How US Citizens Travel Bangkok to Siem Reap in 2026 (Fly, Land Border Closed)
The old overnight bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap through Poipet no longer exists — the land border closed in June 2025 and is still shut in 2026. The way US citizens get from Bangkok to Siem Reap now is a one-hour flight. Here is how the route works, what it costs in time, and the Cambodia eVisa you need before you board.
How do US citizens get from Bangkok to Siem Reap in 2026?
You fly. The land border between Thailand and Cambodia at Poipet — the crossing the old Bangkok-to-Siem Reap bus used — has been closed since June 2025 and is still shut in 2026, so there is no legal overland route. The way across now is a direct flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI), the airport closest to the Angkor temples. It is roughly a one-hour flight and runs several times a day. Before you board you need a Cambodia eVisa — $80 USD all-in for the Tourist eVisa, approved in 3 business days as a printable PDF — plus the separate e-Arrival Card filed in the week before you fly.
نکات کلیدی
- The Bangkok-to-Siem Reap land route through Poipet is gone — all seven Thailand–Cambodia land borders have been closed since June 2025 and remain shut in 2026.
- You fly. The direct Bangkok to Siem Reap-Angkor (SAI) flight is roughly one hour and runs multiple times a day on full-service and budget carriers.
- The old overland trip took a full day with a notorious scam strip at Poipet; the flight replaces all of it with a short, calm hop straight to the temples.
- You need a Cambodia eVisa before you board: $80 USD all-in for the Tourist eVisa, approved in 3 business days and delivered as a printable PDF by email. Airlines check for it at the Bangkok gate.
- The Cambodia e-Arrival Card is a separate, mandatory step for every air arrival: $5 USD verified through us, 14 fields, submitted within 7 days before you fly.
The short answer: you fly Bangkok to Siem Reap now
- Book the flight, not the bus
The Poipet land border has been closed since June 2025, so book a direct Bangkok to Siem Reap-Angkor (SAI) flight — roughly one hour, several departures a day.
- Get the Tourist eVisa first
Apply for the $80 USD all-in Tourist eVisa, approved in 3 business days as a printable PDF, with a single 30-day stay valid 3 months from issue.
- File the e-Arrival Card
Submit the separate, mandatory e-Arrival Card — 14 fields, $5 USD verified through us — within 7 days before your flight.
- Board in Bangkok with both ready
Airlines check for your approved, printed eVisa at the Bangkok gate, so have the PDF in hand before check-in.
- Land and clear arrivals at SAI
At Siem Reap-Angkor (SAI), present your printed eVisa, e-Arrival confirmation, and passport at immigration, then collect your bags and head to your transfer.
Why the old Bangkok-to-Siem Reap bus route no longer works
The Bangkok to Siem Reap flight: what to expect
Carriers, frequency, and which Bangkok airport
Siem Reap-Angkor (SAI) — the airport you actually land at
سوالات متداول
How do I get from Bangkok to Siem Reap in 2026?
You fly. The Poipet land border that the old Bangkok-to-Siem Reap bus used has been closed since June 2025 and is still shut in 2026, so there is no legal overland route. The way across is a direct flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI), roughly a one-hour hop that runs several times a day on full-service and budget carriers. You need an approved Cambodia eVisa before you board — airlines check for it at the Bangkok gate.
Is the Bangkok to Siem Reap bus still running?
No usable route. Even if a booking site lists a Bangkok-to-Siem Reap bus, it ends at the closed Poipet border — all seven Thailand–Cambodia land crossings have been shut since June 2025. Do not buy a through-bus ticket that promises to deliver you to Siem Reap overland, and treat any forum post or tout claiming Poipet has reopened with skepticism. As of this review it remains closed to tourist traffic.
How long is the flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap?
About one hour gate to gate. Flights leave from both of Bangkok’s airports — Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) — to Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI). Compared with the old overland route, which ate a full day of bus and border queues, the flight is the single biggest time saver on a Thailand-and-Cambodia trip.
Which airport in Siem Reap do flights from Bangkok land at?
Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI), the newer airport that replaced the old in-town field. It sits closest to the Angkor temple complex but is farther from the city center than the old airport was, so budget 45 minutes to an hour for a taxi or arranged hotel transfer into Siem Reap. Your Cambodia eVisa is valid at SAI on arrival.
Do I need a Cambodia visa if I am flying in from Bangkok?
Yes. US citizens need a Cambodia eVisa regardless of how they arrive. The Tourist eVisa is $80 USD all-in, approved in 3 business days, and delivered as a printable PDF by email. It gives a single 30-day stay and is valid for 3 months from issue. Apply at least a week before your flight, because you must present an approved, printed visa at check-in in Bangkok and again at Siem Reap immigration.
Is flying more expensive than the old bus through Poipet?
The flight costs more than a bus ticket on paper, but the overland route had hidden costs — border-scam fees at Poipet, a lost travel day, and the risk of a missed onward connection. A roughly one-hour Bangkok-to-Siem Reap flight removes all of that and lands you near Angkor. Most American travelers find the time and hassle saved well worth the difference, especially now that overland is no longer an option at all.
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