How to get from Battambang to Siem Reap

Why visit Siem Reap?

Siem Reap and Angkor Wat come hand in hand with each other. Almost everyone who visits Siem Reap also explores the extensive and remarkable temples of Angkor Wat – the largest religious monument in the world.

Some visitors spend an entire week discovering every corner and carving of the temples, but here’s your reminder to explore beyond Angkor Wat. The city also has cute cafes, a nightly circus that will leave you stunned, never-ending markets, and a lively Pub Street. For many, it exceeds expectations.

There are 4 ways to travel the 165 kilometres (103 miles) from Battambang to Siem Reap. You can choose between the bus, shared minivan, taxi and ferry. The journey takes 3 hours to 8 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by bus. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at $8 (32,000 KHR).

Taking the bus is an easy option to reach Siem Reap. Unfortunately, there is no direct road from Battambang to Siem Reap. This means that all buses go via Sisophon, which makes the journey last at least 3 hours.

The road from Battambang to Sisophon is paved and in good condition. But, expect some bumps on the road from Sisophon to Siem Reap.

A minivan ride from Battambang to Siem Reap costs around $12 (48,000 KHR). The minivan journey takes about 3 hours, depending on traffic.

There is one company operating on this route: Go Ho Travel.

Ferry rides can be overcrowded, noisy, hot, a little uncomfortable and may take more time than the expected travel time. Some of the passages along the route are quite narrow and you might feel plants brushing past your skin.

On the bright side, it delivers another great travel experience. Taking the ferry offers views of floating villages and some beautiful local landscapes. The ride also includes a lunch stop at a floating restaurant. The restaurant serves local food but you also have the option to buy fresh pineapples if you’re not too keen to sample the local flare.

You can buy the ticket at the ferry dock near Route 5 bridge for $20 (80,000 KHR). Some hotels and restaurants sell ferry tickets but they tend to charge more. Ferries operating on this route are wooden, local boats that just have enough space for a passenger compartment, one toilet and some space for your bags.

The ferry ride takes you through the Sangker River and arrives at Phnom Krom ferry port. From this port, you can take a tuk-tuk to the city centre for $5 (20,000 KHR). Drivers may try to charge higher so better use your negotiation skills.

The route will look like this:

Battambang (Route near Route 5 Bridge) – Sangker River – Tonle Sap Lake – Siem Reap River – Phnom Krom Dock

*Note that ferries only operate during the wet season.

If you share the ride with more people, taking the taxi is very convenient. Taxis are a bit faster and will bring you for $61 (243,000 KHR) from Battambang to Siem Reap.

You can either hail a taxi and agree on a price with the driver, order one at your hotel or book a private taxi online by clicking the button below. The SUV taxi booked online starts at $55 (221,000 KHR).