There are several ways to arrive and depart from Siem Reap, Cambodia. The most obvious being to arrive by air.
The Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is where daily flights come in for the most part from, Bangkok The new Arrivals and Departure terminals are very attractive and major improvement on the old facilities. The airport is extremely close to downtown making motorcycle or taxi rides extremely affordable. Most major hotels offer free transportation to and from the airport.
A good an reliable taxi service who will pick you up with a nameboard and offers cheap rates is www.siemreaptaxis.com
Other major cities have regular flights to Siem Reap as well, such as Singapore Kuala Lumpur or Ho Chi Minh. All of the airlines that come through the city are Asian airliners, so a switch will most likely be necessary; check with the airport's website for a listing of the airlines that service Angkor International Airport.
Phnom Penh. Phonm Penh International Airport is a likely option for transferring you to Siem Reap. It is also a modern and attractive airport 40 mins drive from the city centre. At over 320kms from Siem Reap you will need to allow extra time for travel here.
The quickest option is flying. The 35 min flight costs approx $70 - $80 per person
The road to Siem Reap is now good tarmac all the way, so road transport is easy and relatively cheap.
Bus takes 5 ½ to 6 hours the best buses are Mekong Express ($11) and Hour Sokka ($9). Both companies have on board WCs and working air con.
Cheaper buses like Capitol tours ($4 to $6 ) will get you here; but not in the same comfort.
The bus station in Siem Reap is 3 kms from the town centre. It’s a chaotic and noisy introduction to Siem Reap and not at all representative of the town as a whole.
- Tip for travellers: If you're leaving Siem Reap, buy water or snacks before you get to the bus station - local vendors charge real premium!
Private Taxi takes 4 -5 hours door to door ($50) for car on average to do the 310km journey. An English speaking driver will cost a little more.
- Tip for travellers: For westerners the journey will probably be somewhat unnerving. Driving styles are different from the USA or Europe, and the driver will spend a good amount of time with his hand on the car horn - after all you're sharing the road with cyclists, pedestrians, water buffalo and other drivers who share the local somewhat aggressive drivings style. The private taxi drivers are good though - but this is not a relaxing ride.
Ferries depart daily from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap for around ($25.00). The few remaining boats are not particularly safe, comfortable or fast. Reliability in the low water season (Feb to June) is poor. The journey takes 5 hours at best and 15 at worst ! While the landing in Phnom Penh is quite central (you'll be met by a scrum of taxi drivers touting for business) in Siem Reap the landing is somewhat out of town, and you'll need a tuk tuk to get you to or from your accommodation.
Its cheaper and faster by bus or Taxi - but the ferry is a fun way for travellers who want to chill-out on their journey between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Take sunblock if you plan to sit on the roof.
Prices and information above are current in April 2007 - and by 2009 have gone up somewhat.