Aranyaprathet
Discover Aranyaprathet
Aranyaprathet (อรัญประเทศ, also Aran Yaprathet, Aranya Prathet, or just Aran) is a border town in Eastern Thailand (Sa Kaeo province). Nearby is Poipet; Cambodia's busiest land crossing, which is the most popular tourist route for travel between Bangkok and Siem Reap (and the Angkor Archaeological Park). The border is 6 km to the southeast of the town. It is open 08:00 to 20:00. There is no time difference between the two countries. Immediately next to the Thai immigration facilities is Rongkleu Market, which hosts banks, cafes, a convenience store, money exchanges, and buses. The market, like the border and the town itself, is the scene of industrial-scale visa scams for unwary travellers. Immediately on the Cambodian side of the border is Poipet, a much maligned, grotty hole that appeals to those with a warped aesthetic.
Taste of Aranyaprathet...
If you're looking for breakfast in the morning there are half-a-dozen cheap noodle restaurants (open from 08:00): walk along Jidsuwan Road north to south (4 blocks; from hwy 33 to a 7-11 store @ corner of Jidsuwan / Mit Samphan). There are also fruit sellers in the market and some other convenience stores in town. Numerous restaurants are open in the afternoon and evening. Real coffee (at least for farangs) can be found at Coffee Break on the road heading southeast from the clock tower. Free Wi-Fi. Near the train station there are some expensive but basic guesthouses aimed at people who don't know what they're doing. However, cheaper basic accommodation and better quality hotels can be found elsewhere. Also, going 1.5 km north of Hwy 33 (on '348' road) and east towards 'Aranyaprathet district park' (turn right after 'Caltex' gas station), are several bungalow motels (200-300 baht for 3 hours or 350-550 baht for 24 hours). There are more than 6 Internet cafés in the centre of (0.5 kilometre radius) Aranyaprathet. They have broadband and are reliably fast. 20 baht/hour, or 40 baht /3 hours. The post office is on the road from the train station to the clock tower. A not so well-known diversion (it will add about 24 hrs to the trip) on the Bangkok-Aran route is Nang Rong, which is near some rather groovy Angkorian temples. From Aran, take any north-bound bus, e.g.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThere are two bus stations in Aran, the main one is in the town about 400 m northwest of the crossroad and a less busy one is in Rongkleu Market. In and around Rongkleu Market touts offer taxis (1,900 baht) to Bangkok, and slightly more for other Thai cities. Sharing a taxi might be a good idea. A few metres beyond this, in the market, there are air-con minibuses to Bangkok (250-300 baht). The drop-off point may range from exactly where one wishes to in front of a Skytrain station (Victory Monument is popular). The market bus station also has buses to Bangkok's Mo Chit bus station and Suvarnabhumi airport. There are also buses from the market to other Thai towns, such as Nakhon Ratchasima and Chachoengsao (which is useful for Pattaya and other destinations on that coast). Such buses allow travellers to avoid Aranyaprathet town, though the main bus station is better connected....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The town is fairly small and easily covered on foot. Twenty baht for a tuk-tuk ride within the town may be slightly generous. Extra large size songthaews run between the 7-Eleven in Rongkleu Market and central Aran. A ride costs 15 baht, and they can be flagged down anywhere along the main road between the Aranyaprathet Railway station and the border market. A tuk-tuk should cost 60 baht to the border after haggling and a motorbike taxi should be 40 baht after a haggle. Motorbikes can be rented from several shops inside the Rongkleu Market at the border. Rates are usually between 100-300 baht (for 3 hours, 6 hours, or 10 hours, from 08:00-18:00). Bicycles and golf carts can also be rented at the market. Be careful when driving back to Aranyaprathet on Highway 33 (occasionally corrupt police set up road checks, and might confiscate your driver's license for a fee/bribe, regardless of whether you're driving legally or not).
Where to Stay
Near the train station there are some expensive but basic guesthouses aimed at people who don't know what they're doing. However, cheaper basic accommodation and better quality hotels can be found elsewhere. Also, going 1.5 km north of Hwy 33 (on '348' road) and east towards 'Aranyaprathet district park' (turn right after 'Caltex' gas station), are several bungalow motels (200-300 baht for 3 hours or 350-550 baht for 24 hours). There are more than 6 Internet cafés in the centre of (0.5 kilometre radius) Aranyaprathet. They have broadband and are reliably fast. 20 baht/hour, or 40 baht /3 hours. The post office is on the road from the train station to the clock tower. A not so well-known diversion (it will add about 24 hrs to the trip) on the Bangkok-Aran route is Nang Rong, which is near some rather groovy Angkorian temples. From Aran, take any north-bound bus, e.g., to Buriram, Korat, Si Saket or Ubon Ratchathani-all of which have train stations (approximately 100 baht to Nang Rong).
Money & Budget
Central Aran has several banks with ATMs and foreign exchange. When the banks are closed changing money is difficult in the town, though there should be traders at the border willing to exchange money. Over the border in Poipet, baht and dollars can be changed with market traders all day and well into the evening. If you're looking for breakfast in the morning there are half-a-dozen cheap noodle restaurants (open from 08:00): walk along Jidsuwan Road north to south (4 blocks; from hwy 33 to a 7-11 store @ corner of Jidsuwan / Mit Samphan). There are also fruit sellers in the market and some other convenience stores in town. Numerous restaurants are open in the afternoon and evening.