Transferring To Aranyaprathet Bus In Mo Chit

[naugastyle]

I don't know why, but after two years in Thailand (but not Bangkok) I still find Mo Chit really confusing. I will be coming on night bus from Mae Sot and want to find the Aranyaprathet bus as quickly as possible...want to leave early! I honestly am always disoriented in Mo Chit. Any tips on figuring out how to find the Aran ticket windows easily from where the Mae Sot buses drop off?

[naugastyle]

Related question...on the online schedule http://home.transport.co.th/en/bus-schedule/254-time-table-east-central.html it says the bus takes 4 hours 15 minutes. But departure time is 5AM and arrival time is 1PM?? I was really hoping to be in Siem Reap by 1PM. Is the arrival time incorrect?

[Psych01]

Hi naugastyle, I did the Mochit to Aranyaprathet every 2 weeks for about 2 months.

The 1st bus leaves at 03:30, be there earlier, to get to the counter you need to walk to the front of Mochit on the ground floor, the Aranyaprathet booth I used was numbered 29,30 or 31 and opens at about 20-30 mins before the bus is due to leave. The journey takes about 4-4.5hrs on that particular bus, any other time, longer +1hr or more, believe me I know.

Hope this helps.

[asanee]

coming from Mae Sot you can save time-by not double going in+out:

1.change before bus reahes BKk at RANGSIT-Future Park-there is where half the bus gets off most of tmes anyway-before Old Don Muang airport.

2.there is now also a daily across the country bus from Mae Sot to Trat-dont know exact routing, but it will get you nearer by Aran-just ask at station-or consult map.

XYZ-there are 2 Bus lines Bkk-Aran: 59 via Rangsit-Saraburi (main highway)--Prachin

920/921 via teh ONgkarakcanal-is often much slower due to much more stops, this line has bene extended to the Rong Kleua border market beyond Aran.

THis laytter now has many more minibuses/vans from the Vict.Monument, saying they use motorway/expressway for the first part.

[Psych01]

coming from Mae Sot you can save time-by not double going in+out:

1.change before bus reahes BKk at RANGSIT-Future Park-there is where half the bus gets off most of tmes anyway-before Old Don Muang airport.

2.there is now also a daily across the country bus from Mae Sot to Trat-dont know exact routing, but it will get you nearer by Aran-just ask at station-or consult map.

XYZ-there are 2 Bus lines Bkk-Aran: 59 via Rangsit-Saraburi (main highway)--Prachin

920/921 via teh ONgkarakcanal-is often much slower due to much more stops, this line has bene extended to the Rong Kleua border market beyond Aran.

THis laytter now has many more minibuses/vans from the Vict.Monument, saying they use motorway/expressway for the first part.

The bus I took from Mochit does stop at Rangsit, then went on to Nakon Nayok, Petchinburi, Kabin Buri and finally goes to the Market Bus Terminal. If you are getting in to Bangkok early hours then, as I said before the market bus is the 1st to leave and final drops you at Rong Kleua, if your Thai is any good you could ask them to stop at the 7-11, and walk down to the border, but a motor bike taxi should not cost you 50bht, cheapest I got was 40bht.

[naugastyle]

Oh, my Thai is nearly non-existent, that's what Mae Sot does to people who work here .

But even an extra TWO hours would put the bus at arriving well before 1PM...the schedule on that website makes me nervous. I really hope the early timing + good weather means the bus will be on the 4hr end of things.

So...basically I get off at Rangsit and someone will be able to point me towards the Rong Kleua bus? And I can buy a ticket on board? I've usually only blearily woken up to see people get off at Rangsit, without really seeing if there are any bus stop attendent-type people...it always looks more like random-side-of-the-road. Or possibly I was blearily waking up at the wrong spot. Is it difficult to make this transfer at Rangsit when you don't speak Thai? I'm Asian, so people are not usually rushing up to practice English and help me.

Thank you for the advice!

[Psych01]

If you are coming into BKK, you will be dropped off the opposite side of the road/motorway. On the side you need to get too, there will be a little seating area and a stall for the bus to Rong Kleua, how you get across to it I do not know, sorry.

[Lakegeneve]

If you are coming into BKK, you will be dropped off the opposite side of the road/motorway. On the side you need to get too, there will be a little seating area and a stall for the bus to Rong Kleua, how you get across to it I do not know, sorry.

The incoming bus will stop on the east side (southbound) under the east-west Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok rd overpass, there is a pedestrian bridge to walk over to the west side (northbound). The area where buses stop is fairly easy to spot as there should be a bunch of people waiting there and there will be some mini vans as well. It is also located just before the left turning overpass which goes over Phaholyothin rd to connect with the Rangsit- Nakhon Nayok rd. This is where the bus will turn.

Note: don't ask for Talad Rong Kleua if your thai is limited (also not every bus goes to the border market 6kms beyond Aran), just say 'Aran' and everyone should understand.

You should note something though. If you chose to get off at Rangsit it is highly doubtful that you will get a seat on the bus to Aran as it tends to be that the early morning 1st class and VIP buses are booked out. 5-7am ish. Though you might save a good 60-90 mins by avoiding going into Mo Chit, keep that in mind.

Also, it used to be that if you caught either the 5am or 6am VIP bus it would only take around 3.5 hrs as the bus was completely full from Mo Chit and would only make a few stops (including Rangsit). Even the 1st class buses at that time tended to take less time than the schedules 4-4.5hrs. (Never ever take the 2nd class bus unless you are a masochist!)

(The casino buses are the quickest and cheapest way to Aran but to explain that would be more confusing if you are having trouble finding the Aran window.)

[Psych01]

If you are coming into BKK, you will be dropped off the opposite side of the road/motorway. On the side you need to get too, there will be a little seating area and a stall for the bus to Rong Kleua, how you get across to it I do not know, sorry.

The incoming bus will stop on the east side (southbound) under the east-west Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok rd overpass, there is a pedestrian bridge to walk over to the west side (northbound). The area where buses stop is fairly easy to spot as there should be a bunch of people waiting there and there will be some mini vans as well. It is also located just before the left turning overpass which goes over Phaholyothin rd to connect with the Rangsit- Nakhon Nayok rd. This is where the bus will turn.

Note: don't ask for Talad Rong Kleua if your thai is limited (also not every bus goes to the border market 6kms beyond Aran), just say 'Aran' and everyone should understand.

You should note something though. If you chose to get off at Rangsit it is highly doubtful that you will get a seat on the bus to Aran as it tends to be that the early morning 1st class and VIP buses are booked out. 5-7am ish. Though you might save a good 60-90 mins by avoiding going into Mo Chit, keep that in mind.

Also, it used to be that if you caught either the 5am or 6am VIP bus it would only take around 3.5 hrs as the bus was completely full from Mo Chit and would only make a few stops (including Rangsit). Even the 1st class buses at that time tended to take less time than the schedules 4-4.5hrs. (Never ever take the 2nd class bus unless you are a masochist!)

(The casino buses are the quickest and cheapest way to Aran but to explain that would be more confusing if you are having trouble finding the Aran window.)

Thanks for helping out with the directions. Not sure if you have read this,

Hi naugastyle, I did the Mochit to Aranyaprathet every 2 weeks for about 2 months.

The 1st bus leaves at 03:30, be there earlier, to get to the counter you need to walk to the front of Mochit on the ground floor, the Aranyaprathet booth I used was numbered 29,30 or 31 and opens at about 20-30 mins before the bus is due to leave. The journey takes about 4-4.5hrs on that particular bus, any other time, longer +1hr or more, believe me I know.

I was doing the trip from Mochit mid June this year until end of Aug this year. Timing as a rule was no shorter than 4.5hrs, if on the 03:30 bus, and 5.5hrs + for the next one after at 04:30. I did in my 1st two attempts use the 09:00 bus, that took nearer 6-6.5hrs.

[Lakegeneve]

If you are coming into BKK, you will be dropped off the opposite side of the road/motorway. On the side you need to get too, there will be a little seating area and a stall for the bus to Rong Kleua, how you get across to it I do not know, sorry.

The incoming bus will stop on the east side (southbound) under the east-west Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok rd overpass, there is a pedestrian bridge to walk over to the west side (northbound). The area where buses stop is fairly easy to spot as there should be a bunch of people waiting there and there will be some mini vans as well. It is also located just before the left turning overpass which goes over Phaholyothin rd to connect with the Rangsit- Nakhon Nayok rd. This is where the bus will turn.

Note: don't ask for Talad Rong Kleua if your thai is limited (also not every bus goes to the border market 6kms beyond Aran), just say 'Aran' and everyone should understand.

You should note something though. If you chose to get off at Rangsit it is highly doubtful that you will get a seat on the bus to Aran as it tends to be that the early morning 1st class and VIP buses are booked out. 5-7am ish. Though you might save a good 60-90 mins by avoiding going into Mo Chit, keep that in mind.

Also, it used to be that if you caught either the 5am or 6am VIP bus it would only take around 3.5 hrs as the bus was completely full from Mo Chit and would only make a few stops (including Rangsit). Even the 1st class buses at that time tended to take less time than the schedules 4-4.5hrs. (Never ever take the 2nd class bus unless you are a masochist!)

(The casino buses are the quickest and cheapest way to Aran but to explain that would be more confusing if you are having trouble finding the Aran window.)

Thanks for helping out with the directions. Not sure if you have read this,

Hi naugastyle, I did the Mochit to Aranyaprathet every 2 weeks for about 2 months.

The 1st bus leaves at 03:30, be there earlier, to get to the counter you need to walk to the front of Mochit on the ground floor, the Aranyaprathet booth I used was numbered 29,30 or 31 and opens at about 20-30 mins before the bus is due to leave. The journey takes about 4-4.5hrs on that particular bus, any other time, longer +1hr or more, believe me I know.

I was doing the trip from Mochit mid June this year until end of Aug this year. Timing as a rule was no shorter than 4.5hrs, if on the 03:30 bus, and 5.5hrs + for the next one after at 04:30. I did in my 1st two attempts use the 09:00 bus, that took nearer 6-6.5hrs.

Yeah I did read that before. Man you are a sucker for punishment if you did 3 border runs in a row (I assume border runs as there is not really any other motivation to go to Aran except visiting the trashy Poipet casinos). Must have crossed that border a couple of dozen times over the last 15 yrs and a trip never took longer than 5hrs max so not sure what is going on with a 6-6.5hr trip - can you suggest why do long? (Perhaps, that 9am service hits traffic around Rangsit? Any bus can take an extra hour if it hits traffic before Rangsit and then heavy traffic on the Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok rd. Hence earlier is usually better).

What confuses me a little is that previously the 1st class started at 4:30am and VIP buses started at 5am. When you referred to a 3:30am bus, I assumed that is was a 2nd class bus??? You didn't state what class it was.

I assumed that because usually the 2nd class buses as usually only 2nd class buses run through the night from Mo Chit for any destination or do the very early start on a specific route. They of course take much longer. In this case a 4-4.5 hr trip in this case can be as much as 6hrs!

In any event, I checked the Airaran website and it says that the 3:30am is a 1st class not 2nd class,http://www.airaran.co.th/bus-schedule/?lang=en. The OP can check for info on this site.

I'd still take the 5am or 6am VIP (Note: check the times with the Transport Company 1st) as the early VIPs are quick. Once when I took this years ago, I slept and woke up at Aran just after 8am, I was at the border by 8:15am. It used to be that the VIP buses were quicker than 1st class - I assume that is still the same?

[naugastyle]

Thanks for all the info--wow! I am not comfortable with the idea of trying to transfer at Rangsit only to discover there's no room on the bus...I guess I'll be going all the way to Mo Chit. I'd really like to go straight to Talad Rong Kleua, so I guess it's easier to do so when starting from Mo Chit (as a non-Thai speaker).

Yeah, I was hoping for VIP since I will have already taken a long bus ride from Mae Sot. Naturally, since every other time I arrive on the Mae Sot bus at 4AM, the one time I really "need" to arrive at 4AM I'm sure the bus will be late. I've taken 2nd class to MS before and while the interior is hardly uncomfortable, it does go much slower. Not worth saving less than 100 baht.

Thanks for the airaran site...great info.

Maybe it is because I am always tired when coming through Mo Chit, but the layout seems clear when I am dropped off by taxi. (Front: tickets. Back: gates I need. Upstairs: gates I don't need. Haha.) When I'm dropped off by bus, I usually rely on instincts to find the metered taxi stand because I literally always feel like I don't know where I am. I guess I'm not really sure what tips I thought would help me understand the layout. But knowing the window numbers makes me feel a bit better!

So for those of you who have taken this trip repeatedly: I assume my Kasikorn bank card should work most places in Cambodia? And will my Thai SIM (1-2-Call) work? I can get a Cambodian SIM once I'm settled in, but I want to be able to call for a pickup once I'm on the bus to Siem Reap and have a better idea of my schedule.