Bangkok to Siem Reap by Bus
Looking for a simple and painless way to get from Bangkok, Thailand, to Siem Reap, Cambodia? This review will share our experience, what you need to know and how to ensure a relaxing, easy journey. We’ll include buying your bus ticket, getting your visa, passing through immigration and what to bring.
We’ve spent a lot of time in Thailand as digital nomads, but this would be our first time in Cambodia. We had a few weeks planned in Thailand and then wanted to move on to Cambodia.
As slow travellers, we weren’t in a rush and didn’t want the carbon impact of flying. So, we did a lot of research about the different ways we could make the journey. We’ll share all the details here so you can decide which journey is best for you. But we think it’s likely to be the bus!
We’ve endeavoured to make this post as detailed as possible. Hopefully, it answers all your questions, but let us know in the comments if we’ve missed anything or if you have any further questions. We’d love to help make your journey as smooth as possible.
Best Way to Travel from Bangkok to Siem Reap: Train, Flying or Bus?
When we first started researching how to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap, we began where we always do: Rome2Rio. This site is the best place we’ve found to compare different journeys. It always gives you a variety of options so you can compare. Generally, the faster, the more the prices increase.
However, this display didn’t show the train. We had to do some more digging to find out how to do this journey by train. The verdict was that the train goes all the way up to the border, but then you need to take a variety of connections to get through to Siem Reap. Although a little old, this article does a great job of breaking it all down.
We decided against taking the train due to all the changes in Cambodia. We aren’t travelling on a tight budget and looking for the cheapest price. The third-class trains aren’t that comfortable for long journeys either. And the direct bus service just seemed so much more straightforward.
Flying is quick, but it can be expensive. If you’re on a short holiday, you could look at flying. But when you add in the check-in time requirements and getting to/from the airports, you often don’t save that much time compared to an express bus service.
Plus, there are the sustainable impacts of flying. A short flight generally has a much greater carbon footprint than overland options. We choose to travel slowly to reduce our impact where we can.
Flying also removes some of the adventure out of the experience. An overland travel route allows you to see the countryside, engage with the locals and support smaller businesses. We’d take an overland journey instead of a plane whenever we could.
Other Road Journeys from Bangkok to Siem Reap
Once we had decided to travel by road, we looked at travelling with different bus operators. Some only provided a minibus option. We’ve often found that minibuses can be very uncomfortable for long journeys, especially if you’re in one of those seats that fold down.
This helped us to narrow it down to Giant Ibis. They had great reviews online, as well as comfortable-looking coaches.
Where Does Giant Ibis Travel To?
Giant Ibis have routes across Cambodia and into neighbouring countries. Their bus routes connect Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Kampot, and Sihanoukville within Cambodia. Internationally, they travel to Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok.
Schedule of Giant Ibis
Giant Ibis have two departures daily. The first is at 7.45am the second at 9am. We decided that since we wouldn’t get into Siem Reap much earlier with the first departure, we would opt for the last bus. This meant we didn’t have to wake up early, could get breakfast at our hotel and make our way to the departure point.
The journey is scheduled to take 8.5 hours, from departure to arrival. We left right on time at 9am and were all checked into our hotel by 6pm. It was a long day, but we didn’t arrive tired because it was so comfortable.
Booking a Ticket for Giant Ibis
We choose to book most of our travel through 12go.com. I trust their process, and they make purchasing bus tickets super straightforward. All my details are saved in their system so the checkout process is quick and easy.
I first looked to book a week in advance and there were plenty of seats on both departure times. When I looked again five days out, the 9am departure only had 7 seats left. The bus was fully sold out when we departed.
We were travelling in January, which is considered high season, and we knew we were choosing a popular bus. If you’re travelling at this time and have constraints such as needing to leave before a visa expires or have tours booked, we would recommend booking your bus in advance.
You can also buy your tickets directly from the office. This gives you the option to pay cash if you prefer. We weren’t in Bangkok, so this wasn’t an option.
Tourist Visa for Cambodia
Most international arrivals will need a visa for Cambodia. However, these are easy to obtain. You can do this yourself online; several people on the bus did this. The attendant will speak to everyone before you depart Bangkok so they know everyone’s status.
However, we decided to let Giant Ibis handle the visa processing. We didn’t realise we could pay in Thai Baht or US Dollars, so we converted our remaining baht the night before we left. Check with Giant Ibis before your trip to see what currencies they accept.
The standard visa on arrival costs $35 US, and there is a small extra fee of $5 for getting Giant Ibis to process this for you. If you’re choosing to take the bus, you’re not on a super tight budget, and I’d recommend getting them to process the visa for you.
You’ll need to complete the Immigration Card once you’re on the bus.
Departing Bangkok
We stayed at Lamphu Tree Hotel, just a few minutes walk from the Giant Ibis office. This meant we could get up at a leisurely time, have our hotel breakfast, then make our way over to the office (here’s the Google Maps location if you’re unsure).
There is also a 7-Eleven across the road if you want to purchase snacks or drinks for the first part of the journey.
A few minutes before departure, the team escorted us across to the bus. Be prepared to walk your bags ten minutes from the office.
You’re also given a lanyard to help identify you. It has the contact details of Giant Ibis in both Thailand and Cambodia. This is in case you have any issues at Immigration. There is someone that you can call to assist. We didn’t have any problems, but knowing you have support is reassuring if you’re worried about crossing the border.
As the bus is loading, you’ll give your bag to the team to place under the coach. They’ll give you a luggage tag to ensure the correct people collect each bag once you reach the Siem Reap bus stop.
You can then take your allocated seats. You’ll notice that the driver is on the left side of the bus. As a primarily Cambodian company, the vehicles are designed for driving on the right side of the road, although Thailand drives on the left.
While waiting for everyone to board, the attendant will check everyone’s visa status. Arrival cards will be handed out for everyone to complete.
As you depart, the attendant will introduce the team and hand out the welcome snacks (a can of Nescafe coffee and a pastry). You’re now on your way to Cambodia!
Giant Ibis Coaches
We chose to travel with Giant Ibis partly because of comfort levels. The chairs are spacious, with plenty of legroom. You can recline without pushing into the space of the person behind you.
Each seat has a small foldout table and an additional space next to the seat with a drink holder. This is where the chargers were as well.
There is Wi-Fi on board the bus, which works reasonably well in Thailand. Once we crossed the border into Cambodia it slowed right down to become unusable.
This setup is far superior to what we’ve experienced on minivans, planes or trains in Southeast Asia.
The Journey from Bangkok to the Thai Border
Our bus stopped four times on the way from Bangkok to Siem Reap. The first stop was at a full-service rest stop. There was a 7-Eleven, bathrooms, stalls selling snacks and a Cafe Amazon. This was our longest stop, aside from immigration.
We then travelled through to the Cambodian Consulate. This was also another bathroom break. A restaurant was on the other side of the road, but most people milled around next to the Consulate while our attendant processed the visas.
The next stop was the border. We were instructed to leave our large luggage on the coach and carry everything on board through the immigration process.
The first step is to depart Thailand. Thai people completed this process on the ground floor, while international visitors went upstairs. This part was super quick.
The Journey from the Cambodian Border to Siem Reap
Then we walked across the Friendship Bridge to the Cambodian processing. This time, Cambodians were downstairs, with international arrivals upstairs. This part was much slower and busier. There were a lot of Thai people in this queue with us.
Once we were through, our attendant was waiting outside. The buses parked a short walk away and we couldn’t see it from the immigration point. But it wasn’t hard to find.
There are plenty of people selling SIM cards at this point. If you’re just in Cambodia briefly, consider getting an eSIM. There were also tuk-tuk drivers, but our lanyards identified us as people on a tour, so they didn’t approach us.
This is a good time to purchase more snacks from the roadside stalls if you want.
We were given our lunch at this point - a vegetarian fried rice. It was pretty plain but not spicy and suitable for many dietary requirements. If you’re vegan or allergic to eggs, you’ll need to pack your own lunch.
Our final bathroom break was halfway to Siem Reap. This stop was just a petrol station with no amenities or shops. This is why you may want to purchase additional snacks or drinks before you leave the immigration point.
Arrival in Siem Reap
The Giant Ibis station in Siem Reap is just outside the town centre. They don’t drop you at the central bus terminal.
Once you arrive, the team will bring all the luggage off the bus and then check your luggage tickets to release them to you.
They’ll then connect you with a tuk-tuk driver, making sure the price is agreed and that they know where your hotel is. This costs around $5 USD.
If you have an eSIM or a Cambodian SIM card, you could order a tuk-tuk via Grab instead for a reduced price.
Before your driver departs, he will want to give you his WhatsApp and ask about your time in Siem Reap. All the drivers are looking to book tourists to take them around Angkor Wat and the other temples. This is where they make good money.
We ended up booking with a highly recommended driver, Mr Kim (WhatsApp: +855 12 589 955). He looked after us so well, with cold towels and water throughout the day. He was also able to provide car service when we wanted to explore the further afield. If you’re looking for a driver, message Mr Kim, and he’ll take excellent care of you.
Where to Stay in Siem Reap
Siem Reap has plenty of accommodation options, from simple guesthouses to luxury hotels. We would highly recommend staying in the Wat Damnak area. This suburb has excellent coffee shops, restaurants and bars and is quieter than the main Pub Street area.
We stayed at the Vihara City of Temples Hotel. The team here did such a great job of taking care of us. The rooms were spacious, and you could get loungers by the pool (you’ll want some downtime after exploring the temples!). The breakfast is pretty good, too.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a comfortable way to travel between Thailand and Cambodia, you should consider using the Giant Ibis bus operator. The service we received was excellent from the purchase to departure, the visa process and the assistance upon arrival.
This option is cheaper than flying, more convenient than travelling by train and you’ll have an enjoyable trip.
Have you done this journey by bus or any other way? Leave a comment and let us know how you found it.
