Thailand-Cambodia Border Closed: Plan B for October 2026

Where does the border stand on 7 October 2026?

Thailand closed its border crossings with Cambodia on 23 June 2025, across seven border provinces. Cambodia closed its side too, then extended the measure nationwide in December 2025. As of 7 October 2026, the closure has lasted more than fifteen months. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), in its update of 28 September 2026, says that « land borders and crossings remain suspended ».

The French-language guide Découvrir le Cambodge, checked on 6 September 2026, confirms that all land crossings are closed and that flights are still running. The known exceptions (medical cases, students, humanitarian aid) are down to the discretion of Thai security units. No tourist exception is documented, so don’t count on one.

Why it isn’t reopening

Thai officials restated their position in spring 2026. The defence minister said in late April that there was « no current plan » to reopen, according to Toute la Thaïlande. The navy chief summed up the line in April as « Closed means closed », and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul repeated in Paris on 25 May that the crossings remained shut (Asia News Network). On the Thai side, the conditions mentioned include withdrawing heavy weapons, demining and tackling online fraud networks. Cambodia, for its part, wants all crossings reopened at the same time, with no new unilateral closure.

The ceasefire of 27 December 2025 is broadly holding, but it remains fragile: ASEAN observers were present in August 2026, and Thailand is building an 8.4 km border wall, according to The Star (12 September 2026). No reopening date has been given.

Plan A: fly from Bangkok to Siem Reap

Bangkok – Siem Reap in 1h 15

From US$106 one way About 1h 15 flight time End of the rainy season Dry season from November to February

This is the simplest option, and the only one that works for every nationality without conditions. Bangkok-Siem Reap flights are running normally: the restriction mentioned in June 2025 targeted Thai nationals, not foreign travellers. Air arrivals in Cambodia actually grew by 19.2% in 2025, while land arrivals fell by 37.8%.

Several airlines fly the route. Thai AirAsia operates from Don Mueang (DMK), Bangkok Airways from Suvarnabhumi (BKK, three daily flights), Cambodia Angkor Air rounds out the offer, and Cambodia Airways launched Siem Reap-Bangkok on 15 September 2026, five times a week. When searching for tickets, remember that Siem Reap’s airport is now called Siem Angkor (SAI). Trip.com data from 7 October shows fares from US$106 one way for 7 November and US$191 return, with higher prices in December and January. To compare Bangkok-Siem Reap flights on Aviasales, adjust the date to your own.

What flying really changes

• You save a day: the bus via Aranyaprathet, the border crossing and the minibus on to Siem Reap used to eat up a whole morning and afternoon.
• You can also fly Bangkok to Phnom Penh (around US$48 to US$68 one way, according to comparison sites).
• Your budget goes up: expect a flight costing several tens of pounds where a bus used to cost very little. The time saved makes up for it, but the price gap is real.

Pixidia tip: the Bangkok floods of 24 to 28 September 2026 led to around thirty Thai Airways flights being cancelled, even though both airports stayed open. In the rainy season, leave a buffer of at least 24 hours before a long-haul flight home. A weather cancellation doesn’t entitle you to compensation under UK or EU passenger rights rules (AirHelp, 28 September 2026).

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Plan B: enter via Laos or Vietnam

Cambodia’s borders with Laos and Vietnam aren’t affected by the conflict, as the French embassy in Cambodia made clear as early as December 2025 (Le Petit Journal). These routes only make sense if your trip already includes those countries.

Via Laos: long, but works for a Thailand-Laos-Cambodia loop

From Bangkok, the route runs through Ubon Ratchathani, the Thai crossing at Chong Mek, then Pakse in Laos: about 12h 40 in total. From Pakse, a minivan reaches Siem Reap via the Nong Nokkhiane (Laos) and Trapeang Kriel (Cambodia) crossing, taking 8 to 15 hours and costing US$33 to US$47 according to Goasia (8 March 2026). Plan for a Lao visa on arrival, and check in advance that your Cambodian e-visa is accepted at this crossing. If Angkor is your only goal, this detour isn’t worth it compared with flying.

Via Vietnam: handy if you’re coming from Ho Chi Minh City

The Moc Bai-Bavet crossing, between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, is open. It’s the right choice if you’re linking Vietnam and Cambodia, for example after our north-to-south Vietnam backpacker itinerary (in French). It has nothing to do with the Thai closure, and e-visa acceptance varies by crossing.

What about Koh Kong?

The Hat Lek-Cham Yeam crossing is closed like the others. To reach Koh Kong and the Cardamom Mountains, go via Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville, not via Trat.

Angkor and Siem Reap: what doesn’t change

Angkor Archaeological Park is about two hours from the border, outside the areas officials advise against visiting. As early as December 2025, French tour operators were reporting no impact on visits (TourMaG, 15 December 2025). Tourism is struggling all the same: 428,223 international visitors to Angkor from January to July 2026 and ticket revenue down 29%, according to figures relayed by the regional press.

What to know before you go

• Angkor Pass: US$37 (1 day), US$62 (3 days), US$72 (7 days).
• Best time to go: November to February, in the dry season. Until then, the temples are greener and quieter, with some showers.
• A discount campaign in Siem Reap has been announced since 1 August 2026: check that it applies to your dates before factoring it in.

To choose between sunrise and sunset, see our comparison of Angkor Wat visits. And if Bangkok is part of your trip, our two-to-three-week Thailand itinerary (in French) isn’t affected by the closure.

Areas to avoid and official advice

Governments don’t recommend giving up on Cambodia or Thailand, but they do advise keeping away from the border strip. The distances vary by country.

On the Cambodian side, Preah Vihear, Ta Krabey and Ta Muen Thom are among the places closed or inaccessible, according to the FCDO. Angkor, Phnom Penh, Bangkok and Siem Reap city fall outside these areas. US advisories also flag unexploded ordnance in some rural areas near the border: the common-sense rule is never to leave marked paths.

2026 entry rules: visa, arrival cards, time in Thailand

• Cambodia: tourist e-visa at US$30, valid for 30 days, from the official site evisa.gov.kh. Mirror sites charge more.
• e-Arrival Card: compulsory for air arrivals in Cambodia, to be completed within 7 days before arrival.
• Thailand: the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is free and must be completed within 72 hours before arrival, on the official immigration website.
• Visa-free stay: since 15 September 2026, 30 days instead of 60 for UK travellers, with a maximum of two visa-exempt entries per calendar year, whether by air, land or sea (FCDO). Full details in our article on the 30-day visa-free stay.

The direct consequence: the « visa run » via Poipet to reset the clock is impossible while the border is closed, and the cap on entries would reduce its appeal anyway. Think about your return flight: keep an onward ticket, and come back into Thailand by air, as on your way out.