Navigating the Siem Reap to Bangkok Border: Everything You Need to Know

Flights from Siem Reap to Bangkok are not pricey, but I still chose to go overland to experience the border-crossing by bus and minivan. I had my guesthouse book the trip with a bus agency days before arriving in Siem Reap.

It was a 2.5-hour journey (with one stop) covering the 150 km distance from Siem Reap to the Cambodian border town of Poipet. At a big roundabout near the border, we were told to get off the bus with all our belongings. Each passenger received a numbered blue sticker to place on their shirts. Our group’s form of ID.

Getting stamped out of Cambodia was easy. The line at the Immigration Departure Counter was long but moved quickly.

My real challenge began afterward. Like the other travelers, I started walking to the Thailand immigration checkpoint, unaware that it was almost a kilometer away. By the time I arrived, I was drenched in sweat, the sun bearing down hard. I had to queue outside in the heat while carrying my backpack, as the ground was muddy and wet.

After an hour of waiting outside, I finally entered the air-conditioned Thai Immigration building, only to face yet another line. Once my passport was stamped, I exited through the back and had my belongings scanned.

Still wearing my blue sticker, a man signaled for me to join a group. Soon, we were picked up by a vehicle with no roof, similar to those used to transport animals back home, and taken to an eatery where over a hundred people were waiting for their transport assignments.

After another hour, my number was finally called. I got into a van and was seated next to the driver, who drove like an F1 racer, constantly overtaking on the narrow two-lane road. I silently pleaded with the tiny Buddha statue on his dashboard to guide our trip safely.

By the time we reached Bangkok, it was nearly 7 PM. We crawled through the city’s traffic until the driver announced our arrival at Khao San Road. Luck was on my side. As I looked out the window, I saw the sister hotel of the one I had booked. According to the website, mine was just across from it. I had expected to take a tuk-tuk from the terminal, but here I was, right at my doorstep.