Pursat

Pursat is the capital of western Cambodia's Pursat Province. It is indistinguishable from Cambodia's other small provincial capitals.

Understand
Pursat is a sleepy town that holds marginal interest. Though, it may be used a base for visits to the Tonle Sap Lake or Cardamon Mountains.

By road
The fully paved Hwy 5 runs northwest from Phnom Penh via Pursat to the county's second largest city, Battambang.

By bus
All buses between Battambang (US$2.50 from Pursat) and Phnom Penh (US$5 from Pursat) will stop here. Buses run every half-hour in the morning and early afternoon. Buses take 4 hr between Phnom Penh and 1½ hr between Battambang.

All the major bus companies service Phnom Penh — Sorya and Capitol Tour are the most reliable big names. Capitol Tour runs the latest afternoon departure from Phnom Penh at 14:00, and sometimes 15:00.

By train


Connections from:
 * Phnom Penh – 06:40, 4 hr, US$7
 * Battambang – 15:00, 2½ hr, US$4
 * Maung Russey – 16:00, 1½ hr

On foot
Central Pursat is easily covered on foot.

By taxi
Motorbike taxis hang around the market, bus stations, train station, and sometimes along the highway. A ride anywhere in town should cost around 1,000 riel. A day trip to Kampong Luang or elsewhere can be negotiated for US$5 or more. The occasional tuk-tuk can also be found.

By motorbike
The Phnom Pech Hotel rents small motorbikes by the day and half-day.

See
Like all of Cambodia's former railway towns, Pursat hosts a charming French-built railway station that has decayed into a slum, which gives the area an interesting vibe. The railway had been restored in 2019.

Do
Walking the town is the best way to know it. Children will scream "hello" at any passing tourist. Locals may invite you for some food or karaoke. As in Battambang, there is a "bamboo train".

Eat
Common to any society that has emerged from food shortages, provincial Cambodia lacks a culture that reveres cuisine and instead favours sustenance. In short, don't expect more than a cheap meal of rice and some gristly meat. Stalls and cafes around town offer similar nondescript human fuel.

Go next

 * Pursat offers access to the Cardamom Mountains, giving it potential for eco-tourism.
 * 28 km away lie the floating villages of Kampong Luang on the Tonle Sap Lake, a popular day trip.