Over the past year or so there have been some major changes in how to get from Siem Reap to Kampot (and from Kampot to Siem Reap). From fantastic new bus companies, to the very best taxi services, to more convenient flights from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville, it has never been easier to get from one city to the other. Here’s all the latest information on buses, taxis, and flights between Siem Reap and Kampot.

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

 

Taxis From Siem Reap 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 9 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 Siem Reap to Kampot will cost in the region of $150 (that’s usually the quote from Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap to Kampot

There are many bus companies offering economy and VIP buses between Kampot and Siem Reap. Although companies such as Giant Ibis and Mekong Express used to be the only services a few years ago, there are now several new options including Virak Buntham and Phnom Penh Sorya. Of these, we would still say that Mekong Express is probably your best option, though Virak Buntham and Phnom Penh Sorya are of a good standard.

Mekong Express bus from Siem Reap to Kampot
Mekong Express Bus from Siem Reap to Kampot

 

These bus companies are much better than the typical Cambodian bus services – they are less crowded, make less stops, and drive more carefully.

In general, an economy bus is about $15 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 $20 one way.

VIP buses tend to be quicker (11-12 hours) than economy buses (12-13 hours), and the journeys are 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, and with most services you will have to change along the way.

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, Virak Buntham, and Phnom Penh Sorya).

Mekong Express Timetable

Siem Reap to Kampot: 7.30am and 8.30am.
Kampot to Siem Reap: 8.15am and 4.35pm.

Giant Ibis Timetable

Siem Reap to Kampot: 2.45pm and 11pm.
Kampot to Siem Reap: 7.45am.

Virak Buntham Timetable

Siem Reap to Kampot: 8.00pm.
Kampot to Siem Reap: 8.00pm.

Phnom Penh Sorya Timetable

Siem Reap to Kampot: 6.30am, 7.30am, 11.30pm.
Kampot to Siem Reap: 6.30am, 7.30am, 11.30pm.

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Flights From Siem Reap to Sihanoukville

To save you some time, you might prefer to take a flight from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville, and then a taxi / bus from Sihanoukville to Kampot.

There are now several airline companies that fly direct between Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, including Cambodia Angkor Air, Cambodia Bayon Airlines, and JC International Airlines. Of these, Cambodia Angkor Air (the national carrier of Cambodia) tends to be the best reviewed. It uses an ATR 72 for domestic flights between Siem Reap and Kampot.

On average, the flight will take approximately 60 minutes and will cost $115 to $150 one-way (though as with all flights, there are usually special offers on depending on the booking company, time of year, etc.)

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How to Get From Siem Reap Airport to Siem Reap Centre

Getting from Siem Reap Airport to the city centre is pretty straight forward – there’s no line-jumping, and all of the prices are set (the drivers are under strict instructions to not undercut each other). This means that once you find your taxi, moto, or Tuk Tuk, you’re all set to go.

The taxi rank is immediately in front of you as you exit the arrivals building. On average, it’ll cost you about $10 to Siem Reap city centre. If you need a bigger taxi (for 6+ people), it will cost a little more.

If you prefer to book your taxi in advance, you can do so here:

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Although you can also book a Tuk Tuk at the taxi rank, it’s best to walk a little further and exit the airport – here you’ll find the cheapest Tuk Tuk’s (and motos) which will charge roughly $6 to the city centre (a moto will cost $2).

Tuk Tuk From Siem Reap Airport to Siem Reap City Centre
A Typical Tuk Tuk from Siem Reap Airport to Siem Reap City Centre

 

A typical Tuk Tuk can take up to 4 people but doesn’t have as much room for luggage – if you have a lot of bags you’ll struggle to get more than 2 people in the back.

Siem Reap Tuk Tuk drivers are well-known for dropping you off at your hotel and then offering very cheap temple-tours, only to change the prices half way. If you’re considering to take a temple tour, it’s best to book one through your hotel.

How to Get From Sihanoukville Airport to Sihanoukville Centre

To get from Sihanoukville airport to Sihanoukville Centre, you can take a shuttle bus (around $4) that should be waiting outside the airport when you arrive.

If for whatever reason you miss the shuttle bus, you should be able to find a Tuk Tuk (roughly $20) at the airport. You can also hire a private taxi to take you – this will be more expensive at around $30.

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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 populous is Siem Reap?

 A: Siem Reap is the fifth-most-populous city in Cambodia with a population of 189,292 people. The top 10 most populous cities and towns in Cambodia are: Phnom Penh, Ta Khmau, Battambang, Serei Saophoan, Siem Reap, Kampong Cham, Sihanoukville, Poipet, Chbar Mon, and Kampot.

Q: How many days should I spend in Siem Reap?

 A: Siem Reap can’t be covered in one day – you’ll need at least three days to cover the huge expanse of the Angkor temples and other attractions in the area. The ideal time to spend in Siem Reap is around 3-4 days, depending on how early you get there. Just make sure you have at least one and a half full days.

Q: How many days do you need in Phnom Penh?

 A: We recommend that you spend about two days in Phnom Penh – one full day for the museums, and one day / half day to take a look around riverside (in particular, the area around the Royal Palace).

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. For all the latest information, please read: Phnom Penh to Kampot.

Q: How do I get to Sihanoukville from Kampot?

 A: To get to Sihanoukville from 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 1.5 hours in total and will cost about $45. For all the latest information, please read: Sihanoukville to Kampot.

Q: How do I get from Siem Reap to Kampot?

 A: To get from Siem Reap 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 9 hours in total and will cost about $150.

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: How do you get to Sihanoukville?

 A: To get to Sihanoukville Cambodia, you can either take a flight directly into Sihanoukville airport, or if you are already in Cambodia, you can take a private taxi, a bus, or a train.

Q: How do you get to Koh Rong?

 A: To get to Koh Rong, you will first have to get to Sihanoukville. From Sihanoukville, you can take one of the 5 modern ferry companies to Koh Rong – Speed Ferry Cambodia, Island Speed Boat Cambodia, Buva Sea, Angkor Speed Ferry, and GTVC. For all the latest information, please read: How to Get to Koh Rong.

Q: Is Cambodia safe to travel?

 A: Generally, Cambodia is a safe country – it is ranked the 59th safest country in the world, with violent crime being a rarity. The only exceptions are remote areas of large cities, so please be sensible with where you visit.

Q: Is Cambodia safe to travel alone?

 A: Yes, it is safe to travel to Cambodia alone, as long as you are sensible (which is the case in any country). Cambodian people are generally very respectful and friendly towards foreign men and women, but as with any poorer country, poverty is an issue. As such, we recommend that you do not wear expensive jewellery, leave your belongings unattended, or get heavily intoxicated. Otherwise, relax, explore, and enjoy yourself!