You might be used to Grab taxi or Uber, but in Siem Reap, it’s all about tuk tuks. Seriously, they’re everywhere, and they’re the main method of transport for most tourists.
Now I don’t know about you, but before I visited Siem Reap, I’d never been in a tuk tuk, and if I’m quite honest I wasn’t entirely sure what they were.
But after spending a number of weeks in Siem Reap, traveling by tuk tuk at least once a day, I came to love them.
Here’s everything you need to know about traveling by tuk tuk in Siem Reap.
What is a tuk tuk?
A tuk tuk is a kind of open carriage with two wheels that’s attached to the driver’s motorbike. It can seat up to four people, and it’s the main form of transport in Siem Reap.
Personally, after being in Siem Reap for a few days, I decided that tuk tuks were by far the best way to travel. You get to take in the fresh air, and enjoy the view. Plus, the lack of a seat belt gave me all the adventure I could hope for in one day.
Hiring a Siem Reap Tuk Tuk driver
You don’t need to worry about where to find a tuk tuk driver in Siem Reap, they’ll find you. Tuk tuk drivers are everywhere around the old market and the temples, so wherever you are and wherever you’re going, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
If you’re staying in a hotel, it’s worth asking if they offer a free tuk tuk service, as a lot of the bigger hotels offer free tuk tuks to the old market area.
If you’re hoping to visit the temples, you’ll want to hire a Siem Reap tuk tuk driver for the day. This way you’ll pay a set rate, and they can work out the best route based on what you want to see.
Siem Reap Tuk Tuk Prices 2018
The cost of a tuk tuk journey will depend on how far you’re going and what tuk tuk you’ve chosen.
There are a few different tuk tuks around the city that have been pimped up, like the Bat Mobile Tuk Tuk and the entirely pink and fluffy tuk tuk, and naturally these cost more than your standard, non-pimped tuk tuk.
But for a journey from one part of the main town to another, your ride should be between $2 and $5. And it’s not like taxis, where the cost goes up after or before a certain a time. So if you’re coming back from pub street in the early hours of the morning you’ll pay the same sort of price. To give you a better idea, it cost me $2-3 each day to travel 1km away from the old market.
For day trips to the temples though you’ll pay considerably more, because they’re quite a way out and your driver will be with you all day.
Tuk tuk prices for Angkor Wat and other temples generally range between $30 and $50. But they’ll drive to a range of different temples of your choice, help you plan your day, recommend restaurants and some even supply you with ice cold drinking water throughout the day.
If you want to get the best tuk tuk price, it’s worth finding a driver and staying loyal. If tuk tuk drivers know you’re planning on using them for most of your day trips they’ll often offer you a better deal.
Angkor Wat: Should you go by tuk tuk or car?
If you’ve never been in a tuk tuk before it can be tempting to go with what you know and pay for a car and a driver. But this is going to cost you more and it’s not actually as enjoyable.
Tuk tuks are maybe a third of the price of cars in Siem Reap, and you’ll get the experience of traveling like a local and feeling the wind against your face as you race through the bumpy streets.
Best tuk tuk in Siem Reap
Most tuk tuks are basically the same – it’s a motorbike with a carriage attached. But if you’re looking for a truly unique experience, you could always go for one of the novelty tuk tuks.
There are movie-themed tuk tuks, colour-themed tuk tuks, and simply tuk tuks with booming sound systems (and before you ask, yes you can plug in your own phone and choose your own music).
Tuk Tuk safety
I’m a great advocate of tuk tuks, but I’ll admit, they’re not as safe as cars. They’re more prone to accidents, mainly because they’re more unstable and can’t cope with bad roads as well as cars.
However, they’re great for short rides around the city and to the temples, just maybe consider a car for the further out temples like Beng Mealea and Phnom Kulen National Park.
You can also make your tuk tuk ride much safer just by keeping your wits about you.
Tuk tuks are a bumpy ride, and there’s nothing really to keep you or your belongings in. So hold on to your hats and sunglasses, and try not to drop anything valuable whilst you’re on the go.
You should also always clarify a price before getting in, you don’t want to get ripped off, and a tuk tuk driver will always stick to the quote he gave you.
Tuk Tuk tipping etiquette
People often ask if you should tip tuk tuk drivers, but the short answer is no, not usually. Tipping is a western tradition, and most tuk tuk drivers don’t expect it, not for short one-off trips anyway.
It’s okay to say ‘keep the change’ and drivers won’t be offended by a tip at all, just know that you’re not obliged to, and you won’t be frowned upon if you don’t.
However, if you’ve hired one driver for most days of your trip, and they’ve treated you well, it’s usually the done thing to give them a tip at the end of your stay. It doesn’t have to be a lot, maybe $15-$30 at the end of your trip.
I live in the UK, in the country’s most uneventful city, where the most interesting story in the local paper is about banning dressing gowns in supermarkets.
I travel and I write, because surely there are more interesting stories than that to write about and share.