Bangkok to Siem Reap by Bus: Ticket Prices, Timings & Honest Review
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-22
The Bangkok to Siem Reap bus ticket price is the cheapest door-to-door overland fare between Thailand and Cambodia, but the price you see on a booking site is not the price you pay. Add the border fee, the visa, the tuk-tuk from the drop-off to your hostel, and your “₹3,000 (~$31.08) ticket” is closer to ₹5,500 (~$56.98). Here are current fares per operator, verified against each booking page on the date above. For related planning, see our guide on Sea Backpacking Hub.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest operator | Virak Buntham | (~$22) |
| Best mid-range operator | Mekong Express | (~$27) |
| Premium operator | Giant Ibis | (~$34) |
| Total door-to-door time | 9 to 11 hours including border | , |
| Cambodia visa on arrival | ₹2,896 (~30 USD) cash at Poipet | ₹2,896 (~30 USD) |
| Border processing fee (unofficial) | (~$2-3) | ₹193 (~$2) |
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Book Giant Ibis if you want the bus to leave on time and a seat that reclines. Book Virak Buntham if your priority is lowest fare and you don’t mind a 30-minute delay. Mekong Express sits in the middle and runs older VIP buses. You may also find Using Atms in Cambodia Fees Limits Withdrawal Tips for Indian Travelers useful for this trip.
The Three Operators Side by Side
| Operator | Fare (THB) | Departure | Arrival | Bus type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giant Ibis | 1,150 | Khao San / Mo Chit 08:30 | Siem Reap downtown ~19:00 | VIP 32-seat, 2-1 | Strongest on-time record, free water, charging points |
| Mekong Express | 900 | Khao San 08:00 | Siem Reap ~18:30 | VIP 38-seat | Mid-tier, older buses, AC works fine |
| Virak Buntham | 750 | Khao San 08:00, 09:00 | Siem Reap ~18:30 | VIP 36-seat | Cheapest, runs 30 minutes late on average per traveller reports |
Fares verified 2026-07-22 against each operator’s own booking page. Booking online through 12Go pulls these same prices in some cases and adds a small service fee in others, so compare both before paying. See also: Currency Exchange Cambodia Phnom Penh Airport.
How the Bangkok to Siem Reap Bus Works
The bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap is not a single ride. It is four segments stitched together: Bangkok to the Thai border at Aranyaprathet, walk through Thai immigration, a shuttle to Poipet on the Cambodian side, Cambodian immigration and visa, then the final three-hour bus to Siem Reap. Anyone who quotes you “8 hours, scenic drive” has never done it. For related planning, see our guide on Cambodia Banknotes the Cambodian Riel Khr and Where to Exchange Your Currency.
Segment 1: Bangkok to Aranyaprathet (4 hours)
The bus leaves from Khao San Road (most operators) or Mo Chit (Giant Ibis only). The first three hours are on a proper highway, the last hour is on a two-lane road that gets bumpy. There is one toilet stop at a 7-Eleven-style rest area where a coffee costs. You may also find Cost of Food in Cambodia Per Day useful for this trip.
Segment 2: Thai exit and shuttle (45 minutes)
The bus parks at the Aranyaprathet terminal, you walk through Thai immigration, then board a smaller shuttle bus for the 5 km to the Cambodian border at Poipet. The shuttle itself is included in your ticket.
Segment 3: Cambodian border and visa (30 to 90 minutes)
This is where most of the variation happens. If you have your e-Visa ready (₹3,475 (~36 USD), applied at evisa.gov.kh), you skip the visa queue and walk through. If you are paying visa on arrival (₹2,896 (~30 USD), bring exactly ₹2,896 (~30 USD) cash in small bills), expect 30 to 60 minutes depending on how many tour groups landed at the same time. There is also a “processing fee” that some travellers get charged and some don’t. Keep in your wallet for it.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: The e-Visa costs more than visa on arrival, but it saves 30 to 60 minutes at the border and the queue at Poipet at midday is brutal. If your flight lands in Bangkok the night before, apply for the e-Visa before you fly.
Segment 4: Poipet to Siem Reap (3 to 4 hours)
Once you clear immigration, you walk out to the bus park and find your same operator’s onward bus. The road from Poipet to Siem Reap has improved a lot since 2024 but is still two lanes with trucks. There is one comfort stop at a roadside restaurant where a noodle bowl costs around ₹145 (~1.50 USD). You arrive in Siem Reap at the operator’s own downtown office, not at a bus station.
Operator-by-Operator Honest Review
Giant Ibis (Thailand)
If you only book one bus on this corridor and you have ₹2,000 (~$20.72) of slack in your budget, book Giant Ibis. Their 32-seat VIP buses have 2-1 seating (single seat on the window side, no one climbing over you), working AC, charging points at every seat, and a free bottle of water. Their on-time record is reported as the strongest of the three across multiple independent traveller reviews.
The trade-off is the price. Giant Ibis is roughly ₹1,150 (~$11.91) more than Virak Buntham, based on the operator fares in the table above. Worth it if you value your back and your schedule.
Mekong Express (Thailand)
Mekong Express is the middle option and it shows. The buses are older VIP coaches, the AC works but not as cold, and the seats are the standard 2-2 layout. Departure is on time from Khao San most mornings. The arrival in Siem Reap is at their office on the east side of town, a 5-minute tuk-tuk from Pub Street.
For travellers who don’t want to pay the Giant Ibis premium but want a small step up from Virak Buntham, Mekong Express is the reasonable compromise. Not exciting, but it gets you there.
Virak Buntham (Cambodia)
Virak Buntham is the budget option and you get what you pay for. The fare is genuinely the lowest on the route, and they run multiple daily departures (08:00 and 09:00 from Khao San) which gives you flexibility. The downside is that their buses are older, the seat pitch is tighter, and traveller reports consistently mention 20 to 40 minute delays at departure.
For a solo backpacker watching every dollar, Virak Buntham is the rational pick. For a tight connection onward (say, a night bus to Phnom Penh after), book Giant Ibis so you don’t lose your onward ticket.
The Real Cost Breakdown (What You Pay)
This is the section most guides skip. Here is the honest total, end to end, for an Indian backpacker landing in Bangkok the day before:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Giant Ibis ticket (online, advance) | ₹2,900 (~30 USD) |
| Coffee at the rest stop | ₹97 (~1 USD) |
| Snacks at Poipet border (optional) | ₹145 (~1.50 USD) |
| Cambodia e-Visa fee | ₹3,475 (~36 USD) |
| Border processing fee (unofficial) | ₹193 (~2 USD) |
| Tuk-tuk from Siem Reap bus office to hostel | ₹193 (~2 USD) |
| Total in THB/USD | ~7,000 INR (~73 USD) |
At the indicative rate of 1 USD ≈ ₹96 used in the conversions above, the total comes to roughly ₹11,000 per person. The ticket itself is about ₹3,300 (~$34.19), the rest is the visa, the border, and getting off the bus into a tuk-tuk. Budget accordingly.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Carry exactly ₹2,896 (~30 USD) in clean, undamaged bills for visa on arrival. Torn or folded USD 100 notes get rejected at the Poipet counter. Most Indian travellers fly out with a few crisp USD 20s from a forex agent in Delhi or Mumbai.
Booking: Online vs Walk-Up
Walk-up at Khao San the morning of is fine in low season (May to September) and risky in high season (November to February). Online through 12Go or the operator’s own site locks the price, guarantees a seat, and lets you pick your seat in advance on Giant Ibis.
The booking fees through 12Go vary by operator and date, which is worth paying if you want the seat reservation. Booking direct with Giant Ibis on their own site is free but the site occasionally throws payment errors that 12Go doesn’t.
Border Money: What the Scams Look Like
The Poipet border is famous for two things: visa overcharging and “VIP processing” hustlers. Here is what to expect in 2026.
Visa scam 1: “There is an extra fee” Some touts tell Indian and African passport holders that the visa costs ₹3,379 (~35 USD) or ₹3,861 (~40 USD). The fee is ₹2,896 (~30 USD), full stop. Stand in the official visa line, hand over your passport, ₹2,896 (~30 USD), and one 4x6 cm photo. Done in 5 minutes if there is no queue.
Visa scam 2: “We can speed it up for you” Ignore anyone who walks up to you inside the terminal offering express service. The only “express” is the e-Visa you should have applied for online the week before.
E-Visa scam: fake websites Apply only at evisa.gov.kh. There are dozens of clone sites charging ₹4,826 (~50 USD) to ₹7,722 (~80 USD) for the same visa. The official portal charges ₹3,475 (~36 USD) and your visa arrives in 3 business days.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: If you arrive without a photo, there is a photo booth inside the terminal that charges ₹97 (~1 USD). Pay it and move on. Do not pay the “facilitator” who offers to walk you through it for ₹483 (~5 USD).
Where to Eat in Siem Reap When You Finally Arrive
You will be starving. The bus parks around 18:30 to 19:00, and Siem Reap’s food scene is mostly concentrated on and around Pub Street. A few real spots to know by name:
Street Three Eatery Siem Reap is the highest-rated place in town right now and it is exactly the kind of place you want after 10 hours on a bus. Asian street food inspired, generous portions, and open late.
Fellini Siem Reap is the Italian option if your stomach needs a break from bus snacks. It has the best rating in town for a reason.
Chubby Gonzo’s Siem Reap is the comfort food fallback. Burgers, fries, and a cold drink for around ₹579 (~6 USD).
When the dal-chawal craving hits, Paratha House & Academy Siem Reap serves proper Hyderabadi dum biryani and individual main courses between ₹290 (~3 USD) and ₹772 (~8 USD). Dakshin’s restaurant Siemreap is the South Indian vegetarian option, rated 4.5, reliable for dosas and idli when you need a clean veg meal.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Pub Street itself is tourist-priced. Walk two streets back toward the river for half the price and the same food.
Getting Connected Before You Cross
You will need data on the bus to use the 12Go app, to check your e-Visa status, and to call a Grab from the Siem Reap bus office. Get Nomad eSIM for Southeast Asia works in both Thailand and Cambodia on a single data plan, so you don’t have to swap SIMs at the border.
If you prefer a physical SIM, Smart Axiom in Cambodia has 5 GB for ₹483 (~5 USD) at the airport, and AIS at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi sells a 7-day unlimited tourist SIM. Either way, set this up before you board the bus.
Safety Notes for the Bangkok to Siem Reap Bus
The corridor is generally safe for Indian travellers in 2026, but the standard backpacker precautions apply:
- Keep your passport and ₹2,896 (~30 USD) visa cash in a money belt, not your daypack. Poipet is the one place on this route where pocket theft has been reported.
- Do not accept rides from anyone inside the Aranyaprathet terminal who approaches you. Walk to the official bus park.
- Eat at the rest stop, not from street vendors who board the bus at border stops. Travellers report stomach issues from bus-side snacks more than the food at fixed stops.
For broader safety context, check the official Indian MEA travel advisory page at mea.gov.in before you leave Bangkok, and the Cambodian government advisory for current entry requirements.
FAQ
Is the Bangkok to Siem Reap bus safe at night?
The bus runs daytime only. There is no night bus on this route. The longest you sit is in daylight, and the operator’s offices in Siem Reap are in well-lit central areas with tuk-tuks waiting.
Do I need a Cambodia visa in advance?
You can get visa on arrival at Poipet for ₹2,896 (~30 USD), but the e-Visa at ₹3,475 (~36 USD) from evisa.gov.kh saves 30 to 60 minutes of queue time. For Indian passport holders, both work in 2026. Apply at least 5 business days before travel.
Can I pay the bus ticket in INR?
No. Thai operators accept THB or USD, sometimes both. Bring small THB notes or pay by card on 12Go. Indian debit cards with forex markup will charge you 2 to 3.5 percent extra, so pay online in THB on 12Go instead.
What happens if I miss my bus?
Giant Ibis and Mekong Express do not refund no-shows. Virak Buntham allows rebooking for a small fee if you call 2 hours ahead. Buy travel insurance with trip interruption coverage so a missed bus doesn’t end your trip.
Is there a direct train from Bangkok to Siem Reap?
No. There is no cross-border train on this route. The train from Bangkok goes only to Aranyaprathet, and from there you still need the bus + border shuffle. Trains are slower and more hassle than the direct bus.
How much cash should I carry for the border?
Carry ₹4,826 (~50 USD) in clean, undamaged small bills. ₹2,896 (~30 USD) for the visa, ₹1,931 (~20 USD) buffer for the unofficial processing fee and tuk-tuk. Anything you don’t spend at the border becomes your first day’s budget in Siem Reap.
Can I do this trip in one day?
Yes, easily, if you book the 08:00 or 08:30 departure. You arrive in Siem Reap between 18:00 and 19:00, in time for dinner and a Pub Street sunset drink. Most Indian backpackers do it this way.
Subodh’s Take
Reading trip reports and traveller threads while writing this guide, the recurring takeaway is that the price difference between Virak Buntham and Giant Ibis (around ₹1,150 (~$11.91) at the indicative rate used above) is roughly the price of one nice dinner in Siem Reap. Pay it. The 32-seat Giant Ibis bus is the only one I would book for myself on this corridor in 2026. Virak Buntham is fine if you are on a tight budget and you don’t have a connecting bus the same night. Mekong Express is the compromise that no one loves and no one regrets.
One last thing: this whole corridor, including the visa, the border, and the tuk-tuk to your hostel, costs about ₹11,000 (~$113.96) all-in. Budget ₹12,000 (~$124.32) to be safe and use the spare for your first meal in Siem Reap. You’ll have earned it.
