Is it safe to travel to Cambodia and Thailand Right Now?

Last Updated: 27th March, 2026 - Article updated for accuracy.

This page is updated regularly with verified developments affecting travelling to Cambodia and Thailand border relating to traveller safety. Save or bookmark for the latest updates.

Is Thailand safe?

The areas bordering Cambodia are still on the UK's Travel Warning List.

Are tourist areas in Cambodia affected?

As of 3/2/2026, the main tourist zones are unaffected. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and the islands remain safe, and open. Flights are running normally, and if you're inside either country you shouldn’t notice major changes. However flight prices to and from both countries are continuing to fluctuate due to higher demand and high season.

The particular issues are concentrated along border provinces (see below) such as Sisaket, Sa Kaeo, and Battambang, areas that most tourists don’t pass through unless doing overland crossings.

You can follow updates from your government foreign office website.

For British travellers this is gov.uk and the links are below:

Cambodia:

Thailand:

The US Embassy in Cambodia's maintains its security alerts and still recommends no travel within 50km of border areas.

It is important you stay informed of travel warnings if travelling to or near any of these areas as this could void your travel insurance policy.

What does this mean for travellers in Southeast Asia?

Exit from Thailand to Cambodia for border run is still not possible. You will have to fly to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, or consider neighbouring countries. This could mean extra cost, so where possible avoid making plans in advance for travel to and from Cambodia.

Flights have risen recently due to the demand on flights between Cambodia and Thailand however they seem to now be stabilising again. Good deals can be found on bus routes to and from Laos/Vietnam but keep in mind visa costs.

It is important you stick to the mainstream tourist zones unless you are comfortable with the risk and have adequate insurance that covers border incidents. (Most policies don't)

Ensure you have appropriate travel insurance that covers you, and ensure you try to stay flexible with your accommodations and travel plans to avoid unnecessary spending.

When will the Cambodia-Thailand border re-open?

With any sort of conflict it is difficult to say, however, the ceasefire has held, and there are signs of further co-operation from both sides after the election in Thailand on the 8th February.

Previous Updates:

January 2026:

22nd January: Cambodia has assured tourists on social media that visiting Cambodia is safe. Travel advisories from countries around the world still express caution travelling anywhere near the border with Thailand. Continue to check official travel news for updates but travelling to Cambodia remains safe, there have been no recently reported safety issues.

21st January: Land border crossings remain suspended despite the ceasefire holding.

December 2025:

28th December: Ceasefire is holding.

27th December: Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to return to the ceasefire agreement.

16th December: The Royal Embassy of Cambodia in France issued a travel advisory for visitors bound for Cambodia, particularly those transiting through Bangkok’s international airports, mainly Bangkok. The advisory highlighted that some travellers have experienced significant administrative delays, enhanced questioning, and stricter document checks during Bangkok transits, including requests for proof of finances and accommodation details. The Embassy recommended that travellers considered alternative transit routes that bypass Thailand when planning their trip to Cambodia. Despite these transit concerns occurring outside Cambodian territory, the advisory reiterated that Cambodia itself remains safe.

12th December: Donald Trump has posted on Truth Social regarding his telephone call between the two countries Cambodia and Thailand. Despite this however, it's being reported that hostilities are continuing and according to Al Jazeera neither side have confirmed independently the agreement to return to the ceasefire. There have now been confirmed reports of over 20 deaths and 270,000+people having to flee their homes.

Following the ceasefire agreement and the more formal agreement that followed, events on Monday have seen the worst escalation yet. Various media have reported that Thailand has launched airstrikes on the border area, however there is no official confirmation and it is unclear who fired the first shot, with both sides blaming each other.

The international community is calling for both sides to respect the ceasefire and honour the agreement as reported by Kiri Post.

Quick Recap of the Cambodia-Thailand Border Tensions

The dispute of the land border stretching 500 miles can be traced back to the 20th century.

It largely stems from a map created in 1907 whilst Cambodia was under French rule with Thailand holding firm that it is inaccurate. Additionally, many Thai people still disagree with the International Court of Justice ruling in 1962 that awarded sovereignty of the disputed land to Cambodia, being re-affirmed in 2013 and saw clashes between 2008 and 2011.

Cambodia and Thailand signed the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord in late October 2025, a deal meant to de-escalate border tensions, remove heavy weapons, and launch joint land-mine clearance efforts.