Thailand–Cambodia Border Status
The land border between Thailand and Cambodia has been closed to travellers since a 2025 border conflict. Overland crossing is not currently possible — you need to fly. This is a fast-moving situation, so always confirm the live status with an official government advisory before you travel.
At a glance (verify before you travel)
- All land crossings are closed. Thailand shut every land border with Cambodia in late June 2025; they remained closed through the most recent 2026 reports, with no reopening date.
- Flights operate normally. Fly Bangkok ↔ Phnom Penh (Techo / KTI) or Siem Reap-Angkor (SAI).
- Stay out of the border strip. The U.S. advised against travel within 50 km of the border; the UK within 20 km.
- Main destinations are unaffected. Phnom Penh, Siem Reap / Angkor and the Sihanoukville coast are well away from the border.
- Check official sources. See the travel advisories below for live guidance.
Current Status
Thailand closed all of its land border crossings with Cambodia in late June 2025, after a long-running dispute over border temples (notably Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom) escalated into an armed conflict. Ceasefires were reached in 2025, but fighting resumed and a ceasefire signed on 27 December 2025 broke down in early January 2026. According to the most recent reports available for this page, all official land crossings remained closed to travellers in 2026, with no reopening date announced, and cross-border bus services (such as Giant Ibis) were suspended.
In practical terms: you cannot currently travel overland between Thailand and Cambodia. If you have an old itinerary that routes you through Poipet or another land crossing, it will not work while the border is closed — plan to fly instead.
Why this page carries dates
Crossing-by-Crossing
All of the main Thailand–Cambodia crossings are closed. They are listed here for reference and for when the border eventually reopens.
| Crossing | Provinces (KH ↔ TH) | Normally used for | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poipet – Aranyaprathet | Banteay Meanchey ↔ Sa Kaeo | Busiest crossing; Bangkok–Siem Reap buses | Closed |
| Cham Yeam – Hat Lek | Koh Kong ↔ Trat | Route to the coast and islands | Closed |
| O'Smach – Chong Jom | Oddar Meanchey ↔ Surin | Quieter alternative for Siem Reap | Closed |
| Pailin – Ban Pakard | Pailin ↔ Chanthaburi | Remote route for Battambang | Closed |
| Choam – Chong Sa-Ngam | Oddar Meanchey ↔ Sisaket | Near Preah Vihear / Anlong Veng | Closed |
Other smaller checkpoints along the border are also closed. When crossings reopen, our From Thailand and Land Borders guides cover the crossing process, visa-on-arrival and scams.
How to Travel Instead: Fly
Flights between Thailand and Cambodia continue to operate normally and are currently the only practical way to travel between the two countries. Bangkok has the most frequent connections:
- Bangkok → Phnom Penh — about 1 hour 15 minutes, into the new Techo International Airport (KTI).
- Bangkok → Siem Reap-Angkor (SAI) — about 1 hour, the gateway to the Angkor temples.
See our flights guide for airlines and booking tips, and Cambodia from Bangkok for the full picture.
Government Travel Advisories
These official advisories are the authoritative, regularly-updated source for the current situation. Check the one for your country before and during your trip.
- United States — Cambodia is at Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”) overall, with a Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”) zone within 50 km of the Cambodia–Thailand border. U.S. Embassy Cambodia alert.
- United Kingdom — FCDO advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the land border with Thailand. gov.uk Cambodia advice.
- Australia — see the current Smartraveller Cambodia advisory.
The border provinces named in these advisories are Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Battambang, Pailin, Pursat and Koh Kong. The restriction applies to the zone close to the border rather than to each province in its entirety, but if your route runs near the frontier, check the advisory carefully.
Is It Still Safe to Visit Cambodia?
For most visitors, yes — with one clear caveat: stay away from the Thai border. The conflict and the “do not travel” warnings are concentrated in a narrow strip along the frontier. Cambodia's headline destinations sit well away from it:
- Phnom Penh — the capital, unaffected and outside the advisory zones.
- Siem Reap & the Angkor temples — Siem Reap city and Angkor Archaeological Park are outside the elevated zones.
- Sihanoukville, Kampot, Kep and the islands — the southern coast is far from the Thai border.
The main exception for sightseers is the Preah Vihear temple, which sits directly on the disputed border and has been a flashpoint — it is not a safe visit during the conflict. Overland day trips that hug the border (for example some routes around Anlong Veng) may also fall within a restricted zone. When in doubt, choose interior routes and check your advisory.
How We Got Here (Timeline)
Long-running dispute
Competing claims over border temples — notably Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom — have caused periodic tension for years.
Mid-2025 — escalation & border closure
Tensions escalated into armed clashes. Thailand closed all land border crossings with Cambodia in late June 2025; fighting through the year killed more than 100 people and displaced over half a million.
Ceasefires — July & August 2025
A ceasefire was announced on 28 July 2025 after talks in Malaysia (with U.S. and Chinese encouragement), followed by a further agreement in August, but the underlying dispute stayed unresolved.
December 2025 — fighting resumes, second ceasefire
Heavy fighting resumed in early December 2025; a second ceasefire was signed on 27 December 2025.
Early 2026 — ceasefire falters, border stays shut
The December ceasefire broke down in early January 2026, and the land crossings remained closed through the most recent reports available for this page, with officials giving no reopening date.
Thailand–Cambodia Border FAQ
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