Getting to the ancient temples of Angkor is easy from Bangkok, allowing you to see the temples in a couple of days
- Deluxe Angkor Hotels - Book Online
- Hotel de la Paix
- Amansara
- Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa
- Le Meridien Angkor
- Sokha Angkor Hotel & Spa
- FCC Angkor - my personal favourite
- Browse 70+ Angkor Wat hotels from $30 a night
- Find Angkor Guesthouses from $6
- TripAdvisor Angkor Hotel Reviews
- Book Flights To Angkor Wat
Budget Angkor Hotels and Guesthouses
Flying:
By far the easiest way to get to Angkor Wat from Bangkok is to fly. Kayak.com compares the cheapest flights on Siem Reap Airlines, who offer daily direct flights from Bangkok to Siem Reap airport (the town nearest to the Angkor temples).
The airport code for Bangkok is BKK and the airport code for Siem Reap is REP
The flight takes about one hour and Siem Reap airport is only a 20 minute drive from the town. There are also direct international flights to Siem Reap (Angkor) from many other countries - check Kayak.comfor details.
Siem Reap Airlines is part of Bangkok Airways, who in turn have a monopoly on flights from Bangkok to Siem Reap. This is why the flights are quite expensive.
For Bangkok to Siem Reap flights, you can book your tickets online through Kayak.com, but you might need to collect the physical tickets at the airport from Bangkok Airways ticket desk in Suvarnabhumi Airport before you check in, so allow extra time for that. You will also need a passport photo for your Cambodian visa, which you get on arrival at Siem Reap airport. The visa fee is currently $25US, payable in US dollars cash. There is also a $25US airport departure tax, payable by cash or credit card.
Bangkok Airways currently dominate the Bangkok - Siem Reap flight route, but AirAsia are likely to start flying the same route in 2006. They have already launched a direct flight service between Kuala Lumpur and Siem Reap. AirAsia tends to be considerably cheaper, so it's worth checking their site.
I recommend Travelfish's
Angkor Wat guide, which is only $4.95 for essential practical information on visiting the temples and accommodation and eating in Siem Reap.
This is all 100% original Travelfish research, supplemented by opinions by Travelfish users. Only $4.95!
UPDATE: Bangkok to Phnom Penh flight and the drive to Siem Reap
Since I wrote this article originally, the road between Cambodia capital city, Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap have improved dramatically. A friend of mine recently (Feb 2007) did the Phnom Penh to Siem Reap road trip and it took around 6 hours on a well-sealed road.
Therefore another option to consider is to fly Bangkok (BKK) to Phnom Penh (PNH) - check Kayak.com for flights and also AirAsia.com - stay a couple of days in Phnom Penh and then get the bus up to Siem Reap. The flights to Phnom Penh tend to be considerably cheaper. I wrote about my own recent weekend in Phnom Penh if you want some ideas of what to see there.
Overland:
If you want to save cash and go overland from Bangkok to Siem Reap, you can get a bus or train to the border town of Aranyaprathet and then transfer over the border. Once in Cambodia the roads deteriorate rapidly - expect a long and uncomfortable trip and pack accordingly. Gordon at Tales Of Asia has an excellent and exhaustive section of his site dedicated to describing the practicalities of this journey.
Angkor Wat Must Sees
If you decide to go to Angkor Wat, have a read of my Brief Guide to Angkor Wat, Cambodia - it's in three parts and gives a rundown of what I think are the best temples to see and a bit of history along with practicalities to let you get the best out of your time at the temples. You might also want to consider Angkor Thailand, the Angkor-period temples that are located within Thailand. Some of them are stunning and much less crowded too.
Angkor Wat Accommodation
There is a lot of accommodation in Siem Reap, from very cheap guesthouses to a plethora of huge, corporate 5 Star hotels. HotelsCombined has lots of cheap Siem Reap guesthouses for backpackers, while Agoda has plenty of mid to high end Siem Reap Hotel reservations for those seeking a bit of luxury.
If you've got the cash, I also unreservedly recommend the FCC Angkor hotel - follow the link for my review and some pictures. It's where Angelina Jolie stayed when she was making the Tomb Raider movie at Angkor. It's not the most expensive of Angkor's luxury hotels, but it's certainly the classiest. You can book the FCC Angkor hotel online at Agoda.com
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
The overland trip from Bangkok to Siam Reap was crazy. I couldn’t believe how bad the road was from Poipet, was so bad was funny.
hello,
maybe the the I wrote to a friend after doing the travelling by bus from Bankok to Siem Reap in 11/2007 is of interest:
“Hi Felix,
as I’ ve to wait for the bus I’ ve time to write you and respond quickly. First the temples I would recommend in my favourite order: Bayon (the temple with the oversize face towers), Tha Prom (temple where trees enclosing the walls and where tomb raider was shot) and then of course Angkor Wat (it remainds me somehow on Versailles, only 5 centuries before). When you go by bus from Khaosan Road or Rambuttri the prize shouldn’ t be over 500 BHT. The travelling to the border on good roads will take about 3 hrs, but then they first bring you to a restaurant where you pass another hour and a fine dressed lady will tell you that you have to buy your visa now for 1200 BHT. That’s rubbish (also when they tell you this in the travel agency)…make your visa on the border (I did that so you can do as well, normal prize is 20 USD = about 700 BHT, but the officers wanted 1000 BHT, but as I insisted and asked for the tourist police they made it for 800 BHT); after the border the roads are really very bad and the bus progresses with only 20 MPH and takes some 7-8 hrs to get to Siem Reap where they take you to a Guesthouse they want you to stay. If the rooms are comfortable and not more than 4 USD for a double room you could stay (but ask how far is it to the temples). Otherwise there are many Guesthouses (look in the internet) and take a TucTuc (not more than 1 USD).
For getting around you can take a bicycle (it takes some 30-45 minutes to get to Angkor Wat), but then commence early in the morning (07.00am or even earlier to see the sunrise) when it’ s not too hot. You also can take a TUCTUC for the Grand Tour or Small Tour (should not be more than 12/10 USD for the day). THe pass is 20 USD for one day and 40 USD for more than 1 (the picture is included). The people are very poor, but also very friendly. Maybe you take some fruits with you could give to the children that want to sell you things. Only the TUCTUC drivers at our guesthouse were a little bit nervy as the always wanted to sell us tours which were usually double price. You can get along with BHT, but USD are better for counting and don’t change in BKK or on the border - better go to a supermarket or change in Siem Reap.
That’ s all for now, wish a nice travelling and maybe you can tell me about your experiences…”
Michael