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NEWS!
From Samorn Villa, Buachet, Isarn
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Samorn Villa
is open since April 2011 and so much has happened since. We were fortunate to
welcome many guests from all over the world. Our gardens have grown
tremendously and we added “The Blue House” to ensure a comfortable stay for
guides and drivers.
We also built
a traditional harvest barn to keep the annual rice crop, next to our extended
chicken and duck house. And last but
not least: we welcomed a baby girl to the family.
All is well
in Buachet: come visit us soon!
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Border Crossing Chong Sa Ngam – Chaom
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We want to share with you a fantastic trip we did in
June this year: a border crossing from
Chong Sa
Ngam / Chaom border from
Thailand into Cambodia. We have been wanting to do this trip for a long time
and finally found the time. We hope that this information inspires you to add
this trip to your offerings!
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Information
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The border post is a 20 minutes drive from Samorn Villa
and the last kilometers lead into the mountain range that separates Thailand
and Cambodia. The border crossing is called Chon Sang Ngam at the Thai side
and Chaom at the Cambodian site – not to be confused with Chong Chom / O
Smach Border.
The border opens from 07:00 to 20:00 hrs. There is a 50
meter “no-mans-land” to cross and porters are available to carry luggage.
The drive to Siem Reap is 140 kilometer on an excellent
road with very few cars - the driving time is 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Immigration: formalities are the same as on arrival to
Phnom Penh or Siem Reap Airport. Departure / arrival cards need to be
completed and a passport picture is required for the Cambodian visa. Help to
fill in visa applications is available.
USD 25.00 for foreigners and THB 100 for a Thai citizen.
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Our Cambodian car pulled up
right next to the immigration office and off we were. The road leads through
farmland and the last 30 minutes are right through the archeological park of
Angkor Wat: the beautiful temple complex
of Banteay Srei and Phnom Koulen are located north of Siem Reap and along the
road to Thailand.
As entrance tickets can only
be bought in Siem Reap, a stop at both places can only be done on the way
back or, if not returning via the border, you will have to backtrack.
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In Siem Reap there are plenty
of choices of hotels, restaurants, shops and markets, but nothing tops the
majestic Angkor Wat and surroundings.
Hire a car or use a motorbike
or bicycle: the sites are amazing, whether you come for the first time or
have been before.
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Our Recommended Tours
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Note: As flights to and from Siem Reap are still
fairly pricy, you will find that an overland trip from Thailand to Siem Reap
is very good value from money, especially if more people use the same
transport vehicle. Remember: Samorn Villa holds upto 4 people in the villa,
and more in bunkbeds in The Blue House at reduced prices. So – come with a
lot and pay a little.
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Option 1 : Bangkok
– Phimai – Phanom Rung – Muang Tham – Siem Reap - Angkor Wat
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760 kilometer driving, with visits to
Khmer-style temples in both Thailand and Cambodia.
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Day 1: Drive from Bangkok via Saraburi to
the north of Korat (Nakhon Rachasima),to visit Phimai National Park.
Overnight in Korat.
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Day 2: Drive from Korat to Buriram and visit
Phnom Rung and Muang Tham – both very well preserved temples from the Khmer
Era.
Continue
eastwards to Buachet for overnight at Samorn Villa.
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Day 3: A 20 minute drive from Samorn Villa
takes you to the border. After crossing, continue to Siem Reap (for more
details see : “How to arrange”).
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Day 4, 5 etc – visit Siem Reap. Departure from Siem Reap can be overland to
the Poipet Border or to Vietnam, or fly out from Siem Reap to Bangkok or
other cities in Southeast Asia.
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How to arrange Option 1
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You
arrangefor car, guide, accommodation
etc. for Day 1 and Day 2.
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Samorn
Villa can arrange for a transfer to the border on Day 3, hence car and guide
can return to Bangkok on Day 2.
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You
arrange for a car and guide to collect guests at the Cambodian side of the
border. Note: cars can not cross into Cambodia.
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Should
clients return to Thailand the same way, then Samorn Villa can arrange for
pick up from the border and transfer to Surin Railway Station.
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Option 2 :
Bangkok – Surin (overnight train) – Siem
Reap - Angkor Wat
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Overnight train to Surin and transfers
to Samorn Villa –a very affordable way to visit Siem Reap.
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Day 1: Take the night train from Bangkok to
Surin. The train departs at 20:30 hrs. from the main station in Bangkok : Hua
Lamphong Railway Station. Sleepers are available.
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Day 2: Arrive in Surin at 05:00 hrs. early
morning. Transfer to Samorn Villa. Enjoy a day at leisure on the farm. There
are bicycles to use, walk through the village or just relax in your hammock.
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Day 3: A 20 minute drive from Samorn Villa
takes you to the border. After crossing, continue to Siem Reap (for more
details see below : “How to arrange”).
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Day 4, 5 etc – visit Siem Reap
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Departure
from Siem Reap can be overland to the Poipet Border or to Vietnam, or fly out
from Siem Reap to Bangkok or other cities in Southeast Asia.
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How to arrange Option 2
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You
arrange for railway tickets to Surin and transfer to Hua Lamphong Railway
Station.
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Samorn
Villa can arrange for a transfer from the railway to Samorn Villa on Day 2
and a transfer to the border on Day 3.
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You
arrange for a car and guide to collect guests at the Cambodian side of the
border. Note: cars can not cross into Cambodia.
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Should
clients return to Thailand the same way, then Samorn Villa can arrange for
pick up from the border and transfer to Surin Railway Station.
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Our Final Notes
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We had a great time during this trip and recommend this
to anyone. Some more tips:
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Samorn Villa
does not provide sightseeing from Bangkok to Chong Sa Ngam or in Cambodia. We
can however recommend reputable groundhandlers there.
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Samorn Villa
can arrange for pick up/drop off to Surin Railway Station and transfers
to/from the border by private car.
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You have to
arrange for transfers from the border at the Cambodia side, accommodation in
Siem Reap, entrance tickets to Angkor Wat etc. However: you will be surprised
how affordable the journey will be.
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Samorn Villa
welcomes your guests early morning when possible. If the villa is occupied
the night before, we will ensure your comfort until other guests have left.
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Always check if
your guests can enter Cambodia with a “visa on arrival”. If guests plan to
return to Thailand overland: most nationalities can enter the same as through
international airports in Thailand: fill in an arrival card and entry is
granted. Other nationalities (India / Russia) need additional formalities
that are not available on the border, hence re-entry to Thailand via Bangkok International
Airport is needed.
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Note that guest
need a passport photo to obtain a visa for Cambodia
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Samorn Villa is located
south of Surin, close to the border with Cambodia, in the town of Buachet.
The town is a relatively new development area, where population is growing
since the 1980’s. The town's main industry is farming.
Our home-stay was built to
enjoy the country side in comfort. Apart from comfortable bed and bathroom
facilities, we offer several seating areas and lots of space to enjoy. We provide
wireless internet, Satelite TV and stereo. We also include breakfast and
dinner, so you can experience the kitchen of Isarn and Thailand while staying
with us.
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A stay at Samorn Villa is a
great addition to a trip through Isarn, or enroute to Cambodia. Come enjoy
the hospitality of Thailand’s rural areas and make yourself at home!
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