Destinations
How to go from Pattaya to Siem Reap
06
Nov
Nov
How to go from Pattaya to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
If you are in Thailand for a tour, you must have been thinking about leaving for Cambodia because that is always on the list of tourists. As Siem Reap is one of the famous places there, everyone likes to visit it because it is well known as the city gateway to the temples of Angkor in Cambodia.
You might not want to miss it. If you are in Pattaya, Thailand, and want to reach Siem Reap from there, you need to know that you might have to cover a distance of 327 km.
Siem Reap is located northeast of the beach town of Pattaya.
There is no doubt that, since the year 2013, tourists can go by air to Siem Reap.
The Airliners introduced direct flight services to the destination of Siem Reap. If you want to go by flight, it is the best option to save time, but it can be expensive.
Let us get into more detail about what you can do if you want to go to Siem Reap from Pattaya, Thailand.
If you decide to go on this enjoyable journey, you may want to select your Siem Reap tour online before you arrive in order to have everything prepared and settled in advance! Prepare to have a fantastic time in Siem Reap.
Going from Pattaya to Aranyaprathet (Overland)
If you are coming from Pattaya in Thailand and want to travel to Siem Reap via land, there are two types of routes or routes you can take to get there.
The first one is that you must reach Aranyaprather/Poipet, which is at the Thai/Cambodian border. If you are going there for the first time, then you might not know that cars are not allowed over there because they cannot pass across the border.
This means that by getting off at Poipet, you will have to arrange for transport to cross the border, get inside Cambodia, and then go to Siem Reap.
If you are concerned about the timings of the border, then the Thai/Cambodian border opens at 06:00 and remains open till 22:00.
Going on a Taxi from Pattaya to Poipet
The route duration:
The first thing most people want to know is the duration. It will take you around 3.5 hours to reach Poipet in a taxi from Pattaya, Thailand.
The price of the journey:
According to an estimate, you will have to pay THB 2500 for a regular cab, but if you are going for a big taxi, it might cost you around 2800 Baht.
If you would love to go to Siem Reap by hiring a private taxi, you are making a good decision because it is the fastest way of reaching the border or at Aranyaprathet/ Poipet.
It is also flexible for you to hire a private taxi; the journey takes around 3.5 hours. In a regular taxi, 3 people can easily adjust, whereas, in a bigger taxi, 4 to 5 people can travel comfortably.
Going by Minivan
In case you think that the option of hiring a private taxi is expensive and you do not want to spend that much on just getting over there, then the second option you have is a minivan.
Duration of the journey: It will take 4 to 5 hours to reach Siem Reap from Pattaya in a minivan. This is just half an hour more than going by private taxi, but this costs less.
Price of the journey: Going in a Minivan is cheaper as it will cost around THB 300.
A minivan is undoubtedly a fast and convenient means of transport, especially when the cost factor is to be considered while traveling.
They are faster than regular buses, and in terms of price, they are cheaper than private taxis.
Touring on a budget, in my opinion, takes only half an hour longer than a private taxi, so take a minivan.
Going by bus from Pattaya to the border
Another option that you have is going by bus because in any way you first have to reach the border to get to Siem Reap.
Duration of the journey: Going via a bus will take more time than a private taxi or a minivan. The total duration of the journey will be around 5.5 hours which is more than a cab or minivan.
Price of the journey: The journey will cost around THB 220, which is cheaper than going via a private taxi or a minivan.
If you are interested in spending less money, then you can choose this means of transport. In case you want to know how you can go by bus to the border, then here are further details:
The departure of the buses will take place from the North Pattaya Bus station. You have to grab the bus to Mukdhan. This will take you from Chonburi, Ban Phankong, and Chachoengsao.
If you want to go through this route, choices are available. You can drop by the first and second-class buses, which are available at various times daily.
This bus will drop you off at the bus station in Aranyaprathet.
After getting dropped off there, you must take a tuk-tuk or motorbike to reach the Thai/Cambodian border. This is the reason that the total time of the journey is longer. You have an option if you want to go directly to the border.
The Yellow Bus, a private bus company, offers you the facility of grabbing a direct bus transfer from Pattaya to the border in Poipet.
This private bus departs daily, and it takes around 5 hours to get to the border, which is still comparatively less than the regular buses, and you do not have to go through the hurdle of a tuk-tuk.
The ticket for this bus will cost you around THB 230 … and it is the same as the regular bus, and this price is the same for one-way or return tickets.
Going by plane to Siem Reap from Pattaya
Another best option for going to Siem Reap from Pattaya, Thailand, is to go by plane. It is one of the most convenient and comfortable ways of getting there directly.
This is an optimal choice because you can now go online to get your Cambodia visa.
Duration of the journey:
It will take you around 50 minutes to get there, which is quick compared to any other means of getting there.
The price of the journey: It will cost you around 100 US Dollars for a one-way journey, with very flexible timing choices from the airliners.
- Thai Airways
- Bangkok Airways
- Thai AirAsia
There are many flights each week departing from Suvarnabhumi airport, the easiest to reach from Pattaya with just 2 hours of travel by bus directly arriving in front of the airport entrance!
Departures are at various times during the day for this journey.
About the Thai/Cambodian border
You need to know before getting there that it can be a bit tricky to cross at Aranyaprathet, as there are various places where people might trick you as you are new there.
There are a few things that you should keep in your mind, such as:
There is no need to get the visa beforehand. It is unnecessary to arrange the visa before s the Thai side of the Cambodian part of that border.
Some people will try to convince you that you need documentation or papers before crossing the border, but this is not the case.
You might notice a fake border building where people might trap you and take advantage, avoid that.
When you enter the Cambodian police station at the border, that is the place where you have to get all the necessary papers that you are required to fill out.
- That is where you will also have to pay for the visa.
- The official price for all this is approximately $30.
There is a new building right next to the Angkor-style gate on the Cambodian side of the border. You can get your visa from there and then enter the last police stop from where you will get the documents stamped and enter Cambodia.
Going to Siem Reap from Poipet
As soon as you enter Cambodia, you will see that buses will be waiting for you, and they will be bringing you to a transfer station. This is the place where you can choose between going to Siem Reap on a bus or a taxi.
Taxi services from Poipet to the destination
It will take you around 2 hours at least to reach Siem Reap from Poipet, and it will cost you 12 dollars per person.
There is no doubt that the taxi services to Siem Reap from Poipet are quick and comfortable.
Most of the time, the taxi driver will be dropping you off outside the town, and you will have to continue your journey on a Tuk Tuk. They are mostly waiting over there to take you to your hotel.
Bus service from Poipet towards Siem Reap
If you are wondering, it takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach Siem Reap via a bus from Poipet. This journey will cost you 9 dollars, and you might know it will be a little slower than a taxi, and also, it will leave at a certain time according to their schedule.
Here are a few pieces of advice you need to take along and ensure that you take care of all these.
Here are important things that I want to tell you
1. As previously stated, do not trust anyone to obtain a visa. You do not have to discuss or pay for visas before you enter the Thai part of the border. You can do this at the customs office at the border. If anyone asks you to arrange a visa for you beforehand, you should know that it is something to avoid.
2. There are so many tourists and people who go through this problem that some people tell them they should get the money exchanged from Baht to Riel, and the reason they would give you is that there are no cash machines in Siem Reap.
Do not get trapped in this trick because this is an absolute lie.
It’s just that the person knows you are new here and tries to trick you.
- There are plenty of cash machines available in Siem Reap from well-established Bank institutions, and they will be giving you dollars (you can select as you prefer to receive Us Dollars or local currency) which means that there is no need to get any exchange done.
- If you need any exchange, you can still use Bank branches too, especially the ABA Bank branch nearby Burger King in the center of town, as it is open every day of the week, even on Saturdays and Sundays, till 8 PM.
You should use US dollars anyway because there is no way to exchange the Riels back to any other currency other than the bank in Cambodia.
Endnote
Siem Reap is, without a doubt, a must-go place, and you should not miss it, and this is whether you are traveling with family, solo, or with your soul mate.
This depends on how you normally travel there, but if you want to save time and spend it on a flight, do so because it allows you to spend more time at the main destination.
Furthermore, it is less stressful. When you arrive at Siem Reap International Airport, you will find a very interesting, clean, and typical Khmer building, with simple steps to obtain a visa on arrival for 30 days for 30 USD.
There is always very polite immigration staff in the arrival lounge, always ready to help you!
If you still have any queries or confusion regarding this journey, please let me know in the comment section below so that we get your feedback and experience at Siem Reap, especially when you are going from Pattaya, Thailand.
View other impressive destinations near Thailand!
Hi! I would like to ask, can the taxi drivers from Pattaya drive directly to Siem reap? Do they need also buy visa? I already bought my e-visa, does it help something to pass the border?
While it is technically possible for a taxi driver from Pattaya, Thailand, to drive you directly to Siem Reap, Cambodia, there are some complications to consider: Border crossing. Taxi drivers based in Thailand may not be permitted to drive across the border into Cambodia due to legal restrictions and licensing requirements.
Having an e-visa will speed up the border crossing process.
Once in Poipet, you can get a tuk-tuk to drive you to the nearest bus station to get a but to Siem Reap, but I suggest you join a shared taxi or a shared minivan, as it takes only about 2 hours and 40 minutes to arrive to Siem Reap by car. A bus is much slower and would stop in Sisophon and maybe other towns on the way.