas trips.

 

I do have plans for some riding in South India and Sri Lanka. But my next trip will be a non-riding one in China, Korea and maybe Japan. Well, I might rent a small bike in Jeju and Kyoto for some exploration.

[Pauche]

Still not as good as you and Pauche but I will try to improve on my photography. I think photographs are about the best souvenirs I can get from overseas trips.

 

I do have plans for some riding in South India and Sri Lanka. But my next trip will be a non-riding one in China, Korea and maybe Japan. Well, I might rent a small bike in Jeju and Kyoto for some exploration.

 

why suddenly my name appear?

 

haha... anyway wat's your plans in Sri Lanka? I might be transiting in Colombo for 3days in July.... have no plans in mind. Any recommendations?

[belgarathc]

Haha.

 

My tentative plan is to do a Southwestern clockwise loop starting from Negombo (near the international airport), passing through Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, southwards to Matara, continue along the coast through Galle, Kalutara, Colombo back to Negombo.

 

I'm thinking of visiting in December to coincide with the bird migration and Adam's peak pilgrimage seasons.

 

So far, I have shortlisted this motorcycle rental company.

 

They also have a 3 day 2 night itinerary which might be worth a look.

[Pauche]

Haha.

 

My tentative plan is to do a Southwestern clockwise loop starting from Negombo (near the international airport), passing through Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, southwards to Matara, continue along the coast through Galle, Kalutara, Colombo back to Negombo.

 

I'm thinking of visiting in December to coincide with the bird migration and Adam's peak pilgrimage seasons.

 

So far, I have shortlisted this motorcycle rental company.

 

They also have a 3 day 2 night itinerary which might be worth a look.

 

 

great plans... do take advantage of cathay's promo now... flight to colombo booked under zuji.com at just $310 return tix (before taxes).