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It was only upon writing a travel guide to Siem Reap that I realised how complicated it was to reach the city from Bangkok. I was trying to fit it all into one small paragraph, something I found impossible. The journey is not complicated in the sense that it is difficult. In fact, quite the opposite. Travelling from Bangkok to Siem Reap is one of the easier journeys in South East Asia. It is complicated because of the options available to you. Choosing which is best can be difficult. That is why I have written this, explaining how to travel from Bangkok to Siem Reap, and hopefully, it will help you select which mode of transport is best for you.
Currency Converter
Thailand: 40THB = €1.08/£0.97/$1.22
Cambodia: $1 = £0.75/€0.90 — US Dollar is the currency used in Cambodia. The Cambodian Riel is used for any amount under $1. One dollar = 4,000 Cambodian Riel
By Plane
On paper, travelling by plane seems like the easiest option but the reality may be a little different. Flights to Siem Reap from Bangkok primarily fly from Don Mueang Airport. To reach the airport you must take either a bus, maybe two depending on your location, or a taxi. A taxi will cost approx 300THB if a meter is used. The bus would be considerably cheaper but as expected it will take a lot longer to reach the airport. Another option is the train into Hua Lamphong, Bangkok’s main train station. Buses and taxis are easily found there but this will take you longer than any other option.
Then you have to factor in the time spent at the airport, the checking in of baggage, etc. What seemed like the easiest option starts to become a bit more work than first expected. The flight time is approximately one hour and flights can be found for less than $100 with baggage being extra. When you arrive in Siem Reap you will discover that no public transport is available. The airport is located 8km from the city and either a tuk-tuk or a motorcycle taxi can be taken. If possible through your accommodation, I suggest organising this transfer before you arrive. Depending on your mode of transport you will have to pay between $2-$9.
Personally, I don’t recommend flying. Whilst the flight time is short and overall it is the quickest option, it is also the most expensive. The other options might take slightly longer but they will save you a considerable amount of money. Regardless of your choice, the journey will take you the guts of a day so for this reason, it is best to choose against the quickest option in favour of the most budget-friendly.
By Train
This was once my preferred mode of transport for this journey. On the face of it, it seems the cheapest by quite a margin but the reality is a bit different. Twice a day, trains leave Hua Lumphong Station in Bangkok heading for Aranyaprathet, the closest town to the border. The trains leave at 05:55 and 13:05. The ticket costs just 48THB and the journey is estimated to take six hours. More often than not, expect this journey to take a while longer. So far so good, six hours of driving through the Thai countryside, window open, I love it. Once you reach Aranyaprathet, you must take a tuk-tuk to the border. This will take about 10 minutes and will cost 100THB, so the more people travelling the better. Expect to be approached by drivers before even leaving the train.
I will explain the border crossing shortly, but for now, let’s presume you made it into Cambodia stress-free (unlikely) and are looking for onward travel. From the Cambodian side of the border, there is a free shuttle bus to take you to Poipet bus station where you can hopefully get a bus to Siem Reap. The journey takes just under two hours.
If you took the early train, then after a short wait that shuttle bus should arrive. However, if you took the later train, you will be too late. Expect to be hounded by taxi drivers regardless of your choice. A taxi costs approx $40 so if you have four people it is actually quite a good option. Buses run far less often than most realise, especially in the off-season. You may be waiting for up to two hours at the station and still pay the same price of $10.
When you finally reach Siem Reap, whether by taxi or mini-van, you are hit with the last kick in the teeth. A clever scam has been devised so that you are left just outside of the city, usually down a back road at a restaurant car park. Tuk-tuk drivers will be waiting for you there to give you a *free ride* to your accommodation. It sounds too good to be true and that is because it is. The tuk-tuk is only free if you hire the driver to bring you to Angkor Wat the next day. If you decline, you will be charged $5 to get to Siem Reap. This is one of the more frustrating scams because, in reality, you have no choice. Between this, the potential wait for a mini-van and the hassle of dealing with the locals in Poipet, I have sworn to myself, never again will I go this way to Cambodia.
By Bus
Up until recently, I always decided against taking the bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap. I think I baulked at the initial fee more than anything, not realising I would have to pay this much and more anyway. A bus costs approx 750THB. Usually, this will involve a pick up from your accommodation in Bangkok. The bus will drive to the border, this takes a similar amount of time as the train and usually involves a stop off. Once you reach Aranyaprathet, you must disembark the bus, take your luggage and pass through the border yourself. Once you reach the Cambodian side, you must wait for the bus to get through the border and pick you up. From there, the bus will take three hours to reach Siem Reap.
Apart from the initial inflated fee, this transport style is by far the best. You won’t have to deal with the guys set out to scam tourists in Poipet and the bus will leave you a lot more centrally in Siem Reap. Depending on where you are staying you could be within walking distance of your accommodation. The only slight downside is that, depending on traffic, you might have to wait a while for the bus to get through the border. However, this is just a minor annoyance. The reality is, in comparison with taking the train, the bus is stress-free and the ideal way to travel.
The Border Crossing (And The Scams Involved)
As soon as you arrive at the Thai-Cambodia border, the world around you gets instantly more chaotic. The first people to approach you are the local scammers. They will attempt to take you into a fake visa office on the Thai side. Once you pay them the fee and leave Thailand, they have gotten away scot-free with what is essentially robbing you. Instead, make your way to the immigration office and get your passport stamped to say you have left Thailand.
Take a walk through no man’s land where you will pass under the Kingdom of Cambodia archway and into the visa office on the right-hand side of the road. The visa should cost $30 and must be paid for in cash (US Dollars only). In the visa office, there will be a sign telling you this price. Expect the officials to pull out another sign that tells you the visa costs $33. Refuse this at all costs. It is a scam. The sign may even be a piece of cardboard with the writing in pen.
Once you refuse to pay the additional $3, you will be told to either go away or take a seat. Your passport will be returned to you (or thrown on the ground, which is what happened to me) and you will be told, “no entry to Cambodia!” Take a seat and wait it out, it won’t take long. Once they realise that you are not leaving, they will process your visa. On an average day, this should take no longer than thirty minutes.
After you receive your visa, you must pass through immigration, which is about fifty metres further up the road. This is usually a bit less stressful. I have noticed recently that they ask for money from visitors. Another couple that was going through the border at the same time I was, got charged $5 per person at this point. However, they also paid the additional fee in the visa office. I would not be surprised if in some way the visa was marked to say that they were an easy target, as I was never asked for the few at this point.
Once you pass through immigration, you have made it into Cambodia and are greeted with the sight of Poipet or “The Devil’s Arsehole” as someone once called it. Hopefully, your stay here is brief. There is nowhere in this world that I hate more than Poipet.
The Return Journey
The return journey is pretty much a complete flip of this. The same modes of transport are available and without as much money involved, it is relatively stress-free. I did notice the Cambodian border officials trying to scam people out of money whilst processing them leaving the country. Again, this did not happen to me so it might well be a similar story to that of immigration coming in.
This journey from Bangkok to Siem Reap is done by most travellers in South East Asia and hopefully, this will help you decide which mode of transport you will take. Whilst, I would recommend the bus, the choice is of course, entirely yours.
If you wish to check out my Siem Reap Travel Guide, you can do so by clicking here.
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We loved it so much we have referred several friends here and they also very much enjoyed their visits!