Cambodia is famous for its temples particularly Angkor, its natural beauty, and its rich history. A common question in Cambodia is about transportation, especially for tourists, and whether they have tuk-tuks. Tuk-tuks are motorcycle rickshaws that use three wheels and a motorcycle engine. So, are there tuk-tuks in Cambodia?
Yes, tuk-tuks are a common mode of transportation in Cambodia in particular Phnom Penh. These are a popular and cheap way to get around cities and towns. One issue is that the tuk-tuks in Cambodia do not have seat belts and it is very easy to fall out of the tuk-tuks as it zips through traffic. But they are a great way to explore.
In this post, we will go through whether they are tuk-tuks in Cambodia. Let’s get started!
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Are There Tuk-Tuks In Cambodia?
Yes, tuk-tuks are a common mode of transportation in Cambodia in particular Phnom Penh. The tuk-tuks in Cambodia are somewhat similar to those tuk-tuks in Thailand along with other countries in Southeast Asia. These are a popular and cheap way to get around cities and towns.
The tuk-tuks are generally three-wheeled vehicles with an open-air carriage attached to a motorcycle or motorized rickshaw. Tuk-tuks are often brightly decorated and can accommodate multiple passengers. The standard of tuk-tuk can vary from one tuk-tuk to another tuk-tuk.
In Cambodia, tuk-tuks are used for short-distance travel within cities, for sightseeing, and for getting to popular tourist attractions. They are an affordable way to navigate through traffic and explore different areas. Tuk-tuks don’t come with seat belts so there are some safety issues.
It is worth noting that while tuk-tuks are a mode of transportation, they may not be available in all areas of Cambodia, particularly in more rural or remote regions. In those cases, other forms of transportation like taxis or motorcycles may be more common.
Are Tuk Tuks Safe In Cambodia To Use?
No, tuk-tuks are NOT safe in Cambodia. There are two main concerns about using tuk-tuks in Cambodia. These are as follows.
- Tuk-tuks lack any real safety features.
- The tuk-tuk drivers
Tuk-Tuks Lack Any Real Safety Features
Tuk-tuks in Cambodia can vary from one tuk-tuk to another tuk-tuk but some can be dirty, noisy, and unstable. Generally, tuk-tuks have three tires. Two tires are in the rear and one tire is put on the front side. The driver does not need to deal with balance but does need to use common sense so remember, the tuk-tuk is as safe as its driver.
While passengers and drivers in most cases do not need to worry about the rain because it has a large roof.
The real safety concern about using a tuk-tuk is that there are no seatbelts, therefore it can be very easy to fall out of the tuk-tuk as the driver tends to drive fast while zipping through traffic and using alleyways. If there is a crash between a tuk-tuk and a car or lorry you will go flying.
If you get injured while being a passenger on a tuk-tuk, the tuk-tuk is not insured and I hope you have travel insurance.
Just remember getting injured on a tuk-tuk is a sure way to ruin your holiday.
The Tuk-Tuk Drivers
Other than the safety issues the tuk-tuk drivers are a big problem, this is, especially in Phnom Penh. The tuk-tuk drivers are looking to rip off tourists. This is the list of problems and scams with the drivers.
- You get a tuk-tuk and agree on a price of 1 dollar. After a few minutes, he wants to take you to visit a jeweler or tailor’s shop. To be ripped off. If you say no the price will increase to 5 dollars.
- The tuk-tuk drivers are known to be aggressive and will gang up on tourists.
Tuk Tuks Appearance And Design
Simply the design of the tuk-tuk itself is a rickshaw that instead of someone cycling is a motorbike. It still uses three wheels. Tuk-tuks are specially and custom-made for that purpose. This is why the appearance of tuk-tuks can vary from being very fancy with speakers and nice seats to being very basic.
Most of the tuk-tuks are painted in a black/red color which makes them look better. Generally, tuk-tuk uses a roof to protect from sunlight and rain. While the driver is sitting in front of the passengers he holds the handlebar to run the tuk-tuk.
How Much Does A Tuk-Tuk Cost In Cambodia?
Tuk-tuks start charging at about 2/3 dollars and be haggled down to 1/2 dollars for a short ride. In tourist areas such as Phnom Penh, you need to watch out for tuk-tuks offering very low prices. This is more than likely a scam.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, tuk-tuks are a common mode of transportation in Cambodia in particular Phnom Penh. These are a popular and cheap way to get around cities and towns. One issue is that the tuk-tuks in Cambodia do not have seat belts and it is very easy to fall out of the tuk-tuks as it zips through traffic. But they are a great way to explore.
And that’s it for now! I’d love it if this post on whether they are tuk-tuks in Cambodia was helpful to you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know your experience of using a tuk-tuk.
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