Bangkok to Siem Reap

About the ride from Bangkok to Siem Reap

After a couple of wild days and nights spent in Bangkok, it’s time to experience something completely different. Siem Reap is a thriving town and Cambodia’s top tourist destination. Wonder why? Well, the UNESCO-listed Angkor Wat and a number of other attractions are located here.

When traveling the 408 kilometer (254 mile) distance between Bangkok and Siem Reap, you have two transportation options to choose from:

• Taking an overnight bus that will take you to Siem Reap in 10 hours
• Hopping on a plane and getting to Siem Reap in just one hour

If you’re traveling on a bus, you’ll be crossing the Aranyaprathet/ Poipet border crossing. Keep in mind that the immigration process can take a long time, and sometimes you might have to wait 2-3 hours. You can get a visa upon arrival, but it’s much easier to get a Cambodian visa in advance.

Once you get to the border, you can submit a visa by yourself. However, if you don’t get one in 2 hours from submitting, the bus operator won’t wait for you, and the bus will continue its journey towards Siem Reap without you. You can also pay a fee to the bus supplier, who can deal with the immigration officer for you, and fasten the visa issuing process (keep in mind that this is not a Bookaway service).

If you’re flying into Cambodia, you can get a visa upon arrival at the Siem Reap airport. It’s recommended to do more research about entering Cambodia from Thailand before booking the trip.

 

What to see when traveling from Bangkok to Siem Reap

Siem Reap is best known for Angkor Wat, the largest Buddhist temple in the world, and on most travelers’ bucket lists. The temple sits in the Angkor Archaeological Park, which is a huge ancient city, which was built by several kings between the 9th and 15th centuries. The entire park is quite large, and if you’d want to explore it entirely, you’ll need to plan out multiple visits over several days. The park attracts lots of visitors every day, and if you’d like to avoid the crowds, you can join a sunrise tour of the temples.

Even though Angkor Wat is the most popular thing to do around the city it’s not the only thing you should experience while staying in Siem Reap. If you’re looking to see how locals live around here, head straight to the Old Market, Psar Chaa, where you’ll find local vegetables, fruits, grains, and meat for home cooked meals. Besides food, you can also purchase clothes, seasonings, and crafts.

Siem Reap has a lively atmosphere, with many pubs and coffee shops all around town. You’ll find most of them on Pub Street, where you can try some local street food and Angkor beer. Plenty of clubs and bars stay open late.

 

How to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap

Taking a bus

Taking an overnight bus between Bangkok and Siem Reap is a convenient and affordable way to make the journey between these two cities. During this trip, you’ll pass a border crossing between Thailand and Cambodia. All buses have reclining seats and A/C on board. VIP buses will have slightly better amenities, including charger sockets, snacks and drinks provided, WiFi, and toilets on board.

 

Taking a flight

Flying to Siem Reap from Bangkok is a quick and convenient way to travel between the two cities. While this is a faster option compared to a bus, it can also be a lot more expensive, especially during the high season. The flight lasts for about an hour, and all planes have A/C and toilets on board.

 

What is the best time of year to visit Siem Reap?

Siem Reap is warm all year round, and the main difference in seasons is the amount of rainfall. Siem Reap has the least rainfall from November to March. The temperatures at this time of year aren’t as warm as during other months, and the weather is very pleasant for exploring the temples. You can also visit during other months but be prepared for lots of rainfall and hotter weather with high levels of humidity.