How to get from Kep to Battambang

Why visit Battambang?

Battambang is one of the oldest cities in Cambodia, dating back to the 11th century and bursting with rich history. But don’t worry, Battambang isn’t stuck in the past, it’s a brilliant blend of old-world charm and contemporary culture.

This city offers some incredibly unique experiences like riding a bamboo train, visiting a cave home to thousands of bats that create a stunning display every day at dusk and watching an unforgettable performance at Phare Ponleu Selpak Circus.

There are 3 ways to travel the 450 kilometers (280 miles) from Kep to Battambang. You can choose between the bus, shared minivan and flight. The journey takes 6 hours 35 minutes to 10 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at $22 (88,000 KHR).

Champa Mekong offers 3 day trips from Kep to Battambang. Unfortunately, this company doesn’t receive good reviews.

If you prefer to travel with more trusted bus companies and do not mind taking 2 buses, read further to check out our recommended indirect bus route.

If you still want to take a direct bus from Kep to Battambang, you can easily book online in the link below. Champa Mekong has buses leaving at 07:30, 10:00 and 14:45. Tickets cost $22 (88,000 KHR) and the journey takes 10 hours.

Check Available Bus Tickets

Champa Mekong

• Departs at Champa Mekong Office near Kep Beach
• Arrives next to Caltex Gas Station near Lok Ta Dambong Kra Nhoung Roundabout in Battambang

An alternative to taking a Champa Mekong bus for 10 straight hours is to divide your bus trip into two. You can take a 4-hour bus ride from Kep to Phnom Penh. From there, you will have more bus choices to complete the 2nd leg of your journey to Battambang.

We would normally recommend travelling with Cambodia Post as they receive good reviews in Cambodia. But for this route, they only have one bus which arrives at 17:45 in Phnom Penh. Unfortunately, this is too late to catch the next bus to Battambang.

For this reason, your only option is to still travel with Champa Mekong. They have 2 buses leaving each day for Phnom Penh. Of which one arrives at 12:30, at least, when everything goes as planned.

Many travellers report delays when travelling with Champa Mekong, so plan some extra time between the arrival time of Champa Mekong and the departure time of your next bus.

See the schedule below:

There are many buses operating on this route, but not all companies have a good record of safety and score low on a level of comfort.

In the table below we suggest the companies which receive good reviews. The options listed in this table all depart after 12:00 as earlier options don’t fit with the schedule of the bus from Kep.

A minivan ride from Kep to Battambang costs around $24 (96,000 KHR). The minivan journey takes about 10 hours to 10 hours 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Vibol Express operates on this route.

Both Kep and Battambang don’t have operating airports. The closest airport to Kep is in Sihanoukville and the closest airport to Battambang is in Siem Reap.

Note that there is an airport 3 km from Battambang, but except for some locals playing football, you won’t see any activity here. We recommend taking a taxi to Sihanoukville airport, fly to Siem Reap and then take another taxi to Battambang.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

The most efficient way to get to Sihanoukville Airport from Kep is to hire a taxi. When you take a bus, you still have to take a taxi for $20 (80,000 KHR) to the airport from Sihanoukville centre.

You can hail a taxi on the streets, pre-arrange one through your hotel or request a taxi online. Hailing a taxi costs around $35 (140,000 KHR) but drivers will likely try to charge you more. Always make sure you agree on the rate beforehand. Booking a taxi online costs $60 (239,000 KHR).

Sihanoukville International Aiport is a small airport and does not host a lot of flights. The flight takes around 1h 05m and expect to pay fares from $33 (132,000 KHR) for a ticket.

From the airport, you can rent a taxi to Battambang for $40 (160,000 KHR).

Another option is to order one from your hotel in Battambang or book one online for $55 (219,000 KHR).

The advantage of booking online is that you will get an SUV type taxi, which offers a lot more space compared to the normal sedan taxis you find at the airport.