How To Get From Bangkok to Siam Reap

How To Get From Bangkok To Siam Reap

2 months ago I left Bangkok to go to Cambodia. I didn't really know what to expect. After 12 hours approximately on trains, tuk tuk, and buses I arrived in Siam Reap, Cambodia.

Bangkok to the Cambodian Border by Train

I left my hotel at around 5am to catch the train from Bangkok's train station which is called Hualamphong Station (Krungthep). At this time of the morning the train station was still busy with people coming back, and going to work.

My train was to depart at 5.55am and arrive at Aranyaprathet near the border at midday. This was a very long train journey. There was a lot of strange people laughing at me and trying to talk to me on the train, but I cannot speak Thai or Cambodian, so I blissfully ignored them.

The Cambodians were nice people but they departed the train before the border escorted by police. I think there was something illegal going on here! But who am I to judge! When the police arrived on this very old slow cranky train, it looked like something from a Bond movie - they were checking peoples passports and eyeing people up. It was very strange.

The train was comfortable but was very cramped with people. This is because the price of a ticket from Bangkok to the Border is around 50 - 60 baht - can't remember but very cheap!

The Border Crossing To Cambodia

When you get off the train there are many many Tuk-Tuk drivers, be aware of them. They try to take you to a fake tourist agency to get your visa for Cambodia. But you can avoid this.

You can get your Visa after exiting Thailand and before entering Cambodia. So when you get the tuk-tuk to the border - insist they only take you to the border. Ignore anything else they say.

Once you arrive at the border make sure you fill out your departure card. And go through. Once through you can then go to an office a few hundred meters up the road on the right. Here you can get your Cambodia Visa on arrival, most people will get the 4 week $20 visa.

Make sure you have changed your money into dollars before, if not you can pay for the Visa in Baht, but it will cost more. Fill out your forms, hand your photo's in with it and wait ten minutes for stamp. Once you are done, you can head to the Cambodian border office, where you will wait, and get your finger prints taken.

You are now in Cambodia. Please be aware of the Tuk-Tuks again. You can get a free bus from outside the Cambodian office. They will take you to a bus station where you can get another bus for $10 to Siam Reap.

Costs of Cambodian Visa and Travel

0 - 60 Thai Baht - Train ticket - Hualamphong to Poipet. 40 Thai Baht - Tuk - Tuk - Poipet to Border $20 - 4 week tourist visa for Cambodia. Free - Bus from Cambodian Border to International Bus Station $10 - Bus from International Station to Siam Reap.

Top Tips

• Ignore tuk-tuk drivers advice, tell them straight where you need to go.  
• Anyone that's nice and friendly and offer to help at the borders are trying to SCAM you!  
• Make sure you take passport photo's with you - the couple in front of me, they didn't have any and got charged $20 each to get them on the spot.