Cambodia is mostly a bus country.
For Phnom Penh–Siem Reap, buses and minivans provide far more useful departures than rail.
For Kampot, Kep and Sihanoukville, Cambodia Royal Railway becomes a real alternative.
For Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem, the journey ends on a ferry.
International travel adds another layer: buses run between Phnom Penh and Vietnam, while Thailand overland travel must be checked against the current border situation before booking.
The useful question is not simply ‘bus or train?’
It is:
Which product leaves from the right place, arrives at the right place, fits the schedule and actually gets you to the final destination?
Search Cambodia buses, trains, ferries and transfers for your actual travel date.
MYticket compares the transport products themselves: seated buses, Hotel Buses, sleeper buses, VIP vans, trains, ferries, combined tickets, airport shuttles and private transfers.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Phnom Penh → Siem Reap | Bus / minivan |
| Direct passenger train Phnom Penh → Siem Reap | No |
| Typical Phnom Penh → Siem Reap bus | about 5½–6½h |
| Current online bus prices | roughly $8.50–15 for many products |
| Phnom Penh → Kampot | Bus or train |
| Phnom Penh → Sihanoukville | Bus for speed / train if schedule suits |
| Royal Railway southern departure | currently 07:00 from Phnom Penh |
| Royal Railway northern departure | currently 06:40 from Phnom Penh |
| Phnom Penh → Kampot official listed rail fare | $6 |
| Sihanoukville → Koh Rong | Speed ferry |
| Typical Koh Rong ferry | roughly 30–45 min |
| Ferry examples | roughly $8.50–13 |
| Phnom Penh airport | Techo International Airport (KTI) |
| KTI → central Phnom Penh | ~25 km |
| Taxi examples | from around $15 |
| KTI practical road time | roughly 30–60 min |
| Siem Reap airport shuttle | $8 official fare |
| Siem Reap airport → city | roughly 1h road journey |
| Cambodia → Thailand by land | verify current border status before booking |
Schedules, border conditions and online prices change. Search the actual travel date before booking.
A cheap minivan can cost more in practice if its departure point requires a long taxi.
A $6 train is not automatically cheaper if its only departure forces an extra hotel night.
A separate bus and ferry can look cheaper until a missed connection requires another ferry ticket.
Many Cambodian operators use their own offices or pickup points.
Two buses shown for the same route can leave from different parts of Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.
Before comparing only departure time, check the map location of the boarding point.
A 14:00 arrival does not tell you whether the bus stops near your hotel.
Check the operator’s arrival point before booking.
This is particularly relevant in:
An overnight bus can save a hotel night and still create an awkward arrival.
Before choosing a 00:30 → 06:00 or similar sleeper product, check:
A six-hour night bus is not automatically six hours of useful sleep.
Some ferry services make intermediate stops.
Watch where bags are unloaded and confirm the stop before leaving the boat.
A similarly named island or pier is not enough confirmation.
Hotel Bus, VIP, sleeper and coach are product or vehicle labels used by operators and booking platforms, not a nationwide class system.
Berth layouts vary by operator and vehicle. A sleeper ticket does not automatically mean a private cabin.
This is why the word “Sleeper” alone does not tell you exactly what you are buying.
Exterior product identity helps distinguish a long-distance sleeper departure from the seated and minivan options above.
Check the actual departure rather than assuming every service uses the same train.
Royal Railway introduced Japanese KiHa passenger trains on selected services.
The operator describes these trains as having air-conditioning, modern seating and food/drinks available for purchase.
Do not assume every Cambodia passenger departure uses KiHa rolling stock.
Royal Railway publishes daily Phnom Penh departures at 06:40 on the Northern Line and 07:00 on the Southern Line.
Schedules and online prices can change. Search your travel date before booking.
Do not choose a ferry using only the island name.
Check the actual arrival area before paying.
For Koh Rong, the correct arrival can depend on the beach, pier and accommodation.
For Koh Rong Samloem, destinations such as Saracen Bay and M’Pai Bay are separate arrival areas.
A ferry ticket that reaches the island but lands far from your accommodation can leave you needing another boat or local transfer.
Match the ticket to the accommodation, not only to the island.
Yes.
Boat/ferry inventory exists between M’Pai Bay and Saracen Bay.
The trip can be short, but the exact pickup and drop-off point must be checked carefully.
Recent passenger feedback shows that pier information can be confusing and that travelers sometimes arrive at a different pier than expected.
Before boarding, confirm the destination with the operator or pier staff rather than relying only on the island name.
Do not assume you must return to Sihanoukville for every island movement.
Boat inventory can exist between different bays or island areas, including M’Pai Bay and Saracen Bay.
Search the actual origin and destination before routing back through the mainland.
KTI and SAI are useful airport names only when the ground transfer is also planned.
Techo International Airport is the airport to use for current Phnom Penh flight planning.
It is outside central Phnom Penh.
Road distance from central Phnom Penh is roughly 20–25 km.
Official airport guidance gives taxi examples around $10–20; online private-taxi inventory can start around $15 per vehicle, with normal journey times roughly 30–60 minutes depending on traffic and pickup point.
Online taxi inventory starts around $15. The road journey is roughly 25 km. Booking guidance puts typical transfer time around one hour, although the fastest road conditions can be shorter.
| Mode | Representative example |
|---|---|
| Private taxi | from roughly $15 |
| Distance | ~25 km |
| Practical road time | ~30–60 min |
Do not treat the airport as central Phnom Penh.
Leave enough time for Phnom Penh traffic. A cheap city-to-airport taxi is not useful if a tight schedule leaves no traffic buffer. The airport’s own transport guidance should be checked for current access information.
Direct road products can avoid entering central Phnom Penh first. Current booking inventory includes through airport–Sihanoukville transport products.
If the final destination is Koh Rong, compare KTI → Sihanoukville + ferry against a combined KTI → island itinerary when available.
The journey has two transport stages:
Techo International Airport
→ road to Sihanoukville
→ ferry to Koh Rong
Search for a through product before buying the legs separately. A combined itinerary can reduce connection risk.
Direct road transport avoids travelling into central Phnom Penh just to leave the city again. Compare a direct van or taxi with city transfer + bus/train.
Phnom Penh airport planning should use Techo International Airport (KTI). Older transport articles built around Phnom Penh International Airport can now give the wrong transfer geography. Check the airport code on the ticket before following an old airport-to-city guide.
Neither airport should be treated as a city-centre arrival.
Road transport is the practical first choice.
Buses and vans take roughly four-and-a-half to five hours on many services and run throughout the day.
| Operator / product | Departure | Arrival | Representative online example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virak Buntham Luxury Hotel | 00:30 | 07:00 | ~$13.75 |
| BookMeBus Intercity | 05:30 | 10:30 | ~$14.30 |
| Cambolink21 Van 15pax | 06:00 | 10:30 | ~$8.50 |
| Capitol VIP | 06:30 | 11:30 | ~$8.50 |
| Saly VIP Minibus | 07:00 | 11:30 | ~$8.70 |
| Saly VIP Minibus | 08:30 | 13:30 | ~$8.70 |
| Vibol Express Minibus | 09:30 | 14:30 | ~$9 |
| Cambolink21 | 10:30 | 15:00 | ~$8.50 |
| Saly VIP | 13:00 | 17:45 | ~$8.70 |
Representative online examples. Recheck the selected date, terminal and vehicle before publishing or booking.
Take road transport when arrival time is the priority. Bus/minivan examples are roughly 4½–5 hours. The railway is much slower.
Use the train because you specifically want the rail journey or the departure fits your itinerary—not because it is the fastest way to Battambang.
| Mode | Current pattern | Current price |
|---|---|---|
| Van / bus | ~4.5–5h | roughly $8.50–14 |
| Train | much longer | verify listed rail fare |
| Private SUV | ~4h inventory | ~$75 current example |
Bus products commonly leave throughout the day. A private SUV can shorten terminal transfers for a group, but the listed vehicle price is not a fixed taxi fare.
Use bus or minivan.
There is no useful direct passenger railway between Siem Reap and Battambang.
Road services typically take around three to four hours.
| Operator / product | Departure | Arrival | Representative online example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larryta Express Deluxe | 06:30 | 10:00 | ~$7.50 |
| Capitol VIP | 07:00 | 11:00 | ~$6.40 |
| Virak Buntham Coaster | 07:00 | 10:00 | ~$8.60 |
| SRL Van 12 | 08:00 | 11:00 | ~$8 |
| Giant Ibis | 08:30 | 11:30 | ~$9.60 |
| Virak Buntham Seater | 09:00 | 12:00 | ~$8.60 |
| Mevis Minivan | 10:00 | 13:00 | ~$9.80 |
| Go Ho Shuttle | 10:30 | 13:30 | ~$6.45 |
| Giant Ibis | 13:30 | 16:30 | ~$9.60 |
| Cambolink21 | 14:05 | 17:05 | ~$6.80 |
| Virak Buntham | 17:00 | 20:00 | ~$8.60 |
Representative online examples. Check the actual departure and terminal before booking.
Online bus and minivan examples commonly fall around $6–10. Private SUV examples can start around $50+ per vehicle.
For one passenger, shared road transport is the obvious value choice. For four passengers, compare the private-vehicle total rather than only the headline fare.
Use bus or minivan. Reverse departures run throughout the day. Do not assume the same operator uses the same terminal in both directions.
No useful direct passenger railway. Use road transport.
| Journey | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Phnom Penh → Battambang | Bus / van | much faster than rail |
| Siem Reap → Battambang | Bus / van | ~3–4h, frequent |
| Battambang → Siem Reap | Bus / van | direct road route |
| Route | Rail verdict |
|---|---|
| Phnom Penh → Siem Reap | no direct train |
| Phnom Penh → Kampot | real alternative |
| Phnom Penh → Kep | useful if schedule fits |
| Phnom Penh → Sihanoukville | much slower than bus |
| Kampot → Sihanoukville | useful short rail segment |
| Phnom Penh → Battambang | train exists but road much faster |
Cambodia is not a country where “take the train” is a universal recommendation.
Cambodia’s passenger railway is conventional rail, not high-speed rail.
Standard trains are sold with Soft Seat. KiHa services can be sold with First Class Seat and Second Class Seat.
Royal Railway introduced Japanese KiHa passenger trains on selected services. The operator describes these trains as having air-conditioning, modern seating and food/drinks available for purchase. Do not assume every departure uses the same rolling stock.
Check the vehicle and seating product shown for the actual departure.
Check the arrival pier before booking.
Check your accommodation before choosing the ferry.
M’Pai Bay is a specific arrival area, not a generic Koh Rong ferry destination.
| Operator | Departure | Arrival | Representative online example |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTVC Speedboat | 08:00 | 08:45 | ~$12.75 |
| Speed Ferry Cambodia | 08:00 | 09:00 | ~$8.50 |
| GTVC | 11:00 | 11:45 | ~$12.75 |
| GTVC | 12:00 | 12:45 | ~$12.75 |
| GTVC | 14:00 | 14:45 | ~$12.75 |
| Speed Ferry Cambodia | 14:00 | 15:00 | ~$8.50 |
| GTVC | 15:00 | 15:45 | ~$12.75 |
Book M’Pai Bay only when that is actually the part of the island you need.
Koh Rong Samloem inventory includes services toward different island areas.
Saracen Bay and M’Pai Bay should not be treated as interchangeable destinations. Check accommodation location before booking.
Do not rely on one permanent “last ferry” time. Online inventory includes late-afternoon services around 17:00 on selected operators. Check the actual date because operator schedules change.
Separate tickets create separate risks. If your bus is late, the ferry operator does not automatically know you are coming.
I would avoid building a connection around scheduled bus arrival + 15 minutes + last ferry.
Use a combined ticket, an earlier road departure or a larger Sihanoukville buffer. No universal minimum connection time applies to every operator.
Check the pier before the operator. Schedules and prices change by date and season.
| Operator | Departure | Arrival | Representative online example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed Ferry Cambodia | 07:45 | 08:25 | ~$8.50 |
| Vireak Buntham Speed Ferry | 08:30 | 09:15 | ~$12.04 |
| Island Speed Ferry | 09:00 | 09:45 | ~$11.20 |
| Romny Tour | 09:30 | 10:15 | ~$11.90 |
| GTVC | 11:00 | 11:45 | ~$12.75 |
| Vireak Buntham | 11:30 | 12:15 | ~$12.04 |
| Island Speed Ferry | 12:00 | 12:45 | ~$11.20 |
| GTVC | 14:00 | 14:45 | ~$12.75 |
| Island | 15:00 | 15:45 | ~$11.20 |
| GTVC | 16:00 | 16:45 | ~$12.75 |
| Vireak Buntham | 17:00 | 17:30 | ~$12.04 |
| Operator | Departure | Arrival | Representative online example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed Ferry Cambodia | 07:45 | 08:25 | ~$8.50 |
| Vireak Buntham | 08:30 | 09:15 | ~$12.04 |
| Island Speed Ferry | 09:00 | 09:45 | ~$11.20 |
| Romny Tour | 09:30 | 10:45 | ~$11.90 |
| GTVC | 11:00 | 11:45 | ~$12.75 |
| Vireak Buntham | 11:30 | 12:15 | ~$12.04 |
| GTVC | 12:00 | 12:45 | ~$12.75 |
| Romny | 13:30 | 14:15 | ~$11.90 |
| GTVC | 14:00 | 14:45 | ~$12.75 |
| Vireak Buntham | 14:30 | 15:15 | ~$12.04 |
| GTVC | 15:00 | 15:45 | ~$12.75 |
| GTVC | 16:00 | 16:45 | ~$12.75 |
| Vireak Buntham | 17:00 | 17:45 | ~$12.04 |
These are representative online examples, not permanent timetables. Verify destination beach, pier, vessel and current fare.
Cambodia does not have one bus company that is best for every route.
The useful comparison is:
operator + vehicle/product + route + departure point
| Operator | Typical products seen | Strong route coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Giant Ibis | seated coach, sleeper, limousine-style seat on selected inventory | Phnom Penh–Siem Reap, Battambang, Kampot/Kep, Sihanoukville, Ho Chi Minh City |
| Vireak Buntham | seated bus, coaster, minivan, sleeper, Hotel Bus, ferry products | broad domestic network including Siem Reap, Battambang, Kampot, Sihanoukville, Koh Kong, Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri |
| Larryta | minivan, deluxe van, sleeper products | tourist road corridors; compare the selected departure |
| Capitol VIP | seated / VIP bus products | budget-oriented intercity routes |
| Saly VIP | minivan / VIP products | northwestern and cross-border-oriented inventory |
| Vibol Express | minibus / minivan products | Phnom Penh–Kampot and other regional routes |
| VET Air Bus Express | seated bus | Phnom Penh–Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Ho Chi Minh and selected international routes |
Giant Ibis is one of the easiest operators for visitors to recognize, but it is not automatically the cheapest.
Its present network includes major tourist corridors such as:
Booking inventory can include seated coaches, sleeper products and other premium seating products depending on the route.
Choose Giant Ibis when its departure point, departure time and vehicle suit the journey. Do not pay more only because you recognize the brand.
Vireak Buntham has one of the broadest route and product networks in Cambodia.
Its booking inventory includes combinations of seated coach, coaster, minivan, sleeper, Hotel Bus, Luxury Hotel and speed-ferry products.
Its domestic network includes routes linking Phnom Penh with Siem Reap, Battambang, Kampot, Sihanoukville, Koh Kong, Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri.
The product name should be read together with the operator. A Vireak Buntham Coaster and a Vireak Buntham Hotel Bus are not the same journey.
Larryta appears frequently on tourist routes with minivan, deluxe-van and sleeper products.
It is especially useful to compare when the route has many road departures and you want a smaller vehicle or a specific time.
Capitol VIP frequently appears among lower-priced seated and VIP road products.
Compare the exact vehicle, office location, departure time and arrival point. “VIP” does not mean a standardized luxury class.
VET Air Bus Express operates seated-bus products on routes including Phnom Penh–Siem Reap, Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh–Ho Chi Minh City, with additional international inventory depending on operating conditions.
| Situation | Start by comparing |
|---|---|
| Phnom Penh → Siem Reap | Giant Ibis, Vireak Buntham, Larryta + lower-cost VIP/minivan products |
| Phnom Penh → Sihanoukville | Giant Ibis, Vireak Buntham, VET Air Bus Express, minivan operators |
| Phnom Penh → Kampot | Giant Ibis, Vireak Buntham, minivan operators |
| Phnom Penh → Ho Chi Minh City | Giant Ibis + Vietnamese/Cambodian international-bus operators |
| Overnight journey | actual Hotel Bus / sleeper product, not operator name alone |
| Lowest fare | VIP/minivan/budget coach inventory |
| Large luggage | full-size coach before minivan |
Choose the actual departure, not a favorite operator in isolation.
Royal Railway uses more than one passenger product.
The distinction is:
STANDARD TRAIN → Soft Seat
KIHA → First Class Seat / Second Class Seat
The two products should not be presented as the same carriage with different names.
Standard passenger trains are sold with Soft Seat.
KiHa trains are Japanese diesel multiple-unit trains introduced by Royal Railway.
KiHa booking products can distinguish First Class Seat and Second Class Seat.
| Feature | Standard train | KiHa |
|---|---|---|
| Booking product | Soft Seat | First Class Seat / Second Class Seat |
| Rolling stock | conventional Royal Railway passenger stock | Japanese KiHa DMU |
| Air-conditioning | depends on actual stock; do not assume | operator advertises air-conditioning |
| Seat choice | actual seat selection not guaranteed | actual seat selection not guaranteed |
| Best reason to choose | schedule / price / rail journey | newer rolling stock / air-conditioned product |
| Runs every route/date? | depends on timetable | selected services |
If both products are offered on the same journey, I would check KiHa first for the newer air-conditioned rolling stock.
If only the standard Soft Seat train is scheduled, there is no reason to avoid the railway purely because it is not KiHa.
The timetable remains more important than chasing a particular train type.
Phnom Penh ↓ Pursat ↓ Mong Russei ↓ Battambang ↓ further northwest where passenger service is scheduled
Best for: Pursat, Battambang, northwestern rail travel
Published Phnom Penh departure: 06:40
Phnom Penh ↓ Takeo ↓ Kep ↓ Kampot ↓ Sihanoukville
Best for: Kampot, Kep, Sihanoukville, south-coast rail travel
Published Phnom Penh departure: 07:00
Kampot, Sihanoukville or Kep: The Southern Line.
Battambang: The Northern Line.
Siem Reap: No direct passenger train.
KiHa is used on selected Royal Railway services. Do not assume every Northern or Southern departure uses KiHa rolling stock.
| Journey | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Phnom Penh → Siem Reap | Bus / minivan | many departures, no direct train |
| Phnom Penh → Kampot | Bus or train | frequent road service + daily rail |
| Phnom Penh → Kep | Bus or train | rail serves Kep on southern line |
| Phnom Penh → Sihanoukville | Bus | road is much faster |
| Kampot → Sihanoukville | Train or bus | short rail segment available |
| Phnom Penh → Battambang | Bus | much faster than current rail |
| Sihanoukville → Koh Rong | Ferry | island route |
| Sihanoukville → Koh Rong Samloem | Ferry | island route |
| Phnom Penh → Koh Rong | Combined road + ferry | through tickets available |
| Phnom Penh → Ho Chi Minh City | International bus | direct road corridor |
| Siem Reap → Bangkok | Check border status first | do not trust old Poipet guides |
| Siem Reap Airport → city | Shuttle / private transfer | airport is far outside town |
Do not choose transport by country reputation. Cambodia has routes where the bus is clearly better, routes where the train is genuinely useful and journeys where the ferry is unavoidable.
Cambodia booking systems use several product names that are not interchangeable.
Read the full product description before buying.
A normal intercity bus with upright seats. This is the straightforward choice for daytime journeys such as Phnom Penh–Siem Reap, Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh–Ho Chi Minh City.
A smaller vehicle with fewer seats than a full-size coach. It can serve short routes and collect from a different city point, but luggage space can be much smaller.
A road vehicle sold with reclining berth-style places. A Hotel Bus does not automatically mean a private bed. Check whether the berth is shared, paired or individual.
A higher-priced Hotel Bus product. Amenities, berth size, privacy and charging vary. Read the listing; none of those features should be assumed from the word “Luxury”.
A sleeper product uses berth-style places rather than normal upright seats. Check whether the space is:
No. A Hotel Bus can use shared or paired berth layouts. The word describes the product sold by the operator, not a guaranteed private room. Check the actual vehicle description, berth configuration, departure time and arrival time.
Bus or minivan is the normal overland answer.
There is no direct passenger railway between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
Road services run throughout the day and night, with many journeys taking roughly five-and-a-half to six-and-a-half hours.
| Operator / product | Departure | Arrival | Representative online example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olongpich Prestige | 00:00 | 06:00 | ~$10.40 |
| Olongpich Hotel Bus | 00:30 | 06:00 | ~$11.05 |
| Virak Buntham Hotel Bus | 01:30 | 07:30 | ~$12.05 |
| Virak Buntham Luxury Hotel | 02:00 | 08:00 | ~$14.60 |
| Ebooking Express Minibus | 05:55 | 10:40 | ~$11.50 |
| Giant Ibis Universe Luxury | 08:45 | 14:45 | ~$15 |
| Giant Ibis Universe Luxury | 09:45 | 15:45 | ~$15 |
| Larryta Sleeper | 10:10 | 16:10 | ~$13.50 |
| Seila Angkor VIP 15 | 11:30 | 17:30 | ~$8.50 |
| Capitol VIP Seater | 12:00 | 18:00 | ~$8.50 |
Timetables and online prices change. Search your actual travel date before booking.
Products start around $8.50 and commonly fall around $10–15. Hotel Bus, sleeper and premium products can cost more. Check vehicle type, berth or seat, departure, arrival and luggage before comparing.
Compare departure point, arrival point, seat product, luggage and actual operator terms. A higher price is not a universal guarantee of a better fit for your journey.
Private SUV or car inventory can start around $60+ per vehicle. A bus or minivan is cheaper for one person. For three or four people, divide the vehicle price before comparing.
No direct passenger train. Use bus, minivan, flight or private transfer.
Kampot, Kep and Sihanoukville are different from Siem Reap because Royal Railway serves the southern corridor.
The train is useful when its single main departure fits.
The bus wins when you need more departure choices or a faster trip to Sihanoukville.
| Operator / product | Departure | Arrival | Representative online example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virak Buntham Luxury Hotel | 04:00 | 07:00 | ~$10.75 |
| Vibol Express Minibus | 06:30 | 09:30 | ~$4.80 |
| Giant Ibis Universe Luxury | 08:00 | 12:00 | ~$8 |
| Airbus Seater 35 | 08:30 | 11:00 | ~$8.60 |
| Vibol Express Minibus | 12:00 | 15:00 | ~$4.80 |
| Airbus Seater 35 | 13:00 | 16:00 | ~$8.60 |
| Giant Ibis | 14:45 | 18:45 | ~$8 |
| Virak Buntham Coaster | 16:00 | 19:00 | ~$7.75 |
| Vibol Express | 17:30 | 20:30 | ~$7.35 |
The southern line has a 07:00 planning departure from Phnom Penh.
Representative service: 07:00 → 10:51, about 3h51. The government-listed fare is $6.
| Mode | Typical time | Representative example |
|---|---|---|
| Minibus | ~2½–3h | from ~$4.80 |
| Train | ~3h51 | official listed $6 |
| Premium bus | ~3–4h | ~$8–11 |
Take the train when the 07:00 departure works and you want rail. Take the bus when the departure window or road arrival suits your plan better.
| Operator / product | Departure | Arrival | Representative online example |
|---|---|---|---|
| BookMeBus-type product | 05:00 | 08:00 | ~$14.50 |
| RA Express VIP | 07:00 | 10:00 | ~$11.20 |
| Giant Ibis | 08:00 | 11:00 | ~$15 |
| Vibol Express | 09:30 | 13:00 | ~$10 |
Many buses cover the route in roughly three to four hours.
Scheduled rail inventory shows approximately:
07:00 → 13:36
about 6h36
Royal Railway passenger information should be checked again for the travel date.
Take the bus when you need speed. The buses often take roughly three to four hours. The train takes around six-and-a-half hours.
Choose rail when the single departure fits, you prefer the train, road traffic is not attractive or you are continuing along the rail corridor.
Representative return service: 14:00 → 20:36, about 6h36. Check the booking details again before paying.
Representative schedule: 11:15 → 13:49, about 2h34. Rail is much more competitive on this shorter segment than on Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville.
Reverse representative: 14:00 → 16:12, about 2h12.
Royal Railway serves Kep on the southern line. A representative is 07:00 → approximately 10:40, about 3h40. Continue by road if your beach or hotel is not beside the station.
The rail segment is short. Timetable examples put the journey around 30 minutes. Bus, taxi and tuk-tuk alternatives also exist, so compare the actual departure time.
Cambodia’s passenger railway has two main corridors from Phnom Penh.
Representative departures are around 06:40 on the northern line and 07:00 on the southern line. Published service days can be date-specific, so check the actual departure before travelling.
Phnom Penh
↓
Pursat
↓
Mong Russei
↓
Battambang
↓
Sisophon / onward domestic railway where currently operating
Do not present Poipet as a functioning Thailand passenger-rail connection unless the current border and rail operation confirm it.
Phnom Penh
↓
Takeo
↓
Kep
↓
Kampot
↓
Sihanoukville
Use the southern railway primarily when its morning departure fits your itinerary.
Cambodia Royal Railway does not use one identical passenger product across every train.
Standard trains are currently sold with Soft Seat.
KiHa services can be sold with First Class Seat and Second Class Seat.
Check the actual train shown for your departure rather than assuming every Royal Railway ticket uses the same carriage.
| Route | Listed fare |
|---|---|
| Phnom Penh ↔ Takeo | $4 |
| Phnom Penh ↔ Kampot | $6 |
| Takeo ↔ Kampot | $5 |
| Sihanoukville ↔ Kampot | $4 |
| Sihanoukville ↔ Takeo | $6 |
These are operator/government-listed fare examples, not reseller prices.
| Vehicle | Listed fee |
|---|---|
| Car | $14 |
| Motorbike | $5 |
| Bicycle | $12 |
Verify the exact train, loading procedure and acceptance before arriving with a vehicle.
Take the bus when journey time is the priority. Royal Railway serves Battambang, but current rail journeys are much slower than normal road services.
Northern Line departure from Phnom Penh is around 06:40. A representative return leaves Battambang at 15:00 and reaches Phnom Penh around 00:20, about 9h20 and around $8 in an online example. Bus products commonly cost around $11–13 and are much faster.
Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem are reached by ferry.
The booking detail is not only departure time.
Check the actual island pier.
| Operator | Departure | Arrival | Representative online example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed Ferry Cambodia | 07:45 | 08:25 | ~$8.50 |
| GTVC / Island Speed Ferry | 08:00 | 08:45 | $17 one way current example |
| Vireak Buntham-type speedboat | 08:30 | 09:15 | ~$12 |
| Island Speed Ferry Cambodia | 09:00 | 09:45 | ~$11.20 |
| Romny Tour | 09:30 | 10:15 | ~$11.90 |
| GTVC Speedboat | 11:00 | 11:45 | $17 one way current example |
| Island Speed Ferry | 12:00 | 12:45 | ~$11.20 |
| GTVC | 14:00 | 14:45 | $17 one way current example |
| Island Speed Ferry | 15:00 | 15:45 | ~$11.20 |
| GTVC | 16:00 | 16:45 | $17 one way current example |
Many fast ferries take roughly 30–45 minutes. Verify current operator names, times, destination and pier.
Representative online examples commonly fall around $8.50–13 one way depending on operator, departure and pier. Operator-direct listings can be higher, so check the final destination before comparing fares.
Representative examples include 07:45 → 08:25 around $8.50, 08:30 → 09:15 around $12, 09:00 → 09:45 around $11.20, 11:00 → 11:45 around $12.75, 14:00 → 14:45 around $12.75 and 17:00 → 17:45 around $12.
Do not assume a ticket labelled simply “Koh Rong Samloem” reaches the beach or resort you want.
Check the arrival pier before booking.
Check whether your accommodation is near Saracen Bay, M’Pai Bay or another part of the island. Do not assume every speedboat serves every bay.
GTVC’s route listing shows named island destinations and should be checked for the date.
Yes. Booking inventory includes combined road + ferry tickets.
| Product | Departure | Arrival | Representative online example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sovan Rithy minivan + ferry | 06:30 | 10:30 | ~$21 |
| RA Express road + ferry | 07:00 | 11:45 | ~$21.60 |
| Sovan Rithy | 07:30 | 11:30 | ~$21 |
| RA Express | 08:00 | 11:30 | ~$21.60 |
| Sovan Rithy | 11:00 | 15:00 | ~$21 |
Book a combined ticket when you want one itinerary and a coordinated connection.
Book separately when you want a specific bus operator, a specific ferry operator, more time in Sihanoukville or a particular island pier.
Separate tickets give more control but leave you responsible for the connection.
Travel by road from Kampot to Sihanoukville, then continue by ferry. Combined van + ferry products may be available depending on the date. Check the mainland departure point and island pier before booking.
You do not necessarily need to buy Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville and the island ferry separately.
Direct international buses make this one of Cambodia’s strongest cross-border routes.
Most normal products take roughly six to seven hours, depending on border processing.
| Operator / product | Departure | Arrival | Representative online example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Phuong Luxury | 05:00 | 12:00 | ~$17 |
| Capitol VIP Premium | 06:00 | 13:00 | ~$18.70 |
| Kumho Samco Seater | 07:30 | 14:30 | ~$20.40 |
| Giant Ibis VIP | 08:00 | 14:30 | ~$28 |
| Capitol VIP | 09:30 | 16:30 | ~$18.70 |
| Long Phuong | 11:00 | 18:00 | ~$17 |
| Khai Nam Seater | 12:00 | 19:00 | ~$23.80 |
| Duc Duong VIP | 13:00 | 18:55 | ~$21 |
| Khai Nam Sleeper | 14:30 | 21:30 | ~$24.65 |
Giant Ibis examples can cost around $28, while cheaper operators may be around $17–21. Do not compare price alone. Check departure point, border procedure, seat product, arrival point in Ho Chi Minh City, baggage and actual operator terms.
Most Phnom Penh–Ho Chi Minh road services use the Bavet / Moc Bai corridor.
The operator may guide passengers through the process, but immigration decisions remain with border authorities.
Online route inventory should be checked alongside official entry rules.
Do not rely on old Poipet bus guides.
Current UK travel advice says Cambodia–Thailand land borders and crossings continue to be suspended. That includes the traditional Poipet–Aranyaprathet route used by many older Siem Reap–Bangkok guides.
Check the current official border status before purchasing any overland ticket.
Booking inventory does not automatically prove that a land border is usable for your travel date. Check the current border situation first.
Do not plan a through passenger-rail journey to Thailand without checking the current border and railway operation. Cambodia’s northern railway reaches toward Poipet, but a domestic rail service to Poipet is not the same thing as an open international passenger connection.
Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport is roughly 50 km from central Siem Reap.
Allow around one hour by road under normal conditions.
Do not treat airport arrival as arrival in the town centre.
Official shuttle fare: $8 one way.
Airport → town departures: 09:30, 11:00, 12:30, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 17:30, 19:00, 20:00, 22:00.
Town → airport departures: 05:30, 07:00, 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 13:30, 15:00, 16:00, 19:00.
Official shuttle information should be checked before departure.
Not automatically. The official shuttle runs between the airport and its Siem Reap city stop. Your hotel may require a separate tuk-tuk or taxi transfer.
| Mode | Representative example | Typical road time |
|---|---|---|
| Official shuttle | $8/person | around 1h |
| Private car | around $35/vehicle | ~50–80 min |
| Private minivan | around $45/vehicle | ~50–80 min |
For four travelers, a $35 car is roughly $8.75 each before considering hotel drop-off. This is example math, not a fixed airport fare.
The airport and ferry departure point are separate. Allow time for baggage collection, the airport-to-pier road transfer, ferry check-in and delays. Do not build a tight ferry connection around the scheduled flight-arrival minute.
Private transfers are expensive for one passenger and much more competitive for a group.
Compare the full vehicle price with several individual tickets plus first/last-mile transport.
Main Royal Railway terminal in Phnom Penh.
Open station mapStation on the southern line.
Open station mapServes Kep; continue by road if your hotel or beach is not beside the station.
Open station mapSouthern railway terminus; ferry piers require separate local transport.
Open station mapNorthern-line rail stop.
Open station mapDo not confuse the shuttle terminus with hotel drop-off.
Open city-stop map
Cambodia bus luggage rules vary by operator. Ferry luggage rules vary by operator. Train vehicle transport is unusually well-defined on selected services. Always check the exact ticket product.
There is no single universal allowance across every Cambodian bus company. Check the actual operator. VIP vans deserve particular attention because luggage space can be much smaller than on full-size coaches.
Check the actual operator allowance before travelling with large luggage, bicycles or bulky equipment. Fast ferries have less practical storage than road coaches.
A separate ferry ticket normally leaves the connection risk with you. A combined road + ferry product can simplify the itinerary because the two legs are sold together. Check the actual operator’s missed-connection policy before relying on protection.
Yes. Sea conditions can affect ferry schedules. If you have an onward flight or long-distance bus after returning from the island, leave a realistic buffer.
A Hotel Bus is a road vehicle sold with a reclining berth-style or sleeper product. Read the actual layout and passenger arrangement before booking.
No. Check the actual berth configuration. A listed berth can be shared, paired or arranged in a cabin-like layout depending on the operator.
It is a higher-priced hotel-bus product. Amenities and berth layouts vary, so read the operator description rather than assuming a private cabin.
A sleeper bus has reclined berth-style places instead of normal upright coach seats. The berth may be shared or individual.
A VIP minivan is a smaller road vehicle with fewer seats than a coach. It can be quick, but luggage space is more limited.
Many current services take roughly five-and-a-half to six-and-a-half hours.
Representative online examples start around $8.50 and commonly fall around $10–15.
Giant Ibis examples can cost around $28 to Ho Chi Minh City while cheaper operators may be around $17–21. Compare departure point, border procedure, seat, arrival point and baggage.
No direct passenger train. Use bus, minivan, flight or private transfer.
Yes. Hotel Bus and sleeper products run on some routes, including Phnom Penh–Siem Reap. Confirm the berth layout and arrival time.
Road products commonly take about 2½–4 hours; the representative Royal Railway service takes about 3h51.
Compare the frequent bus departures with the single main train departure around 07:00.
The government-listed fare is $6.
Do not assume a daily pattern for every route. Current Ministry information publishes day-specific departures, so check the actual date before travelling.
The representative southern-line departure from Phnom Penh is around 07:00.
The representative northern-line departure from Phnom Penh is around 06:40.
Selected services list a $5 motorbike fee. Verify the exact train, loading procedure and acceptance.
Selected services list a $12 bicycle fee. Verify the exact train and loading procedure.
Selected services list a $14 car fee. Verify the exact train and acceptance before arriving with a vehicle.
Many buses take roughly three to four hours. The representative train takes about 6h36.
Take the bus for speed. Choose rail when the single departure fits and you prefer the train.
A representative train takes about 2h34.
Yes. Royal Railway serves Kep on the southern line; continue by road if your hotel or beach is not beside the station.
The bus is much faster. Rail information shows a slow northern-line journey with a representative return around 9h20.
Take the bus when journey time is the priority. Use rail if the northern departure fits your plan.
Many current speed ferries take roughly 30–45 minutes.
Representative online examples commonly fall around $8.50–13, while operator-direct examples can be higher. Check the final destination and fare conditions.
Many listed speed-ferry crossings take roughly 30–45 minutes, but the destination beach and intermediate stops can change the itinerary.
Koh Rong has multiple piers and beaches. Check the island, beach, pier and hotel transfer before paying.
Yes. Combined road + ferry products start around $21.
A combined ticket coordinates the road and ferry legs. Separate tickets give more control but leave the connection risk with you.
Yes. Sea conditions can affect ferry schedules. Leave a buffer before an onward flight or long-distance bus.
A separate ferry ticket normally leaves the connection risk with you. Check the actual operator’s missed-connection policy before relying on protection.
Most normal products take roughly six to seven hours, depending on border processing.
Representative examples range from about $17 to $28 across the listed products.
The bus journey includes Cambodia exit procedure, Vietnam entry procedure and border waiting time. Immigration decisions remain with border authorities.
Check official Vietnam entry rules for your passport and chosen crossing.
Verify the current official border status before booking. Do not rely on old Poipet route guides.
Verify the current official border status before booking. Land crossings have been suspended in the latest checked UK travel advice.
Do not plan a through passenger-rail journey without checking the current border and railway operation.
Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport is roughly 50 km from central Siem Reap. Allow around one hour by road.
$8 one way on the official shuttle.
Not automatically. The shuttle runs between the airport and its Siem Reap city stop; a separate tuk-tuk or taxi may be needed.
The shuttle is $8 per person. A private car example is around $35 per vehicle, so four passengers would be roughly $8.75 each before hotel drop-off convenience.
There is no single universal allowance across every Cambodian bus company. Check the actual operator.
Check the exact product. VIP vans have less luggage space than full-size coaches, and ferry allowances vary by operator.
Use Techo International Airport (KTI) for current Phnom Penh flight planning.
Phnom Penh flight planning should use Techo International Airport (KTI). Check the airport code on your ticket.
Roughly 25 km from central Phnom Penh for road-transfer planning.
Current online taxi examples start around $15, while official airport guidance gives approximate fares around $10–20.
Yes. Current booking inventory includes through airport–Sihanoukville road products; compare them with a city transfer.
Search for a through road + ferry product before buying KTI–Sihanoukville and the ferry separately.
Road services typically take around three to four hours.
Online shared-bus/van examples commonly fall around $6–10.
Both are road choices. Compare the actual departure, vehicle and terminal.
Bus/minivan examples are roughly four-and-a-half to five hours.
Shared road examples are roughly $8.50–14; a private SUV example is around $75 per vehicle.
Japanese KiHa rolling stock used by Royal Railway on selected passenger services.
On KiHa services, current booking products can distinguish First Class Seat and Second Class Seat. Standard Royal Railway trains use a Soft Seat product instead. Check the train shown for your departure.
Soft Seat is the seating product sold on standard Royal Railway passenger trains. It is separate from the First Class and Second Class products shown on KiHa services.
No. Rolling stock varies by departure. Check the actual service.
Yes. Check the specific beach or pier before booking.
M’Pai Bay is a specific arrival area on Koh Rong Samloem, not a generic Koh Rong ferry destination.
Yes. Direct ferry inventory exists from Sihanoukville; check the date and destination label.
You may need another boat or road transfer after arrival. Check accommodation location before paying.
There is no permanent last-ferry time. Selected operators show late-afternoon services around 17:00; check the actual date.
No universal minimum applies. Use a combined ticket, an earlier road departure or a larger Sihanoukville buffer.
Both are berth-style road products, but layout and privacy vary. Read the selected product description.
Yes. A berth can be shared or paired; it is not automatically private.
Hotel Bus and Coaster are different product labels and vehicles. Read the selected departure instead of treating the operator name as the vehicle.
Giant Ibis listings are often full-size premium coaches; a minivan has fewer seats and less luggage space. Compare the actual product and terminal.
There is no single best operator for every route. Compare the operator together with the vehicle/product, departure point and schedule.
Major Giant Ibis corridors include Phnom Penh–Siem Reap, Battambang, Kampot/Kep, Sihanoukville and Ho Chi Minh City.
Vireak Buntham has a broad domestic network including Siem Reap, Battambang, Kampot, Sihanoukville, Koh Kong, Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri, with several vehicle types.
The Southern Line.
The Northern Line.
Standard trains are sold with Soft Seat. KiHa trains can be sold with First Class Seat and Second Class Seat and use newer Japanese rolling stock.
