Over the past year or so there have been some major changes in how to get from Phnom Penh to Kampot (and from Kampot to Phnom Penh). From fantastic new bus companies, to the very best taxi services, to the first cross-country train, it has never been easier to get from one city to the other. Here’s all the latest information on buses, taxis, and trains between Phnom Penh and Kampot.

P.S. You can book your tickets online now and save up to 30%:

 

Taxis From Phnom Penh to Kampot

If you’re looking for a bit of comfort during your trip, then a private taxi is your best option. The journey will take approximately 3 hours in total and there is some absolutely stunning scenery along the way. Watch this video to see some of the beautiful Cambodian country side you’ll pass during your taxi drive:

 

On average a private taxi from Phnom Penh to Kampot will cost in the region of $50 (that’s usually the quote from Phnom Penh airport to Kampot). You’ll have the option of stopping for toilet breaks, coffees, and even sightseeing if you wish.

The better services offer nice comfortable cars (e.g. a Lexus 4 x 4) and the drivers will pick you up from your hotel, the airport, or any other location convenient for you.

One thing that we recommend however is to book your taxi in advance. Not only is it cheaper, but Cambodian traffic is very hectic, so the taxi rides can be daunting and frightening if you don’t know your driver – please contact us to book a safe, reliable taxi driver from anywhere in Cambodia, or click below and book online now.

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Buses from Phnom Penh to Kampot

There are many bus companies offering economy and VIP buses between Kampot and Phnom Penh. Although companies such as Giant Ibis, Mekong Express, and PSD Xpress used to be the only recommended services a few years ago, there are now several fantastic (and even better) options including Ekareach Express, Kampot Express, and Cambodia Post VIP.

Kampot Express bus from Phnom Penh to Kampot

 

In general, an economy bus ranges from $4-$6 on average and sits roughly 50 people. VIP buses are smaller and more comfortable, sitting around 15 people. They are a bit more expensive at $6-$10 one way.

VIP buses tend to be quicker (4 hours) than economy buses (4.5 hours), and the journeys more convenient (e.g. you can ask the driver to stop if you desperately need to go to the toilet). Both types will stop along the way for short toilet and snack breaks. Although you will see Wi-Fi advertised, if you do actually have a connection it will be very slow and unreliable.

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To give you an idea of bus times, here are the timetables for some of the most popular and best reviewed services (Mekong Express, Giant Ibis, Ekareach Express, and Kampot Express).

Mekong Express Timetable

Phnom Penh to Kampot: 8.15am, 1pm, and 4.35pm.
Kampot to Phnom Penh: 8.15am, 1pm, and 4.35pm.

Ekareach Express Timetable

Phnom Penh to Kampot: 7.30am, 8am, 9am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 4.30pm, and 6pm.
Kampot to Phnom Penh: 7.30am, 8am, 9am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 4.30pm, and 6pm.

Kampot Express Timetable

Phnom Penh to Kampot: 8am, 1pm, and 5pm.
Kampot to Phnom Penh: 8am, 1pm, and 5pm.

Giant Ibis Timetable

Phnom Penh to Kampot: 8am, and 2.45pm.
Kampot to Phnom Penh: 7.45am, and 2.00pm.

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Train From Phnom Penh to Kampot

There is now the option of taking the Royal Railway train directly from Phnom Penh to Kampot. Although the total journey can be in the region of 5 hours, don’t immediately disregard the idea – There is some absolutely fantastic scenery along the way, and all in all it makes for a very enjoyable experience.

The train currently operates only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays and costs about $7 one-way. The carriages are quite comfortable and come with AC, plug sockets, and TVs (mainly playing Charlie Chaplin re-runs). The atmosphere is very cheerful and joyous, and because the train stops off several times along the way, the journey is broken up nicely.

Royal Railway Timetable

Phnom Penh – Kampot: Friday 3pm, Saturday 7am, Sunday 7am, and Sunday 4pm.
Kampot – Phnom Penh: Saturday 7am, Sunday 7am, Sunday 4pm, Monday 7am.

Don’t be too surprised if it’s delayed by 30 minutes – 1 hour however. If you’re thinking of giving the train a go, we recommend you buy your ticket in advance – Each ticket comes with its own seat number and acts as a reservation.

FAQs

Q: How do you get from Kampot to Kep?

 A: It is very easy to get from Kampot to Kep by tuk tuk ($20 return) or moto-tuk ($10 return), with the trip taking approximately 45 minutes. There are daily buses ($3 one-way), but they tend to run in the mornings only. A private taxi is more expensive and can cost in the region of $30 return, taking roughly 30 minutes each way.

Q: Where should I go in Kampot?

 A: There are many places to go to in Kampot. Here are some of our favourite things to see and do:

1) Spend a day at the beach in Kep (best during peak season).
2) Visit the Kep Crab Market for fresh fish and a wide variety of crabs.
3) Take a night time river cruise to see the fireflies.
4) Hike to see the waterfall (best around rainy season).
5) Hop over to Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay).
6) See the local pepper farms.
7) Relax with a cocktail and watch the sunsets.

Q: Where can I go in Kep?

 A: There are a couple of places to go to in Kep. Here are some of our favourite things to see and do:

1) Relax on the soft sandy beach.
2) Swim in the warm ocean waters.
3) Hire a private hammock area by the beach.
4) Visit the Kep Crab Market for fresh fish and a wide variety of crabs.
5) Take a trip to Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay).
6) See the local pepper farms.

Q: How many days do you need in Kampot?

 A: We recommend that you spend at least 3 days in Kampot. An itinerary could go something like this:

Day 1 – Travel to Kampot.
Day 1 – Look around Kampot during the day.
Day 1 – Go on a river cruise to see the fireflies.
Day 2 – Travel to Kep.
Day 2 – Stop at Kep Crab Market.
Day 2 – Go to Kep beach and hire a private hammock area.
Day 2 – Relax on Kep beach and swim in the ocean.
Day 2 – Travel back to Kampot.
Day 2 – Go out in Kampot at night.
Day 3 – See the waterfall, visit Rabbit island, or do whatever else you might fancy.

Q: How do I get from Phnom Penh to Kampot?

 A: To get from Phnom Penh to Kampot, you can either take a bus, a private taxi, or the train. If you’re looking for a bit of comfort during your trip, then a private taxi is your best option. The journey will take approximately 3 hours in total and will cost about $50.

Q: How many kilometer from Phnom Penh to Kampot?

 A: The calculated flying distance from Phnom Penh to Kampot is about 83 miles (133 km). If you want to go by car, the driving distance between Phnom Penh and Kampot is 148 km.

Q: How do I get from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville?

 A: To get from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, you can either take a bus, a private taxi, the train, or a flight. If you’re looking for a bit of comfort during your trip, then a private taxi is your best option. The journey will take approximately 4 hours in total and will cost about $60. For all the latest information, please read: Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville.

Q: How do I get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap?

 A: To get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, you can either take a bus, a private taxi, a flight, or a ferry. If you’re looking for a bit of comfort during your trip and an affordable price, then a private taxi is your best option. The journey will take approximately 5 hours in total and will cost about $75. For all the latest information, please read: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.

Q: Can you fly to Sihanoukville?

 A: You can now fly directly into Sihanoukville from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Ming City, and Macau – The first international flights to the airport. The weekly flights, provided by AirAsia, operate 4 times per week and make the journey to Sihanoukville even easier.