How Close Is Cambodia to India? Distance, Flights & Travel Costs Explained (2026)
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-22
Yes, Cambodia is close to India, especially from the eastern coast. The straight-line distance between New Delhi and Phnom Penh is about 3,500 km. Direct flights from Chennai or Kolkata to Phnom Penh run 4 to 6 hours on AirAsia, with round-trips from ₹11,900 (~$123.52). For related planning, see our guide on Sea Backpacking Hub.
If you want to know the exact distance, the cheapest way to get there, what the visa costs for an Indian passport, and whether overland via Thailand is even worth it, this guide covers all of it.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Straight-line distance (Delhi to Phnom Penh) | ~3,500 km | — |
| Flying distance (Delhi to Phnom Penh) | ~4,200 km | — |
| Direct flight duration | 4-6 hours | — |
| Cheapest one-way flight (Chennai / Kolkata) | ₹5,500-₹8,500 (~$57.09-$88.23) | ₹5,500 |
| Cheapest round-trip (Chennai / Kolkata) | ₹11,900-₹18,000 (~$123.52-$186.84) | ₹11,900 |
| Indian passport visa | e-Visa or visa-on-arrival | — |
| e-Visa fee | ₹3,468 (~36 USD) | ₹3,468 |
| Visa-on-arrival fee | ₹2,890 (~30 USD) | ₹2,890 |
| Max stay | 30 days, single entry | — |
| Official portal | evisa.gov.kh | — |
| Overland from Thailand | Yes, via Poipet or Koh Kong | — |
Exchange rate at time of writing: 1 USD = ₹96.5289
What Does “Close” Mean Here?
“Close” for an Indian traveller usually means one of three things: cheap flights, short flying time, or visa-friendly access. Cambodia clears all three. It is closer to India’s eastern coast than Goa is to Kashmir, and cheaper to fly to from Chennai than most domestic sectors.
If you have travelled to Bangkok, you have already covered 80% of the route. Phnom Penh sits about 700 km east of Bangkok, and Siem Reap sits about 400 km northwest of it. Both cities are reachable by direct flight or by bus through Thailand.
Step-by-Step: Getting From India to Cambodia
There are three realistic ways to do it. Most people fly, some combine Thailand with Cambodia, and a handful attempt the full overland route.
Option 1: Fly Direct (the default for most Indians)
The fastest and cheapest route. Several Indian cities have direct or one-stop flights to Cambodia.
| From | To | Airline | Stops | Duration | One-way range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai (MAA) | Phnom Penh (PNH) | AirAsia | 0 | ~4h 30m | ₹5,500-₹8,500 (~$57.09-$88.23) |
| Kolkata (CCU) | Phnom Penh (PNH) | AirAsia | 0 | ~4h 15m | ₹5,800-₹9,000 (~$60.20-$93.42) |
| Bengaluru (BLR) | Phnom Penh (PNH) | VietJet, Thai Airways | 1 | ~7-9h | ₹7,500-₹12,000 (~$77.85-$124.56) |
| Delhi (DEL) | Phnom Penh (PNH) | AirAsia, Thai Airways | 1 | ~8-10h | ₹8,500-₹13,500 (~$88.23-$140.13) |
| Delhi (DEL) | Siem Reap (REP) | AirAsia | 1 | ~9h | ₹9,500-₹14,000 (~$98.61-$145.32) |
| Mumbai (BOM) | Phnom Penh (PNH) | Thai Airways | 1 | ~8-10h | ₹9,000-₹14,500 (~$93.42-$150.51) |
Carrier notes:
- AirAsia operates direct flights from Chennai and Kolkata to Phnom Penh. They are the cheapest and the most consistent for Indian travellers.
- VietJet runs promo fares from Bengaluru and Delhi through Ho Chi Minh City.
- Thai Airways is the most reliable full-service option but costs 30-40% more.
Booking tip: fares are cheapest 6-8 weeks out for travel between November and March. April to September is monsoon and prices drop, but flights get cancelled more often.
Option 2: Fly to Bangkok, Then Overland to Cambodia
This is the move if you are already planning a Thailand trip and want to tack on Cambodia, or if direct flights from your city are overpriced. The Bangkok-to-Siem-Reap bus is the most common backpacking route in all of Southeast Asia.
| Leg | Mode | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi/Chennai/Mumbai to Bangkok | Flight | 4-6h | ₹8,000-₹15,000 (~$83.04-$155.70) round-trip |
| Bangkok to Siem Reap | Bus (Giant Ibis, Mekong Express) | 9-11h | ₹2,408-₹3,372 (~25-35 USD) |
| Bangkok to Poipet (border town) | Bus or minivan | 5-6h | ₹1,156-₹1,734 (~12-18 USD) |
| Bangkok to Phnom Penh | Bus (Giant Ibis, Virak Buntham) | 11-13h | ₹2,408-₹3,854 (~25-40 USD) |
| Poipet to Siem Reap | Taxi or shared van | 1.5h | ₹963-₹1,445 (~10-15 USD) |
Crossing at Poipet is the standard land border. You get off the bus on the Thai side, walk across, get your visa stamped on the Cambodian side, then catch a connecting van to Siem Reap (about 150 km further). Total door-to-door from Bangkok to a Siem Reap hostel: 10-12 hours.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: If you are going overland, pay for the direct bus. Buses that drop you at the border and tell you to “walk across and find your own way” are how tourists get overcharged by tuk-tuk drivers on both sides. Giant Ibis and Mekong Express handle the whole crossing including the visa queue.
Option 3: Overland From Thailand’s Koh Chang or Trat
Travellers already in eastern Thailand near the Cambodian border use the Hat Lek / Koh Kong crossing. It is less crowded than Poipet and the road from Koh Chang is short.
| Leg | Mode | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok to Trat | Bus | 5-6h | ₹963-₹1,445 (~10-15 USD) |
| Trat to Hat Lek | Minivan | 1h | ₹385-₹578 (~4-6 USD) |
| Border crossing | Walk | 30-60 min | - |
| Hat Lek to Koh Kong (Cambodia) | Shared taxi or bus | 2-3h | ₹963-₹1,445 (~10-15 USD) |
| Koh Kong to Sihanoukville | Bus | 4-5h | ₹963-₹1,734 (~10-18 USD) |
| Koh Kong to Phnom Penh | Bus | 6-7h | ₹1,445-₹2,408 (~15-25 USD) |
This route only makes sense if you are already on Thailand’s eastern seaboard. Most Indian travellers skip it unless they are doing the full Thailand-Cambodia loop.
Visa for Indian Passport Holders
Indian citizens get either an e-Visa online or a visa-on-arrival at the airport. Both give 30 days, single entry. A 30-day extension is available at the immigration office in Phnom Penh for an additional fee paid in USD cash on the spot.
| Type | Fee | Where to apply | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| e-Visa | ₹3,468 (~36 USD) | evisa.gov.kh | 3 business days |
| Visa-on-arrival | ₹2,890 (~30 USD) | Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville airports | 15-30 min |
All fees shown are official government rates in effect as of 2026 and are paid in USD cash at the border or in USD-equivalent online.
Documents needed:
- Passport valid for 6 more months
- One 4x6 cm photo, white background
- Visa fee in USD cash (at airport) or card (online)
- Return ticket (sometimes asked at the border, rarely checked)
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Apply for the e-Visa before you fly. The airport visa-on-arrival counter in Phnom Penh is not bad, but the one in Siem Reap at peak season can be a 45-minute queue. The extra ₹578 (~6 USD) for the e-Visa is worth it for the time saved.
Safety Alert: Only use evisa.gov.kh. There are dozens of scam sites that charge 2-4x the official fee for the same visa. The official portal has a .gov.kh domain and only asks for ₹3,468 (~36 USD).
Common Mistakes Indians Make
1. Booking the wrong airport. If your itinerary is Angkor Wat first, you fly into Phnom Penh and bus up, or you fly Bangkok-to-Siem Reap. Travellers who land in Siem Reap from Delhi with one stop are usually connecting through Bangkok anyway.
2. Not carrying USD cash for the visa. The airport visa counter does not take Indian rupees, Thai baht, or cards cleanly. Carry 3-4 clean, unmarked ₹1,927 (~20 USD) or ₹4,817 (~50 USD) bills. Torn or older-series bills get rejected.
3. Trying to cross overland from Laos. There is no Indian-friendly land border crossing from Laos to Cambodia. You have to go through Thailand. Anyone selling a “Laos to Cambodia direct” bus is routing you through a Thai border anyway, so book it directly.
4. Forgetting the visa photo. Visa-on-arrival requires a passport-sized photo (4x6 cm). You can buy one at the airport for ₹96-₹193 (~1-2 USD), but the machines are sometimes broken. Carry one from India.
5. Exchanging money at the airport. Cambodian airports have the worst exchange rates in the country. Use an ATM (Canadia Bank, ABA, or ACLEDA) inside the arrivals hall, or exchange in the city. For a full breakdown, see the Cambodia currency guide for Indian travellers.
What Most Guides Don’t Tell You
1. The Chennai flight is the only real direct one. AirAsia’s Chennai-Phnom Penh and Kolkata-Phnom Penh routes are the only direct India-Cambodia services. Every other city connects through Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or Ho Chi Minh City. If you are flying from Mumbai, Delhi, or Bengaluru, you will change planes.
2. Bangkok is the cheapest hub for getting there. Even though AirAsia flies direct from Chennai, fares from Delhi or Mumbai to Bangkok are often 40% cheaper than to Phnom Penh, and Bangkok has daily buses and flights to both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. If you have not been to Thailand, the cheapest Cambodia itinerary is often: fly to Bangkok → bus or fly to Cambodia.
3. You can extend once, for 30 more days. An extension is available at the immigration office in Phnom Penh (Siem Reap). Travellers report the office is helpful, but go before your current visa expires. Overstaying fines vary, so check the current official rate with Cambodian immigration before relying on any figure.
4. Cambodia does not need proof of onward travel. Unlike some Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Vietnam) that ask for a return ticket at check-in, Cambodia rarely asks. If an airline insists, a screenshot of a refundable Bangkok return is enough.
5. The overland crossing closes sometimes. Thai-Cambodian border posts do not operate 24/7. Poipet closes at 22:00. Hat Lek closes earlier. Do not plan a border crossing after a late Bangkok flight.
Getting Connected: SIM Card
Cambodia has three carriers: Cellcard, Smart, and Metfone. Smart and Cellcard have the best tourist SIM deals.
| Carrier | SIM | Cost | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart | Tourist SIM 7-day | ₹289 (~3 USD) | 10 GB |
| Cellcard | Tourist SIM 7-day | ₹289 (~3 USD) | 10 GB |
| Metfone | Tourist SIM 7-day | ₹193 (~2 USD) | 5 GB |
You can grab one at the airport kiosk or any 7-Eleven in the city. Bring your passport for activation.
If you want to arrive with data already working, the Nomad eSIM is the most reliable option. It activates the moment your plane lands and uses Smart’s network.
Onward Travel From Cambodia
Most Indian travellers exit Cambodia by bus to Bangkok, fly out of Phnom Penh, or continue overland to Ho Chi Minh City.
| Route | Mode | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phnom Penh to Bangkok | Bus (Giant Ibis, Mekong Express) | 11-13h | ₹2,408-₹3,854 (~25-40 USD) |
| Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City | Bus (Giant Ibis) | 6-7h | ₹1,445-₹2,408 (~15-25 USD) |
| Siem Reap to Bangkok | Bus (Giant Ibis) | 9-11h | ₹2,408-₹3,372 (~25-35 USD) |
| Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville | Bus | 4-5h | ₹771-₹1,445 (~8-15 USD) |
| Phnom Penh to Battambang | Bus | 5-6h | ₹771-₹1,156 (~8-12 USD) |
If you are heading into Thailand or Vietnam, the border-crossing checklist covers what happens at the checkpoints.
FAQ
Is Cambodia close to India by land? Not directly. India shares no land border with Cambodia. You have to fly or go overland through Myanmar and Thailand, which is not a realistic route for tourists. Bangkok-to-Siem Reap overland is the standard land route for the Cambodia leg.
How many hours is Cambodia from India? Direct flights from Chennai or Kolkata take 4-5 hours. From Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru with one stop, expect 7-10 hours including layover.
What is the cheapest way to reach Cambodia from India? Fly from Chennai or Kolkata on AirAsia to Phnom Penh (₹5,500-₹8,500 (~$57.09-$88.23) one-way), or fly to Bangkok and take an overland bus from there. Bangkok-Siem Reap buses start at ₹2,408 (~25 USD).
Do Indian citizens need a visa for Cambodia? Yes. Indian passport holders need either a ₹3,468 (~36 USD) e-Visa or a ₹2,890 (~30 USD) visa-on-arrival, both valid for 30 days, single entry. The e-Visa application is at evisa.gov.kh.
Is Cambodia cheaper than Thailand for Indian travellers? Yes, on the ground. Hostel dorms, street food, tuk-tuks, and entry fees are all 15-25% cheaper in Cambodia than in Thailand. Flights from India are similar in price. See the Cambodia budget guide for Indian backpackers for a full breakdown.
Is Cambodia safe for solo Indian travellers? Generally yes. Scams target everyone equally (overpriced tuk-tuks, gem-selling hustles). Petty theft is the main concern. The Cambodia safety guide covers the common ones and how to dodge them.
How long does the e-Visa take? 3 business days officially. Travellers report approvals in 24-48 hours most weeks. Apply a week before to be safe.
Subodh’s Take
Cambodia is one of the easiest Southeast Asian countries for Indian travellers to reach. Direct flights from Chennai and Kolkata put you in Phnom Penh in under five hours, and the visa is the cheapest in the region for Indian passport holders. If you have a week and want to add Angkor Wat to a Thailand trip, the overland route through Bangkok works. If you have only a long weekend, fly direct, skip the temples if you must, and use Phnom Penh as a base. Check the MEA travel advisory at mea.gov.in and your airline’s baggage policy before you book.
