TRAVELING FROM BANGKOK TO ANGKOR WAT
 How do I get from Bangkok
to Angkor Wat?
That is the question
most often asked in the Guest Houses of Kaosan Road and Travel Agencies
throughout the city of Bangkok.
The answer is relatively easy for those who just want to get there
as quickly as possible, but not as easy for the truly adventurous who
like to take the route less traveled and avoid airlines whenever
possible, or those who are traveling on a very tight budget.
You can fly
directly
from Bangkok to Siem Reap (Angkor). In
only a little over an hour you can be transported from one of the
most adrenalin charged, constantly hustling, shopping and nightlife
obsessed cities
of the
world, to the edge of a majestic outcropping of ruins that is still
largely in the clutches of the jungle, that it's ancient rulers and
architects had once tamed, if only for a brief moment of it's entire
history.
Flying directly is fairly expensive though for the short one
hour
flight
(currently close to US $150.00), so it encourages many travelers to
find an alternative mode of transportation. Actually a year ago it was
double this
price, so in the future the price of flying may become even more
reasonable.
Bangkok Airways - Bangkok's
Suvarnaboumi Airport to
the Siem Reap Airport. Either book a return flight ticket with Bangkok
Airways or book your return flight with Siemreap Airways International
in Siem Reap. Current (May 2007) one way Internet Booking fare - 4,865
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THE
EASY WAY
Bangkok Airways
-
Bangkok's Suvarnaboumi
Airport to
the Siem Reap
Airport. Either book a return flight ticket with Bangkok
Airways or book your return flight with Siemreap Airways International
in Siem Reap. Current (May 2007) one way Internet Booking fare - 4,865
Baht (could go up or down
any time)
07:30 - PG911 - Monday, Wednesday, Friday
08:00 - PG903 - Every day except Friday
11:10 - PG905 - Seven days a week
14:50 - PG913 - Seven days a week
18:25 - PG909 - Seven
days a week
 Air Asia
(Thailand) -
four flights per day from Suvarnaboumi Airport to Phnom
Phen's
Pochentong Airport
Current one way fare - 500 Baht (Internet price - limited time offer -
summer 2007). From Phnom Phen you have to take a 6 hour bus ride or a 9
hour boat
ride up Tonle Sap to Siem Reap
Helicopters
Cambodia - http://www.helicopterscambodia.com
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THE
HARD WAY
Trains, Boats, Buses, and Taxis
Trains - the
train
will
take you from Hualompong Station in Bangkok to the Thai-Cambodia Border
at Aranyapratet. Unfortunately the old rail line across the border and
into Cambodia no longer exists.
Boats - once
you
get to
Phnom Phen, Battambang or Sianoukville you can elect to take a boat the
rest of the way to Siem Reap. Depending on the time of the year and the
amount of rainfall this can be a more or less trying experience.
Buses - Big
luxury
tour
buses, Thai government public transport buses, tour company mini-vans,
and trucks with benches make up this often hair raising assortment of
transportation choices.
Taxis
- Very
comfortable
taxis and even more comfortable limousines can take you from Bangkok to
the Cambodian border in three hours or so for from 2,500 Baht up. Once
you are across the border it becomes another story all together.
Cambodian taxis traveling from Poipet to Siem Reap tend to be fairly
beat up by the rough roads and heavy loads that they carry. Taxis can
be shared with up to six passengers and will cost from US $35 to US $80
dollars for the four hour trip. |
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TRIP
EXPERIENCES
Tales of Asia:
Cambodia Overland - perhaps the best and most complete guide to
independent travel by train, bus, and taxi from Bangkok to Siem Reap.
Most other articles just seem to repeat advice from these pages.
The
Road
from Bangkok to Angkor
Wat - http://www.10ktruth.com/the_races/angkorwat.htm
An interesting story about a group of American friends who travel to
Siem Reap to participate in the Angkor Wat Half Marathon.
Canby Publications -
Aranyaprathet, Thailand to Poipet, Cambodia
http://www.canbypublications.com/cambodia/overland.htm#Aran
It’s a 465km,
9-12 hour
trip from Bangkok to Siem Reap. The usual route begins with a 4-5 hour
bus or a train ride from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet (‘Aran’), the town on
the Thai side near the border, then a short tuk-tuk ride the last 6 km
to the border crossing to Poipet Cambodia. On the Cambodian side,
National Route #5 from the border to the town of Sisophon is in good
condition taking only about two hours. Much of the remainder of the
route from Sisophon to Siem Reap is hardpack dirt which deteriorates
during the rainy season. Dry season travel time is about 2-1/2 hours.
Longer in the wet season. There are two options in planning an overland
trip from Bangkok to Siem Reap: 1) buy a package ticket in Bangkok or
Siem Reap, or 2) put it together yourself.
Motorcycle -
Crossing
Borders
- http://www.gt-rider.com/crossingborders.html
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