Overview Compare Bus via Phnom Penh Taxi Flight To Stay
How to get from Siem Reap to Kampot
There are 3 options when travelling from Siem Reap to Kampot. Taking a bus is the cheapest but slowest at $15 and 11 hours. A taxi is 2 hours faster and is perfect when travelling in a group as it costs $130. Flying is the quickest at 3 hours and starts at $70.
4 ways to get from Siem Reap to Kampot
Travelling by bus from Siem Reap to Kampot takes at least 11 hours, but you won’t lose so much time as you travel by night. Bear in mind that night buses are not the safest way to travel in Cambodia!
Also, the companies offering direct trips for this route do not have a good reputation. For that reason, we recommend that you divide your bus trip into two: from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh and then from Phnom Penh to Kampot.
Taking a taxi offers the advantage that you can ask to make some stops along the way and it brings you from door to door. Expect to pay around $130 for a 4-seater taxi.
Kampot doesn’t have an airport, but you can fly to Sihanoukville first and take a taxi from there to Kampot. A one-way air ticket from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville costs between $30-$160. From the airport, you can arrange a taxi which will bring you in 2 hours to Kampot.
Siem Reap to Kampot by Bus
From Siem Reap, the bus takes at least 11 hours to reach Kampot. Given the long journey, it is worth to consider taking a night bus. This option saves you a lot of time and a night on accommodation. However, keep in mind that the streets in Cambodia are not well-lit and accidents happen more often during the night.
Unfortunately, none of the bus companies operating on this direct route rate well on safety and customer service, so taking the bus can be risky! Common complaints include dirty buses, long delays, and unprofessional staff. If you want a safer option, see the next section where we split the route in two legs with well-reputed bus companies.
However, it is worth noting that there have been some passengers who were quite satisfied with their journey. Still want to take a direct bus? You can see their schedules below.
Bus schedules from Siem Reap to Kampot
Virak Buntham
- Departs from Virak Buntham Express Travel Office, next to Nakpeoun Old Market roundabout
- Arrives at Virak Buntham Express Kampot stop, near the Durian Roundabout in the city centre
Olongpich Transport
- Departs from Taphul Road, Siem Reap (near Angkor Pearl)
- Arrives near the Durian Roundabout in the city centre
Phnom Penh Sorya
- Departs from the Phnom Penh Sorya Office along BBU Road, next to the Royal American International School
- Arrives at Phnom Penh Sorya Office near National Road 33
Phnom Penh Sorya uses a sleeping bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh and then changes into a seating bus from the capital to Kampot.
Siem Reap to Kampot by Bus via Phnom Penh
If you want to travel via more reputable bus companies, you can also consider to book a bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh first and then continue with another bus from Phnom Penh to Kampot.
Step 1: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh by Bus
There are 3 reputable companies operating on this route: Giant Ibis, Mey Hong Transport, and Mekong Express. You can get a bus ticket for $10 and the journey takes about 6 hours.
If you take a night bus, you will arrive in Phnom Penh about 05:00 in the morning. This gives you enough time to have breakfast and stretch your legs before transferring to a bus bound for Kampot.
There are also vans offering day trips for this route. For more info, check out our page on Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. Or you can go straight to booking your tickets through the link below.
Step 2: Phnom Penh to Kampot by Bus
The most well-known bus company from Phnom Penh to Kampot is Giant Ibis. It has departures at 08:00 and 14:45 daily. This means you can transfer to these buses if you take a night bus or an early morning bus or van from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh.
From Phnom Penh to Kampot, travel time is about 3hr 15min and a ticket costs $11. See below a sample itinerary.
Bus schedule from Phnom Penh to Kampot
Siem Reap to Kampot by Taxi
The travel from Siem Reap to Kampot by taxi takes about 9 hours, depending on how many stops you make. The cost of this journey is around $150 but some negotiating skills might help you talk down the price to $130.
You can order a taxi from your hotel, a local taxi service company or book one directly online for $130. Booking online offers the advantage that fares are fixed.
Siem Reap to Kampot by Flight + Taxi
If you don’t want to take the night bus or sit in a bus or taxi all day, you can also travel the most part by plane. You can choose to fly to Sihanoukville or Phnom Penh but we recommend the first city since it is quite easy to get a taxi from the airport straight to Kampot.
From Siem Reap to Sihanoukville, a one-way air ticket will range from $30 to $160. Flight time is just around 1 hour.
Once you arrive at Sihanoukville Airport, you can take a taxi to Kampot. You either arrange a taxi from the taxi counter near the arrival exit or let your hotel arrange a pick-up service in advance. Expect to pay around $40 for the 2-hour ride to Kampot.
Our favourite places to stay in Kampot
Daom Djah Spirit - Budget Friendly
Located along a river outside of town, with palm trees all around, you find Daom Djah Spirit. The excellent food and beautiful yet simple bungalows feel like a true nature retreat! It’s a 15min ride to town, so rent a bike before you come here or ask the friendly staff to book a TukTuk for you.
Double Room with Shared Bathroom $13
The Magic Sponge - Budget Friendly
Featuring a mini golf course, pool tables, and a pub with live entertainment, you definitely won’t get bored at The Magic Sponge. Located along Guesthouse Street, the city center and river are within walking distance. Owner William and his staff are very warm and welcoming.
Double Room from $18
Arcadia - Budget Friendly
Arcadia is heaven for backpackers. This hostel boasts an amazing waterpark featuring a waterslide and many other attributes that will guarantee a great day of fun. If you are not staying here, I still recommend to visit this place for an afternoon. Non-guests can access this waterpark for a small payment too. Once you got your wristband, get ready to launch your mates 10 meter high in the sky on the big blob!
Double Room from $18 and dorms from $5
Kampot Travel Guides
The Ultimate Kampot Travel Guide
Routes from Kampot
Most popular routes in Cambodia
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.
do not book CM Chan Moly!!!
First, the departure was an hour late. then your driver threw all the passengers west of the airport in Phnom Penh (13 km from the actual destination). he didn’t want to go any further.
all driving gestures have resulted in additional costs and difficulties.
Hi Andreas,
I’m very sorry to hear about your experience. You are not the first person who complains about this company. However, let’s set a few things straight: We didn’t recommend this company anywhere in the article, neither is it our driver.
The companies we suggested in this article are different companies operating on the route from Siem Reap to Kampot.
Anyhow, thanks to sharing your experience, other travellers are now double warned to not use this company.
Safe travels.
I do not recommend the night bus between Siem Reap and Kampot. Our hotel recommended CM Chan Moly and it was a nightmare. The bus broke down in the middle of the road an hour after we left. It was around 10 p.m. As the road was very busy, especially with trucks passing at very high speed, we got off the bus. No staff member advised the other passengers. There, by the side of the road, the wait started with our two children 11 and 13 years old. No explanation from the staff of CM Chan Moly. 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours to wait while the driver tries in vain to repair the irreparable. No answer to our questions, no solution proposed. No one on the staff spoke English. I let you imagine the nightmare. Our salute came from a bus from another company that picked us up when it was full. We got a 4 berth for $ 20 but the bus stopped in Phnom-Penh. So the adventure was not over. Once in Phnom-Penh we had to buy tickets for Kampot. The rest of the trip was still full of twists and turns that I spare you. Finally arrived in Kampot we came across the office of CM Chan Moly. It took us over an hour of hard negotiation to get the tickets refunded, but only those of Cm Chan Moly the rest of the costs incurred were lost. So that’s our sad experience with the dismal company CM Chan Moly. Flee it!
Hi Sebastien, I’m so sorry that happened to you and your family. Travelling by bus, and at night, in Cambodia is indeed not the safest option. Which is why it is very important to check reviews before booking with any company. In your case, it was a hotel recommendation, and I’m sorry they did not suggest a better bus operator. But thanks to your comment, we just updated our route to include more reputable companies. Hopefully, we can help our readers escape this kind of experience. I hope you still have a great trip outside that terrible bus ride! Safe travels to you and your family!