Is It Safe to Travel to Thailand and Cambodia as Border Clashes Escalate? (December 2025)

This guide summarises what is known so far — using verified sources — and what travellers should keep in mind over the coming days.

What Happened at the Thailand–Cambodia Border?

According to reports from Reuters, Al Jazeera and the Associated Press, fighting resumed earlier this week in remote sectors of the border zone after both sides accused each other of opening fire.
Confirmed developments include:

• Thailand conducted targeted airstrikes against what it described as military installations across the border.

• Several frontier communities have been evacuated due to shelling and artillery fire.

• Humanitarian agencies estimate that hundreds of thousands of residents in both countries have temporarily relocated from affected districts.

• Casualties include both civilians and military personnel.

Importantly, these incidents are concentrated in rural, sparsely populated border areas, far from Thailand’s and Cambodia’s main urban and touristic hubs.

Are Major Tourist Destinations Affected?

Short answer: No.

The clashes are not occurring near Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Koh Samui, Siem Reap or Phnom Penh.
These regions remain stable, open and fully operational.

Current status (verified through official tourism and aviation authorities):

• Flights between Bangkok, Phuket, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh continue to operate normally.

• Airports in Thailand and Cambodia remain open.

• Hotels, attractions and transport in major cities show no disruption.

• Daily life in popular tourism areas is unaffected by the border clashes.

Travellers in these destinations can expect normal conditions, especially in Bangkok and Phuket where authorities report no safety concerns linked to the conflict.

What Has Changed for Travellers?

The main change concerns overland travel, not air travel.

Land borders:

Thai and Cambodian officials have confirmed that most land border crossings are temporarily closed for entry and exit.
This means:

• Travellers cannot cross between the two countries by road for now.

• Overland backpacking routes, including Trat–Koh Kong and Aranyaprathet–Poipet, are suspended.

• Rail connections from Bangkok currently stop before the frontier, with no onward land transfer available.

If your itinerary includes moving between Thailand and Cambodia by bus or land taxi, you will need to adjust your plans and opt for flights instead.

What Do Official Advisories Say?

National advisories — including from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — generally recommend:

• Avoiding all but essential travel to affected border districts.

• Staying at least 50 km away from active conflict zones.

• Expecting military presence and checkpoints near certain rural frontier provinces.

However, no country has issued a blanket warning against travel to Thailand or Cambodia.
Tourist cities remain open, and airlines continue operating with standard schedules.

Practical Safety Tips for Travellers

Even though holiday destinations are stable, travellers should follow basic precautions:

• Avoid all non-essential trips to remote border provinces such as Sa Kaeo, Trat and Chanthaburi (Thailand) or Banteay Meanchey and Oddar Meanchey (Cambodia).

• Do not attempt to approach border checkpoints until authorities announce their reopening.

• Follow updates from local tourism boards and official government channels.

• Keep itineraries flexible in case additional restrictions are introduced.

For general connectivity and travel communication — especially during uncertain periods — many visitors prefer activating an eSIM in advance of arrival. You can check the latest Thailand eSIM options here:

Should You Cancel Your Trip?

For travellers heading to Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Koh Samui, Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, there is currently no recommendation to cancel or postpone travel.

These areas are far from the conflict and continue to welcome visitors with normal operations.

The situation remains dynamic at the border, but for mainstream travel routes, flights and tourism services remain unaffected.

As long as you stay updated and avoid frontier regions, travelling to Thailand or Cambodia at this time is considered safe.