How to Get to Siem Reap from Bangkok

Route overview:

1. 4-5 hour bus or train ride from Aranyaprathe (in Bangkok) to the Thai border.
2. A Tuk-tuk ride for about 6km to the border crossing to Poipet, Cambodia.
3. On the Cambodian side, you will get on the National Route #5 to Sisophon town.  About 2 ½ hours in dry season, longer in wet season.

Package tour from Bangkok:

1. Buy ticket from travel agents, price about 400-800 baht.
2. No matter what price you pay, most travel agencies use the same bus companies.
3. Make sure you ask the travel agency what type of transport you will get on the Cambodian side.  It should be a tour bus and not a pick-up truck.
4. Scam: Reports of travelers buying tickets on Khao San road for a trip to Siem Reap via Poipet.  In the end, the bus goes by the longer and slower route of Pailin or O’Smach.

D-I-Y

1. From Bangkok, take a bus or train to Aranyaprathet.  This will take about 4 hours if you take the First Class bus departing from Northern Bus Terminal.
2. From Aranyaprathet, take a tuk-tuk to the border.
3. Cross the border, stamp out of Thailand. 
4. Go to the Cambodian immigration to get Visa-on-arrival and stamp in.