Travelling From Bangkok To Siem Reap

Comparison of the different options

Located relatively close to each other, Bangkok and Siem Reap offer many different options of travel between them, each with their own advantages. Traveling by air is without a doubt the fastest way. It usually costs at least 40 USD for a one way trip to the Siem Reap airport which is around 7 km from the city centre. The bus ride could possibly be the most comfortable with its luxury options and the train ride is the cheapest option.

Flying from Bangkok to Siem Reap

Fortunately for avid travelers, there are many different options even just for air travel between these two popular tourist cities. Depending on where you stay in Bangkok, you can choose between the two Bangkok airports to depart from. Thai AirAsia flies from Don Mueang Airport (located more in the north), while Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways (operated by Thai Smile) and Cambodia Angkor Air Bangkok fly from the more modern Suvarnabhumi Airport. With so many carriers operating between these two places, one of the advantages to traveling by air is the sheer options in timing for the one hour journey. The disadvantages would probably be that the airports are often further from popular hotels as compared to bus pick up locations, that having to check-in two hours early increases the total time put aside for this flight, and having to pay the most (around 37 to above 100 USD). However, one of the biggest advantage air has over land travel to some tourists would be not having to walk across that notorious Thailand-Cambodia border which perhaps makes this the easiest option!

Bangkok to Siem Reap by bus

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Direct buses and mini buses travel from Bangkok to Siem Reap. Contrary to expectations, the mini buses are not any faster or cheaper than the big coaches although they could offer pickups from smaller boutique hotels as they are able to operate outside the main roads.

Direct buses depart from Mo Chit bus terminal in Northern Bangkok or Khao San Road (which could be closer to your accommodation in Thailand). There is an array of departure timings for the direct buses although those from the Mo Chit terminal leave only at 8 am and 9 am every morning. You can also take a night bus which leaves from Khao San Road. These buses are fully air-conditioned and often offer enough legroom for a comfortable 7 to 9 hour journey. Depending on the type of bus and company you choose, the price ranges from around 23 USD and up.

There are a range of buses for different types of travelers. Most buses have their own toilets so that passengers do not have to be at the mercy of the timings for rest stops. The bus is certainly a very attractive option as many come with their own Wi-Fi, TVs and snacks for passengers and bus tickets can be booked from around 30 USD. Some of the direct bus companies that you can book from are Nattakan and Giant Ibis.

Even for direct buses, it is still necessary for passengers to alight at the border to walk through the Thai and Cambodian checkpoints (scroll down for tips on crossing the border).

For bus schedules and online bookings, check out BookMeBus.

Taking the train from Bangkok to Siem Reap

This is the slowest option of travel (taking around 12 hours in total including the time spent at the border) between the two cities but for those who really love trains, this would be the way to go. For a price of 48 THB or 1.50 USD (half the price for children), travelers can hop on the trains that leave from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet (near to the border) at 5:55 am and 1:05 pm every day. The commute to the border alone takes 4 to 6 hours but on the bright side, those hours will be filled with rather lovely views as compared to the bus or plane ride.

After alighting the train, a tuk tuk can be taken to go to the border to pass the Thai and Cambodian checkpoints and voila, you will find yourself in Cambodia. There is no train however, from the border to Siem Reap, and the best alternative options would be by bus, taxi or tuk tuk.

Crossing the border

After the tuk tuk or bus drops you off before exiting Thailand, you will find yourself at the notorious Thailand-Cambodia border filled with scams lurking around for unsuspecting tourists which probably starts when the tuk tuk driver offers to drop you off at a travel agency selling overpriced visas (for more than 36 USD). If you did not purchase a e-visa beforehand, the best place to buy the visa from (unless you’re a member of ASEAN for whom a visa is not needed for a stay up to 30 days) would be at the official Poi Pet immigration control office where the prices will not be marked up. Then, stay in the foreigner lane for the queue at the Thai immigration and customs to smoothly leave the country. Most scams occur within this area between the two customs so try to be on the alert for those.

Things to take note of: both the arrival and departure cards for both countries are FREE, ignore any touts at or around the border, and there is a legitimate free bus that can be taken from the Cambodian immigration to the passenger terminal. Last but not least, try to find out beforehand the things that need to be paid for for this journey and exactly how much they cost to avoid being a victim to such scams.

Traveling between the two cities

Crossing the Thailand-Cambodia border can be especially nerve-wrecking even for the most experienced travelers but these two cities are certainly not to be missed. Hopefully, this guide can prevent you from falling pray to the various scams in the area or help you to choose the mode of traveling best suited in this journey.