The way to travel from Bangkok to Cambodia in September 2026 is to fly. The land border crossings between Thailand and Cambodia, including the familiar Aranyaprathet to Poipet route, remain suspended after the 2025 border fighting, according to the UK Foreign Office's Thailand advice updated on September 18, 2026. Flights leave Bangkok for Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and you will need a Cambodian visa, which most visitors can get online before they go.
This guide covers the flights, what has happened to the overland route, the paperwork on both sides of the trip, and how to plan the return to Bangkok.
Flying from Bangkok to Cambodia
Cambodia's two main gateways for visitors from Bangkok are Phnom Penh, the capital, and Siem Reap, the town beside the Angkor temples. Both cities now use new airports. The national airline, Air Cambodia, lists Phnom Penh's airport as Techo International (KTI) and Siem Reap's as Siem Reap (SAI), and it includes Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) among its destinations. Thai Airways also publishes Bangkok to Phnom Penh and Bangkok to Siem Reap route pages. Check the airline's own site for current schedules and fares, because both change by season.
Suvarnabhumi Airport, where Air Cambodia flies from, sits east of the city in Samut Prakan province. Bangkok's second airport, Don Mueang, is inside the city to the north. Confirm which airport your ticket uses before you book a hotel or a transfer; our guide to which Bangkok airport is better sets out the difference, and getting from the airport to the city covers the rail and taxi options.
Choosing Phnom Penh or Siem Reap
- Siem Reap is the choice if the trip is about Angkor Wat and the temple complexes around it. Flying straight there saves a long road journey across Cambodia.
- Phnom Penh suits a trip built around the capital, its museums and riverfront, or onward travel to the south coast. Air Cambodia's site also lists Sihanoukville (KOS) among its airports.
What happened to the overland route
For years, the cheapest way from Bangkok to Cambodia was overland: a train, bus or minivan east to Aranyaprathet, then a walk across the border to Poipet and a road transfer on to Siem Reap. That option is not available now. The UK Foreign Office reports that fighting took place along parts of the Thailand and Cambodia border in July 2025, with further clashes in early December, and that a ceasefire was signed on December 27. Its Cambodia advice says land borders and crossings between the two countries continue to be suspended, and its Thailand advice, updated on September 18, 2026, says the same.
The Foreign Office's Thailand and Cambodia pages both advise against all but essential travel within 20 kilometers of the Thailand and Cambodia land border, and warn of unexploded landmines in border areas. Temples on the frontier, including Preah Vihear (Khao Phra Wihan), Ta Krabey (Ta Kwai) and Tamone Thom (Ta Muen Thom), are closed. Ignore any agent who offers an overland package while these notices stand, and check your own government's travel advice before you plan: it can change quickly, and travel insurance may not cover a trip taken against official advice.
Visa basics for Cambodia
Most visitors need a visa to enter Cambodia as a tourist. The Cambodian government runs an official e-visa website and app; the UK Foreign Office suggests applying at least four days before travel. A tourist visa is valid for 30 days from entry, and it can be extended inside Cambodia. The Foreign Office says visas on arrival are also issued at airports, paid in US dollars with a passport photo, but an e-visa arranged in advance avoids a queue and any argument over fees.
Cambodia also requires an electronic arrival card for air arrivals at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Complete it online within seven days before you land; there is no charge. Only use the government's own e-visa and arrival card sites: copycat sites charge extra for the same forms.
Coming back to Bangkok
Plan the return leg as carefully as the outward one. Thailand requires every foreign visitor, arriving by air, land or sea, to complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online, within three days before arrival. The rules for visa-free stays have also changed: according to the UK Foreign Office, from September 15, 2026, visitors entering under Thailand's visa exemption scheme can stay up to 30 days, for tourism only, and visa-exempt entries are normally limited to two per calendar year. A quick trip to Cambodia therefore uses one of those entries. Our guide to how long you can stay in Bangkok without a visa explains the options, and your nationality determines which rules apply, so check with a Thai embassy if you are unsure.
Planning a Bangkok and Cambodia trip
- Check your government's current travel advice for both countries.
- Book flights to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh and note which Bangkok airport they use.
- Apply for the Cambodian e-visa, then complete the e-Arrival card in the week before you fly.
- Complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card within three days of flying back.
- Pick a Bangkok hotel near your departure airport's rail link if your flight is early; see our Bangkok hotels and hotels near the BTS.
For the geography behind the trip, see how far Cambodia is from Bangkok.
Sources: UK FCDO Thailand travel advice: warnings, UK FCDO Thailand entry requirements, UK FCDO Cambodia safety and security, UK FCDO Cambodia entry requirements, Air Cambodia, Thai Airways: Bangkok to Phnom Penh, Thailand Digital Arrival Card. Checked September 26, 2026.
Not at present. The UK Foreign Office's Thailand advice, updated on September 18, 2026, says land borders and crossings between Thailand and Cambodia remain suspended, which includes the Aranyaprathet to Poipet crossing. Check your government's latest advice before planning.
Flying. Airlines including Air Cambodia and Thai Airways sell flights from Bangkok to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap; with the land border suspended, flying is also the only practical way.
Phnom Penh's Techo International Airport (KTI) and Siem Reap's airport (SAI) are Cambodia's main gateways, according to Air Cambodia's route list, which also shows Sihanoukville (KOS).
Most tourists do. Apply online through the official Cambodian e-visa website or app at least four days before travel, as the UK Foreign Office advises. Tourist visas are valid for 30 days from entry. Fees are set by Cambodia; confirm them on the official site or with a Cambodian embassy.
An online arrival form that air passengers arriving at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville must complete within seven days before arrival. It is free.
Yes. All foreign visitors must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within three days before arrival. According to the UK Foreign Office, from September 15, 2026, visa-exempt tourist stays are up to 30 days and normally limited to two entries per calendar year.
No. The UK Foreign Office reports that border temples including Preah Vihear (Khao Phra Wihan), Ta Krabey and Tamone Thom are closed, and it advises against all but essential travel within 20 kilometers of the border.
