Border Crossing from Siem Reap to Bangkok

This is my first time traveling alone internationally and crossing the border is somewhat new to me. Reading blogs for reference, I only found few information about border crossing from Siem Reap to Bangkok.

Usually, they cross from Bangkok to Siem Reap and it’s a little bit nerve wrecking when you can’t find info.

There are a lot of options: You can take the bus from Siem Reap to Poipet, which is the border in Cambodia and take a bus to Bangkok once you cross to the other side, which is Aranyaprathet. Or taking the train from Aranyaprathet to Bangkok. Cheaper but hassle. If you want hassle-free then book a flight to Bangkok as your third option.

I booked for a direct bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok ’cause I’ve read that there’s a lot of scams in the border and I don’t want to experience that. You can book online for Nattakan Bus or find an agency to book for you. I did the latter because I need assurance thru email from them that it’s really a direct 9 hours trip. I booked thru Angkor Holiday Travels and they really have good service.

What To Expect In The Border?
Most of the blogs said that the Poipet-Aranyaprathet border is the most confusing and hassle border they’ve encountered. Well, I can’t really say yet since this is my first time. lol

When I arrived in Poipet, the english-speaking guy said that we should go to the right for departure and the rest is gibberish. Yep, I didn’t hear anything he said after that. But I just followed the crowd and you’ll see a departure sign. After the immigration stamped our passports, I went straight to the I-dont-really-know side of Thailand but I just followed the crowd again. This time you have to go to the left side of the road and just walk straight until you see the ‘passport control’ sign. Then you have to fill out the arrival and departure forms and wait on the line for more than an hour. Yes, very long and tiring.

Once you’re done, go down and walk straight and the bus will be waiting for you in a parking lot. That’s good thing about a direct bus since they’ll wait for all passengers to finish the process.

They will also give you an ID to determine which one is their passenger so don’t remove it.

Inclusion of the bus ticket are 2 sets of snacks. One in Cambodia side and the other is in Thailand.

It’s a 3-hour trip from Siem Reap to Poipet, about 3 hours at the border, and another 3-hour trip from Aranyaprathet to Bangkok. I’m used to long bus journeys, so if you’re not, bring movies with you — it always works for me.

Oh and I’ll be crossing borders again on July so let’s see the difference between the two.