Getting to the ancient temples of Angkor is easy from Bangkok, allowing you to see the temples in a couple of days
Flying To Angkor Wat
By far the easiest way to get to Angkor Wat from Bangkok is to fly.
Check flights on Skyscanner to find the cheapest direct flights from Bangkok to Siem Reap (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 Skyscanner for details.
Air Asia and Bangkok Airways are the two main airlines that fly from Bangkok to Angkor Wat. Prices can be quite high because Bangkok Airways controls access and so pricing on the Bangkok to Siem Reap route.
For Bangkok to Siem Reap flights, you can book your tickets online, 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. See Travelhappy’s page on Getting A Visa On Arrival At Siem Reap Airport for info and tips on beating the queues.
Bangkok To Phnom Penh Flight And Driving To Siem Reap
Another option to consider is to fly Bangkok (BKK) to Phnom Penh (PNH) – check for flight times and prices and also – 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.
Bus From Bangkok To Siem Reap
If you want to save cash and go overland from Bangkok to Siem Reap, you can get a bus to the border town of Poipet and then transfer over the border. It used to be that once in Cambodia the roads deteriorated rapidly but extensive repairs have been made over the last 5 years. You can check bus departure times, prices and book tickets using the search box below
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. Agoda has plenty of Siem Reap Hotels which you can book online.
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 one of the classiest. You can book the FCC Angkor hotel online at Agoda.com
More on Travelhappy about Temples In Thailand, Cambodia and Burma:- Angkor, Bagan, Sukhothai - The Legacy
Part 1 - Sukhothai - Part 2: Angkor - Part 3: Bagan - The Temple Of A Million Beer Bottles - Wat Lan Khaud
- Sukhothai: Thailand's Own Angkor Wat
- Essential Temples Of Sukhothai
- Essential Temples of Angkor
- Essential Temples of Bagan
- Angkor Wat - A Brief Guide
- Angkro Wat To Bangkok
- Beng Mealea - The Lost Temple Of Angkor
- Buddhist Temples Of Thailand - The Book
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
Excellent~
great work.
every pages is worth reading twice!
its been a real help for my trip to BKK and Cambodia planned for last week of march09.
Just did a trip overland from Bangkok to Siem Reap. Road from Poi Pet to Siem Reap has been renewed and is very good now, even better then the roads in Thailand.
At the border avoid all the visa scammers, they trying to rip you off for 1200THB which is double money. It is easy to go on your own. First get exit stamp in first building for border, cross the border, and get a visa on arrival in a building near first junction in Cambodian side. Cost is 20USD plus a little bit coffee money.
Happy traveling,
Michiel – BKK Tours
BBK Tours: I´m new in leaving a comment, I´m from argentina and I´ll travel to BKK on January, I´d like to know If I can do the visa paper works in the Cambodian Embassy in BKK, cause I´d read that wen you get to the board if you don´t have the visa done the taxi driver that you hire make stops in the scammers “ofice” and they and they don´t let you continue if you don´t accept… It´s that accurated? To me sound like a little beet apocalliptic? If you can help I´ll really apritiate. TK!!!!