Home Routes Kunming to Siem Reap
Kunming to Siem Reap overland: route, cost and stops
Kunming to Siem Reap, overland all the way, across 4 countries, with every leg costed. This is the planner's own output for the corridor — 6 stops, 8 legs, 33h on the move.
Modelled estimates, not live fares. Last rebuilt 2026-09-23.
This is one version of the corridor. Change the budget, the pace, the dates or the bed type and the route rebuilds around them.
Open this route in the plannerThe route, leg by leg
Each row is the mode the planner picked as the best balance of time and money. Alternatives on every leg — including night trains and coaches — are in the planner itself.
| Leg | Mode | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kunming → Sapa | Coach | 5.8h | €5–€10 |
| Sapa → Muang Xay | Rail | 3.6h | €5–€10 |
| Muang Xay → Luang Prabang | Coach | 2.1h | €4–€4 |
| Luang Prabang → Chiang Mai | Rail | 4.6h | €10–€15 |
| Chiang Mai → Bangkok | Night train | 9.5h | €15–€40 |
| Bangkok → Ayutthaya | Coach | 1.7h | €4–€4 |
| Ayutthaya → Battambang | Rail | 4.2h | €10–€15 |
| Battambang → Siem Reap | Coach | 1.8h | €4–€4 |
What it costs
| Component | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | €57 | €66 | €102 |
| Beds | €94 | €111 | €142 |
| Daily spending | €253 | €316 | €427 |
| Total per person | €474 | €571 | €761 |
Dorm beds, two people sharing where a room is cheaper than two dorm bunks. Daily spending is food and local transport, modelled per city rather than averaged across the trip.
Where you stop
Kunming, China
Beds near the centre:
昆明背包时年青年旅舍(南屏街店) · hostel四季雲上酒店 · hostel大姨家民宿 · guest house
Luang Prabang, Laos
Worth the time: Kuang Si falls, alms giving, Mount Phousi
Eating: Night market buffet €2
Beds near the centre:
YNotLao Hostel · hostelSunrise Hostel · hostelVilaluk Guesthouse · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Noodles · marketຕະຫຼາດຟອງສະຫວັນ · marketNight Food Market · market
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Worth the time: Old city temples, Doi Suthep, night bazaar
Eating: Khao soi €1.50
Beds near the centre:
Jonada Guest House · hostelJust Chill inn · hostelBamboo 99 Guest House · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Sukphorpiang · marketถนนคนเดินวันอาทิตย์ · marketSompet Market · market
Bangkok, Thailand
Worth the time: Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Chatuchak market
Eating: Street pad thai €1.50
Beds near the centre:
SUSU Khaosan Hostel · hostelbed box · hostelBaan Pun Thong · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Street food market · marketAmulet Market · marketNa Krung Thewes · market
Ayutthaya, Thailand
Worth the time: Temple ruins by bicycle
Eating: Boat noodles €1
Beds near the centre:
11:11 Hostel · hostelMomento House · hostelHI Ayutthaya · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
ตลาดน้ำวนบางกะจะ · marketSainam Pomphet · thaiPae Krung Gao · thai
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Worth the time: Angkor Wat at sunrise, Bayon, Ta Prohm
Eating: Old Market stalls €2
Beds near the centre:
The Twizt · hostelSoben Guesthouse · hostelClaremont Angkor Boutique · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Weekly market · marketClothes Market · marketNight Market Souvenirs · market
Worth a detour
Places just off the corridor, priced against the route you already have — the extra time and the extra money each one actually adds.
| Place | Fits | Extra time | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Rai, Thailand | after Luang Prabang | +59m | +€27 |
| Vang Vieng, Laos | after Luang Prabang | +3.4h | +€34 |
| Hanoi, Vietnam | after Kunming | +5h | +€47 |
| Haiphong, Vietnam | after Kunming | +8.1h | +€52 |
Common questions
How long does the Kunming to Siem Reap trip take?
Moving time is about 33h spread over 8 legs. Allowing 2 nights in each of the 6 stops, the whole corridor works as a 13-day trip. You can compress it by skipping stops, but the travelling time itself does not shrink much.
How much does it cost?
About €571 per person for 13 days in dorms, sharing with one other. That splits into roughly €66 of transport, €111 of beds and €316 of daily spending. The realistic range is €474 to €761 depending on how early you book and how much you eat out.
Can you do it without flying?
Yes. An all-surface version runs about 33h of travel and €571 in total — €-0 less than the version above. Switch on avoid flying in the planner to see it.
Which countries does it cross?
China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia — 4 in total. Check visa requirements for your own passport before you commit to the route; this planner does not model them.
What transport does it use?
Coach, Rail, Night train. Every leg is costed with a walk-up fare and an advance fare, so the range on each row is the booking-window spread, not uncertainty about the route.
Adjust it for your own dates, budget and party size.
Plan Kunming → Siem Reap