Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI) Guide: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is the new gateway for Angkor Wat and Siem Reap. SAI is much farther from town than the old airport, so every Angkor itinerary should include the real airport transfer cost and time.

This guide is written for travelers who want the useful details first: the real airport name, where it sits, how much to budget for transport, what to expect in the terminal, where to search for flights, and which services to arrange before landing. Prices and routes are updated for June 2026 and should be treated as practical planning ranges rather than fixed promises.

Quick airport facts

Item	Details
Full airport name	Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport
Short codes	SAI / VDSA
Also searched as	Siem Reap Angkor Airport, Angkor International Airport, New Siem Reap Airport
City and country	Siem Reap, Cambodia
Practical address	Sotr Nikum district, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia; coordinates 13.369740, 104.223831.
Distance to city	About 45-50 km east of Siem Reap city; transfers usually take 50-75 minutes.
Updated	2026-06-15

Best for: Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, temple circuits, Tonlé Sap trips, and Cambodia culture itineraries.
Main route logic: Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh, Vietnam, China, Korea, and regional leisure routes.
Airport style: new large airport with official shuttles, taxis, vans, car rental, shops, restaurants, and expanded international capacity.
Planning rule: pre-book airport transfer or use the official desk; the ride to town is not short.

Address and location

Use Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI) for flight searches and Siem Reap Angkor Airport, Angkor International Airport, New Siem Reap Airport as backup search wording in maps, hotel messages, and taxi conversations. The practical address is:

Sotr Nikum district, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia; coordinates 13.369740, 104.223831.

About 45-50 km east of Siem Reap city; transfers usually take 50-75 minutes. For a serious itinerary, save the airport coordinates offline, download the city area in Google Maps or Organic Maps, and keep your hotel address in both English and the local language where possible.

How to get from the airport to the city

Option	Typical time	Approximate cost	Best use
Official shuttle bus	60-90 min	About USD 8 one way	🚌 Best budget option.
Official taxi/private car	50-75 min	About USD 35 for a car	🚕 Best normal transfer.
Private van/minivan	50-75 min	About USD 40+ by vehicle	✅ Best for groups.
Tour operator pickup	60-90 min	Often package-priced	🧳 Best for temple itineraries.

The new airport is far from central Siem Reap. If you land late, the higher taxi cost is usually worth it over trying to improvise.

Transport tips

🧾 Confirm the fare before loading luggage, especially when there is no visible meter or posted rate.
📍 Save the exact hotel pin offline; airport drivers may know districts better than street names.
💵 Carry small local cash for the first transfer, baggage carts, snacks, or phone calls.
🌐 Install an eSIM before departure so you can message your driver immediately after landing.

Public transport and metro

Siem Reap has no metro and no airport rail link.

Where public transport exists, it is usually best for daylight arrivals with light luggage. For late flights, family travel, heavy bags, or first-time visits, a taxi, hotel transfer, or pre-booked private driver is usually worth the extra cost.

Taxi prices and transfer strategy

Taxi prices around airports are rarely as neat as an official table. Time of day, luggage, driver availability, fuel prices, and whether the destination is inside or outside the central city all matter. The ranges above are realistic planning budgets, but the best practice is simple: agree the fare before moving, keep your phone map open, and avoid changing money with random drivers.

For smoother arrival logistics:

🚕 Use official taxi ranks or a hotel-arranged driver where available.
🧳 Pre-book a transfer if you land late, carry equipment, or travel with children.
🚗 Compare rental cars before arrival with DiscoverCars if you need regional freedom.
🏨 Use Expedia to check hotels near the airport and in the city before choosing a transfer.

Airport facilities, shops, and restaurants

Modern international airport with restaurants, cafes, duty-free, shops, lounges, ATMs/currency services, official transport desks, and large terminal areas.
The airport was built to handle larger Angkor tourism flows.
Transfer desks sell set-price buses/cars/vans.
Temple-day planning should include the arrival drive, not just flight time.

The smart rule at SAI is to treat the terminal as a transfer point rather than as a shopping destination. Eat before arriving when possible, keep a refillable bottle where security rules allow, and bring a small power bank. If you have a long delay, an airport-area hotel or city hotel is usually more comfortable than waiting in the terminal.

Airlines and where the airport flies

SAI connects Angkor tourism to Southeast Asia and North Asia. Search Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, and seasonal charter routes.

Air Cambodia, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Cambodia Angkor Air-style services, Vietnam Airlines, Singapore Airlines/Scoot-style links, Chinese carriers, Korean carriers, and regional airlines are common names.

Cheap routes to check first

Siem Reap to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur: strongest low-cost benchmarks.
Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: compare flight versus road transfer.
Siem Reap to Vietnam or Singapore: useful regional connection checks.

Cheap airport strategy is different from simply sorting by lowest fare. Always compare the final cost after checked baggage, seat selection, payment fees, transfer costs, and missed-connection risk. A slightly more expensive flight into the correct airport can be cheaper than a low base fare that forces a long taxi ride or overnight hotel.

Where to buy flights and hotels

Start with broad searches, then verify the exact airport code before paying. This is especially important in cities with more than one airport or with airport transitions.

Need	Recommended booking link	Why it matters
Internet on arrival	🌐 Yesim eSIM	Install before flying so maps, airline apps, WhatsApp, and hotel messages work as soon as you land.
Flights and hotels	🏨 Expedia flights and stays	Useful for comparing nearby hotels, airport overnights, and onward tickets in one search.
Tours and transfers	🎟️ Viator tours and airport transfers	Best for guided city tours, day trips, private arrival transfers, and skip-the-line activities.
Rental cars	🚗 DiscoverCars	Compare local and international rental agencies before accepting a walk-up airport rate.
Travel medical insurance	🛡️ SafetyWing	Check coverage, exclusions, and country wording before travel, especially on complex itineraries.
Support this airport-guide project	🤝 Patreon: HEDONISMcloud	Helps keep airport guides updated with fares, route changes, and city transport notes.

eSIM, internet, insurance, and car rental

🌐 Internet: install Yesim eSIM before the flight. Airport Wi-Fi can be slow, blocked by SMS verification, or unavailable exactly when you need maps.
🛡️ Insurance: compare policy wording with SafetyWing. Read exclusions for the destination, adventure activities, medical evacuation, political/security events, and pre-existing conditions.
🚗 Cars: compare vehicles on DiscoverCars before arrival. Airport counters can run out of automatic cars or quote higher walk-up rates.
🎟️ Tours: use Viator for airport transfers, city tours, day trips, and guided experiences when independent transport is inconvenient.

Practical arrival checklist

Before you fly	Why it matters
Check the IATA code on the ticket	Prevents booking a hotel or transfer for the wrong airport.
Save airline, hotel, and driver contacts offline	Messaging apps may not work until data is active.
Carry local cash	Useful for taxis, snacks, and small airport expenses.
Recheck live departures	Regional schedules can change more quickly than major-hub schedules.
Keep insurance documents accessible	Helps at medical facilities and during airline disruption.

Safety and travel notes

Use official transport desks or pre-booked drivers, keep temple passes and hotel details ready, and avoid accepting vague outside offers after dark.

The most reliable traveler is the boringly prepared traveler: documents printed, data working, transport confirmed, hotel address saved, and enough time between every moving part of the itinerary.

Short airport excursion idea

If you have a long layover or an overnight stop, choose one simple plan rather than trying to see everything. Stay close to the city center or a known hotel district, keep the return transfer booked, and avoid cutting the return to the airport too close. In smaller airports, a missed flight may mean waiting a day or more for the next practical departure.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport from Siem Reap?

About 45-50 km east of Siem Reap city; transfers usually take 50-75 minutes.

How much is a taxi from SAI airport?

Typical taxi planning ranges are shown in the transport table above. The safest method is to confirm the price before loading luggage and to use a hotel-arranged driver when arriving late or visiting for the first time.

Are there restaurants and shops at Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport?

Yes, but the depth of choice depends on the airport size and operating schedule. Expect practical cafes or snack options at smaller airports and a better range at major hubs. Carry backup snacks and water for delays.

Which airlines should I check first?

Is there a metro to the airport?