Getting There & Getting Around
It is possible to travel directly by bus to and from Phnom Penh to Banlung, the capital of Ratanakiri, stopping in Kratie. Several minibuses offer the service, which costs about $10 but can be more during high season. The road is mostly new and surfaced, but it does disintegrate into dirt past Stung Treng, 100km (62 miles) before you reach Banlung. The companies running this route are Bung Rung (tel. 012/684-041), Bona Transport (tel. 012/567-161), and Ly Heng Express (tel. 023/991-726).
You can also travel by regular bus leaving Phnom Penh at 6:15am and Banlung at 7am going the other way. It is a 600km (372-mile) journey and costs $12. Rith Mony, Phnom Penh Sorya, and GST Express Bus Company all run this route.
Motorcycle taxi (motodup), rental motorcycle, and bicycle are the primary options for exploring the immediate area. You can hire a motodup for the whole day for about $8. If they speak good English they might ask for more. A 100cc motorcycle costs $5 a day. A bicycle costs $1 a day. Ask at your guesthouse. You may also be able to rent four-wheel-drives for $40.
Fast Facts
Banks & Currency Exchange -- There is one bank, the Acleda Bank (near the market. tel. 075/974-220; open Mon-Fri 7:30am-4pm). They change traveler's checks. There is an ATM but at present it does not accept international cards.
Internet Access -- There is Internet access at a number of places around the center of town but prices are relatively high ($3 per hour) and speeds are excessively slow. Try Srei Mom's Internet, on the road west to east close to the market and bus stop.
Post Office -- The Post Office is on the road east heading toward Vietnam. It offers international phone calls, although there are cellphone kiosks from which it is cheaper to call.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
