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Crossing land borders terrifies me. I don’t know why. In my early years of travel, I jumped from one country to another by plane. But when you’re backpacking across continental Southeast Asia, it often can’t be helped because it is the easiest, cheapest way, especially for the Bangkok-Siem Reap route.

I’ve already crossed the Thailand-Cambodia border overland three times now. I still remember how nervous I was on my first time doing it. The whole time, I didn’t know where to go, what to do, how to go about the whole thing. The dozens of touts swarming around me on the way into and out of the Immigration building were not helping. I’ve read about the scams that run rampant in the area, and the thought of falling victim to one scared the hell out of me.

If you’re traveling from Bangkok to Siem Reap and you’re a bit nervous, I know the feeling. Hence, I’m sharing with you this step-by-step guide. You have these options: by DIRECT bus, by ordinary bus, or by train.

Bangkok to Siem Reap by Direct Bus

You have two bus options. You can travel by bus to Aranyaprathet, the town on the border, then switch to another bus once you’re through with the immigration processes. But you can book a DIRECT bus.

DIRECT BUSES are those that would take you from Bangkok to Siem Reap without switching vehicles in 9 hours. Although you will still need to get off and go through the Immigration counters on your own, you don’t need to bring your luggage with you. You can leave your bags on the bus, go through Immigration, and the same bus will meet you on the other side.

Here’s the whole process:

  1. Go to the bus terminal and board your bus.
  2. Get off at the border. You will be given a badge which you shouldn’t lose because you’ll need it to board the bus on the other side.
  3. Go through the Immigration processes as quickly as you can. Yes, the bus will wait for you, but be mindful of other people’s time too. You’ll enter the Thai Immigration building first, go through Immigration, emerge on the other side, walk to the Cambodian side, go through their process this time.
  4. Find your bus on the other side. Hop in and you’ll be on your way to Siem Reap’s city center.

If you have questions or need help, do not hesitate to ask the driver. They’re trained to assist you.

IMPORTANT! You’ll find AN AWFUL LOT of advertisements for direct buses, but most of them are NOT really direct. They still switch buses after the border. I even experienced booking a supposedly direct bus but then at the border, we transferred to a much smaller minibus (van). Some of these scammers will squeeze money out of you. There have been reports from other travelers where the bus would make a stop at a travel agency and insist on buying visa from them. The catch: these are overpriced inauthentic visas. (If you’re an ASEAN resident, you don’t need a visa!)

If you want a genuinely hassle-free DIRECT bus, book only with the following companies:

Transport Co. (Nattakan).
Terminal: Morchit (Mo Chit) aka North Terminal
Leaves Bangkok at 8am and 9am.
Fare: THB 750 ($22) if you book at the terminal; THB 870 ($26) if online.

Giant Ibis
Terminal: Khao San Giant Ibis
Leaves Bangkok at 7:45am
Fare: THB 1091 ($32) is you book online

You can buy tickets at the terminal itself, but there are limited buses per day so you might want to reserve online.

Reserve here: Bangkok-Siem Reap Buses

Powered by 12Go Asia system

Bangkok to Siem Reap by Regular Bus

If the price and schedule of direct buses don’t work for you, you can always take a regular bus to the border town of Aranyaprathet, cross the border, and then take another bus or taxi to Siem Reap.

Warning: Go early because it becomes exponentially difficult to get to Siem Reap when you reach the border at night. The last thing you want is to be trapped in the border. The towns on either side of the border are unpleasant, and there’s really not much to do. There’s nothing there but hotels and casinos.

  1. In Bangkok, go to Morchit (Mo Chit) aka North Terminal.
  2. Book a bus to Aranyaprathet. There’s one every hour from 3am to 12nn, and three more buses from noon to 5pm. Fare: THB 205 ($6).
  3. At Aranyaprathet Bus Stop, take a tuktuk to Rong Khlua border market (Friendship market), where the border gates are located. Fare: 100 baht for tuktuk. Motorbike rides are also available at 60 baht. Do not entertain touts offering express visa or immigration services. Do all the paperwork at the Immigration gates instead.
  4. Clear Immigration. Once you’re through with Thai Immigration, you’ll emerge in the Cambodian town of Poipet. Cross the short bridge and you’ll reach the Cambodian Immigration on the other side. If you’re an ASEAN resident, you only to fill out a form on both sides of the border to get through. Again, DO NOT entertain touts that will approach you.
  5. In Poipet, take the FREE shuttle to the transport depot.
  6. At the transport depot, you may take the government bus (Fare: $10) to Siem Reap. Another option is taking a taxi, which costs $35-55. If you’re traveling alone, you can form a group with other travelers so you could split the cost. The great thing about the taxi is, you can ask the driver to drop you off at your hotel if it’s in the city center.

That’s it! Although it involves a few transfers, it’s actually very easy in practice. A bit tiring, yes, but not that hard to do.


Bangkok to Siem Reap by Train

  1. In Bangkok, go to Hualamphong Station and buy a ticket. Two trains ply this route scheduled at 05:55am and 01:05pm. Try to catch the morning train. Travel time: at least 6 hours. Fare: 48 baht.
  2. At Aranyaprathet Station, travel to Rong Khlua border market (Friendship market) by tuktuk (THB 100) or motorbike (THB 60).
  3. Clear Immigration on both sides of the border. You’ll have to walk a little bit in between. DO NOT entertain touts who will approach you.
  4. In Poipet, take the FREE shuttle to the transport depot.
  5. At the transport depot, you may take the government bus (Fare: $10) or taxi ($35-55) to Siem Reap. If you’re traveling solo, you can find other travelers to form a group so you could split the cost with them.

Top Budget Hotels Under $25

The Golden Gecko Villa
Street 20, Siem Reap Central Area

Check Rates

Visoth Boutique Hotel
Sok San Road, Siem Reap Central Area

Check Rates

Oriental Siem Reap Hotel
0503Watbo Village, Salakamreuk Quarter, Siem Reap Municipal

Check Rates

Bopha Residence
City Centre, Wat Damnak, Siem Reap Central Area

Check Rates

Search for Siem Reap Hotels

Klook.com

Klook TPT2024
Klook THEPOORTRAVELER

Read our Siem Reap Travel Guide


2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣9️⃣ • 3️⃣ • 2️⃣4️⃣ (updated)
2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣7️⃣ • 5️⃣ • 3️⃣0️⃣ (first up)


More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️


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[…] The other option is overland. This can be quite a challenge, and as we didn’t do it, we have provided a link to thepoortraveler.net who has  done it three times Bangkok to Siem Reap by land. […]

Mariel

Hello. We are planning to cross Siem Reap on the 25th. If we’ll cross by the regular bus, are the tickets available at Aranyaprathet anytime?

KC

Hi, we are planning an indochina trip this year and I heard a lot about immigration scam in the TH-KH boarder. Hoping you could share on your blog tips how you handled things once you were in that situation since we are Filipinos which are visa-free for those countries. Have you also experienced that even from uniformed personnel of immigration? I heard one case of that. Thank you in advance

tinne

hi! im planning to travel from bangkok to siem reap, is it possible for a day tour etinerary? im leaving bangkok early in the morning and planning of coming back from siem reap at 5pm. or if im going to stay there at night the im planning to go directly to ayuttaya. guides pls. thank you!

cess

Hi gusto ko lang po ask if what is the best option for you going to siem reap by bus or by train thank you

Norbert Senson

Why bus? How long it will takes from Bangkok to Siem Reap is we choose to ride a train? Thank you so muc

Hya

hi! thank you for this very helpful blog.
would like to ask how many hours does it take for the regular bus to reach Aranyaprathet from Bangkok, then the whole immigration stuff, and the bus from Aranyaprathet to siem reap?
thanks again.

ajhay

HI ! i booked my flight from manila to bangkok to visit thailand but i changed my mind and wanting to visit siem reap, would this help me for my immigration in cambodia ?

Lottie

Hi! Mahirap ba pag luggage yung dala pag bus? Mas okay ba backpack? Thanks!

kristine

Hello. Did you go back to bangkok after your Siem Reap? I’m thinking of taking the bus going back to bangkok. So, will I just reserve the process? :)

G

Hi Yoshke

A solo female traveller , Siem Reap consider safe?

Ai

Hello! I know it’s been asked already and you answered bus rather than train if travelling to the border. I presume this because of the travel time? Pero comfort wise kaya? we’re planning to do overland and we have a toddler with us (likot stage) Please advise! TIA!

Kimberly Alvarez

Hello! question lang po. Kase I’ve been in cambodia last april 11-19 this year. Im planning to go back again this july 20 and stay there for 7days to visit my fiance. Do i have to pay or apply for visa extension?

Larry

The Cambodia embassy in the Phis said, a Filipino can cross Cambodia visa-free and stay up to 30 days.

Emge

Hi, this is a thailand to cambodia border crossing tip but what about if we go by siem reap to bangkok?

Are there also dirrct buses from Siem Reap to Bangkok?

Gilmore Gorembalem

Hi! Our Thailand Trip is scheduled on April 7-13, 2020. Puwede bang mag-re-enter sa Thailand? Bale, Apr. 7-10, Bangkok Tour and will cross the border via direct bus. April 11-13 we will be on Cambodia. We will go back to Thailand ng Apr. 13. Our flight back to Manila ay Apr. 14 ng madaling araw pa.

I bope you can reply. Salamat po.
Note: I’ve been in Sydney just recently. Yung blog mo ang sinunod ko and it helped me a lot. Salamat ulit.

Zoe

Thank you for all the information, you have made me feel a lot better about crossing overland. I will most likely be alone so slightly terrified but all your posts are definitely helping me feel more at ease!

Vessel

Hello po…we’re planning to go backpacking in SEA..when crossing the thailand -cambodia border po.,mai mga money changer po ba near the cambodia immigration?.or would they accept thai baht or US dollars as bus fare/taxi fare from poipet to siem reap po?.thank you..