Crossing the Cambodian Border

From Bangkok’s main station take the 5.50am train to Aranyaprathet, third class only. The seats are hard and it can get pretty crowded but the windows open and you can watch rural areas of Thailand go by with the wind in your hair. The rice paddies are a beautiful distraction over the 6hr trip.
The trip costs 47 baht.

From the train station at Aranyaprathet take a tuk-tuk to the border for 80 baht. Without fail the tuk-tuk driver will take you to a tout to get your Cambodian visa (THIS IS NOT THE BORDER, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FILL OUT ANY FORMS OR PAY ANY MONEY). This is the first scam along the way! Get back in your tuk-tuk and go to the border. At the border walk through Thai immigration, once through keep walking for about 150 meters to the Cambodian immigration. The route is a little confusing past big casino’s with people approaching you wanting to guide you, offering you taxi services and visa services. IGNORE THEM AND KEEP WALKING. (more scams)

You can get a Cambodian visa at the border it costs $20 US, do not pay any more. If you have a chance get your visa in Bangkok before heading to Cambodia, it will make the crossing a little easier for you.

Once through immigration you enter the town of Poipet. A typical border town, here you will be approached by people wanting to take you to a taxi. A shared taxi to Siem Riep cost $60 US (4 people can share this).

On the way to Siem Riep (about 3 hours) the taxi will make a toilet stop. Everybody is on commission and yes water does cost $1 US.