Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING TO CAMBODIA: BANGKOK TO SIEM REAP
Getting to the border The easiest way to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap overland is the direct bus
departing from the Northern & Northeastern Bus Terminal that crosses at the Aranya Prathet/Poipet
crossing. The through-service bus trips sold on Th Khao San and elsewhere in Bangkok seem cheap
and convenient, but they haven't been nicknamed 'scam buses' for nothing, and if you use them you
run the risk of being hassled and ripped off, often quite aggressively.
If you choose to do the trip in stages (much cheaper than the direct bus), you can get from Bangkok
to the border town of Aranya Prathet (aka Aran) by bus from Bangkok's Northern & Northeastern Bus
Terminal, by bus or minivan from Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal, by bus from Suvarnabhumi Inter-
national Airport's bus station, by minivan from Victory Monument, or by 3rd-class train (only the
5.55am departure will get you there early enough to reach Siem Reap the same day) from Hu-
alamphong Train Station. Aran also has bus services about every one or two hours from other cities in
the area including Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) and Surin. All minivans plus some buses go all the
way to the Rong Kluea Market next to the border, so there's no need to stop in Aranya Prathet city.
Otherwise, you'll need to take a sŏrngtă aou (15B), motorcycle taxi (60B) or tu ́ k-tu ́ k (80B) the final
7km to the border.
At the border The border is open 7am to 8pm daily, and visas are available upon arrival. Be prepared
to wait in sweltering immigration lines on both sides - waits of two or more hours are not uncommon,
especially in the high season. You can pay a special 'VIP fee' (aka a bribe) of 200B on either side to
skip the lines. There are many persistent scammers on the Thai side trying to get you to buy your
Cambodia visa through them, but no matter what they might tell you, there's no reason to get visas
anywhere except the border.
After getting stamped out of Thailand - a completely easy and straightforward process - follow the
throng to Cambodian immigration and find the 'Visa on Arrival' sign if you don't already have a visa.
Entering Cambodia you should not have to pay more than the US$20 visa fee, but again they will
likely try to charge you at least 100B extra as a 'stamp' or 'overtime' fee. You don't need to pay this,
but if you don't they will make you wait a while before they stamp your passport.
Moving on From Poipet, there are relatively convenient connections to Battambang, Phnom Penh and
Siem Reap. Avoid the overpriced taxis that hang out near the roundabout by the border, and the simil-
ar Poipet Tourist Passenger International Terminal, situated 9km east of town. Touts will try to shep-
herd you towards the international tourist terminal, where rates for onward buses and share taxis cost
double the local rate. Alternatively, walk or take a moto (unmarked motorcycle taxi; 2000r) to the bus
company offices near the main market, one block north of Canadia Bank off NH5, or the nearby bus
station. The vast majority of buses depart in the morning (before 10.30am). If you can't get a bus, just
take a share taxi - these also depart from the NH5 around Canadia Bank - onward to Siem Reap (seat/
whole taxi US$5/35), Battambang (seat/whole taxi US$4.25/30) or Phnom Penh (seat/whole taxi
US$8/42). The taxis that hang out near the roundabout by the border tend to charge tourists at least
double.
For more information about crossing this border in the other direction, Click here .
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