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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Now also Giantibis has this direct link-and has also online booking-as most of you youngies seem unable to survive without that.
(may have postd, no time to read this all-can update the blog then).
Beside the already mentiond Virak Bungtam (or so) there seems to be yet another Khmer comp. also directly serving the KhaoSarn area-but not daily.
VB now offers 3 trips//day, one they call ”night bus” it lvs. BKK by 1.00 (am) and arrives border around the time it opens-if its really also a ”through”bus I dk. Check it out yourself!
VANs in BKK do NOT leave anymore from the Vict.Monument-they were all moved to the old big busstations so Mochit here. There are now ALSO vans to Aran/Rg Kleua from the SaiThai terminal (about 2 hourly).
Thanks, Koop. I actually just took the Giant Ibis bus a week or so ago, but haven’t had time to write it up yet. I wouldn’t take a VB night bus if you paid me! Also, the border closes at night so no idea how there night bus works, they must sit at the border for hours in the morning. I changed the info about Victory Monument, thanks for the heads up.
Hi so what did you think of the giant ibis option for the route siem reap to Bangkok? Was it a good option? Thanks
I thought it was very good as well (but neither are perfect). Offers a similar service to the Nattakan bus.
further now-the 3d direct bus I saw leaving yesterday from KSR-its the same VN type of Khmer bus as the others. Forgot the name.
That ”nite”bus is in fact a van in TH till border-dep. BKK by 1.00 means arr. border by 5.00/5.30-in time for opening at 6.00-and some brekkie before from the 7, which as you know is not open from 7.00, but 24 hrs here. The Thai part is run by the long established and also long time complained about Thaitravelmarket, with office close to KSR.
Can someone help me here, PLEASE! We will leave Siem Reap around 12:30 PM and will travel to Poipet via taxi or van (2-3 hours). Then maybe 2 hours for the immigration process, and we can enter Aranyaprathet by 5:00 PM. Is there any means of transportation by this time (5:00 PM) to Bangkok? What is the best way? Taxi? Is there a BUS? Thanks a lot!
Did you read the post?
Hi! thank you for covering this, its a huge help.
Do you have any experience with taking Mekong express Vip van? Its an 8 hr ride as compared to the 12 hr ride by Nattakan.
Also, any idea why the huge difference in time?
It depends on the border, but either Nattakan or Mekong can take anywhere between 8 and 12 hours. Mekong might be slightly faster because vans are usually faster than buses, but not by much.
Hi all ! I’m Dona from Italy, and I need help ! ^_____^ I’d like to book the transfer from BKK to Siem Reap with Bookmebus but I can’t find where are the boarding point in BKK and the drop off point in Sie Reap.
Thanks, ciao !
At the bottom of this post the offices are listed with maps to show you where they are: https://movetocambodia.com/transportation/review-direct-bus-from-bangkok-to-siem-reap/
You might want to consider Nattakan Co. direct bus from BKK Mo Chit bus station drop off is downtown Siem Reap near KFC. You can buy a ticket in advance at the station. BTS to MoChit or MRT to Chattachak Park. Then short taxi to the Bus Station. Double check but they use to be on the second level.
For anyone who would like to do a Siem Reap – Bangkok by bus i only recommend NATTAKAN (bookmebus.com) bus. It’s $28 which is more than other bus companies or cheaper methods like the casino bus. But it’s really worth it. Hassle-free, comfortable. You can book online and you’ll get snacks and mini lunch on board.
I’ve researched other bus companies like Capitol Tour, Hang Tep and Virak Buntham, they all got pretty bad reps on Tripadvisor and some travel blogs.
Anyway, thank you for this detailed guide (and this entire website lol)! It helps a lot!
hello, thank you for all the help. just got back from my Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangkok trip and it was amazing.. the tips here are legit and awesome. so glad i subscribed.. we didn’t encounter a lot of hassle crossing Siem Reap to Bangkok but then again it could be possible that everyone was still mourning the death of the king.. hands down the best site to check out when crossing the borders of these countries.. :)
Glad to hear the site was useful! I think they can smell fear at the border, so you must have been exuding confidence. :)
Confidence with the help of this site.. it was like we knew exactly where were heading, what to expect and how to go about the process.. went in and out without a hitch.. :)
Hi Paul, I’d be happy to help. email me so i can send you a copy of my Itinerary and documents.. my email is balmesalic@gmail.com
hi Alic,
Would you be so kind to send me your itinerary as well, planning to do hcmc-pp-sr-bkk trip on july. thanks
noel.maano@yahoo.com
American living in Siem Reap for 7 years so if I can help with that leg of your journeys feel free to ask vincentlennox@hotmail.com
Hi alic, I am planning to have that trip too. can you help me plan my itinerary.
Hi! Do you have any info about the Midnight/Night bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok also available in bookmebus. Why does it take longer to travel? 12:30 AM to 11:00 AM compared to 8:00 AM to 5:30 AM. Thanks!!!
What company is it? I wouldn’t take a night bus with most of the bus companies in Cambodia because it’s too dangerous.
I’ve checked and emailed bookmebus.com. The bus company will be Virak Buntham. It’s a 28 seater mini bus. There’ s 12 of us that will travel using this (friends & family) bookmebus said that we’ll wait around 1.5hrs in the border until it opens. Same bus will take us to Bangkok. Please let me know if it’s a good option or not. Thank you!
They have a very bad reputation. I would not put my friends or family on one of their night buses.
I am fairly sure they are not telling you the truth. It is only 2 1/2 hours to the border.Any “midnight bus” to Bangkok will be a lie as the border does not open until 7 AM or so and I bet they are NOT a through bus anyway and you get changed to a van with another company once you finally get through Cambodian and Thai immigration. Remember they expect never to see you again anyway.
Good point, Vincent. I only know of one (and another on the way) company who has license to offer a direct bus (ie. no changes).
If this bus leaves at 12:30, it will arrive at 5, sit at the border for two hours waiting for it to open, spend 1.5 hours (?) going through the border, then another 3.5 (?) to Bangkok. I don’t see how it could even get there by 11am.
And there’s the fact that it’s Virak Buntham so you may get sexually assaulted by the driver while you wait at the border.
Oh myyyy! What a horrible situation it will be. Thank you for your advice! Will definitely not push through with the booking. Will probably just take the Nattakan bus instead. Thank you so much!
PS. So there’s really no “midnight bus” from Siem Reap to Bangkok with good reviews or reputation?
No. Read Vincent’s comment. It’s 2.5 hours to the Thailand border and the border doesn’t open until 7am. So there’s no way there could be a legit night bus to Bangkok. Personally I would go on Nattakan during the day.
Okay, thank you again for the help and advice.
Yes, actually I was pressing the bookmebus for more information (detailed timeline) but they can’t provide it. Only the number of hours. Oh well, good thing I came across your blogsite! Thank you and more power
I think Bookmebus are great, but they won’t be able to provide a detailed timeline because it doesn’t exist. I can give you one, but it’s just a guess.
That would be great? Can you send it to my email? Thank you!
nikkishoooot@yahoo.com
I posted it in a previous comment!
Oh I’m sorry! Thank you! (Bear with me if have too many questions) :D
By the way, I was back reading the comments. If ever I missed one. Is there any van that we can hire (12 people) to use it from SR to Poipet then to Bangkok?
Super useful website. The language that is used is spot on. Really enjoyable, informative and smooth reading. Thank you kind sir/madam for the write up.
Really useful website, thanks for putting the time into it! My question doesn’t involve Siem Reap but was wondering what the options are like from poipet to Battambang. Ideally a bus or whatever is cheapest (2 traveling). Apologies if this is covered elsewhere on your website. Cheers
I actually don’t know of any buses that do that route. Try emailing Bookmebus.com because they can sometimes organize routes that aren’t on their site.
We managed to get on a Capitol bus from poipet to Battambang, went straight to their office after getting through the touts. Cost roughly $9 for two people, highly reccommend Capitol bus company, although may have to wait a little
Thank you for such informative blog.
I would like to ask, is it possible for me to go to Bangkok from Siem Reap by 12noon via bus?
In your post and some other sites only have until 9am for the bus.