How do you get to Angkor Wat from Bangkok? As of September 2026, fly. Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways both sell flights from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport to Siem Reap, the town beside the Angkor temples, and the land border between Thailand and Cambodia remains closed to travelers. The bus and train routes that backpackers used for years are not an option until the crossings reopen.
This guide covers the flight, the current border situation, what happened to the overland routes, the Cambodian visa and arrival card, the Angkor pass, and what to sort out before you fly back into Thailand.
The short answer: fly from Suvarnabhumi to Siem Reap
Flights to Siem Reap land at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (airport code SAI). Two airlines publish the Bangkok route on their own websites:
- Thai Airways sells Bangkok (BKK) to Siem Reap (SAI) flights, with a fare calendar on its route page.
- Bangkok Airways lists a Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Siem Reap route among its flight deals.
Both leave from Suvarnabhumi, which sits just outside the city limits in Samut Prakan province. Fares move with the season and how early you book, so compare the total price on each airline's own site for your dates. The flight is the fastest way to reach Angkor by a wide margin; even before the border closed, the overland journey took most of a day.
If you are spending a night in Bangkok before an early flight, our Bangkok hotel guide covers the neighborhoods with the easiest runs to the airport rail link.
Is the Thailand to Cambodia land border open?
No. According to the UK government's travel advice for Thailand, updated on September 18, 2026, land borders and crossings between Thailand and Cambodia remain suspended. Fighting took place along parts of the border in July 2025 and again in early December 2025. The same advice for Cambodia notes that a ceasefire was signed on December 27, 2025 but says the situation remains tense, and that there are unexploded landmines in the border area.
The UK advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the border on both sides, and several border temples, including Preah Vihear (Khao Phra Wihan), are closed. Other governments issue similar advice. Check your own government's current advisory before you book anything that relies on a land crossing, and check again close to departure, because this can change.
What happened to the bus and the train
Before the closure, the standard overland route ran east from Bangkok to the border town of Aranyaprathet, across to Poipet on the Cambodian side, and on to Siem Reap by road. There were two common ways to cover the Thai section:
By bus
Buses from Bangkok ran to the border, and some services continued through to Siem Reap. With the crossings suspended, no through service to Cambodia is possible.
By train
State Railway of Thailand trains run east from Bangkok towards Aranyaprathet. The train was a slow, inexpensive way to reach the border, with the rest of the trip completed by road on the Cambodian side. While the border is closed, it can take you only as far as the Thai side.
If the crossings reopen, verify the current bus and train timetables directly with the operators and read the latest government advice on the border area before you plan an overland trip. Land borders have historically had problems with touts and inflated visa fees; the UK advice notes that officials and tour operators can ask for unofficial fees at land borders, so know the correct visa price before you arrive.
Cambodian visa basics
Most visitors need a visa for Cambodia; requirements depend on your nationality, so confirm yours with a Cambodian embassy. For travelers who do need one, the UK government summarizes the options this way:
- E-visa. Apply online through Cambodia's official e-visa site or its official app at least 4 days before you travel.
- Visa on arrival. Available at airports, including Siem Reap. Bring a passport photo and pay in US dollars.
- Length of stay. A tourist visa is valid for 30 days from the date of entry and can be extended inside Cambodia.
- Passport validity. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you arrive, and undamaged.
Use only the government e-visa website or app. Copycat sites charge extra for the same visa.
The Cambodia e-Arrival card
Cambodia's General Department of Immigration asks all travelers to submit the Cambodia e-Arrival online within 7 days before arrival, or on arrival. Submission is free. The UK advice adds that travelers arriving by air at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or Sihanoukville must complete it before landing.
Angkor passes and opening hours
Tickets for the Angkor Archaeological Park are sold by Angkor Enterprise, the government body that manages them, on its official website and app. One-day, three-day and seven-day passes are available, with exact prices listed in the FAQ below. The multi-day passes can be used on any days within a longer validity window, so a three-day pass does not have to be used on consecutive days. Separate tickets cover the outlying sites of Koh Ker, Beng Mealea and Kbal Spean.
Coming back to Bangkok
Two things catch people out on the return flight:
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card. Since May 1, 2025, all foreign nationals entering Thailand must complete the TDAC online before arrival, within the 3 days before they land. You need a new one for your return from Siem Reap.
- Visa-exemption rules. According to the UK government's Thailand advice, from September 15, 2026 visa-exempt visitors can stay up to 30 days for tourism, and visa-exempt entries are normally limited to two per calendar year. A side trip to Cambodia uses one of those entries when you come back. Rules differ by nationality, so check the Thai embassy guidance for your passport.
Once you are back, the city's own temple circuit makes a good counterpoint to Angkor: Wat Arun on the Thonburi bank, Wat Pho and its reclining Buddha, and the Grand Palace are all close to one another near the river. For more ideas, see our guide to Bangkok attractions.
Sources: UK FCDO travel advice, Thailand (updated September 18, 2026), UK FCDO travel advice, Cambodia, General Department of Immigration, Cambodia, Angkor Enterprise, Available Tickets, Thai Airways, Bangkok to Siem Reap, Bangkok Airways (Bangkok to Siem Reap flight page, Internet Archive copy of June 2026). Checked September 26, 2026.
No. As of September 2026, the UK government's travel advice says land borders and crossings between Thailand and Cambodia remain suspended after fighting along the border in 2025. Flying from Bangkok to Siem Reap is the practical option. Check your own government's advisory before you travel.
Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways both publish flights from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) on their websites. Compare fares on each airline's own site for your dates.
Most visitors need a Cambodian visa, depending on nationality. You can apply for an e-visa on Cambodia's official e-visa website or app at least 4 days before travel, or get a visa on arrival at the airport with a passport photo and payment in US dollars. A tourist visa is valid for 30 days.
It is Cambodia's online arrival form. The General Department of Immigration says all travelers can submit it within 7 days before arrival or on arrival, and submission is free.
Angkor Enterprise's official site lists the Angkor Temples Park passes at 37 US dollars for 1 day, 62 US dollars for 3 days (usable within 7 days) and 72 US dollars for 7 days (usable within 30 days), as checked on September 26, 2026.
Angkor Enterprise lists entry to the Angkor Temples Park from 5:00 a.m. with closing at 6:30 p.m., as checked on September 26, 2026.
Yes. Since May 1, 2025, all foreign nationals entering Thailand must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within the 3 days before arrival, including when returning from Cambodia.
Angkor Wat lies beside the town of Siem Reap in northwest Cambodia, several hundred kilometers east of Bangkok. By air it is a short international flight from Suvarnabhumi.
