Getting to Siem Reap

The majority of visitors arrive by air from Phnom Penh and Bangkok, though there are also flights from several other major cities in Southeast Asia. See international/domestic flight schedule page for detailed international and domestic flight information and a list of airlines that service Phnom Penh and Cambodia. For international overland travel from surrounding countries (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos) see the international border crossing/overland travel page.  Cambodian visas are available on arrival at both airports and most international border checkpoints. The crossing at Aranyaprathet/Poipet is closest and most convenient to Siem Reap. The road from Phnom Penh is very good condition and there are regular buses, taxis and vans running between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap as well as a daily river ferry service.

Siem Reap: Arrival and Departure 

Visas 
A Cambodian visa is required for most nationalities. Visas are available on arrival at the Siem Reap International Airport, the Phnom Penh International Airport and most border crossings. See the visa page for details and fees.

Airport Departure Tax 
Domestic: US$6. International: US$25
 

Siem Reap Airport 
The airport sits 6km from town, close to the temples, occasionally affording spectacular views of Angkor Wat during landings and take offs. Outside the terminal is a ticket booth for registered taxis into town. Independent taxis and motorcycles wait just outside the airport. The price is the same for both: motorcycles are $1 and cars are $5 into town. Most hotels offer free transportation from the airport but you must notify them in advance of your arrival. 

Siem Reap Ferry Dock  
The ferry to Siem Reap arrives at Chong Khneas near Phnom Krom, 12km south of Siem Reap. There is always transportation waiting at the dock. Mototaxis charge about $1.50-$2 and cars $4-$5 for the 20-30 minute ride into town. 

Phnom Penh to/from Siem Reap 

Air 
Siem Reap Airways offer several daily flights to/from Phnom Penh. See the flight schedule page for more information.

Buses 
Bus travel is now the most popular means of overland transport between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The road (National Route #6) is paved and smooth and there are several regularly scheduled daily buses in both directions, taking only 5 or 6 hours to make the trip. Several bus companies, guesthouses and travel agencies offer a/c bus transport. Generally speaking, it is easiest to buy tickets through your guesthouse or travel agency. Prices and level of service varies from comfortable, basic a/c buses to deluxe a/c buses with entertainment, snacks and on-board toilet. Most buses make at least two stops along the way - at Skun and Kampong Thom for a snack or lunch.

Phnom Penh does not have a centralized bus station. Buses from different companies depart from different stations. See the individual bus company for the departure location.

In Siem Reap the Chong Kov Sou bus station is located near Phsar Leu (the 'Upper Market') a couple of kilometers west of town center. On arrival, motodups from the station into town run $1-$2 and tuk-tuks cost about $2.50-$3. For passengers departing Siem Reap, most bus companies offer a free shuttle service from the hotel/guesthouse to the bus station.

The following bus companies offer regularly scheduled daily service between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh:

 
Neak Krorhorm Travel

PP Station: Corner of Street 110 and Sisowath Quay, Tel: 023-219496
SR Station: Chong Kov Sou Bus Station (Near Phsar Leu)

Fare: 16,000R/pax

Departure Schedule: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap - 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:30, 10:30, 12:30

Departure Schedule: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh - 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:30, 10:30, 12:30

Mailinh Open Tours

PP Station: #391, Sihanouk Blvd. Tel: 023-221666

SR Office: Wat Bo area. Tel: 063-762888
SR Station: Chong Kov Sou Bus Station (Near Phsar Leu)

Departure Schedule: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap - 7:00, 14:00

Departure Schedule: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh - 7:00, 14:00

Phnom Penh Sorya Transport

PP Station: Near the southwest corner of Phsar Thmey. Tel: 023-210359
SR Station: Chong Kov Sou Bus Station (Near Phsar Leu)

Fare: 16,000R/pax

Departure Schedule: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap - 7:00, 7:45, 8:45, 11:30, 12:45, 13:45

Departure Schedule: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh - 7:00, 7:15, 8:30, 12:30, 13:30

Capitol Guesthouse

PP Station: Corner Streets 111 / 182  Tel: 023-217627
SR Station: Chong Kov Sou Bus Station (Near Phsar Leu)

Fare: 16,000R/pax

Departure Schedule: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap - 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 10:15, 12:00, 13:30

Departure Schedule: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh - 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 10:15, 12:00, 13:30

Mekong Express - Deluxe a/c buses.

PP Station: #87 Sisowath Quay at the corner of Street 102. Tel: 023-427518

SR Office: #14A, Sivatha Blvd. Tel: 063-963662.
SR Station: Chong Kov Sou Bus Station (Near Phsar Leu)

Fare: US$10/pax

Departure Schedule: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap - 7:30, 8:30, 12:30, 14:00

Departure Schedule: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh - 7:00, 7:30, 8:30, 12:30

Raksmey Angkor Corp. - Deluxe a/c buses.

PP Station: #1Eo Street 106 at Sisowath Quay. Tel: 023-884179

SR Office: Tel: 063-966036
SR Station: Chong Kov Sou Bus Station (Near Phsar Leu)

Fare: US$10/pax

Departure Schedule: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap - 8:30, 13:30

Departure Schedule: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh - 8:30, 13:30

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Local Transport: Pickup Truck
Taxi: Local shared taxi: 30,000 riel per person. Departs from southwest corner of Central Market in Phnom Penh. 5-8 hours 4-5 hours.

Motorcycling to Siem Reap
The road to Siem Reap is in good condition - sealed, smooth and fast - but driving in Cambodia is still challenging in the extreme, and should be attempted only by experienced riders. Speeding taxis, slow cows, and oblivious children are the norm. The trip calls for a dirt or road bike, no smaller than 250cc. It can be made in a day, but two days with a layover in Kampong Thom is a more relaxed alternative and allows time to visit the pre-Angkorian ruins of Sambor Prei Kuk.

Leave Phnom Penh via the ‘Japanese Bridge’ and follow 6A north 75km to the Skun intersection. (Skun is known for its exotic foods - check out the fried spiders, turtle eggs and more at road side stands.) Bear left and follow Rte. 6 to Kampong Thom - about 2-3 hours. In Kampong Thom, the Arunras Hotel (062-961294), Stung Sen Royal Hotel (012-309495) and Mittapheap Hotel are all decent mid-range places. Arunras Guesthouses and Restaurant next to the hotel is the place to eat cheaply. From Kampong Thom to Siem Reap the trip takes another 2 hours.

River Ferry 
Daily ferries ply the Tonle Sap river and lake between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The end of the trip is marked by a hill, Phnom Krom, near the ferry dock at Chong Khneas 12 km south of Siem Reap. During the dry season when the water is low, the ferry stops short of the dock and passengers transfer to smaller boats to traverse the final few hundred meters.

Ferries depart for Siem Reap from the Phnom Penh Port (on Sisowath Quay near Street 104) at 7:00AM daily. Ferries depart Siem Reap for Phnom Penh  from the dock at Chong Khneas (15km south of Siem Reap town) at 7:00AM daily. Passage is $22-$25 and should be purchased a day in advance (251km, 4-6 hours). Tickets can be purchased through your hotel, guesthouse or travel agent. The ferries are ‘local transport’ and are of variable quality and comfort, often noisy, crowded and over-air conditioned. Though generally safe, these ferries have experienced breakdowns, groundings and other difficulties. These ferries in no way meet international safety standards. Travel is best during the wet season (June-November) when the water is high. Dry season low water levels can mean smaller, less comfortable boats and occasional groundings.
 

Compagnie Fluevial Du Mekong offers high quality, very leisurely paced boat trips between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap on a traditionally crafted wooden riverboat with deluxe facilities. 3-day excursions. Tel: 012-240859. www.cfmekong.com

From Thailand to Siem Reap 

See the overland international border crossing page for details on travel from Bangkok, Thailand to Siem Reap, the Aranyaprathet/Poipet border crossing and other international border crossings.

Siem Reap to/from Battambang

Boat: Siem Reap to Battambang Daily ferry departs Siem Reap for Battambang at 7:00am. $12-$15/person. It's a picturesque, 4 - 6 hour journey across the Tonle Sap and up the Sangker River in the wet season, but can be considerably longer (8-11 hours) in the dry season due to low water levels. Ask about current conditions. The boats in no way meet international safety standards. There is no direct boat between Battambang and Phnom Penh.

Road: Siem Reap to Battambang (National Routes #6 and #5, via Sisophon): Road travel is generally the easiest, fastest, most reliable way to travel between Siem Reap and Battambang. The road goes around the lake, first west from Siem Reap to Sisophon (National Route #6), then back southeast from Sisophon to Battambang on National Route #5. Much of the stretch between Siem Reap and Sisophon is hardpack dirt in fair to poor condition. Road conditions tend to be much better in the dry season and deteriorate in the wet season. The road from Sisophon to Battambang is paved and in good condition.

Taxi: A private taxi is $35-$40. 3-5 hours.

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Getting Around the Temples and Town

Siem Reap is almost small enough to get around on foot, but the nearest temples are several kilometers from town. Motorcycle taxis and moto-romauks ('tuk-tuks') are the most common form of transport for short trips around town. Transportation to the temples is usually hired by the day.

Motorcycle Taxis and Trailers (Moto-romauks, 'tuk-tuks')
Two-person motorcycle trailers (moto-romauks) have surpassed motorcycle taxis (motodups) as the most popular form of transport. Tuk-tuks are covered offering some protection from sun and rain. In Siem Reap most drivers speak some English. For short trips around the town, foreigners are expected to pay 2000-4000R for motodups and about twice that for a motorcycle trailer. To the temples, transportation is usually rented by the day. Rates run $6-$9/day for a motodup, and about $10-$15/day for motorcycle trailers.

Angkor Wat Driver

Tuk tuk for hire, around town and to the temples.

Tel: +(855) (0)12-694318

www.angkorwat-driver.com

Angkor Wat Driver & Fixer

Vans, cars, tours, tour guides.

Tel: +(855) (0)92-890005

angkorwatdriver_fixer@yahoo.co.uk

www.geocities.com/phansy_service/AngkorWatGuide.html

Cars
Cars taxis are usually hired on a daily basis. The average car taxi is a fairly new Toyota Camry with air-conditioning. Car taxis run around $20-$25 per day to tour the main temple area and town. There are extra charges if you want to go to more distant temples such as Banteay Srey, Kbal Spean, Phnom Kulen, etc. The driver will charge about $10 extra to visit Banteay Srey.

Bicycle Rental
Bicycling is quickly becoming a popular way to visit the temples. The roads between the main temples are paved and the distances are about right for a bicycle touring. Bring sun screen, a good hat, water and a Cambodian scarf to keep the sun off your neck. Many of the guesthouses, hotels have bicycles for rent. $1.5-$4/day depending on the type and quality of the bike.

Electric Bicycles
Battery-powered bicycles, offering individual, motorized, eco-friendly transportation, can be rented for $4 per day. The battery is good for about 30km or one hour, and there are bicycle substations located throughout the main temple complex to replenish the battery as you visit the temples. Many guesthouses rent the bicycles. The main rental office in just off the road from town to Angkor Wat.

Motorcycle Rental
Tourists are no longer allowed to rent motorcycles or cars, or drive a vehicle in Siem Reap.

Small Group Tours
Set itinerary, mini bus tours of the temples can be an economical alternative to hiring your own car and driver. Some travel agencies run minibuses capable of carrying between 10 and 25 people on set tours of the temples. The price includes guide and transportation. Book a tour through ATS, Neak Krorhorm, VLK or DataSight. Also see the Travel Agent page.

And other ways of getting around the temples...

Elephant Rides

During the day, elephants await customers near Bayon and at the South Gate of Angkor Thom and they offer rides between those two points. $10-$15 for a 20-30 minute ride. In the evenings the elephants move from Bayon and are stationed at the base of Phnom Bakheng, ready to transport passengers up the hill for sunset ($15 for the ride up and, if you chose to ride down instead of walk, $10 for the ride down.)

Helicopter Rides
Helicopters Cambodia is a New Zealand owned operation based at the Siem Reap airport, offering scenic flights around the Angkor temples as well as specialized temple tours, aerial filming, photography, charters and more. Hup Guan Street behind the Center Market.

Tel: +(855) (0)12-814500, +(855) (0)12-791724
www.helicopterscambodia.com

Sokha Helicopters Sokha Helicopters offer scenic helicopter tours of the temples beginning at $50/pax. Specialized tours, aerial photography, charter services. Multiple aircraft. Conveniently located next to the big, yellow balloon about 1km from Angkor Wat on the road from the airport to Angkor Wat. Walk-in customer welcome.

For reservations call: +(855) (0)12-1848891, +(855) (0)16-731468
www.sokhahelicopters.com

Balloon Rides

Take a tethered helium balloon ride 200 meters straight up for an amazing aerial view of Angkor Wat, Phnom Bakheng, West Baray and the surrounding countryside. Bring a camera and binoculars if you have them. The big, yellow balloon is based about 1 kilometer west from Angkor Wat on the road from the airport to Angkor Wat.

Tel: +(855) (0)12-520810


 

Last updated 03/08