The new Siem Reap airport: everything that changed since 2023
If you’ve read a Siem Reap travel guide that describes the airport as “a short 10-minute drive from town,” you’re reading outdated information. Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI) opened on 16 October 2023, replacing the old in-town airport, and it sits 40-50 km east of the city — a genuinely different logistical reality than what existed before. It’s now well into 2026 and a surprising number of guides, including some fairly prominent ones, still haven’t caught up. Here’s what actually changed.
The old airport is closed. Fully.
Siem Reap International Airport — the old one, close to town, walkable from some hotels — closed to commercial traffic when SAI opened. It is not a backup option, it is not used for some flights and not others; commercial aviation moved entirely to SAI. Any content, itinerary, or forum advice referencing “Siem Reap airport” without specifying SAI and its distance is working from pre-2023 information and should be treated with caution.
Why the location changed at all
The old airport’s proximity to the Angkor Archaeological Park had become a long-standing concern — flight paths and airport infrastructure sitting close to a UNESCO World Heritage site raised both heritage-preservation and long-term expansion questions. SAI, built further out in Sotr Nikum district, solves both: it removes the aviation footprint from immediate proximity to the temples and gives Cambodia a modern airport with room to grow that the old, geographically constrained site couldn’t offer.
The 40-50 km distance, and why sources disagree on the exact number
You’ll see SAI’s distance from town quoted as 40 km in some sources, 45 in others, 50 in a few — this isn’t inconsistent reporting so much as different measuring points (airport terminal to city center vs. to a specific landmark vs. to the Angkor Wat west gate). What matters practically is the drive time: 45-60 minutes under normal traffic conditions, which is the number to actually plan around regardless of which km figure a given source uses.
What this means for your arrival day
Plan your first evening as a transfer-and-settle evening, not a temple evening, unless your flight lands very early in the day. A late-night arrival followed by a 45-60 minute drive means you’re realistically not checking into your hotel much before midnight if your flight lands around 10-11 PM — factor this into whether you book a 4:15 AM sunrise pickup for the following morning or give yourself a rest day first. My airport transfer review covers the private-vs-shared-vs-taxi decision in detail, but the short version: pre-book for late-night or early-morning arrivals, and don’t bother for daytime flights if you’re comfortable with an unbooked taxi.
Compare SAI private and shared transfer optionsTransfer options, from cheapest to most convenient
- Airport shuttle bus: roughly 10 scheduled daily departures to CDF Angkor Duty Free in the Wat Bo area — cheapest option, fixed schedule, requires an onward taxi or tuk-tuk to most hotels.
- Standard taxi: metered or fixed-rate, generally reliable, no advance booking needed for daytime arrivals.
- Grab / PassApp ride-hailing: available if you prefer app-based booking with upfront pricing.
- Private transfer: pre-booked, driver with a name board, direct hotel drop-off, worth it for late/early flights or groups.
Where your hotel is now matters more
Before SAI, the airport’s central location meant hotel proximity to the airport was a minor factor in choosing where to stay. Now, with everyone facing the same 40-50 km drive regardless of hotel location, the relevant proximity question has shifted entirely to the temples and town center instead. See the where to stay guide for how Old Market, Wat Bo, and Sala Kamreuk compare — none of them meaningfully changes your airport transfer time, so pick based on what’s actually around your hotel, not airport distance.
eSIM and connectivity at SAI
SIM and eSIM kiosks (Metfone, Smart, Cellcard) operate in the arrivals hall — expect $5-20 for data packages, passport required for registration. If you’d rather land already connected, pre-arrival eSIM activation (Airalo on the Smart network, for example) is a reasonable alternative that skips the arrivals-hall queue entirely.
What hasn’t changed
The Angkor Pass, sold exclusively by Angkor Enterprise, is entirely unaffected by the airport move — same checkpoint on Vithei Charles de Gaulle, same $37/$62/$72 pricing structure. Visa requirements (e-visa via evisa.gov.kh, or visa on arrival) also work the same regardless of which airport you land at. The airport change is purely a transport-logistics shift, not a change to any of the ticketing or entry processes.
Why this matters for your itinerary more than it seems
The extra 30-40 minutes of drive time compared to the old airport doesn’t sound like much in isolation, but stacked against an already tight itinerary — especially a 48-hour or shorter trip — it’s enough to change whether a same-day temple visit after landing is realistic at all. The 48 hours in Siem Reap plan explicitly treats arrival day as a non-temple day for exactly this reason.
Frequently asked questions about the new Siem Reap airport
When did the new Siem Reap airport open?
16 October 2023. The old in-town airport closed to commercial traffic at that point.
How far is SAI from central Siem Reap?
40-50 km, roughly 45-60 minutes by road, depending on traffic and the exact measuring point used.
Can I still fly into the old airport?
No. It’s closed to commercial traffic; all flights now use Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI).
Does the airport change affect the Angkor Pass or visa process?
No. Both remain unchanged — the Angkor Pass is bought at the same Angkor Enterprise checkpoint or online, and visa requirements are unaffected by which airport you land at.
What’s the cheapest way to get from SAI to town?
The scheduled airport shuttle bus to CDF Angkor Duty Free, though it requires an onward taxi or tuk-tuk to reach most hotels directly.
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