How to Ride the Bamboo Train in Battambang
The bamboo train (norry) is one of Cambodia's most unique experiences — a bamboo platform on wheels powered by a small motor, rattling along old French colonial railway tracks through rice paddies. It's quintessentially Cambodian: improvised, fun, and slightly terrifying.
How do I Ride the Bamboo Train in Battambang?
The bamboo train runs from a station 4km south of Battambang center. Cost: $5 per person for a 15-minute ride each way. Available daily 7 AM–5 PM. The ride goes through rice paddies and when two trains meet head-on, one must be disassembled to let the other pass.
Get to the bamboo train station
The station is about 4km south of Battambang center. Take a tuk-tuk ($3 each way with waiting time) or rent a bicycle and ride there along the riverside road.
💡 Ask any tuk-tuk driver for "norry" — everyone knows where it is.
Buy your ticket
Pay $5 per person at the small ticket office. The train accommodates 2–4 passengers. You may share with other travelers or have the platform to yourself.
Board and enjoy the ride
Sit on a thin mat on the bamboo platform. The motor starts, and you rattle along the tracks through beautiful countryside. Speed: about 40 km/h. The vibrations are intense — hold your camera tight.
💡 Sit in the center for the most stable ride. Keep hands inside — vegetation brushes close.
Watch the disassembly when trains meet
When two bamboo trains meet coming from opposite directions, the one with fewer passengers must be disassembled (bamboo platform lifted off, wheels removed from tracks). This takes 3 minutes and is hilarious to watch.
Explore the village at the turnaround
The ride ends at a small village where vendors sell drinks and snacks. There's time to walk around, take photos, and chat with locals before the return journey.
💡 Tips
- • The ride is bumpy — not suitable for people with severe back problems.
- • Morning (7–9 AM) is quieter with fewer tourists.
- • Combine with Battambang's other highlights: Phare Circus, bat caves, and the killing caves.
- • The entire experience takes about 1 hour including waiting and turnaround time.
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