Travelling From Thailand to Cambodia: The Best Options!

When travelling through Southeast Asia, Thailand and Cambodia are two of the most popular destinations. Luckily, these countries are located right next to each other so they’re easy to travel between.

When it comes to travelling between the two countries, there are several options. This includes flying, taking the bus, and catching a ferry, so you won’t be short of options!

In this guide, we’ll cover the best ways to travel from Thailand to Cambodia. This way you’ll get an idea of the top options, so you can figure out which transport method is best for you. Let’s dive right in!

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How To Travel From Thailand To Cambodia

By Air – Best for Those After A Quick Journey

• Cost: Approximately £35-£45 per person (1600-2000 THB)

If you’re looking for a short journey, then flying to Cambodia is your best bet. There are several major airports in Thailand (including Phuket and Chiang Mai), but Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is a top pick. This international airport serves the city of Bangkok and is the country’s main airport.

There are two main routes from Suvarnabhumi Airport:

• Bangkok to Phnom Penh – Flights typically take 1 hr 15 minutes and start from £34 per person.

• Bangkok to Siem Reap – Flights typically take 1 hour and start from £41 per person.

You’ll certainly benefit from having a short flight time if you decide to travel by air. Just be aware that you’ll need to allow additional time for travelling to and from both airports, as well as for security/immigration. You’ll also want to factor in transfers and luggage costs before deciding whether this is the most cost-effective option.

Check Skyscanner for the best prices!

By Bus – Best For Convenience

• Cost: Approximately £20-£25 per person (900-1150 THB)

Travelling overland throughout Southeast Asia is very easy, even when it comes to crossing the border. We took a direct bus from Thailand to Cambodia (Bangkok to Siem Reap) and found it to be very stress-free.

There are two main routes from Bangkok:

• Bangkok to Siem Reap: The journey takes approximately 8.5 hours and tickets start from £19 per person.

• Bangkok to Phnom Penh: The journey takes between 12-16 hours and tickets start from £21 per person.

When it comes to travelling overland by bus, there are a few options. Travelling by minivan is often the cheapest option, or you can go for a standard bus. Those who don’t mind paying a bit more can opt for a VIP sleeper, where you’ll have a bed.

Although the journeys are long, some of these bus services run overnight which is always a bonus! For the best prices, check out 12Go Asia which is the platform we booked through.

By Ferry – Best For Variety of Departure Locations

• Cost: Approximately £25 – £40 (1100-1800 THB) per person (fares depend on the ferry route)

What people don’t realise is that various ferry routes run between the two countries. From the mainland, you can travel from the cities of Bangkok and Pattaya, as well as the province of Trat (located along the border).

A highlight of taking the ferry is that you can travel from some of Thailand’s islands, including Koh Chang, Koh Kood, and Ko Mak. This gives travellers more flexibility when planning their itinerary.

Here are some example ferry routes between Thailand and Cambodia:

• Bangkok to Koh Kong (Cambodia) – The ferry takes 7 hours and costs around £24 per person.

• Bangkok to Koh Sdach (Cambodia) – The ferry takes 11 hours and costs around £40 per person.

• Koh Chang to Koh Rong (Cambodia) – The ferry takes 8 hours and costs around £50 per person.

• Koh Kood to Darasakor (Cambodia) – The ferry takes under 5.5 hours and costs around £37 per person.

For the best prices, we recommend searching on Direct Ferries as you can get some fantastic deals!

By Private Vehicle – Best For Groups and Families

• Cost: From £60-£100 (2800-4700 THB) per person (price varies depending on group size)

As we’re nearly always travelling on a tight budget, this isn’t something we’ve done before. However, it’s a convenient option for families and groups who have the extra cash to spend.

You’ll have more comfort than travelling in a standard bus and you can often request for the driver to make additional bathroom and food stops. Those travelling as a group (between 3-4 people) can split the cost too if the price is charged per vehicle so that’s always a bonus.

You can book transfers through various tour platforms (our favourites being Get Your Guide and Viator). Alternatively, you can book through a transport/taxi company either online or in-person. Just make sure you do your research and check reviews as you’ll be dishing out a lot of cash!

By Train + Bus – Best For Budget Travellers

• Cost: Typically £1 (for the train) + £8-£10 (for the bus) if you’re travelling to Siem Reap

If you’re looking to travel from Bangkok to Cambodia by train, it’s important to note that there are no direct routes to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh.

You’ll need to catch a train from Thailand’s capital city to Ban Klong Luk which takes approximately 5.5 hours. From there, you’ll need to walk to the Thailand/Cambodia border (there’s around 200 metres between the two).

After you’ve been through the checkpoint, there’s then a free transit bus to ‘Poipet Tourist Passenger International Terminal’, where you can catch a bus or taxi to Siem Reap (as well as other destinations in Cambodia).

Be aware that you may also be offered a combined train+bus ticket to Siem Reap at Bangkok’s train station. Seat61 discusses the process in more detail if you’re interested in this method of transportation!

As there’s no direct train from Bangkok to Cambodia, we wouldn’t recommend taking the train unless you’re confident crossing the land border without assistance.

What is the best way to travel between the two countries?

Getting from Thailand to Cambodia is pretty easy as there are so many different options. In our opinion, the best way to travel between the two countries is by bus.

Tickets are very affordable, making it the perfect transport option for those on a budget. You also won’t have the inconvenience of heading to the airport. Not to mention, many buses include luggage in the price, whereas you’ll likely have to pay extra for baggage if you choose to fly.

Another bonus of taking the bus is that many of the services start in the early afternoon and run through the night. This way, you won’t have to pay for accommodation (as you’ll be travelling overnight). If you opt for a VIP sleeper you’ll also have a bed, so you’ll likely get a good night’s sleep too!

Throughout our time in Southeast Asia, we mostly travelled overland (either by bus or train). Not only were tickets often much cheaper, but it’s a much more laid-back way of travelling. We found that having 8-12 hours to just relax, listen to music (or podcasts), watch YouTube, and play games really allowed us to chill out.

Immigrations & Visas

When travelling over the border from Thailand to Cambodia, you’ll need to research whether you need a visa or not. There are a few different options when getting a tourist visa; you can either apply online and get an e-visa or you can get a visa on arrival at the country’s airports and land border crossings.

Many people choose to get an e-visa online (although you’ll need to apply at least 4 days in advance). The e-visa takes approximately 3 days to process. You’ll receive a certificate which you’ll show when entering Cambodia, and the visa is valid for 30 days after your entry date.

Of course, you can also opt to get a visa upon entry into Cambodia. Below, we’ll take you through our process!

Land Border Crossing

Those who don’t have an e-visa can choose to get a visa at Cambodia’s land borders.

At the border, you’ll first have to go through Thai immigration and get stamped out of the country. Then it’s a case of filling out the visa form, although we didn’t do this option so we’re not sure how easy it is! However, during our time in Southeast Asia, there was another option available to travellers.

We travelled across the border with a company called Travel Mart Bangkok. At the time, they offered an additional service, where they would sort out the visa for you.

I think we paid an additional $10 each (approximately £7.85) and just had to hand over our passports and visa photos to the attendees. The staff then took this to immigration and filled out the visa form for us. It was all sorted very quickly and we got to stay on the bus! Afterwards, we just had to follow the attendee off the bus to get stamped out of Thailand and our passports were returned to us.

If anyone has done this recently, please feel free to comment below and let us know about your experience!

Frequently Asked Questions About Travelling From Thailand to Cambodia

How do I get from Thailand to Cambodia?

If you’re wondering how to get to Cambodia from Thailand, there are a few options. These include flying, travelling overland by bus, catching a ferry, and paying for a private driver/taxi.

We believe catching the bus is the best way to travel from Thailand to Cambodia. Tickets are very affordable and you won’t have to waste time arriving at the airport a few hours before.

Is there a ferry from Thailand to Cambodia?

Several ferry routes will take you from Thailand to Cambodia. Ferry services run from Bangkok, Pattaya, and Trat, as well as some of the country’s islands (Koh Chang, Koh Kood, and Ko Mak).

Prices vary depending on the ferry service you choose and some routes only have a few sailings each week. For more information, we’d suggest checking out websites such as Direct Ferries.

How can I travel from Bangkok to Cambodia?

When travelling to Cambodia from Bangkok, there are several options. Naturally, flying between the two countries is very popular, with Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) being the main airport.

You can also take a bus from Thailand’s capital city, which is the option we chose. Alternatively, ferries run to Cambodia from Bangkok or you can catch a train to the border.

Is it easy to go from Thailand to Cambodia?

It’s super easy to travel between Thailand and Cambodia. There are a variety of transport options to choose from, many of which are very affordable too, so there’s something for everyone.

To ensure everything runs smoothly, we’d suggest booking your transport in advance. You’ll also want to double-check any additional charges, such as luggage fees which could make the journey more expensive.

Final Thoughts On Travelling From Thailand to Cambodia

As you can see, there are several options for those entering Cambodia from Thailand. The two most popular choices include catching a flight or taking the bus, although you can always opt for one of the ferry routes.

Those looking to travel quickly may wish to fly, as flights take approximately an hour (depending on the airport). If you’re on a budget, catching the bus is a great choice as tickets can be as cheap as £20.

If you have any questions about travelling from Thailand to Cambodia, please contact us via Facebook, Instagram, or in the comments!

Here are some other Southeast Asia guides that you may find helpful:

• The Best Things To Do In Pai
• The Top Things To Do In Chiang Mai
• The Ultimate 3-Week Vietnam Itinerary

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