The trip from Bangkok to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat is one of the most talked about routes in the region: scam buses, awful roads, visa rip-offs, over-priced taxis and a lot of headaches along the way. Here's a tip to ease the your dream travel.
Bangkok to Aranyaprathet
Unless you're planning on hiring a taxi from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet (expect to pay around 2,500-3,000B) your choice is down to train or bus. If time is not an issue to you or maybe considering to stay overnight in Aranyaprathet, then the train is good for you, but most people opt for the bus as it is quicker.
Train
There are two 3rd class trains a day from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet. The morning train leaves at 05:55, the afternoon is at 13:05. The trip takes around five to six hours. If you want to get to Siem Reap on the same day, you must catch the morning train. With the afternoon train you'll need to stay overnight in Aranyaprathet or Poipet. The train is slow but scenic -- if you have time on your hands it is worth doing at least once.
| Bangkok | Chachoengsao | Prachinburi | Aranyaprathet | Fare |
05:55 | 07:51 | 8:58 | 11:35 | 48B |
13:05 | 14:21 | 15:19 | 17:35 | 48B |
| Aranyaprathet | Prachinburi | Chachoengsao | Bangkok | Fare |
06:40 | 09:21 | 10:22 | 12:05 | 48B |
13:55 | 16:33 | 18:00 | 19:55 | 48B |
Bus
Buses to and from Aranyaprathet use Bangkok's northern bus station (Morchit). Both first-class (around 200B) and second-class (around 160B) buses leave from the ground floor of the terminal. Buses leave every half hour or so and the trip takes four to five and a half hours. Buses depart Bangkok from 04:00 - 18:00 every thirty minutes or so. If you're heading in the other direction, the last bus to Bangkok leaves Aranyaprathet at around 18:00.
If you're wanting to go direct from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport to Aranyprathet, there are at least two buses a day, costing around 200B. In the reverse direction, buses to the airport leave Aranyprathet at 08:30 and 12:30.
At Aranyaprathet
Once you're at Aranyaprathet you need to take a tuk tuk or motorbike to Rongklua border market which is 7km away. The ride should cost 80-100B depending on the number of passengers. Under no circumstances allow a tout into the tuk tuk with you. (The bus that i took from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet went straight to Rongklua market so I did not take the tuk tuk ride, better ask the driver so that you can be sure of.)
At Rongklua market
The tuk tuk or the bus will drop you off at the border market where you need to clear both Thai and Cambodian immigration and customs. As you walk towards the border crossing you will be approached by touts -- ignore them -- do not even acknowledge their existence. Just go straight to the border immigration.
Immigration and customs
The Poipet border crossing is open from 07:30-20:00 daily. Clearing Thai immigration and customs is straightforward. Depending on your nationality, you will need a visa to Cambodia to be able to enter. The visa costs US$20 and you'll need to supply one passport photo. You are well advised to have enough crisp US notes to pay for this as if you have to pay in Baht you'll be given an awful exchange rate. (Please note that the Aranyaprathet Thai border is not issuing visa on arrival from Cambodia going back to Thailand since they have problem with their system. I am not really sure if they already have solved the problem. Better ask someone before pursuing your Cambodia-Thailand Trip)
At Poipet
Once you've been stamped into Cambodia, take the government shuttle bus from the border to the transport terminal --- It's FREE. From there you have three choices -- share-taxi, government bus or pick-up -- we recommend taking a taxi. Again during this period, you will be approached by touts, just ignore them and go straight to the next bus leaving to the terminal.
Leaving Poipet
One of the best things about Poipet is leaving it. A taxi to Siem Reap will cost US$45, so try to hook up with other backpackers to split the fare. The government bus costs $10. Please note that the individual taxi fare has been standardized by the government for $12 per person.
Poipet to Siem Reap
This road has gained near legendary status for its poor condition but that is all in the past now. The road is completely sealed and a trip by share taxi from the border to Siem Reap can take as little as an hour and a half.
In Siem Reap, the taxi driver will stop to a tuk tuk terminal. The tuk tuk ride from the terminal to your choice hostel is free. But here's the catch, they will try to convince you of two things, to stay to a certain place where they can have a commission for bringing guests and second they will convince or even force you to hire them as driver during your Angkor Wat trip. During our trip, we opted to take the second proposal.
Scam buses
At both Khao San Road and Siem Reap you'll see minibuses offered for next to nothing for the Bangkok to Siem Reap run. These are invariably scams that in some cases have taken in excess of 20 hours to deliver the passengers. Do NOT use these services.
