Pailin Travel Guide
This frontier gem and mining town lies on the fringes of Cambodia's Battambang Province near the border with Thailand. The region boasts a few resorts and ancient temples though most of the allure is outside Pailin's city limits.
- Worth It?
- Not unless you're a well-traveled gem dealer looking for a new supplier.
- What to Do
- visit the hilltop temple.
- Best Time to Go
- from December to February when the weather is cool and dry.
- How Long?
- A day is plenty of time to experience Pailin.
Pailin's success is centered on gems rather than tourism so visitors will find little infrastructure in this dusty city. Often likened to a Wild West frontier outpost, Pailin holds the interest of travelers with a strong, independent spirit venturing out from Battambang.
The sole attraction in the city is a beautiful temple cresting the local hill. There's also the possibility of an excursion into the surrounding countryside, particularly the Samlaut Protected Area. Be advised that tour guides are essential when traveling off the beaten path as landmines are still a problem in Cambodia's remote countryside.
Travel to Pailin - Getting There
Battambang's airport has recently closed so most people arrive in the province by bus from Phnom Penh via the newly sealed road. Buses from Phnom Penh to Battambang take 4 hours, but onward connections to Pailin can take much longer as road conditions are poor. Travel time on this unsealed secondary road depends on the quality of your vehicle and weather conditions.
Pailin Things to Do
Pailin Attractions
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