For our next destination after Bangkok, we were pretty set on going to Siem Reap to see Angkor, which was a good choice – but the question was how to get there. While we had been flying up to this point, the prices on flights from Bangkok to Siem Reap weren’t great so we decided to look into other options – like traveling to Siem Reap by bus.
How to Travel to Seim Reap by Bus
The majority of travelers will arrive at Siem Reap via plane from Bangkok or Phnom Penh, but for those who would prefer to skip the airport, there is another way. Due to the relatively close proximity of many Southeast Asian cities, traveling to Siem Reap by bus can actually be a great alternative and much cheaper option to take. The buses that operate these routes are large tourist buses – providing air conditioning, comfortable seating, entertainment (you probably won’t be able to understand the movies or music, but that just adds to the experience), and a light meal with water.
While the bus itself is – obviously – slower than a plane, the fact that you do not have to go through airport security and everything else that is involved with traveling by air. Our drive from Bangkok to Siem Reap took us a total of 8 hours, which would have roughly been about the same amount of time of the entire transfer by air. This is the shortest of all the international routes and it worked perfectly for us. So, if you’re already in the region, you should seriously consider taking the bus to Siem Reap.
Routes & Operators
There are numerous domestic bus routes that take only a few hours. The current international routes to Siem Reap by bus are:
- Bangkok, Thailand – Siem Reap (8 hours)
- Chiang Mai, Thailand – Siem Reap (14 hours)
- Don Det, Laos – Siem Reap (8 hours)
- Hà Tiên, Vietnam – Siem Reap (13 hours)
- Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam – Siem Reap (14 hours)
- Luang Prabang, Laos – Siem Reap (30 hours)
- Pakse, Laos – Siem Reap (12 hours)
- Vang Vieng, Laos – Siem Reap (25 hours)
- Vientiane, Laos – Siem Reap (22 hours)
There are many different companies that operate buses and mini-buses on these routes, along with other routes in the region. Here are just a few of the best companies from which to choose from!
- Giant Ibis – the leading bus company in Cambodia, they operate within Cambodia and also between Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh. While a little more expensive than the other options, they also provide air-conditioned buses and mini-buses with extra legroom, wifi, and electrical outlets. Some of the proceeds are also donated to the preservation of Cambodia’s national bird, the Giant Ibis.
- Kampot Express – a popular operator for locals and expats alike, they operate solely within Cambodia. Expect airconditioned buses and mini-buses and for most trips to be 2-3 hours. A great option if you are already in the country.
- Mekong Express – operating from Ho Chi Minh, this company is primarily used by locals. The amenities are a little more scarce but still provide air-conditioning. You are not provided much luggage space, so you need to be traveling light. A great budget option for the backpacker.
- ThaiTicket Major – the major ticketing operator in Thailand. They work with the government bus system to provide operations within Thailand and exiting the country. Not only can you purchase bus tickets, but you can also literally purchase all tickets in Thailand with them: sports, movies, etc.
- 12GoAsia – is a major ticketing site that will provide you the current routes and options within all of Southeast Asia. It is geared towards tourists and expats.
Our Bus From Bangkok to Siem Reap
Grabbing a Bus Ticket
Our time in Thailand was coming to an end and with only a few days left, it was time for us to decide how we were going to get to our next destination – Siem Reap, Cambodia. We had been hesitant to do a bus ride across borders, or really anywhere in Asia – we’d read a few accounts that did not sell us on them. Stories of bus breakdowns and poor conditions had us worried. However, the prices were quite cheap at ThaiTicketMajor and the time it would take would be just a little bit longer than the entire ordeal of an international flight so we decided to just go ahead and give it a shot and hope that everything went fine.
The route is a popular one and you must get your tickets beforehand, as the bus ride from Bangkok is almost always sold out the day of. You can purchase your tickets online at ThaiTicketMajor, but you will still need to pick up the actual tickets from a vendor. We went to a ticket office in the Siam Paragon Mall in Bangkok on Sukhumvit street – it was in the movie theater. We showed them the reservation we made online (which we had to print out) and they handed us the ticket. It is a good idea to bring your passport with you though, as they will ask for it – I forgot to bring mine, but luckily they waived it with other proof of identification.
This process is much the same from any other location. Whether you will need to purchase your tickets ahead of time will be dependant upon the popularity of the route, but we highly recommend being prepared and purchasing earlier rather than the day of.
Getting to Mo Chit BTS Station
We reserved our bus ride from Bangkok for 9 am and made our way out from our Airbnb. We didn’t reserve a taxi prior, because of the nature of Bangkok, and decided to wing getting one. Luckily, it was no problem. We walked to the edge of the street and flagged down a taxi within 30 seconds. We explained our destination to Mo Chit BTS Station and he took us there. This time, as compared to our arrival, we elected to use the tollway to save time which was totally worth it.
Arrival at the bus station was quite simple. While we thought we might be late, we actually arrived just in time to catch the 8 am bus ride – had we had purchased that time – but we had bought the 9 am so we had some time to wait. No matter, this gave us time to leisurely find our terminal, from which a help desk provided us the answer, and to go grab a few snacks in the form of donuts.
There are a few food vendors as well as bathrooms for you to use. So navigating the bus terminal is of no issue. About fifteen minutes before our time to go, we were directed to the bus where we got into our seats, which were quite comfortable surprisingly. The bus was a Korean made bus, and quite roomy. We were also given a little goody bag of food and drink.
Smooth Riding
We then got on our way and the bus was off. The ride was relatively uneventful for the beginning of the trip. We made one stop about two hours in for a restroom and snack break at a nice truck stop. We then made another stop while we were at Poi Pet where we were given our lunch. The lunch was simply a gas station ready-made meal, but it was not bad actually – it will differ by the day, but we were given shrimp fried rice, so Briana didn’t eat it due to being vegetarian.
Once we finished our lunch, the bus took us to the border between Bangkok and Cambodia in Poi Pet. Here people may try to get you pay for getting your visa done, or other scam-like offers. The bus driver or assistant may even attempt to ask for money to take care of the visa. This is a common tactic at all border crossings, not just at Poi Pet. Our advice is to ignore them and just go to the immigration office and get your Visa done from the proper office. There are signs, so it shouldn’t be a problem. Our bus driver told us to walk forward across the border and just follow the directions – they were pretty obvious. However, if you don’t want to be bothered with taking care of it yourself, expect to pay a few extra dollars for the convenience.
Crossing the Border and Paying Bribes
Getting the Visa was straightforward, albeit a little sketchy. We filled out our information and tried to talk to the immigration office. The cost was supposed to be $35 for each visa, there was, however, an armed officer standing in front of the Visa office, demanding a 100 baht (~$3) “service fee” aka a bribe. His “service” was him handing the passport to the people behind the counter.
While Briana had hers, I was missing my passport photos – which I would discover 2 years later tucked deep inside a random folder. While everyone else was trying to fight about the payment/bribe, Briana filled out her paperwork, turned in the amount they asked for, and went to use the bathroom. Another woman, missing her extra passport photos was told to go somewhere else to have a couple done. I decided to give it a go anyway and walked up to the officer and made a point to show him I was giving the extra money. Immediately saying “no photos”, he looked at me, looked at the money, then told the Visa officials to process it. A few minutes later, our Visas were handed to us and we went to get stamped in.
If you can see that you will have to deal with these type events, it may sometimes just be best to work it to your advantage rather than try to fight it, lose, and be in a bad mood. It only amounted to a couple of dollars anyway.
Immigration
Stamping in through immigration was a very simple process, same as pretty much everywhere else. On a side note, we witnessed a guy who ran into a few issues as he somehow got into Thailand without a stamp on his passport. We are not entirely sure what happened, but he did manage to get across in the end.
Entering Cambodia
Once we got across, the bus was waiting for us and we got back on and proceeded on to Siem Reap. Depending on your specific route and bus company, you may continue on with the same bus, or you may transfer to a new bus. In either case, we highly recommend carrying your luggage through with you if it is an option – just in case. I spent the majority of my time reading “The Jungle Book” on the Kindle, while Briana read a book she had downloaded onto her laptop. We both also spent time looking out at Cambodian countryside.
It was Songkran / Cambodian New Year when we crossed, so there were numerous citizens playing with water and spraying people and the bus as we passed. Obviously, this is not a typical occurrence, but you can expect to be greeted by local children happily waving at you as you drive by.
Arrival in Siem Reap
Finally, 8 hours after beginning our bus ride from Bangkok, we arrived at the bus station in Siem Reap. It really was just a hotel though. We were told that we would have complimentary tuk-tuks waiting for us to take us where we needed to go. But upon arrival, they said that because of the holiday, there was no one to take us. We would have to figure it out ourselves.
Tuk-tuk Headaches
We tried to grab a tuk-tuk after we got off the bus, but we weren’t having much luck. There were few available, and a whole bus of people had just unloaded. Finally, we managed to get one, who didn’t seem very thrilled. We gave him a phone number to call our host for directions, and then he took us about a kilometer into town and swapped us off to someone else. He told us he didn’t want to work anymore and charged us a few dollars.
We went through the same thing with the second guy, though he did manage to get us to our place. While the price wasn’t high, our Airbnb host said it would normally be less so it may be good to negotiate a price before you ride a tuk-tuk. While not all drivers will try to rip you off, the more touristy the location, the more likely they are to take advantage of the foreigner. Just be vigilant and you’ll be fine.
And The Sun Sets
So the entire journey wasn’t too bad. The bus ride was easy and comfortable aside from it being during the hottest part of the year. The border crossing was not too bad either, better than many land crossings we’ve read about. I’ve had worse times arriving at immigration in airports. Our only issue was the tuk-tuks upon arrival. A few weeks later, we would have an excellent tuk-tuk driver who took us to the airport – faith in tuk-tuks restored!
So if you’re making the journey, we would recommend traveling to Siem Reap by Bus. If you are going the reverse of our route, you can use the same company to travel from Siem Reap to Bangkok. We had originally thought about returning to Bangkok, but our plans changed to a totally different itinerary.
Make Your Trip Better
Traveling can be a little stressful in general, why not do what you can to make your trip a little more comfortable. There are a bunch of little things you can do and bring with you to ensure that you have a good time and arrive at your destination ready to go.
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- Travel Pack – Carrying the right pack can make a huge difference when out and about. Our ultimate guide to choosing a travel pack will help ensure you get off on the right foot.
- Bug Repellant – The jungles of Cambodia are full of mosquitos and other nasties that bite. No one wants to come down with any of the awful diseases these bugs bring. Unfortunately, there is no way to deal with these really other than to be proactive. We used these and were served us well – they are also small enough to come in your carry-on. Off! Deep Woods Towelettes
- Headlamps – Much of Siem Reap is unlit, so if you get caught after dark, you’ll want a hands-free way to see where you’re going. Or at least a flashlight! Foxelli Rechargeable Headlamp
- Kindle Paperwhite – whether you like it or not, there’s plenty of downtime between your destinations when you travel. This is a perfect time to catch up on some reading and the Kindle lets you bring all your books in a lightweight and easy to carry format. If you want to learn about the local history, we recommend First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers (P.S.), available on paper or digital.
Bus Ride From Bangkok To Siem Reap – Pin It!
