Siem Reap to Bangkok

Gateway to the magnificent ruins of Angkor, Siem Reap is by far one of Cambodia’s top tourist destinations. The country’s second largest city is not just famous for the temples of Angkor Wat, with plenty of its own things to see and do including French colonial and Chinese-style architecture, culture, and a bustling dining scene, Siem Reap is the ideal place to spend time in Cambodia. And if you’re craving more culture and beautiful temples, why not take a trip from Siem Reap to Bangkok? Thailand’s capital is only about 400 kilometers (250 miles) away, almost directly west of Siem Reap. Perfect if you only have a few days to spare, or plan a longer stay in Bangkok to experience more of this amazing city.

Read about:
• Options for Travel from Siem Reap to Bangkok
• Flights for Travel from Siem Reap to Bangkok
• Buses and Vans from Siem Reap to Bangkok
• Private Taxi from Siem Reap to Bangkok
• Train from Siem Reap to Bangkok
• Bangkok to Siem Reap Guide

Options for Travel from Siem Reap to Bangkok

Traveling from Siem Reap to Bangkok is a very popular route and so there are several different ways you can make the trip. Flights are fastest and most convenient but for a more cost-effective way for people on a tight budget, buses are a good option when time is not of the essence! Private taxi companies also go between Siem Reap and Bangkok, and if you are traveling with a few friends or family, this can actually be quite cost effective too, or look into the trains.

Flights from Siem Reap to Bangkok

You’ll be departing from the Siem Reap International Airport (airport code: REP), which is conveniently situated just a few kilometers outside the city and Angkor Wat, providing quick and easy access. However, be aware that a new and much larger airport is currently under construction and slated to be complete within the next year or so. The new airport will be named Siem Reap – Angkor International Airport and is being constructed much farther away from the city. This is good because it can ease road congestion but not so good for passengers as you will have further to travel to get from the city to the airport, adding time and expense to your journey.

For now though, you can get from the city to the airport in about 20 minutes if traveling by tuk-tuk, or a bit faster if you go by taxi or private car.

As schedules often change, there are currently two airlines that you could choose from for a direct flight from Siem Reap to Bangkok: Bangkok Airways and Thai AirAsia. Bangkok Airways flies to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, while Thai AirAsia flies to Don Mueang. The flight time to both airports is roughly the same, with schedules indicating somewhere between an hour and five minutes and an hour and twenty minutes, so the journey is definitely fast. Ticket prices are reasonable for an international flight, and even when you add in the time it takes to get to and from the airport and waiting for your flight etc, catching a flight from Siem Reap to Bangkok is by far the most convenient option.

For flight tickets, you can go direct to the airlines or you may find it easier to compare prices and schedules on a travel website such as 12go.

Buses and Vans from Siem Reap to Bangkok

From the fastest to the slowest way to travel from Siem Reap to Bangkok, buses can be agonizingly slow! But what you’re losing in time, you make up for with the cost as it is very cheap to travel by bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok. And if you’re on a long vacation and are here to experience as much of Cambodia and Thailand as possible, traveling by bus is a far better way to do that when compared to flying.

The road route from Siem Reap to Bangkok is better than it used to be. It goes via Poipet, the town right on the border between Cambodia and Thailand, and was asphalted around 10 years ago. It’s certain that the conditions of this road will have deteriorated again since then, but with a lot of publicity around poor road conditions, routes like Siem Reap to Bangkok should easily be safer, and smoother, than they were decades ago.

There are daily departures on both buses and vans from Siem Reap to Bangkok. The usual rule of thumb is that vans tend to get to their destination faster than full size buses do, not least because the drivers tend to drive faster! Again, there has been a bunch of bad publicity around routes like Siem Reap to Bangkok, so you can be sure that this has been tackled much better in recent years to improve safety.

Bus and Minibusses with Virak Buntham Express and Travel Mart

The vans from Siem Reap to Bangkok are operated by Virak Buntham Express/Travel Mart. Vans are air conditioned and are slightly larger than the minibuses you often see on the roads in Southeast Asia, so comfort levels are better. However, vans will be more cramped than buses with little space for storing luggage or your personal belongings. This can make the long journey less comfortable but at least vans get from Siem Reap to Bangkok in faster times, advertised as 7 hours 15 minutes.

With a lot more space, both for passengers and their luggage, buses from Siem Reap to Bangkok will give you a more comfortable ride than a van. Of course, you do pay more for those extra comfort levels but when you’re talking about such a long journey it may be worth spending more on your ticket. Buses are operated by reputable company, Giant Ibis, and they include reclining seats as well as luxuries like wifi, a snack and food.

Getting across the border at Poipet into Thailand can always be a little challenging. It’s difficult to know how long you will have to wait. Even when things go smoothly you could be waiting longer if there is a queue in front of you. For this reason, scheduled arrival times in Bangkok could be wildly different to actual arrival times, so it is recommended that you do not book any onward travel based on the scheduled arrival time, instead adding a number of hours or even an overnight stay before you set off on your next leg.

The Big Bus with Giant Ibis

The good thing with Giant Ibis is that they offer a ‘batch visa processing’ service for passengers on their buses, whereby they charge an additional $5US to facilitate visa processing and hence speed up and make the whole process a lot easier. Paying an additional $5 may be frustrating to some, but believe us, it really does help get you across the border in good time! The advertised journey time on bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok is 8.5 hours, but remember, buses do tend to travel at more sensible speeds giving you a smooth journey that is hopefully 100% safe.

Tickets for buses and vans from Siem Reap to Bangkok are both available through travel website, 12go. Rather than trying to navigate difficult to understand websites, booking through 12go is quick and easy and they provide great customer service too.

Private Taxi from Siem Reap to Bangkok

Private taxis from Siem Reap to Bangkok can also be booked online through 12go, so you can compare all the different options and prices between flights, buses and taxis and decide which is best for you.

Taxis are the most expensive way to travel between these two cities but you could argue that they are the most comfortable in many ways. You can opt for a standard size sedan type car if you’re traveling with a few other people, and split the cost between you. How many people will dictate what the cost per person is, as the taxi is supplied at an all-inclusive fixed rate. The car will obviously have air conditioning, and assuming you don’t have tons of luggage, it should fit into the trunk.

Another option is a minivan. These minivans are quite different to the vans mentioned above as you are not sharing with a bunch of strangers! 9-passenger vans are more comfortable as they are not as cramped and will have more space for luggage. It is air conditioned, and again, it is an all-inclusive rate.

These taxis are operated by Glassflower, and the advertised journey time is 9 hours. This sounds like a long time compared to buses, but is probably more realistic and allows for delays at the border. One of the best advantages with private taxis from Siem Reap to Bangkok is that they offer a door-to-door service. You will be picked up from your hotel in Siem Reap and taken all the way into the heart of Bangkok – which will add time. This means taxis could be an even better transport option than flights as you don’t have to worry about getting to and from the airport at both ends. Yes, taxis are more expensive, but when split between a number of passengers, the cost becomes comparable to a flight, and even potentially cheaper.

Train from Siem Reap to Bangkok

Taking a train from Siem Reap to Bangkok is not the most convenient option but if you love traveling and the experience of it all, it could be a good option for you! First, let’s clear up that there is not a train that goes all the way from Siem Reap to Bangkok. This means you will have to travel part of the journey by bus or taxi as well. The train part of the journey is only on the Thai side of the border; it runs from Aranyaprathet (just across the border from Poipet) to Bangkok. The train arrives in Hua Lamphong (eastern line still operates from Hua Lamphong Railway Station in 2023) in Bangkok, but bear in mind that it is 3rd Class seats without air-conditioning.

There are just two trains a day going this route so you would need to be careful that your bus or taxi from Siem Reap was going to get you to the border in time for your connection. With the first train of the day this would be difficult as it departs from Aranyaprathet at 6:40am, arriving Bangkok at 12:05. The second train of the day departs at 13:55 and arrives in Bangkok at 19:40. When you combine the time the train takes with a bus or taxi from Siem Reap, this is the slowest way to get from Siem Reap to Bangkok but traveling by train and seeing all the scenery along the way makes it a worthwhile option.

How do I get from Angkor Wat to Bangkok?

It’s around 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Angkor Wat to Bangkok, and you’ll be crossing from Cambodia into Thailand. The quickest way is to fly from Siem Reap to Bangkok, the closest city to Angkor Wat, but this is also the most expensive way.

How do I get from Siem Reap to Bangkok?

It’s about 400 kms from Siem Reap to Bangkok so flying is the quickest way to get there but going by bus is much cheaper. Take a look at 12Go as they sell tickets for lots of different bus companies and airlines so you can compare costs and schedules easily online. Buses take at least 8 hours whereas a flight is only around an hour, plus airport transfer times.

How long is the bus ride from Siem Reap to Bangkok?

Buy tickets for bus travel from Siem Reap to Bangkok through 12Go. This travel agent sells tickets for reliable bus companies Virak Buntham Express and Giant Ibis Transport with journey times ranging between 8 hours to 9 hours 45 minutes. Remember that you’ll be border crossing into Thailand so travel times can be impacted if there’s a delay at the border, and you’ll need to figure out visa requirements upfront.

Is there a night bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok?

It takes between 7.5 and 10 hours to travel by bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok, depending on traffic conditions and any delays crossing the border into Thailand. There are night buses departing from Siem Reap with Travel Mart, leaving at 00:45, or with Virek Buntham Express departing at 01:00, but for more choice, look at daytime buses too.

Is there a train from Siem Reap to Bangkok?

You can travel over half way from Siem Reap to Bangkok by train, but unfortunately not the full distance. Start with a bus trip or by taxi. Then the next trip is the train part and it is only on the Thailand side of the border; it starts from Aranyaprathet (just across the border from Poipet) and you will arrive in the city center of Bangkok.

Is there a direct bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok?

The Giant Ibis bus takes you direct from Siem Reap to Bangkok and even offer onboard visa service. Bus tickets and van tickets from Siem Reap to Bangkok are both available through travel website, 12go. Check for the cheapest buses and bus schedule before you head out to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Khao San Road !