There are lots of ways to get from Cambodia to Thailand, and it all depends on how much time, money, and patience you have. In this post, I’ll cover the best ways to get from Siem Reap to Bangkok in 2022 whether you travel by plane, direct bus, mini-bus, or taxi. Flying is always the most convenient, but going overland is less expensive and more of an adventure!
If you’re heading the other direction, how to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap.
At a glance…Siem Reap to Bangkok
- Direct bus: Costs $49. Takes 8 to 10 hours. → Book now
- Taxi: Starting at $195. SUV seats 4. About 8 hours. → Book now
- Indirect buses and vans: Costs $26+. 10 to 12 hours. → Book now
- Plane: Costs $100-300. Fastest but most expensive. 75 min. → Book now
- Crossing the border: What you need to know.
The Giant Ibis direct bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap (and vice versa)
Direct buses from Siem Reap to Bangkok
The easiest way to get from Siem Reap to Bangkok is by direct bus, although it’s not the fastest. Direct means that you don’t have to change buses at the border or haul your luggage over the border — it stays on the bus while you get your visas. While many buses advertise themselves as direct buses, but they are not, and will require changing buses at the border.
Giant Ibis, a company with great reputation in Cambodia, is the best option between Bangkok and Siem Reap. The buses are new, the drivers are good, and the attendants are friendly and help you through the visa process at the border. Although the tickets are more expensive at $49, it is worth the price, and there are no booking fees. There is a $5 visa charge if you do not already have a visa, for “VIP” processing, which means you will not have to go through the Thailand visa hall at all.
I have taken this bus and felt completely safe leaving my baggage in the baggage compartment under the bus while I went through the visa process. The Giant Ibis Siem Reap Bangkok direct bus leaves from Siem Reap at 7:45 a.m. and arrives around 4:15 p.m. Read our full review with photos of the Giant Ibis Bangkok bus.
You can book the Giant Ibis Siem Reap to Bangkok bus online and choose your seat in advance (the closer to the front the better, in my opinion). → Book now
Taking a taxi
Taxi is the most expensive overland option, and can cost approximately $200. If you book online you can choose between an SUV taxi or minivan that can take 4 or 7 passengers, respectively. → Book now
It’s possible to also book a taxi in Siem Reap to go to Poipet, and then get a second taxi at the border to go to Bangkok. This is a less expensive option, but is generally very stressful, particularly if you have substantial baggage. I’ve been left sitting at the border for hours trying to argue my way out of extortionate taxi prices, and frankly, it’s easier to just book in advance unless you enjoy that sort of argument (some do).
Indirect and mini-buses from Bangkok to Siem Reap
Travel Mart runs various sized buses from Bangkok to Siem Reap, from full size to vans.
There are buses and mini-bus services that go “direct,” meaning the same company will drop you off on the Cambodia side of the border and then meet you on the Thailand side of the border. You still need to haul your luggage through the border on foot, and often end up waiting for others on your bus who mysteriously take an hour to go through immigration. These services offer you no direction or hand-holding in getting through the border, but are substantially less expensive than than a true direct bus.
Travel Mart has a good reputation (I’ve taken them and had no complaints). They used to run direct buses but since the pandemic are doing a van to a minibus or express bus combo in cooperation with Virak Buntham, who have a not-quite-as-good reputation. Travel Mart offers night buses or day buses, which range in cost from $26 to $34.50. → Book now
Go Ho Travel are also running vans that require a change at the border for $30. I haven’t taken this bus so I can’t comment. → Book now
Flights from Siem Reap to Bangkok
AirAsia usually have the cheapest flights from Bangkok to Siem Reap, but there are strings attached.
There are fewer flight than pre-pandemic, but Bangkok Airways and Air Asia are flying from Siem Reap to Bangkok in 2022.
Bangkok Airways offer one-way flights at around $100. They offer a 20kg baggage allowance, but if you sign up with their frequent flyer club they will automatically give you an extra 10kg. Another nice perk is that there’s an airline lounge for all passengers, not just those in business class. → Book now
Malaysia-based LCC Air Asia has daily flights between Siem Reap and Bangkok that are usually the cheapest option available. You can find one-way flights on this route for as little as $70 if you book in advance. Flights arrive at Bangkok’s DMK airport and you’ll pay extra for baggage. → Book now
Crossing the Thailand-Cambodia border.
Crossing the border
The Aranyaprathat/Poipet border is known for scams, delays, and confusion. I’ve got a whole blog post with what you need to know about crossing the Poipet/Aranyaprathet border, but here are some important things to know.
You do not need to change money into Thai baht. This is a scam and you will be given an outrageously bad exchange rate.
You do not need to pay any border crossing fees or get a Thai visa before you get to the border office. Do not accept help from anyone who says they can help you get a visa or cross a border. The exception is your bus company, who may offer VIP service, like Giant Ibis.
Know that Thai officials have been cracking down on those who appear to living illegally in Thailand. They only allow two land border entries per year, and there is a requirement for each person to be carrying 10,000 Thai baht, or the equivalent in another currency, per person. This is rarely enforced unless the border officials have some misgivings about you, but if you have multiple Thai visas it’s best to show be able to show that you have cash on hand, a hotel reservation, and plans to leave.
If you’re going the other way, check out my post on how to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap.
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Hi. I adore this post and how it is very informative. I have read most of the commments but my question is, if we take the casino bus from Aranyaprathet to BKK do the casino bus allo non gamblers to ride with no hassle, where do we pay for the ride and do we need to haggle? Hope you can help..
It’s fixed price. There’s a woman who does tickets on the bus, so just get on and sit down.
Is it possible to book online the bus from Poipet (Aran) to Bangkok before I leave Australia?
Hi, me and 11 of my friends are going to cross the border from Siem Reap to Bangkok this December.
From Siem Reap to Poipet, can we hire the whole minibus/van to fetch us from our hotel? We are planning to leave our hotel around 6AM that day to avoid crowds at the border during mid mornings.
From Aranyaprathet to Bangkok, can we also hire the whole mini-bus/van, (probably pay for the 3 seats if it is 15 seater) and ask them to take us to our hotel which is just 5 minutes walk from Ratchaprarop airport link station?
What is the difference of local minibus/van from tourist minibus/van? Which one can you recommend? I read about these on a blog but the difference of these two types of minibus/van was not stated clearly.
Lastly, do we pay the minibus/van before we start our travel to BKK or should we pay after they drop us to our destination? I just want to know what to expect.
All your replies and recommendation are greatly appreciated. We are all girls by the way.
Thanks!
I was just forwarded a blog from travelfish which says land crossings into Thailand from Cambodia are no longer VISA FREE and state you now need a visa to enter via land. Double check as I have NOT confirmed this.
I can forward the email with the blog from travel fish which also has links for more info. Thailand claims it is in response to the recent bombing in BKK.
Need a contact email to forward.
The current price for a ride from SR to Poipet in a Mini-Van is just 4 $. So if a travel agent charge you more, you should leave.
And if you wanna go to Bkk with a Mini-Van it’s normally 8 $ from SR. See the prices of the travel agencies near the restaurant Haven.
As with anywhere is the world Travel Agents, Hotels, Guest Houses will have a $1 or $2 service fee for the convenience.
Be very careful with the very cheap prices as companies like Heang Thep will hold you “hostage” at their company owned rest stops to try and make up the difference. Thus making the trip extra long. Believe me I know but now fly most times.
Good luck to you and safe journey Mr. Burns
Thanks, Vincent. You are an expert on this route! Is there a particular mini-bus you would recommend over others?
Since the Bangkok Airways monopoly is gone, I have been flying. If you need to go by land inexpensively SR to BKK I have had good success with Capitol Bus which is a bus to the border and a van from there. You can save time (as much as 1 hour) if you book the seats up front. GET YOUR STICKER for travel through to BKK when you get off the bus. Grab your bag ,head to Cambodian Immigration to the right of the circle. Walk past the casinos to Thai immigration on the left hand side. Once cleared head to the 7-11 and get the first van out to BKK. Don’t loose your sticker. No need to wait for the entire group to clear immigration.
Reverse BKK to SR, take the $28US Nattakan direct bus from Mo Chit to Siem Rea. You will avoid all the border scams.Once again avoid Haeng Thep as they are worse on this route and the master of scams for first time travelers attracted by their very cheap price. You will pay dearly for trying to save a few dollars.
Hi Vincent,
I like your itinerary using Capitol Bus and a van. My question is since we get a sticker for onward travel does that mean the $10 ticket (mentioned further down in the blog) takes me all the way from SR to BKK? Or is this the cost from SR to the border and we will then pay the van separately?
Also does it matter which van company to choose? How can I tell the ‘good’ ones from the ‘bad’?
Also where do they drop you off? I will want to go to the centre (perhaps near Khao San Road) and not the airport..
Thanks so much in advance!
My $10 might be dated so maybe $12 now but it is all the way to BKK usually Victory Monument and then a 10 minute (not luggage friendly) walk to the BTS station. The vans are all the same and make a couple of pit stops. There will be two more police/ immigration checks for illegals, one a few minutes after you get on and another about 30 minutes into the ride. The border is very pourous so some Cambodians just walk across without papers.
Just get that “blue” sticker and move along. I actually don’t know how they work out the money between the KH bus and the TH vans but never had any issue.
Thanks, sounds easy :) You don’t know by any chance how many days you’re allowed to stay if you don’t have a visa but just hey stamped you get on arrival do you? I know it used to be 30 years and years ago then they changed it to 15 whixh is also stated in lonely planet still but i read that since 2013 it’s back to 30 again. Do you have any recent 1st or 2nd hand experiences on that?
15 days by land 30 days by air
Hi Vincent! Thank you very much for all the information, this is truly very helpful. I’d just like to know how to get in touch with Capitol Bus. I was actually thinking of just doing away with van/minibus because of the other stories but this sounds like a good plan. Would you also know the earliest time Capitol Bus starts operating this route? Thank you in advance!
I have not been by that area in a while but their office use to be diagonally across from
“The Terrace of the Elephants” near the old market and Suvatha street. You can book the service a few days in advance. They will take you by van to the actual bus (aout 5 minute ride) Bus leaves about 8 or 8:30 and you should be at the border about 11. Vans leave across from the 7-11 every hour on the 1/2 hour, so if you move yourself along, get your sticker I have saved as much as an hour by not waiting for the entire group to clear immigration. The Thai side of the border was under going construction so, if you go this route,please update my info.
I am going to BKK 2nd week Dec. but taking Cambodia Angkor Air as I am getting too old to deal with Poipet in either direction ha ha.
Someone knows if there are casino bus in the morning which leave the border for BKK ? it’s easy to find the place where we can buy casino bus ticket at the border (near the market) ?
I’m not sure, actually. I think they all leave after mid-day, though, because they are taking back Thai gamblers who arrived that morning.
Hi, for SM>BKK, where is the final stop in BKK?
Depends on which mode of transport you choose, they all stop in different places.
Hi! We are planning to thailand and cambodia this month. Can you help me on how we can go to siem reap from bangkok? And we want to leave bangkok at night so we can save our time for tour. Is it possible?
The Poipet border crossing is NOT 24 hours. Double check but I think 7:30 A to 7:30 P.
Your wallet may get upset but your nerves will appreciate it, if you check flights. Airport immigration is 24/7. Good luck. 1 Hour versus 10 hours so depends on what your time is worth. Zero to see and Poipet is the armpit of Cambodia.
Armpit of Cambodia, ha! Just went through again a week ago and would have to agree.
Thanks for a great article. How long does the minibus take to get from Siem Reap to Aranyaprathet/Poipet? You mentioned that the casino buses take 5-6hrs from border to Bangkok and the minibuses take 4-6hrs so just trying to figure out what the total trip time might be compared to the big bus. Hoping to catch an overnight bus in Bangkok so want to arrive as early as possible. Thanks!
About 2-3 hours, usually 2.5.
Don’t forget to add in the time it takes to clear immigration on both sides as it can vary dramatically by day and time of day.
Can I drive (take my own car) cross the Thai’s border at Poi Pet from Thailand to Seam Reap, Cambodia?
Hi, can anyone help me here get to Bangkok from Siem Reap? I know some of you have recommended to get the direct bus. My friend and I are thinking of riding the train in Aranyaprathet however we are afraid we might miss the last trip at 1:55PM considering the travel time from Siem Reap and passing through the Immigrations. Appreciate if you guys could help me decide on this. Thank you in advance for your help!
I don’t think you need to decide in advance. Just take the earliest mini-bus from Siem Reap to Poipet. If you get across the border in time, take the train. If not, you can take a casino bus or a mini-bus to Bangkok.