Chong Chom/O'Smach border/Siem Reap update

Very little up to date information available regarding this border crossing and onward travel to Siem Reap so I decided to share my recent travel experience with you. The trip was done in April 2019.

Shared minibuses are available from Buriram and Surin main bus stations throughout the day to the border. If you travel by car there is a longstay carpark on the Thai side about 300 meters before the border near the first military checkpoint. I paid 50 baht/day for parking. Upon entering Cambodia the visa fee is 30 Us dollars or 1500 baht. If you haven't got a photo for the visa they will take one for you for 100 bahts. If you want to return the same day to Thailand they will ask for a further 300 baht on the Cambodian side.

I read somewhere that there is a daily bus from the border to Siem Reap at 9am but couldn't find any more information. The taxi drivers asked for 2500 baht for Siem Reap and they insisted that the bus company used to operate has gone bust. Could be a scam to get your business but since I got there at 8 am I wasn't in the mood to wait one hour to figure it myself. I managed to get the taxi down to 2000 baht and was in Siem Reap 2-3 hours later. 

In Siem Reap I asked quite a few travel agents for a bus back to O'smack. Finally the fourth agency had bus tickets for 15 us dollars. The ticket includes a tuktuk pick up from your hotel to the bus. The bus had Aircon and was ok, however it takes a longer route, stops frequently and quite slow generally. Took 5 hours to get to O'smack. It doesn't take you all the way to the border, the bus stop is about 1-2 km from the border. You have to take a motorbike taxi or walk there.

I would only recommend the bus if you are very short of cash and you have plenty of time. I certainly won't do again.

Hope it helps some of you.