Crossing the Thai-Cambodia border

🇰🇭 I crossed the border today from Thailand to Cambodia (Aranyaprathet to Poipet). I had heard so many horror stories that I was really dreading it. But it was like a walk in the park. This is a post on how I went from Bangkok to Phnom Penh overland.

[2] My journey started at Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong). I bought a ticket for Ordinary No. 275 (Bangkok to Ban Klong Luk Border). The train left at 5:55 a.m. There are only 3rd Class seats available and you can only buy an hour in advance. Price was 49 Baht.

[3] It takes five hours and twenty two minutes to go all the way to the Cambodian border. The train arrived on time at 11:17 a.m. There’s no reason to bring any food as vendors were coming on and off the train all the time.

[4] Thai immigration is literally next door to the railway station. But before I went in, I went to the nearby 7-11 to stock up on a few things including drinks.

#Thailand #Cambodia

[5] Thai immigration was quite simple for leaving the country. Follow the sign to 2F which is up one floor. There are escalators but they don’t work. I was in and out in literally 3 minutes.

#Thailand #Cambodia

[6] Next you go to Cambodian Immigration. Ignore anyone that approaches you offering help. Walk with purpose. You will need to cross the road and go up the steps on the right of the third picture. That’s Immigration for foreigners.

[7] I was doing Visa on Arrival for $30. (If you have an e-visa you need to print two copies of it.) When I entered the room I turned left and a man gave me this form to fill in. I thought it was the arrival form but apparently it’s also used to apply for a visa.

#Cambodia

[8] After I finished I handed my passport, the form, and passport photo to the same guy. He then asked for 100 Baht. I said I don’t have any Thai money. He then said $33. I pointed to the sign and said no, it’s $30. He took my passport and handed it to the official.

[9] A few minutes later I got my passport back with the visa sticker in it. I then had to go to the other side of the room where they gave me the same form to fill in again. Then I gave this and my passport to another Immigration officer. Total time in this room was 13 minutes.

[10] As soon as you leave immigration you are accosted by taxi touts. I kept walking with purpose. Actually I was heading to the nearby Poipet Station to take some photos. Opposite is this taxi office. Also SIM card shop and foreign exchange. A shared taxi to Battambang was $10.

[11] I will be doing the next step tomorrow. I will be catching the train from Battambang to Phnom Penh. The ticket is $8 for a seven and a half hour trip. The train leaves at 3:00pm. If I had taken a private car from the border I probably would have been able to take that train.