The Cambodian tuk-tuk is a covered trailer open on the sides, attached to the back of a motorcycle. It can comfortably transport 2 to 4 passengers with luggage. It is the quintessential tourist transport — practical, inexpensive, and enjoyable when the heat is not too intense.

Reference Prices

🛺 Short ride in town 2–4 USD
Less than 3 km
🛺 Medium ride in town 4–6 USD
3–7 km
✈️ Airport → city center 7–10 USD
Phnom Penh or Siem Reap
🏛️ Angkor Day (small circuit) 15–18 USD
6–8 hours, dedicated driver
🏛️ Angkor Day (large circuit) 18–22 USD
Longer distance, same formula
🌅 Angkor Wat Sunrise 5–8 USD
One way, departure ~5am
These prices are per tuk-tuk, not per person. A tuk-tuk can easily carry 2-3 travelers with their bags — the price is the same. Traveling as a pair effectively divides the cost.

Grab vs traditional tuk-tuk

Grab (the ride-hailing app) is available in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville. It offers rides in tuk-tuks (TukTuk) or cars (Car) with fixed prices displayed before ordering, payment in cash or by credit card, and geolocation of the trip.

For one-off rides in town, Grab is generally recommended: no negotiation, transparent pricing, and the driver knows the GPS address. For a full day at Angkor, a driver negotiated directly is often preferable — they become your logistical guide for the day, know the secondary entrances to the temples, suggest the best photo spots, and adapt to your pace.

🛺 Finding a good driver for Angkor

The best way: ask your hotel or guest house to recommend a regular driver. Drivers who work with establishments have a reputation to maintain. Otherwise, drivers stationed in front of major guest houses on Pub Street (Siem Reap) or along the Riverside (Phnom Penh) are generally reliable.

How to negotiate

Negotiation is the norm for tuk-tuks outside of Grab. A few practical rules:

First, inquire at your hotel about the usual rate for your trip. This avoids leaving without a reference. Offer 70-80% of the first price quoted. If the driver asks for 8 USD for a 3 km trip, 5-6 USD is reasonable. Don't negotiate excessively — a dollar difference means little to you and can mean a lot to the driver. Negotiation should remain a friendly exchange.

For a full day, agree on the exact program in advance: which temples, how many hours, whether the driver waits between visits (always yes), estimated return time. A rate of 15-20 USD for the small Angkor circuit (about 8 hours) is fair for both sides.

Safety in tuk-tuks

The main risk is not a road accident, but theft by snatch-theft: a scooter approaches the moving tuk-tuk and snatches a phone, bag, or camera visible from the outside. This phenomenon does occur in Phnom Penh, less so in Siem Reap.

Basic precautions: Do not hold your phone or camera outside the tuk-tuk during the ride, especially at night. Keep your bags and luggage on the inside of the vehicle, not on the street side. These simple precautions suffice in the vast majority of cases.

The moto-dop: the alternative

The moto-dop is a motorcycle taxi — a scooter driver on which you ride as a passenger. Less comfortable than the tuk-tuk (especially with luggage), it is faster in heavy traffic and slightly cheaper for short trips (1-3 USD). Best reserved for short trips without luggage and be sure to negotiate before getting on.

Frequently Asked Questions

People often ask us

Frequently asked questions

2-4 USD for a short trip (less than 3 km), 4-6 USD for a medium trip. With Grab, the price is displayed before ordering.

15-18 USD for the small circuit (6-8h), 18-22 USD for the large circuit. The price is per tuk-tuk, not per person — advantageous for groups.

Grab for one-off trips in the city (transparent pricing, no negotiation). Negotiated tuk-tuk for a full day at Angkor — better service, dedicated driver who adapts to your schedule.