While Bangkok has impressive Buddhist temples to visit, travelers visiting the Thai capital often head to neighboring Cambodia to see the spectacular Angkor Wat. The trip takes about a day, but if you want to see the largest religious monument in the world, we assure you that it’s worth it. Angkor Wat was originally built as a Hindu temple of Lord Vishnu during the Khmer Empire in the 12th century, and began to be converted into a Buddhist temple in the late 12th century. Today, Angkor Wat remains a major complex famous for its Khmer architecture. It is a major tourist attraction in the country and is even featured on Cambodia’s national flag, so if you have the option to travel from Bangkok to Angkor Wat, we recommend doing so.
There used to be a lot of talk about tourists being scammed trying to travel from Bangkok to Angkor Wat, but now there are many improvements and if you follow the advice below you shouldn’t have any problems.
Flights from Bangkok to Angkor Wat
Bangkok Airways Flight Taking Off © Nutkamol komolvanich / Shutterstock, Inc
As you can imagine, there is no airport in Angkor Wat, but the nearby city of Siem Reap has an international airport a short distance away. It is also worth looking for accommodation in Siem Reap, because there is no hotel of any type in the place declared as a Historical Heritage Site. The city of Siem Reap is just 6 kilometers (4 miles) from Angkor Wat, and the city is about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the airport, so it’s very easy to get from one place to another.
Without a doubt, the plane is the fastest way to get from Bangkok to Angkor Wat, but it is also the most expensive option. At least there are now a few airlines offering flights between Bangkok and Siem Reap, so with some competition there is a chance of finding a bargain on tickets. Bangkok Airways is probably the main airline between the two cities. It departs from Suvarnabhumi Airport, as do Thai Airways (operated by Thai Smile) and Cambodia Angkor Air. Thai AirAsia is another alternative, although its flights depart from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok.
When looking for flights from Bangkok to Angkor Wat, you’ll need to decide which Bangkok airport you prefer to fly from, depending on the area of the city you’re staying in. Check ticket prices, but remember that each airline sets a different price for checked baggage. It is often said that Thai AirAsia is the cheapest option to fly from Bangkok to Angkor Wat and that the earlier you book your tickets, the better deal you will find.
The flight only takes an hour, so it’s by far the quickest way to get there. A tourist visa for Cambodia can be purchased upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport.
Bus from Bangkok to Angkor Wat
North Bus Station (Mo Chit) © Ging o_o / Shutterstock, Inc.
If you had searched the internet a few years ago, you would have found a lot of horror stories about bus travel from Bangkok to Angkor Wat. The truth is that bus companies often ripped off tourists and the journey was long and tiring, especially considering the condition of Cambodia’s roads. But fortunately, everything has changed. There will always be unscrupulous operators to watch out for, but there are usually no problems, plus roads in Cambodia have improved significantly in recent years, so traveling by bus is now faster and more comfortable.
The downside of buses is that the journey is still quite long, but it is a safe and inexpensive mode of transport, especially when compared to flights. Direct buses from Bangkok leave from Morchit North Bus Terminal, with both departures going to Siem Reap each morning. Please note that you will be crossing an international border along the way, so at this point you will need to get off the bus and purchase an entry visa to enter Cambodia. Bus staff can tell you where to go. You can leave your luggage on the bus and take valuables and your passport with you.
After crossing the border, you will be in the city of Poipet and the bus you took in Bangkok will be waiting for you to take you to Siem Reap. We recommend that you book your accommodation before your arrival so you can rest and head to Angkor Wat the next morning for the day.
The direct bus is the easiest way to travel by bus from Bangkok to Angkor Wat, although due to the practicality and ease it offers, it is slightly more expensive than others. There are other options that take you to the border, but then you have to find a way to continue your journey by bus or taxi.
Combination train and bus from Bangkok to Angkor Wat
Bangkok Train Station (Hua Lamphong) © Golffy / Shutterstock, Inc.
The last option is a combination of train and bus. Although inexpensive, it is the slowest way to travel from Bangkok to Angkor Wat. But the train is a good option if you’re not in a hurry and like to enjoy the scenery while traveling. It takes about 6 hours to reach the Cambodian border, where you need to get off the train to continue by bus or taxi to Angkor Wat.
From Siem Reap to Angkor Wat
As we mentioned, the city of Siem Reap is only a few kilometers from Angkor Wat, and hundreds of tourists travel between the two places every day, so there are plenty of options to get from your hotel to the temple. Since the Angkor Wat complex is so large, you may be interested in the private tour option, which you can book at your hotel. Some of the options are bus tours, private cars with drivers, tuk-tuks, motorbikes and bicycles. You choose!