Travel Tours Canada - Bangkok to Siem Reap Overland

But that's the easy way, if I thought there would be any danger we would of flown in. She has gained so much knowledge of the world thanks to our travels. I made this journey with my eight year old daughter and she enjoyed ever single moment of it. I hope you find my experience of this journey helpful. We are travelers and travel is our passion, after all. Well I can assure you it's really easy, we are often warned about this overland journey being dangerous and difficult.

So no need to get a tuk tuk, this bus will take you right to the border. The trip takes about three to four hours. There are plenty of food shops at the station if you need some supplies for the journey. The fare is around 200 baht and you get a bottle of water and a cake thrown in. I do believe these buses start at about five in the morning and leave every half hour. You need the bus going to Aranyaprathet. We actually jumped on a moto taxi cost 80 baht, the northern bus station is just a short taxi ride from there. The sky train in Bangkok will take you to Mo Chit station.

I always have at least two copies of my evisa. No fuss, no mess, no money. Smile for the camera and you will pass through quite easily and quickly. . . Sometimes over the top a little, if you do not have an evisa you will get your passport stamped and you will have to pay, just join the queue get to the counter hand over your passport with your evisa, going through Cambodian immigration is easy. Using $50 bills and upwards can create a problem with your change. Make sure you have some US dollars before entering Cambodia preferably smaller denominations of $20 or under. Another tip for you here. You will need it everywhere in Siem Reap. The most important word you need now is "NO". Rip off. . . I prefer to get my visa on line which is very easy and quick which saves all the hassle with the touts trying to get you to buy your visa. Most travelers are following each other, you cannot go wrong, head straight towards the Cambodian immigration. If you allow them they will expect a tip, once through here you will be surrounded by little kids trying to shade you with their umbrellas. Very easy, then you have to stamp out of Thailand. Once off the bus just walk to the Thailand immigration building. About 5 hours, tough luck you have to stand all the way, but it's third class only and if your not quick enough to get a seat, the fare is around 50 baht. Poipet is like a cowboy town from the old days. Which is not a good place to stay, poipet, it's best to get the early train as you will have a problem getting all the way to Siem Reap on the same day and will have to stay the night at Aranyaprathet or worse. One at five to six am and another at about 1 pm, two trains leave daily from Hualumpong station. You could of course take the train.

And the bus about half that, the share taxi fare is about $20 US each person. And this part is a bit bumpy but not too bad, it's only the last few miles of the road which has not been completed yet. It's a lot quicker and as most of the road is now sealed with bitumen it only takes about 3 hours, i choose the share taxi. The bus can take up to 6 or 7 hours to get there. When you get to the depot you can choose to get the bus to Siem Reap or the taxi share system. But believe me it is the easy option, you do not have to take this bus. This bus is a free ride that takes you to a depot which is not far. Outside the immigration office there will be a bus waiting. The home of the majestic Wat's, not long now and you will be in Siem Reap. So now you have cleared immigration and your on your way.

Which is the best way to visit all the Wat's, you can hire a Tuk Tuk for the day for about $15 US. The temple's and Wat's are not far from the town. Take a look at the golden banana, if your looking for a good place to stay. I am sure my daughter could do it on her own, how easy was that, your in Siem Reap, well there you go. Just across the road by the elephant statue is the Capitol bus ticket office where you can book and board the bus for Phnom Penh. This guest house is close to everything and at $10 per night it's good value. If you prefer to be closer to the "action" a great place is the Heart of Angkor. Quiet and relaxing with a beautiful pool, great place, i have stayed in the Golden Banana. You DO NOT have to choose the places they offer to you. But it's entirely up to you, they do get commission from the hotels for this. They will try to offer places to stay, if you have not pre booked. There is NO charge for this journey and they will take you to your pre booked accommodation. There will be a driver and his friend. Here you will be transferred to a waiting tuk tuk, the taxi will stop just at the edge of town.