Thailand - Travel from Bangkok overland to Siem Rep

I've searched and see a ton of outdated information, how is making the trek from Bangkok in 2011? I would fly but the flights are 500pp r/t on Bangkok Air :(

Air Asia do cheap flights to Phnom Penh. 4 Hour bus PP - SR.
Overland..Bus from Morchit to Aran (Aranyaprathet ) 5 hours (180 baht )..short Tuk tuk ride to border Poipet ( 50 baht)
From Cambodian side its either taxi or bus to S/R. Good paved roads all the way..doable in 4-5 hours.
An early bus from Morchit ( say around 6-6.30 am ) should have you in S/R by late afternoon.
Also by train from Bkk-Aran 3rd class 60 baht.
I have approximated fares as its been a while since I travelled overland. But they are as near as dam it.

4 Hour bus PP - SR.


Not a chance. You're looking at 5 hours (minimum) if there's no breakdowns.

Not a chance. You're looking at 5 hours (minimum) if there's no breakdowns.
Ok i will have to grant you that. My memory is not as good as an up to date Lonely Planet guide.:)

Ok i will have to grant you that. My memory is not as good as an up to date Lonely Planet guide.:)

Lonely who?

My last share taxi ride was 4:10 and the only time we stopped was to scrape the dog off the grill. Buses go slower and have a 30 min stop in Kampong Thom.

If you do go overland, you'll lose your 30 day VISA. When you come back into Thailand you'll get a new 15 day visa. Found this out the hard way in September. We originally had a 30 day visa that was good until 13 October, when we re-entered Thailand we had a new VISA that was good until 9 October. This was not good since we were not leaving until the 12th. This was all a moot point as we went to Singapore the following weekend and got a new 30 day visa when we came back into Thailand.

If you do go overland, you'll lose your 30 day VISA. When you come back into Thailand you'll get a new 15 day visa. Found this out the hard way in September. We originally had a 30 day visa that was good until 13 October, when we re-entered Thailand we had a new VISA that was good until 9 October. This was not good since we were not leaving until the 12th. This was all a moot point as we went to Singapore the following weekend and got a new 30 day visa when we came back into Thailand.

Good word of warning.

It's quite true and was instituted in Nov 2008. I had some friends coming in from Shanghai the day BKK was shut down by sua luang and they wound up going to KL instead then heading up the peninsula into Thailand. They didn't know the new policy and stayed as if they got the expected 30 day allowance. IIRC they were 12 days over and paid out around 5K Baht penalty.

Anyway, while o/w tix are almost as expensive as a r/t for these super-short international flights, Air Asia* prices out well if you're in need of a o/w PNH-BKK.

*This is one of the few times you'll ever see me touting FD.

Good word of warning.

It's quite true and was instituted in Nov 2008. I had some friends coming in from Shanghai the day BKK was shut down by sua luang and they wound up going to KL instead then heading up the peninsula into Thailand. They didn't know the new policy and stayed as if they got the expected 30 day allowance. IIRC they were 12 days over and paid out around 5K Baht penalty.

Anyway, while o/w tix are almost as expensive as a r/t for these super-short international flights, Air Asia* prices out well if you're in need of a o/w PNH-BKK.

*This is one of the few times you'll ever see me touting FD.

I didn't even think of that, but I would be within the 15 day window. I might go to Saigon instead, I've always wanted to visit Vietnam, and besides that it's 140 r/t vs. 500 for REP or the hassle of securing transportation from PHN eh I'll come back through REP in the future when I have more time to figure transportation out.

Note that the North and Northeastern Bus Terminal at Mor Chit (Jatujak) is about to be flooded. They are talking about re-locating it to some other spot, to be determined. Maybe at Suvarnabhumi, or somewhere in Chonburi or Pathumthani. Also there was a lot of flooding in the east and northeast of Thailand which may also make travel challenging.

Regarding the visa situation, you could always get a double-entry (30-day or 60-day) real Tourist Visa from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consul in your home country.

I didn't even think of that, but I would be within the 15 day window. I might go to Saigon instead, I've always wanted to visit Vietnam, and besides that it's 140 r/t vs. 500 for REP or the hassle of securing transportation from PHN eh I'll come back through REP in the future when I have more time to figure transportation out.

No hassle at all with securing transport PHN/SR Order bus ticket from your hotel /G/H. Mini bus picks you up and transports you to bus station.

No hassle at all with securing transport PHN/SR Order bus ticket from your hotel /G/H. Mini bus picks you up and transports you to bus station.

It's cheaper, and probably just as easy, to head to St 104 at Sisowath Quay and buy the ticket yourself when in PNH. I know the Mekong Express office in REP is across the st from Hotel De La Paix but the rest of them are all over town. Departure points in REP are also not necessarily where you are dropped off, it's rather a fuster cluck.

It's much quicker and more comfortable to purchase the front seat outright in a share taxi, always a Toyota Camry, for $20. On this route they try to put 2 people in the front seat at $10 per. Ask your G/H about this, not sure if hotels will have much info for you. The car, if you wish to buy every seat, is $60 per direction. When not flying this is how we prefer to make the trip these days. Dog/animal lovers beware.

It's cheaper, and probably just as easy, to head to St 104 at Sisowath Quay and buy the ticket yourself when in PNH. I know the Mekong Express office in REP is across the st from Hotel De La Paix but the rest of them are all over town. Departure points in REP are also not necessarily where you are dropped off, it's rather a fuster cluck.

It's much quicker and more comfortable to purchase the front seat outright in a share taxi, always a Toyota Camry, for $20. On this route they try to put 2 people in the front seat at $10 per. Ask your G/H about this, not sure if hotels will have much info for you. The car, if you wish to buy every seat, is $60 per direction. When not flying this is how we prefer to make the trip these days. Dog/animal lovers beware.

The convenience of letting someone procure the ticket for you amounts to an extra $1.
Not sure if anyone would accept someone sitting on someones knee for a journey from P/P - S/R. ( let alone a complete stranger )Thats a new one on me ? 3 people in the rear of the taxi, maybe.

The convenience of letting someone procure the ticket for you amounts to an extra $1.
Not sure if anyone would accept someone sitting on someones knee for a journey from P/P - S/R. ( let alone a complete stranger )Thats a new one on me ? 3 people in the rear of the taxi, maybe.

There was nothing in my post suggesting you share a seat with someone. I mentioned it was $10 per person and you could purchase the front seat outright for $20. The back seat is for 4 people, you can purchase it outright for $40. The car fits 6; you can buy all the seats for $60.

When I've been with my fiancee we buy out the backseat. Alone I buy out the front seat. If I'm with friends we'll buy out the car for $60. A quicker and more comfortable way to go than the bus.

For trips between PNH and Poipet they only put 1 in the front and 3 in the back. This is not a trip I've ever considered.

I might go to Saigon instead, I've always wanted to visit Vietnam, and besides that it's 140 r/t vs. 500 for REP or the hassle of securing transportation from PHN eh

Don't be put off!! HMC may have its charms, but Siem Reap has tons more: and Angkor is something of an ace.

Overland to SR from Bangkok is really quite straightforward. It's a well trod, well serviced route. The border and arranging transport on to SR can be a bit of a hassle, but nothing heavy.

If you come through PNH on a cheap(ish) Air Asia ticket it would be a shame not stay there a couple of days. And as others have said, arranging onward surface transport to SR is inexpensive and simplicity itself. But stick to bus or taxi - I don't think the river-boat is a sensible option.

....

If you come through PNH on a cheap(ish) Air Asia ticket it would be a shame not stay there a couple of days. And as others have said, arranging onward surface transport to SR is inexpensive and simplicity itself. But stick to bus or taxi - I don't think the river-boat is a sensible option.

Aside from the ridiculous cost, the riverboat is only reasonable from REP-PNH right now. With the lake draining into the Mekong, and flowing quite strong, it would be a long trip heading up from PNH.

No reason to stay in PNH for more than a day.