Siem Reap – Angkor International Airport (SAI): A Comprehensive Guide to the New Airport
Siem Reap – Angkor International Airport, bearing the IATA code ‘SAI,’ celebrated its grand opening on October 16, 2023, marking a significant milestone in the realm of Cambodian aviation. This monumental event established it as Cambodia’s largest airport with a remarkable capacity to accommodate an annual influx of 58,000 flights and 7 million passengers.
This comprehensive guide serves as your trusted resource, ensuring a seamless travel experience through Siem Reap – Angkor International Airport and onwards to your accommodations.
Location
Located approximately 45 kilometers east of downtown Siem Reap, the airport is strategically positioned to serve as the primary gateway for travelers embarking on a journey to the renowned Angkor Wat complex.
The location of the new airport, in comparison to the old airport which was just 5 km from town, was chosen due to several reasons, including:
- Allowing long-haul direct flights with larger airplanes to accommodate international travelers, particularly tourists from America and Europe;
- Facilitating more domestic and international flights to meet the expected growth in tourism numbers;
- Minimizing the impact of vibrations and air pollution on the Angkor Archaeological Park and Siem Reap town;
- Providing space for the ever-expanding city of Siem Reap, which is poised to introduce various new tourism attractions and a whole new city named Grand Siem Reap. This new city, located just 8 km from the new airport, will feature residential, commercial, and tourism zones, further enhancing the area’s development;
For a visual representation of the airport’s location in proximity to Siem Reap town and the Angkor Wat temple complex, consult the Google map below.
Siem Reap – Angkor International Airport map, showing its location in proximity to Siem Reap town and Angkor Wat (Source: Google Maps)
Getting to and from the New Siem Reap Airport
Accessing the airport is facilitated by the newly constructed “Angkor Highway”, reducing travel time considerably. This 24.5-kilometer highway, commencing near national road 6 at the 294 km marker, has alleviated some traffic congestion. Nevertheless, despite this new route, the total distance between Siem Reap town and the airport remains at approximately 45 km with an estimated travel time of 1 hour and 15 minutes. Anticipate further reductions in travel times in the coming years, thanks to improved road connections and a light-rail line project currently under a feasibility study by the Cambodian government.
Official Transportation Options & Prices
Travelers have 3 official transport options available to get to and from Siem Reap Airport:
- Private car (up to 7 persons): $35 per vehicle;
- Mini-van (8 to 15 persons): $40 per vehicle;
- Shuttle bus service: $8 a person for a single trip or $15 for a return ticket;
Airport Shuttle Bus Service: Schedule, Drop-off Points, Pick-up Points
From Siem Reap airport, shuttle buses depart to town at 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 6:00pm, 8:00pm, 10:00pm and will bring you directly to CDF Angkor Duty Free Store in downtown Siem Reap (Wat Bo area). From there you can travel to your hotel by rickshaw or tuk-tuk which should only take a couple of minutes.
For travelers heading from Siem Reap town to the airport, the shuttle service departs from CDF at 5:30am, 7:00am, 8:00am, 11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm, 4:30pm and 7:00pm.
New: Airport Shuttle Express by Cambodia Post
Thanks to this recently added shuttle bus service by Cambodia Post, travelers have even more transport options to get to and from Siem Reap Airport. At $8 a person, the cost is equally affordable as the official shuttle bus.
From Siem Reap airport, shuttle buses depart to town at 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 15:00pm, 16:30pm, 18:00pm, 20:00pm. The drop-off point is at the Siem Reap Post Office along the riverside in the center of town. Depending on the location of your hotel, this may be a more convenient drop-off point than CDF Angkor Duty Free Store.
For travelers heading towards the airport, shuttle buses depart from the Siem Reap Post Office at 7:00am, 9:00am, 11:00am, 12:30pm, 14:00pm, 15:30pm, 17:00pm.
Other Transportation Options
In addition to the official transport options provided by the airport, travelers currently have a range of alternative choices:
- Private taxi services, priced at approximately 25 USD per car;
- Private shuttle services, available at around 12 USD per person, which is slightly more expensive than the official service, but available 24/7 with direct drop-off at your hotel;
- Taxi-booking platforms like Grab or the local variant PassApp. Consider booking a private car, as tuk-tuks or rickshaws may not be allowed to enter the airport;
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