Epic journey from SR to Koh Chang, but sadly not in a good way!

Easy journey from SR to Kamrieng in Battambang province (or is it Pailin Province?). 4 hours with rest stops as temperatures where at feels like 42 deg before 10am! Uneventful!

Reached the border crossing and got stamped out of Cambodia in record time. The travel gods were shining or so I thought.

Over to customs to export the bike and it all went to shit! Can’t do the customs paperwork at customs, need to go to head office about 10km inland. So off I went (still stamped out btw).

You can cut to the nice photos of Koh Chang if the next bit is not of interest – spoiler alert I do make it!

Customs Head office will not issue paperwork because I do not have Thai insurance yet. Could not get thai insurance in Cambodia so planned to get after crossing. Spot the catch 22 here?

5 hours at customs waiting for a guy who knew a guy who could organise insurance for some tea money. Full bike gear, 42deg, meaning I lost the will to live.

Insurance sorted, and bike export paperwork in hand crossed over to Thailand to continue the hassle. Two customs offices, one immigration, two trips to the marketplace for photocopying, two sheafs of paperwork, no less than 10 signatures made, 2 hours later I am admitted to Thailand. 7pm, it is dark, they drive on the opposite side of the road. Found nearest hotel and crashed. 12 hour day!

Day two was much easier though still as hot.

About 2 hours ride to the Koh Chang ferry port on high quality roads. 80TBH for me, 80TBH for the bike. Plenty of Thai BMW club also crossing the 20min to Koh Chang Island.

Being last off the ferry I gave traffic a 5 minute head start which was a great idea. The roads are extremely steep (mountain island) and being stuck behind cars risks stalling on the tight upward turns. Laos experience served me well in slow speed first gear tactoring uphill.

A quick check in, and then beach and beer time! Welcome to Koh Chang!

Video of trip here