Boats on calm turquoise water off the Cambodian coast

Route guide · Verified 4 September 2026

Thailand to Cambodia Overland via Laos (Border Closed, 2026)

Q: Is the Thailand–Cambodia border really closed?

Yes, all of it. Every land crossing has been shut since the 2025 conflict and there is no reopening timeline. Thai officials have repeatedly said reopening depends on conditions being met. Flights operate normally.

Q: How many visas do I need?

Two: a Lao visa (on arrival, about US$40) and a Cambodian visa (on arrival, US$30). Both are issued at the respective borders.

Q: Should I just fly?

If time matters, yes, and we would say so even though it earns us nothing. Bangkok to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap is under two hours and flights are unaffected. The overland route is for people who want the journey or cannot fly.

Every direct Thailand–Cambodia land crossing is shut. The only overland route left goes through Laos, and it is longer than most people expect.

Direct border closed
2–3 days realistically
2 borders to cross
2 visas needed

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The Thailand–Cambodia land border is closed Every Thailand–Cambodia land crossing has been shut since the 2025 conflict, with no reopening timeline. Overland between the two now means going through Laos. Read more. Checked 4 September 2026

Can I still travel overland?

Every Thailand–Cambodia land crossing has been closed since the 2025 conflict, with no reopening timeline. The only overland route left runs through Laos: cross at Vang Tao–Chong Mek into Pakse, then take the Nongnokkhene crossing into Stung Treng. Allow two to three days and two visas.

Last verified 4 September 2026

The route, leg by leg

Bangkok to Siem Reap overland via Laos.
Leg	How	Time
Bangkok → Ubon Ratchathani	Overnight train or bus	approx 10 hrs
Ubon Ratchathani → Pakse	Bus via Vang Tao–Chong Mek	approx 3 hrs
Pakse → Stung Treng	Bus or van via Nongnokkhene	approx 6 hrs
Stung Treng → Siem Reap	Bus	approx 8 hrs

In practice nobody does this in one push. Pakse is the natural overnight stop, and the 4000 Islands are an hour further south if you would rather break the journey somewhere pleasant.

Timing traps

Nongnokkhene closes at 18:00, earlier than most Cambodian posts. Arriving late means a night in Stung Treng province.
Thailand's land-border entry cap now applies: two visa-exempt land entries per calendar year since 15 September 2026.
Onward transport from Stung Treng is infrequent. Book a through-ticket where you can.

Should you fly instead?

Probably, if time matters at all. Bangkok to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap is under two hours and flights are running normally. We earn nothing by telling you that, but it is the honest answer, the overland route is worth it if you want the journey, are travelling on to southern Laos anyway, or cannot fly. It is not worth it purely to save money.

The Laos–Cambodia crossing in detail Thailand crossings

Common questions

Is the Thailand–Cambodia border really closed?

Yes, all of it, since the 2025 conflict, with no reopening timeline. Flights operate normally.

What is the fastest overland route?

Ubon Ratchathani → Vang Tao–Chong Mek → Pakse → Nongnokkhene → Stung Treng. Two to three days from Bangkok.

How many visas do I need?

Two, Lao (about US$40) and Cambodian (US$30), both on arrival.

Should I just fly?

If time matters, yes. Under two hours, and unaffected by the closure.

Laos Bus Tickets

Written and maintained from Vientiane. The people behind this site have lived in Laos for two decades and cross these borders themselves. Routes and visa rules get rechecked whenever something changes, not on a fixed schedule that lets stale information sit for months.

Sources for this page

Lao Department of Immigration: checkpoint list, opening hours and visa status
Cambodia e-Visa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Cambodian visa fees
Thailand Immigration Bureau: Thai entry requirements