A YPT we have previously covered how you get the train from Phnom Penh to Battambang, Poipet and even all the way to Bangkok, but you can actually also travel south to some of the most popular tourist sites within the Kingdom.
To read about taking the train from Phnom Penh to Bangkok click here.
So, how do you take the train from Phnom Penh to Takeo, Kep, Kampot and finally Sihanoukville?
Taking the train in Cambodia
Taking the train in Cambodia is much less a thing than in say Vietnam, despite the the two both being former French colonial possessions. It is also much less popular and spread than in other nearby nations, such as Thailand and even Myanmar.
This is something that has hardly been helped by other factors, such as war and the reign of the Khmer Rouge, as well as they later insurgency.
This means that nowadays there are just three lines, going up to Thailand, south to Sihanoukville and finally a joyride to the airport. And the customers? Mostly tourists rather than Khmer traveling around the country.
Interestingly YPT can arrange charter train tours through Cambodia.
Heading south in Cambodia
Going from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville will involve taking the train at 7 am, with Royal Cambodian Railways stopping at Takeo at 08.40. While not exactly a tourist town Takeo is the home of Ta Mok.
After this though you stop at two genuine tourist towns, namely Kep and Kampot at around 10.20 and .10.40 am. These two have some greta dark tourist sites, such as Bokor Hill.
You can read about Bokor Hill here.
Sihanoukville is a city that brings up a fair bit of controversy. Previously a beautiful seaside town it has now arguably been taken over by the Chinese mob, with unfinished casinos, as well as alleged slave like callcentres that have cast a greta shadow over the city.
That is not to say that all is bad about the city though…..
What to do in Sihanoukville?
Historically there is not all that much going on here, but there are a few hotels from colonial times, as well as dark tourist sites within the city that will keep you going.
To read about dark tourism click here.
The unfinished buildings also leave openings for Urbex people, although one needs to check the laws before going into empty buildings! Obviously something we do not condone.
Alas though the best thing aside from street food is get out to one of the islands such as Koh Rong.
You can join our Dark Tourism tour here.
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