Travel Guide: Bangkok to Siem Reap by Bus
Oct 24th, 2015, 08:08 PM
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Travel Guide: Bangkok to Siem Reap by Bus
SIMPLE GUIDELINES TO TRAVEL BY BUS
You can also read our blog for comprehensive report and photo guides: http://thatswanderful.com/travel-gui...m-reap-by-bus/
TRAVEL TIME: 8 HOURS …or even probably more! Bangkok to Aranyaprathet (Thailand) is around 4 hours, crossing the border is about 1-2 hours depending on the pace of your co-passengers in the Immigration; Poipet (Cambodia) to Siem Reap is around 3 hours. Bring a lot of patience (as we all know you’re excited too) and personal entertainment to keep you sane the whole journey!
BUS STATION: MO CHIT 2 BUS TERMINAL (NEAR CHATUCHAK). You need to take a taxi that costs around 60-80 Baht (2-2.50USD) from/to Mo Chit BTS Station. The bus station has plenty of food stalls and convenient stores so you wouldn’t have to worry if you forgot to bring food or toiletries.
BUS SCHEDULES: 8AM & 9AM ONLY. If you cannot work around those times, you may opt to try the travel agencies in Khao San Road Area.
WHERE TO BUY TICKETS: AT THE TERMINAL OR ONLINE. You could buy your ticket at the bus station for 750 Baht (21 USD) or online for 750 Baht with Service and Convenience Fee of 43 Baht (1.20USD). We booked online* and had our vouchers exchanged for the actual tickets at the Thai Ticket Major booth near the main entrance inside the terminal.
*Buying your ticket online would save you time, money and anxiety. If you buy your ticket at the station a day before, you will have to take the BTS and taxi twice that adds up to the ticket price you paid. If you buy your ticket at the station on the day itself, you will have to risk not securing a ticket on your preferred schedule (but be sure to get there at least at 7AM if you are willing to risk).
BOARDING TIME: 15 MINUTES BEFORE DEPARTURE. Bring a lot of patience (and buy food) in the terminal in case you get there too early.
BUS CONDITION: Seats were comfortable and had ample leg room, air-condition was fine and toilet was a bit cramped (and sometimes funky but bearable).
FOOD: LIGHT SNACK AND LIGHT LUNCH. The light snack consists of cupcake, pastry and juice, serve upon leaving the bus terminal. The light lunch consists of fried rice and water, serve before reaching the border. However, everything was served in modest (kiddie meal portion) so we had to buy food at the border (Poipet).
DROP OFF POINT: NATTAKAN TRANSPORT OFFICE. The office is just beside the KFC in Siem Reap Town Center. There are a mob of Tuktuk drivers who will assist you to your accommodation, free of charge.
Once you arrive at your accommodation, the tuktuk driver will politely offer his tour/temple hopping service for a reasonable price, which you may opt to decline. We accepted the offer of our tuktuk driver Dara since he was accommodating and the Small Circuit Tour was in standard price at 20USD.
Don't forget to read our blog for comprehensive trip report of this journey: http://thatswanderful.com/travel-gui...m-reap-by-bus/
Thanks, everyone!
You can also read our blog for comprehensive report and photo guides: http://thatswanderful.com/travel-gui...m-reap-by-bus/
TRAVEL TIME: 8 HOURS …or even probably more! Bangkok to Aranyaprathet (Thailand) is around 4 hours, crossing the border is about 1-2 hours depending on the pace of your co-passengers in the Immigration; Poipet (Cambodia) to Siem Reap is around 3 hours. Bring a lot of patience (as we all know you’re excited too) and personal entertainment to keep you sane the whole journey!
BUS STATION: MO CHIT 2 BUS TERMINAL (NEAR CHATUCHAK). You need to take a taxi that costs around 60-80 Baht (2-2.50USD) from/to Mo Chit BTS Station. The bus station has plenty of food stalls and convenient stores so you wouldn’t have to worry if you forgot to bring food or toiletries.
BUS SCHEDULES: 8AM & 9AM ONLY. If you cannot work around those times, you may opt to try the travel agencies in Khao San Road Area.
WHERE TO BUY TICKETS: AT THE TERMINAL OR ONLINE. You could buy your ticket at the bus station for 750 Baht (21 USD) or online for 750 Baht with Service and Convenience Fee of 43 Baht (1.20USD). We booked online* and had our vouchers exchanged for the actual tickets at the Thai Ticket Major booth near the main entrance inside the terminal.
*Buying your ticket online would save you time, money and anxiety. If you buy your ticket at the station a day before, you will have to take the BTS and taxi twice that adds up to the ticket price you paid. If you buy your ticket at the station on the day itself, you will have to risk not securing a ticket on your preferred schedule (but be sure to get there at least at 7AM if you are willing to risk).
BOARDING TIME: 15 MINUTES BEFORE DEPARTURE. Bring a lot of patience (and buy food) in the terminal in case you get there too early.
BUS CONDITION: Seats were comfortable and had ample leg room, air-condition was fine and toilet was a bit cramped (and sometimes funky but bearable).
FOOD: LIGHT SNACK AND LIGHT LUNCH. The light snack consists of cupcake, pastry and juice, serve upon leaving the bus terminal. The light lunch consists of fried rice and water, serve before reaching the border. However, everything was served in modest (kiddie meal portion) so we had to buy food at the border (Poipet).
DROP OFF POINT: NATTAKAN TRANSPORT OFFICE. The office is just beside the KFC in Siem Reap Town Center. There are a mob of Tuktuk drivers who will assist you to your accommodation, free of charge.
Once you arrive at your accommodation, the tuktuk driver will politely offer his tour/temple hopping service for a reasonable price, which you may opt to decline. We accepted the offer of our tuktuk driver Dara since he was accommodating and the Small Circuit Tour was in standard price at 20USD.
Don't forget to read our blog for comprehensive trip report of this journey: http://thatswanderful.com/travel-gui...m-reap-by-bus/
Thanks, everyone!
except the border crossing!!!
Oct 25th, 2015, 02:46 AM
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Thatswanderful(Red). Same as Crellston, we travelled the Bangkok-Aranyapraphet leg by train, (albeit in reverse).
Didn't you know about doing it by train? No need to book, just turn up at Hualamphong train station in Bangkok. A ticket only costs 48 baht, is a true Thai experience, and of course it's very good for the budget conscious traveller.
Hope you don't mind, but here's the link for the train, from the excellent Maninseat61 website...
http://www.seat61.com/Cambodia.htm#Siem Reap
The beauty about the train, apart from the incredibly cheap price is that you can stretch your legs when you want, rather than being cramped up in a bus. There's vendors on and off the train every few stops, so plenty of fresh food and hot drinks.
Didn't you know about doing it by train? No need to book, just turn up at Hualamphong train station in Bangkok. A ticket only costs 48 baht, is a true Thai experience, and of course it's very good for the budget conscious traveller.
Hope you don't mind, but here's the link for the train, from the excellent Maninseat61 website...
http://www.seat61.com/Cambodia.htm#Siem Reap
The beauty about the train, apart from the incredibly cheap price is that you can stretch your legs when you want, rather than being cramped up in a bus. There's vendors on and off the train every few stops, so plenty of fresh food and hot drinks.
Oct 25th, 2015, 09:17 AM
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Nice, clear instructions! Thanks for posting.
I see you didn't have to deal with buying a visa since you are from the Philippines. But for those who do need to buy a visa, you should know that this particular border crossing is well-known for scams of various sorts.
I see you didn't have to deal with buying a visa since you are from the Philippines. But for those who do need to buy a visa, you should know that this particular border crossing is well-known for scams of various sorts.
Oct 25th, 2015, 03:32 PM
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@crellston train ride sounds fun! Yeah, border crossing is whack!
@LancasterLad it's only now that I've found out! Will rea more about that, thanks!
@Kathie you're right. There are a couple of dodgy locals preying for tourists. I have mentioned in my blog about the visa process since I was with my bestfriend who holds a UK passport. Hope that helps!
@LancasterLad it's only now that I've found out! Will rea more about that, thanks!
@Kathie you're right. There are a couple of dodgy locals preying for tourists. I have mentioned in my blog about the visa process since I was with my bestfriend who holds a UK passport. Hope that helps!
Oct 26th, 2015, 02:08 AM
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The Poipet border scams are well documented. The scams can start in Bangkok, so if travelling by road be very careful who you book with, and especially avoid the agencies on Khao San Road.
Having a Cambodian e-visa definitely clears the main scam on arrival at Poipet, and already having onward transport too.
We were going in the opposite direction, and the procedure ran v.smoothly. Took 45 minutes from arriving at Poipet from Battambang by taxi, to clearing Thai Immigration, and flagging down a Tuk Tuk to our accomodation in Aranyapraphet.
If you do need accommodation in Aranyapraphet, then this is the one we used @ 550 baht for an a/c ensuite double ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHaALKY_608
Poipet really is all about doing your homework, and having your wits about you. Same as many strange places.
Having a Cambodian e-visa definitely clears the main scam on arrival at Poipet, and already having onward transport too.
We were going in the opposite direction, and the procedure ran v.smoothly. Took 45 minutes from arriving at Poipet from Battambang by taxi, to clearing Thai Immigration, and flagging down a Tuk Tuk to our accomodation in Aranyapraphet.
If you do need accommodation in Aranyapraphet, then this is the one we used @ 550 baht for an a/c ensuite double ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHaALKY_608
Poipet really is all about doing your homework, and having your wits about you. Same as many strange places.
