Sen Monorom

Bus

Getting to Sen Monorom by bus from Phnom Penh can be tricky. None of the major bus companies (Sorya, GST) with stations in the Central Market go to Sen Monorom. If you want to take a big bus, which is more comfortable but slower than a minibus or share taxi, you'll need to stop by a travel agent.

The sole bus company, Eysan Development Co., that goes to Sen Monorom, leaves from a sidestreet just north of Wat Phnom at 07:30 and drops you off at the bus station behind Olympic Stadium. A one-way ticket for a foreigner is $10 and the trip takes 10 to 12 hours, stopping in Snuol. This bus picks up passengers in Kompong Cham at the Japanese Bridge heading out of town at about 11:00, so inquire about it at a travel agency if you're staying in Kampong Cham. The buses do not run in the wet season.

Rith Mony runs daily buses out of Mondulkiri to Kratie for $10 and to Stung Treng for $12.

Eysan Development Co.: T: (089) 601 701; (099) 354 260
Rithy Mony: T: (099) 815 858; (017) 905 569

Other

4WD pick up trucks and other taxis leave from Phnom Penh early in the morning (between 06:30 and 07:30) from their departure point on Street #80 a few blocks north of Wat Phnom. Expect to pay around $15 per seat in the cab (recommended) or $8-10 on the back (not recommended).

Sheery at Nature Lodge says there is a minibus that goes from Phnom Penh daily and she can arrange it for you if you ask her. It's the same price as the big bus, $10, but takes about eight hours instead. Alternatively, you can take a $10 bus to Kratie or try on your own to hire a share taxi or find a pick-up truck leaving from Central Market heading to Kratie. From there, you can find a pick-up truck to take you to Mondulkiri. We'd do this only if we wanted to add a stop in Kratie to see the Irawaddy dolphins.

Heading north from Sen Monorom is only possible by motorcycle and is not recommended for novice riders. The trip takes between one and two days depending on a number of variables (for example if you get lost or not). You can read a report of our trip from Sen Monorom to Ban Lung by motorbike here.