Getting from Pattaya to Angkor Wat

[JB1002]

Whats the best way to get from Pattaya to Siem Riep and Angkor? I don't really want to go into Bangkok and fly,

[jerry]

The best way is to go into Bangkok and fly ... 

 

second best is to take the bus/taxi to Poipet and a bus/taxi from Poipet to SR . 

[momomo]

you can also divide first option into two options, depending on time and budget. Cheaper to fly BKK-PP and go up by minibus. Quicker and more expensve to fly BKK-SM.

Afaik you'd go past Bangkok anyway on the way to Poipet :-)

[Freeze]

I pulled this off Lonely Planet. It must work in reverse.

 

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2324505

 

A perhaps better option is to
1) get yourself an evisa for 25 US and avoid the hassle at Poipet. Do some searches on the border scams and you will understand
2) I always found the Rayog - Mukdahan bus better than a Van. The bus leaves from the bus station at pattaya nua rd (northern) and will drop you off at Aranyaprathet. Take a tuktuk to the border but haggle about the price. The food at the bus station is pretty good and not overpriced.
3) Follow your preferences after having read enough about border scams. The Pattaya Van will deliver you right into the hands of the scam bosses

An alternative if you;re a bit adventurous and like to see more of the country. Get up a little earlier and get to the intersection of Pattaya Klang (central) and sukumvit. Cross and walk about 30 meter southward where the bus stop (not bus station, if you're at nakornchai bus station you walked too far). The bus stop is at a mototaxis stop and small wooden structure.

Take the early bus to Chantaburi. In Chantaburi you have 2 options to continue. Take the cheap bus towards Buriram or take a casino van. The casino Van will take you directly to the border check point. The buriram bus will drop you off at the intersection and you need to continue by songtaew. Takes a bit longer but is cheaper.

Cross the border, no evisa is accepted here, but there no crowds and the US 20 visa fee is accepted. Take a motorbike to Pailin. Pailing to battambang by taxi.

Sleep in Battambang and take the slow boat to siem reap. You wont forget that experience. This is only good as an alternative if you want to spend another day on your trip.

There is a temple on the way from Pailin to Battambang literally along the road. Just tell the driver in advance before leaving Paillin that you want 5-10 min there. It's worth it and they usually agree without extra charge.

Way back. If you short of time. Take one of the many services from Siem reap to the border. Early one of course. Cross and get back to the bus station or there might be a bus at the border market. Only get on official buses that are numbered and carry the garuda/coat of arms. Buy a ticket to Kabinburi. At Kabinburi you can easily/quickly change to a bus to Chonburi or even directly to Pattaya. Chonburi/Pattaya is a simply changing buses almost instantly. There is a slight chance,. depending on your timing, that you might catch a Mukdahan -Rayong bus back to Pattaya. So ask them about their current schedules.

I prefer buses as they are significantly more reliable and do not have frequent deadly accidents like the Vans.

[jerry]

I pulled this of Lonely Planet.

 

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2324505

 

A perhaps better option is to

1) get yourself an evisa for 25 US and avoid the hassle at Poipet. Do some searches on the border scams and you will understand

2) I always found the Rayog - Mukdahan bus better than a Van. The bus leaves from the bus station at pattaya nua rd (northern) and will drop you off at Aranyaprathet. Take a tuktuk to the border but haggle about the price. The food at the bus station is pretty good and not overpriced.

3) Follow your preferences after having read enough about border scams. The Pattaya Van will deliver you right into the hands of the scam bosses

 

An alternative if you;re a bit adventurous and like to see more of the country. Get up a little earlier and get to the intersection of Pattaya Klang (central) and sukumvit. Cross and walk about 30 meter southward where the bus stop (not bus station, if you're at nakornchai bus station you walked too far). The bus stop is at a mototaxis stop and small wooden structure.

 

Take the early bus to Chantaburi. In Chantaburi you have 2 options to continue. Take the cheap bus towards Buriram or take a casino van. The casino Van will take you directly to the border check point. The buriram bus will drop you off at the intersection and you need to continue by songtaew. Takes a bit longer but is cheaper.

 

Cross the border, no evisa is accepted here, but there no crowds and the US 20 visa fee is accepted. Take a motorbike to Pailin. Pailing to battambang by taxi.

 

Sleep in Battambang and take the slow boat to siem reap. You wont forget that experience. This is only good as an alternative if you want to spend another day on your trip.

 

There is a temple on the way from Pailin to Battambang literally along the road. Just tell the driver in advance before leaving Paillin that you want 5-10 min there. It's worth it and they usually agree without extra charge.

 

Way back. If you short of time. Take one of the many services from Siem reap to the border. Early one of course. Cross and get back to the bus station or there might be a bus at the border market. Only get on official buses that are numbered and carry the garuda/coat of arms. Buy a ticket to Kabinburi. At Kabinburi you can easily/quickly change to a bus to Chonburi or even directly to Pattaya. Chonburi/Pattaya is a simply changing buses almost instantly. There is a slight chance,. depending on your timing, that you might catch a Mukdahan -Rayong bus back to Pattaya. So ask them about their current schedules.

 

I prefer buses as they are significantly more reliable and do not have frequent deadly accidents like the Vans.

 

 

Or just take the taxi to Don Muang and fly in 1 hour to SR ...  this lonely planet BS sounds like making a trip around the world . 

[Daddee]

I took a taxi with a buddy from Pattaya to Poipet, walked through the border, no scams no problems... already had my evisa...  as I recall there is a scam site for visas, so make sure you use the correct site, good info on this forum in the Cambodia section on that...

 

Once through the border hired another taxi, the entire trip to Siem Reap took the better part of a day.  

 

I found a bus deal back to Pattaya for about 15 bucks, left Siem Reap at 1am... was a huge mistake, after sitting in the bus in incredibly cramped seat for hours waiting for the border to open, walked across the border to bus station and waited for at least two more hours, then got on a mini bus thinking it was going straight to Pattaya, but nooooo, it was the local bus, and wandered on side roads all the way to Chon Buri, I got back to Pattaya at about 5 or 6pm I think, and wasted another day...  spent the time on that ride swatting at mozzies and sweating...  saw some countryside, and was glad to be back to Pattya...

 

I would definitely fly if ever doing it again...  maybe for you,  take the hired car route to Siem Reap so you can see the countryside, then fly back...  

[jaynewcastle]

Flying is the best way, getting buses & mini-buses taking many many hours is not the best way to travel, its more like torture to me

[Daddee]

Flying is the best way, getting buses & mini-buses taking many many hours is not the best way to travel, its more like torture to me

having done it, I totally concur, however for the adventurous, taking a hired car from Pattaya to Poipet, then same once you cross the border to Siem Reap is an interesting trip...

 

takes the better part of a day, and I would definitely fly back... if you want to try the overland route do it one way...

 

another option is to fly to Siem Reap, then bus to PP, then fly back to BKK from there...  

 

there have been airlines threatening to do scheduled flights to Siem Reap from the Pattaya airport, but I am guessing they are not happening yet or someone would have mentioned them by now...

[Stillearly]

I agree with the others , take taxi to Bangkok and fly , I went with Bangkok Air

[Freeze]

another bus

 

http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2013/05/06/coconuts-test-drives-new-bangkok-cambodia-bus-service

[JB1002]

I like the idea of tracking to the border one way and flying home the other..will look into that. Thanks!

[Daddee]

I like the idea of tracking to the border one way and flying home the other..will look into that. Thanks!

my buddy and I took a hired car early one morning from Pattaya to Poipet, we both had our visas already...  walked through the border and then took a bus a few miles to a tourist transportation hub where we hired a car and driver to take us the rest of the way...  buses were options there as well for less money...  I think we finally arrived at our hotel around 3 or 4pm, after starting pretty early, I think 7:30 or 8am...  

 

don't recall what the prices were, but I think the trip to poipet was 2000-3000 baht, and the car to Siem Reap was around 20-25 dollars us each...

 

it was interesting to see the countryside, in Cambodia they drive these farm tractors that look like, well, I don't know what they look like...  Like nothing I have seen anywhere else, haha...

 

I was going to go on to PP but I was coughing really bad, and wanted to go back to what I was familiar with... my buddy went on and had a great time, I have yet to get to PP, but will someday!

 

and I will fly!

[thinkingallowed]

This maybe of interest to you.

 

http://www.kctangkor.com/index.php?lay=show&ac=article&Id=538974848

 

http://www.kctangkor.com/PATTAYATOSIEMREAP.html

[wackyjacky]

I just checked this out. The best way from PTY is to fly BKK Air ! I must say I was fucking shocked. Their 17:30 flight was just marginally more than Air Asia's from DMK. The price was about 1/2 what I paid 10 years ago ! They used to have a monopoly on this route in exchange for buildng the REP Airport and they fucked you without a kiss. I wish they would lower their prices to PNH like they have to REP.

[kenlay]

I believe there is a company in Cambodia that is working to restore the rail lines with the aim of reopening them either this year or next. That might be a good option for overland travel when (if) it becomes available.

 

Once in Cambodia, a cool way to get between Siem Reap and PP is via speedboat for about $40.

[wackyjacky]

I believe there is a company in Cambodia that is working to restore the rail lines with the aim of reopening them either this year or next. That might be a good option for overland travel when (if) it becomes available.

 

Once in Cambodia, a cool way to get between Siem Reap and PP is via speedboat for about $40.

Unless they've got some new different boat between PP & SR that I haven't heard of - the ride sucks. It's hot, rolling, bumpy, cramped, full of diesel fumes, w/dirty windows you couldn't see shit out of (even if there was anything to see & there ain't much), & prone to breakdowns. Sitting cross legged on the roof is better, but you'll need a tight fitting hat, a 40 gallon drum of sunscreen, & you'll have no seat for 6 hrs. I did it once when it was like $15 and never will again.

[superroo]

 Had a look at airasia price for one way bangkok to siem reap 1555 baht.

 

 I've done the land crossing four times , but  an air ticket at this price is the way to go.

[Kenjataimu]

I believe there is a company in Cambodia that is working to restore the rail lines with the aim of reopening them either this year or next..

yeah, Toll Holdings in a JV with the bunch of cunts at the Royal Group, using lots of Aussie AID dollars. Most of it going into that prick Kith Meng's pocket and fucking over the locals along the route, nothing new there. Not sure about the timing though ? They run one train a week I think, PP to SHV but freight only. not sure about the PP-SR line.

 

[bigbadbaz]

1st time I went from PP to Siam Reap (I know its not patts) got air con bus $11 one way. it took 7hrs and so I flew back for $90 and 45 mins. Bus was full so had to sit next to someone which was a bit tight for room. Someone told me after but 2 tickets so can have 2 seats to yourself so can stretch out and for $11 for 7 hrs got to be a bargain.

 

To get to SR was a fare old trek, I normally fly economy on Emirates or Qatar but when they announced the A380 was flying from Manchester me and a mate decided to bite the bullet and go business class as it looks pretty good. When we were checking in Bizz class lounge I was joking with the girls at the desk that if 1st class not full and they want to upgrade us free of charge we wont be offended.

 

Seems the bullshit worked as 30 mins before boarding got the call and got free upgrade on 1st leg out, they asked us to keep quiet about it as the other bizz class bods were 'regulars' meaning guys in suits with the company paying for their flights but as we were paying our own way (obvious in scruffs and holiday garb) they said would treat us. 1st class was great, had my 20 minutes in the spa before landing to shower/shave and freshen up, the 2nd leg in Bizz class was a bit of a come down, when we got to Bkk was Air Asia economy to PP, then was air con bus to SR, then shitty old tuk tuk for 20 minutes to hotel