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Cambodia, Siem Reap Getting To & From Siem Reap
Air
Visa on arrival $20 + one passport photo.
Siem Reap Airport is 7km from the town centre. Taxi’s $5 and moto taxis $1 to Siem Reap town. The taxi drivers are more interested in you hiring them to tour the temples as they get none of the money you pay at the desk at the airport.
If they tell you the place you want to stay at is “no good,” etc ignore him and insist he goes to where you want. He is trying to get commission from a friendly hotel he will take you to. The same is true when shopping for souvenirs. High commissions are paid here so do your shopping on your own it will be cheaper.
Domestic flights only go to and from Phnom Penh.
The carriers are:
Siem Reap Arlines (Bangkok Airlines).
President Airlines.
Royal Khmer Airlines
International flights arrive from:
Bangkok (expensive as Bangkok Airlines have a monopoly on the route).
Malaysia (Malaysia Airlines)
Singapore ( Silk Air)
Vietnam: Hanoi, Saigon. (Vietnam Airlines)
Lao: Vientiane, Pakse. (Lao Aviation)
China: Kunming. (China Eastern Yunan Airlines)
Hong Kong (President Airlines)
See Transportation Around Cambodia and Visa & Travel Information (To & From Cambodia) for more general information on traveling by air.
There are buses each day (normally setting off around7-7.30am) to and from Siem Reap and Phnom Penh ($3.50 -$6 six hour journey on a good road), and to the Thai border crossings of Poipet and the Vietnam borders of Moc Bai and Chao Doc.
WARNING
Beware of tour buses that often operate packages from Khao San Rd, Thailand. They sell tickets at very low prices and look on paper to be very good value. Make no mistake about it; this is a scam. The driver will make the journey as long as he possibly can and will make a lot of stops for no discernable reason. The bus will then eventually arrive at a Siem Reap guesthouse (which has a previously arranged commission deal with the bus company) in the middle of the night. It will take a lot of resistance on your part before you’re free to leave. And remember, you’ll be very tired after a journey that takes over 15 hours to complete and is why the scam often works!
See Transportation Around Cambodia for more general information on traveling by bus.
Phnom Penh
You can leave Siem Reap via boat on the Tonlé Sap towards Phnom Penh (trips generally taking four to five hours and costs $25). The majority of foreigners are made to sit on the roof (wear sunscreen and a hat) and there are some views along the way. The trip is at its best from August to February. The lake shrinks and only small boats operate in the months of March, June and July, and they do frequently break down. Tickets are sold near the market in Siem Reap. Plenty of accommodation touts will be waiting for you upon your arrival at either Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. On a practical level the price is a rip-off (it should be $10 - $12) and buses are a better bet.
Look at Getting To & From Phnom Penh by boat for more info.
Also see Transportation Around Cambodia for more general information on boat.
Battambang
There is also a fast boat to and from Siem Reap to Battambang ($15). The boat leaves at 7AM from Siem Reap and the four-hour journey has some very pretty sites but it can be a hair raising trip. You can purchase tickets at travel agencies or ask at your guesthouse. There are taxis and pick-ups in Battambang that can then take you to Poipet but you’ll firstly need to take a moto to the market where the taxis and pick-ups are waiting. Share taxi’s and pick-ups are $7 or rent the whole car for $23. From Battambang, it is a two-hour trip to Poipet on a decent road.
Pick-ups, Taxis & Minibuses
Taxis and pickups often leave from the old market.
Poipet
(mini-bus - $10), 3-4 hours approx on reasonable road, tickets are sold at the Lotus Temple Centre opposite the Psar Chas. Taxi $6-7 per seat from Phsa Leu.
Phnom Penh
(taxi - $8) 5 hours on good road. Bus 6-7 hours $3.50-6.
See Transportation Around Cambodia for more general information on pick-ups, taxis & minibuses.
Only experience drivers should contemplate the journey from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh via motorcycle as it’s a long journey the road is quite good but Cambodian drivers can be unpredictable and dangerous. It is better to not travel on your own, do slow down at bridges, take regular breaks, watch out for children and wear a helmet.
See Transportation Around Cambodia for more general information on car & motorcycle hire.
The Bayon Pearnik is an independent magazine dedicated to raising beer money as well as encouraging debate over standards of taste, humor and journalistic ethics. Published every month or so in Phnom Penh. Not to be taken seriously or while driving or operating heavy machinery. Always consult your doctor first because we're not responsible for what happens to you.
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