Bangkok to Siem Reap in 2026: Border Closed, How to Go

Can you still travel overland from Bangkok to Siem Reap?

Not at the moment. Thailand closed its land crossings with Cambodia to most travellers in June 2025, and in June 2026 the Sa Kaeo governor said the Ban Khlong Luek–Poipet checkpoint had not reopened. The UK Foreign Office says crossings remain suspended. Fly from Bangkok to Siem Reap, or via Phnom Penh, instead.

The Nation reported on 1 June 2026 that the Thai government had dismissed reports of the Aranyaprathet crossing reopening as fake news, that the Sa Kaeo governor said there was no reopening of the Ban Khlong Luek–Poipet crossing or any other checkpoint in the province, and that Prime Minister Anutin had said in May that checkpoints would stay closed until Cambodia accepted Thailand’s conditions.

The UK Foreign Office’s Cambodia advice, still current on 25 October 2026, says land borders and crossings with Thailand continue to be suspended and advises against all but essential travel to within 20 km of the border. It notes a ceasefire signed on 27 December 2025 after heavy fighting, describes the situation as tense, and warns of unexploded ordnance, including landmines, in the border area. Travelling against FCDO advice can invalidate travel insurance.

Some booking sites, including 12Go on 25 October 2026, still listed Bangkok–Siem Reap buses. Do not buy one while the crossing is closed: it cannot take you across the border.

How do you fly from Bangkok to Siem Reap?

Fly from Suvarnabhumi to Siem Reap–Angkor International (SAI). Bangkok Airways sells the route on its own site, and other airlines appear in flight searches with and without stops. The flight is about an hour and a quarter; SAI sits about 45 to 50 km from Siem Reap, so book the road transfer too.

Bangkok Airways sells Bangkok–Siem Reap flights on its own website. Search the route with flexible dates: on 12Go’s listing for 25 October 2026, some itineraries connected through other cities and took most of a day, so check the number of stops before paying.

At Siem Reap, Vietjet’s airport guide lists a shuttle bus and taxis into town, about 1 to 1.5 hours by road (Vietjet). Arrange the transfer with your hotel if you land late. If Bangkok is where you arrive, our which Bangkok airport guide explains Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, and BKK to Bangkok covers the transfer.

Is flying to Phnom Penh and taking the bus a good alternative?

It can be, if Phnom Penh flights are cheaper or you want to see the capital first. Flights from Bangkok land at Techo International, south of Phnom Penh, and buses to Siem Reap take about six hours. It turns a one-hour flight into a two-day trip, so it suits travellers with time.

Phnom Penh’s flights moved to Techo International Airport in September 2025, and the airport’s transport page describes an Airport Express Bus into the city from 05:30 to 23:30. Our Phnom Penh to Siem Reap guide compares the bus, minivan, flight and boat for the second leg.

What do you need to enter Cambodia by air?

Most visitors, British nationals included, need a visa: apply for an e-visa at least four days ahead or buy one on arrival at the airport, paying in US dollars with a photo. Passports need six months’ validity, and air arrivals must submit a free e-Arrival Card within seven days before landing, the UK Foreign Office says.

The FCDO’s Cambodia entry requirements say tourist visas are valid for 30 days from entry and that the e-Arrival Card applies to air arrivals at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Use the official e-visa site, evisa.gov.kh, or the official app, and check the rules for your own nationality before you fly.

Going back to Thailand afterwards? Complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card before landing; see our TDAC guide and the Thailand visa exemption rules.

Is it safe to visit Siem Reap while the border is closed?

The FCDO’s advice against all but essential travel covers the area within 20 km of the Thai border, not Siem Reap town or the main Angkor park, which lie well inland. It does list border temples, including Preah Vihear, as closed. Check the latest advice before booking and again before you fly.

Read the FCDO’s Cambodia page for the exact areas covered, and check that your travel insurance is valid for your itinerary. Siem Reap’s own planning is covered in our Siem Reap destination guide, things to do in Siem Reap and best time to visit Siem Reap.

What happens when the border reopens?

Then the overland route will be worth comparing again. Before the closure, buses ran from Bangkok via Aranyaprathet and Poipet to Siem Reap. Wait for an official reopening announcement, check the FCDO’s advice for the border area, and prefer a through bus that handles the crossing over piecing it together yourself.

We will update this page when the crossing reopens. Until then, fly, and keep the money you would have spent on the bus for a guided first day at Angkor.