Pattaya to the Poipet crossing, Thai side
Aranyaprathet is a town in Sa Kaeo province on Thailand's eastern border. Directly across the frontier lies Poipet in Cambodia, and this crossing is the classic overland route to Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor. Plenty of travellers prefer it to flying: you see the countryside, keep your luggage with you and set your own departure time. Aranyaprathet itself is a working border town, with hotels and restaurants for anyone breaking the journey.
A Van Pattaya to Aranyaprathet ride takes about four hours. The driver brings you to the border area on the Thai side, and that is where our part ends. From there you walk through the checkpoints yourself and arrange your own onward transport in Cambodia. Tell us when you want to reach the border and we plan the pick-up so you arrive in good time, ideally with plenty of daylight left.
Check the border before you check out
Entry and exit rules, visa arrangements and checkpoint hours are set by the two governments and can change without much notice. We do not advise on them, and nothing on this page should be read as current border information. Check the latest rules with official sources or your embassy a few days before you travel, not on the morning you leave. The same goes for coming back: if you plan to re-enter Thailand later, check what you will need for that as well.
- Confirm the current Thai exit and Cambodian entry rules for your passport
- Make sure your passport has enough validity and blank pages
- Sort out how you will get from Poipet to Siem Reap before you arrive
- Tell us the time you want to reach the border and we suggest when to leave Pattaya
Rong Kluea Market and the drive home
Not everyone crosses. Rong Kluea Market, right by the border, is a huge market of clothes, bags, household goods and second-hand finds, and some people make the trip just to shop. As a day out from Pattaya it is long, about four hours each way, so if you want the driver to wait and bring you back, ask for a return price; it is fixed in chat before you go. The fare is for the whole vehicle with tolls and fuel included: a sedan for a couple, an SUV for a small family, or the Toyota Commuter van for up to nine people and eight bags on the van Pattaya to Aranyaprathet run. You pay the driver in cash after the ride.
Returning from Cambodia? We can meet you on the Thai side once you have cleared immigration and drive you back to Pattaya, or on to Bangkok or one of the airports if your plans have changed. The time you get through the checkpoint is hard to predict, so keep your phone charged and message the driver when you are on your way.