Before you start reading, are you looking for our full review of how to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap in 2022? If not, carry on.
If you’re heading from Thailand to Cambodia, the Bangkok to Siem Reap direct bus is the easiest way to do the trip overland. Why might you want to go overland, one might ask? For one, it’s a lot less expensive, with the direct bus costing between $28 and $35. For another, if you’re looking to transport large or bulky household goods or have large pieces of luggage, the direct bus is an easier option, particularly because they don’t make you change buses at the border.
The Nattakan direct bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap (and vice versa)
Bus options
There are now two companies running direct buses between Bangkok and Siem Reap, Nattakan and Giant Ibis.
We have more in-depth reviews of both Nattakan (see below) and Giant Ibis (click here) on this route if you want to get into the nitty-gritty details, but in summary, I have taken both several times and think that Giant Ibis offers a better trip. They leave from a more convenient location near Khao San Road, the buses are brand new and the entire journey, including the border crossing, is smooth. Although the ticket is more expensive at $35, it’s well worth the price.
Buying tickets
If you’re going with Giant Ibis, tickets can be bought online and a seat reserved in advance for $35 with no additional service fees. You can print your ticket out or just show it to them on your phone or device and you’ll get straight onto the bus. Buying online allows you to choose your own seat, and advance purchase is recommended because the bus can get busy in high season.
You can also buy Nattakan tickets between Bangkok and Siem Reap (plus Bangkok and Phnom Penh) on BookMeBus. Tickets cost $28 in either direction, plus a 5% booking fee ($1.40 per ticket). The procedure is simple and you’ll receive an e-ticket that you can either print out or present on your phone when you arrive at the bus station. In high season the buses are often full, so it’s more than worth the booking fee to be able to reserve a seat in advance.
The Transport Co. Ltd station inside the Northern/Mo Chit 2 bus terminal, Bangkok
Tickets for Nattakan can also be purchased at the Northern bus terminal in Bangkok, sometimes called Mo Chit 2 bus terminal, sometimes called Chatuchak bus terminal. On the ground floor a booth labeled The Transport Co, Ltd. sells the Bangkok to Siem Reap tickets. Taxi fare to the bus station is around 150 baht (about $4.25) from Sukhumvit, making the trip a more expensive way to get a ticket than the online option unless you’re already in the area.
The Nattakan buses run at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. in either direction and the Giant Ibis leaves at 7:45 a.m.
The bus journey on Nattakan
The direct bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap takes between 8 and 11 hours, depending on how crowded it is at the border. Passengers are allowed two bags each with a maximum weight of 20 kg, although the weight limit was not enforced when I hauled two suitcases of Ikea merchandise to Cambodia. There is limited storage space above the seats in the bus, so if you want to stow something inside, board early. The Nattakan Bangkok-Siem Reap direct buses are Korean, and seats are comfortable and lean back more than they probably should–watch out for the knees of the person behind you!
Nattakan buses: not not the worst place to spend eight hours…
On my recent trip, the 9:00 a.m. bus from Bangkok left on time. We were given a bottle of water and a snack, which was a limp-looking Asian pastry. There was a toilet break at 11:00 a.m. at a rest stop with a giant 7-11 and some fast food and local food options. At 1:10 p.m. we stopped at the Transport Co., Ltd. office in Aranyaprathet and were each given a ready-made hot lunch from 7-11, in my case it was shrimp and basil stir-fry. I’m ashamed to admit, but I thought it was pretty good if a bit on the small side. Vegetarians be warned, you’ll need to bring your own lunch. Later, we were given the choice of an orange juice or an iced coffee. You won’t starve if you don’t, but it’s definitely worth bringing some food of your own on the trip.
By 1:40 p.m. we were at the border, and everyone had finished their visa process and we were on the road at 3:15 p.m. We arrived in Siem Reap at 5:30 p.m., for a total of 8.5 hours.
The border
When you approach the Poipet/Aranyaprathet border, the bus will stop and let off all passengers. You can leave your bags on the bus (that’s why they call it a direct bus, there are no bus changes). You’ll then be expected to walk yourself through the various border checkpoints. There’s not a lot of instruction from the crew and the process can be confusing for those who have not done it before, but it’s actually quite simple. Just remember that you need to be stamped out of the country you came from and get a visa for the country you are entering (so two stops).
If you are heading from Bangkok to Siem Reap, after you go through both offices, turn back around and the bus will be waiting for you in front of the Grand Diamond Casino. They wait there for every passenger to complete their visa process, which takes an hour or two in total, so don’t be afraid to go into the casino and have a drink or a meal in the Chillax Cafe. It sounds awful, but the food isn’t too bad.
Visas
Most nationalities do not need to get visas in advance (check out our page about Cambodia visas if you want to know more). On the Cambodia side, a tourist visa costs $30. The bus company will request an additional $5 to have your visa batch processed with everyone else on the bus, and it is much quicker. Some days the bus company will require you to do this, other times you can secure your visa on your own.
If you choose to do it on your own, the visa officials will ask you for 1100 or 1200 baht (~$35) or if you insist on paying in dollars, which you should, they will ask for $30 and a 200 baht processing fee. There is no processing fee, it’s just a bribe. Arrive early and refuse to pay and eventually they will stamp you through. Telling other passengers the real price loudly will usually get you serviced more quickly, as they will be eager to get you out of there. The other option is to secure an e-visa in advance. The price these days is $40, so you won’t save any money doing it that way, although it may help minimize border-induced rage that is not uncommon in Poipet. For more about crossing the Poipet border, check out our post on Crossing the Poipet/Aranyaprathet border overland.
This is the official building that you get your Cambodia visa in. If you stop somewhere before the border, don’t bother wasting your money.
We’ve gotten reports that the bus will stop before you get to the border and try and get you to use an agent to process your visa for 900 baht by calling it a VIP service. They did not do this on my recent trip, so hopefully this is no longer an issue. However, if they do stop and try and get you to let them process your visa you have a choice of whether or not you pay. However, this so-called VIP service can be worth it, and it’s often faster and less stressful to just pay the extra money, so it’s up to you whether or not you think it’s a battle worth fighting.
On the Thai side, you will get stamped through and do not need to pay anything.
Overall, this is a much easier way to travel overland than the other methods I have tried, which always involve haggling at the border for taxis and buses. The Bangkok-Siem Reap direct bus is not as cheap as the mini-bus/casino bus combination (which is usually around $11 or $12) but the peace of mind is worth it. If you’re looking for more info on going the other way, check out our post on getting from Siem Reap to Bangkok.
Transport Co., Ltd.
Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal (หมอชิต 2 (อาคารผู้โดยสาร), Bangkok [map]
+66 2 936 0657; +66 89 281 1396
Buy tickets
Nattakan Transport
22 Sivatha Blvd, Svay Dangkom District, Siem Reap [map]
T: 063 96 48 96; 078 975 333
Buy tickets
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Hi all,
I am Thai and will travel overland from BKK-Siemreap 21-24 September.
Anyone wanna join please let me know..
It will be fun :)
Oops I mean 21-24 October !!
Going to siemreap at the 14 of oct. If you like to join.
Hi we are going to travel siem reap- bkk-chaing mai- vientiane- hanoi on nov 16,2016 any one here wants to join to be travel buddy its our first time indo china trip thanks :)
Hey Michelle, may I ask how r u getting from chaing mai -Vientiane – Hanoi?
Good day everyone,
Anyone here who will be crossing Siem Reap to Bangkok this November 1st? I’ll be travellin all by myself and thinking of sharing rides.
thanks for this life-saver information :)
Hi Mark,
I am planning on 2nd instead. You are thinking on bus or?
Hi Vivi, I wish I could move it on 2nd. Im considering the direct bus. Have you already got a service for Temple tour? I am looking for others who can join me on a day tour on Oct. 31 so we could share expenses :)
Cheers.
I might miss your reply. I am planning to do the tour by own :) anyway Enjoy the trip,Mark! Have so much fun!!
hi, i am planning to go bangkok from siem reap!How can i get the visa ?As i am from Hong Kong, should i make it in the office of siem reap or the border? how much for the price ?thank you very much for your help~
Here are some other posts that might help:
How to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap
Crossing the Poipet/Aranyaprathet border overland
Cambodia visas
I’m sorry that I can’t give you information specifically about visas for Hong Kong citizens, but the above should help you with the process. I assume your requirements would be same as what’s listed there.
Hi Everyone!
I’m Chocky from Indonesia. Do you have any information a night bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap?
As far as I search, there is no night bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap. Just want to make sure. :)
Is there any?
thank you.
As far that I am aware of…. No.
The distance and time involved isn’t long enough.
Day travel only .
Hello everyone !
I am going to siem reap from Bangkok in a few week! I just have few questions for you!
1.Do I need to buy the E visa online or we can fill it at the border as well ? (I already have my passport pictures )
If you pay $37 online for the evisa, then do you need to pay more at the borders ?
Thank you for everything :)
More info here: https://movetocambodia.com/transportation/how-get-from-bangkok-siem-reap/
There’s no need for you to prepare for the passport size picture . Just a single shot facing their camera like in our NBi clearance and it’s finished . I’ve been there yesterday. Thanks .
Hi all
Firstly thanks Lina for your excellent and detailed description for the trip. And others for followup comments.
I am planning to buy tickets through Thai Ticket Major website, and would have two questions, namely:
1. It seems this web-site is cheaper (750 BAHT) as opposed to BookMeBus ($US 28). Is Thai Ticket Major still ok and official site?
2. Lina you mentioned that sometimes they only have one bus for the day. So is booking the 9am bus risky? (thought of getting the extra hour’s sleep :)).
Cheers!
Hi Jorma,
Both companies sell bus tickets for Nattakan/Transport Co. BookMeBus has a higher price but are MUCH easier to deal with; when I tried to buy a ticket with ThaiTicketMajor I ended up giving up in frustration and just going to the bus terminal myself. I would suggest going direct to the bus terminal or using BookMeBus; they are very easy to work with.
I am not sure if it’s risky to book the 9 AM bus, I guess if they have it on the schedule they are planning on running it. Good luck! :)
Hi im a Filipino and did the crossing today March 18′ 2016. I took the bus frm bangkok so no need to transfer several times. Upon arrival at border bus stopped infront at one travel agency, so of course they do thier thing (fake ones with extra charge) and i see a lot give their passports. For me i said no and search immediately the Thai immigration border, a lot of scam there but after asking where is the border i directly go there and stop talking with them, just went straight until saw the sign and proceed to the 2nd floor give passport with immig paper stamp paper during entry in thailand, they stamped then exit downstairs..just go straight then left and you will see the Cambodian anchor wat with welcome to cambodia sign..straight again until you will see the gate with “arrival” word, passing the hotels and border gate, give passport and id photo passport size, then stamped, finished. But if u need visa to cambodia you need to pay first your visa at cambodia border point. Just beside the gate of anchor wat border GATE, look in left and right to find it, after that go the one with “arrival sign” passing the hotel or the after the overpass. Simple just look the thai immig border for exit stamp and cambodia immig for entry. Never talk anyone not inside an OFFICE with payment. Search the valid office.
Hello Eric,
You mentioned a passport size photo? Is it really needed? I am also a filipino and I thought they will only stamp our passport. What is the picture for?
Thanks.
Hi, going from Siem Reap to Bangkok, can you still leave your luggage on the bus? Thanks.