Overview Compare Bus Flight To Stay
How to get from Kep to Battambang
The cheapest way to travel the 425 km distance from Kep to Battambang is via bus. This will take 10 hours and cost $19. An alternate option is to take a 1-hour flight from Sihanoukville to Siem Reap, but this will include an additional 5.5 hours of transfers and will cost around $108.
2 ways to get from Kep to Battambang
Champa Mekong has recently opened a direct route from Kep to Battambang. Unfortunately, this company doesn’t receive very good reviews. If you prefer to travel with more trusted bus operators, you can first take a bus to Phnom Penh before taking another bus from there to Battambang.
Flying does save you some time but involves 2 more taxi rides. You first have to take a taxi to Sihanoukville, fly to Siem Reap and then take another taxi from Siem Reap airport to Battambang.
Itinerary from Kep to Battambang
Flight
- Kep
- 3 hours
- Sihanoukville Airport
- 1h 05min
- Siem Reap Airport
- 2. hours
- Battambang
Kep to Battambang by Bus
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 $19 and the journey takes 10 hours.
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
Alternative: Kep to Battambang by Indirect Bus
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.
Step 1: Kep to Phnom Penh by Bus
There are 2 bus companies that operate buses from Kep to Phnom Penh. These are Cambodia Post and Champa Mekong.
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:
Bus schedules from Kep to Phnom Penh
If you still want to travel with Cambodia Post, you can book online via 12go.Asia. The Cambodia Post VIP Van departs and arrives at the Post office in Kep and Phnom Penh, respectively.
Buses of Champa Mekong leave from the bus station in front of Kep beach and arrive at the Champa Mekong office just next to the Wat Phnom temple in the centre of Phnom Penh.
If you want to see all the options on this route, you can check the page about Kep to Phnom Penh.
Step 2: Phnom Penh to Battambang by Bus
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.
Bus schedules from Phnom Penh to Battambang
The ride from Phnom Penh to Battambang should be quite comfortable as this is a paved road. However, sitting in a mini-bus for 6 hours is still not the most fun experience!
You will still have some time to explore Phnom Penh in the afternoon when you book the Mekong Express bus leaving at 14:30.
If you need more info, you can also check our page for Phnom Penh to Battambang.
Sihanoukville to Siem Reap by Flight
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.
Step 1: Kep to Sihanoukville Airport by Taxi
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 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 $35-40 but drivers will likely try to charge you more. Always make sure you agree on the rate beforehand. Booking a taxi online costs $60.
Step 2: Sihanoukville to Siem Reap by Flight
Sihanoukville International Aiport is a small airport and does not host a lot of flights. The flight takes around 1 hour and expect to pay $33-$100 for a ticket.
Step 3: Siem Reap Airport to Battambang by Taxi
From the airport, you can rent a taxi to Battambang for $40-$50.
Another option is to order one from your hotel in Battambang or book one online for $55.
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.
Our favourite places to stay in Battambang
The city of Battambang is fairly spread out, however, you'll find the majority of accommodations are located centrally, near the Sangkae River.
The downtown area is less than 5km from the airport so taking public transportation or hopping in a taxi will be an easy & quick trip to your hotel. The bus terminal is located in the downtown area and will likely be within walking distance to your hotel, or just a short taxi ride away.
If you're hoping to visit the circus while here, it's located just a few kilometers from the airport in the opposite direction of downtown. You can still easily stay in the downtown area and grab a taxi for just a couple of bucks.
When looking for a great place to stay in Battambang, we recommend the accommodations below.
Pomme Hostel
Pomme Hostel, Bar & Restaurant is located centrally in the heart of Battambang. Just 200 m from Psar Nat, Riverside Night Market, and Battambang Museum, it's a great place to stay to see the local sights.
While breakfast is not included with your stay, it's just an extra $2 for a full English breakfast or 'build-your-own' breakfast. The restaurant offers an array of local, Asian, and international meals for lunch and dinner as well. The hotel staff, who are known to be extremely welcoming and friendly, can also arrange local tours for you.
- Central location
- Restaurant & Bar
- Tour desk
- Excellent staff
Private room start at $7 per night
Family Batcave Homestay
Located amongst the rice fields and surrounded by beauty, this homestay is 15km from the city center of Battambang.
They offer a stunning garden, free bicycle rentals, and a relaxing terrace to soak in the sights. The owners and staff will treat you like family, great food, and a private bamboo bungalow, this is the perfect place to stay. Also, a delicious vegetarian breakfast is included with your stay.
- Located on the outskirts of Battambang
- Great breakfast included
- Private bungalow
- Free bicycle rentals
Private bungalow start at $20 per night
Sangker Villa
If you're looking for a little more luxury without breaking the bank, then Sangker Villa is definitely the place to stay.
This centrally located villa offers a beautiful outdoor swimming pool, and each room has air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with cable channels, a minibar, and en suite bathrooms with toiletries, they even offer hot showers!
The on-site French restaurant and bar is the perfect place to cool down after walking around town and enjoy the river views, just a 200 m walk away.
- Centrally located in downtown Battambang
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Restaurant & bar
- Luxury accommodations within a travelers budget
Private rooms start at $23 per night
More routes to Battambang
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About the author(s)
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
