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How to get from Sihanoukville to Battambang
When travelling the 490 km distance from Sihanoukville to Battambang, you have 3 options: you can take a bus for 10 hours and costs $24.50; you can take a taxi for 10-12 hours and costs $130; or you can take a flight for 4 hours, including transfers, and tickets start from $39.
3 ways to get from Sihanoukville to Battambang
Traveling from Sihanoukville to Battambang in one leg is quite a journey. If travelling by day, you can take a mini-bus. A night sleeper bus can make it a bit more comfortable, but keep in mind that travelling by night is less safe.
Taxis are more expensive but are a good option if you are travelling in a group. Taxi fares start at $130.
Battambang doesn’t have an airport, but you can fly to Siem Reap and take a bus/taxi to Battambang. When you go for this option, we recommend staying one or more days in Siem Reap first.
Itinerary from Sihanoukville to Battambang
Sihanoukville to Battambang by Bus
To start with, we want to remind you that sitting in a van for 10 hours or more is not much fun. That’s also why we recommend splitting the journey with a stop in Phnom Penh.
You can check out our pages on Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh and Phnom Penh to Battambang for more details.
Still want to travel directly from Sihanoukville to Battambang? See your options below:
Bus schedule from Sihanoukville to Battambang
Olongpich Express
Olongpich Express receives decent reviews and will take you directly from Sihanoukville to Battambang in a sleeper bus. The only downside is that all its bunks are double beds and if you’re travelling alone, you must buy 2 tickets to ensure that you have the bed to yourself.
- Departure from Olongpich Transport along Kamakor Street in Sihanoukville
- Arrival at Olongpich Express near Lok Ta Dombong Khieu Nhung roundabout in Battambang
Virak Buntham
Virak Buntham runs many buses through Cambodia but doesn’t have a great safety record. If you really want to take a bus and Olongpich Express doesn’t match your schedule, Virak Buntham also offers day trips on a mini-bus as well as one night bus.
Note that these are not direct buses. They make a stop in Phnom Penh to drop-off and pick-up passengers. That could also be an opportunity for you to quickly stretch your legs.
- Departure from Virak Buntham Express Travel & Tours office, next to the Sihanoukville bus terminal which is a 10-15 min tuk-tuk or taxi ride to the centre
- Drop-off at Virak Buntham Battambang office, just one block away from Boeung Chouk Market
Sihanoukville to Battambang by Taxi
Taxis are the most common method of transport around Sihanoukville, but the long journey to Battambang could be exhausting.
The advantage of a taxi is that they will bring you door-to-door so you don’t have the hassle of getting to your hotel after a long ride. Also, you can ask the driver to make some stops along the way.
Expect to pay around $135 and don’t forget to ask about the number of stops beforehand.
Sihanoukville to Battambang by Flight
Step 1: Flight from Sihanoukville to Siem Reap
You can easily arrange a taxi from your hotel to Sihanoukville Airport. The taxi ride will take around 30 minutes and expect to pay $20.
Flight tickets from Sihanoukville to Siem Reap start from $33. If you book in the high season or last-minute you will likely pay more than $100. The flight to Siem Reap takes around 1 hour.
Step 2: Siem Reap to Battambang Taxi/Mini-bus
The easiest way to get from Siem Reap Airport to Battambang is by taxi. If you’re travelling alone and are on a budget, you can also consider travelling by minibus.
a. Siem Reap Battambang by Taxi
There are many taxis waiting at the airport that can bring you for $40 to $50 to Battambang. The ride will take about 2.5 hour.
Another option is to book a comfortable SUV taxi in advance. These taxis have more space than the sedan taxis you find at the airport. You can book one online for $55.
b. Siem Reap Battambang by Mini-bus
Bear in mind that flights from Sihanoukville arrive in the afternoon. Mekong Express has a bus leaving at 14:00. This is the last trip so make sure to consider this when booking your flight.
Also note that you still have to travel around 20 minutes from the airport to the city centre. See our page on How to get to and from Siem Reap Int’l Airport for more info.
Mini-bus schedule from Siem Reap to Battambang
Mekong Express
- Departure next to KFC, close to the hospital in the centre of Siem Reap
- Arrival next to the Psar Nat supermarket in the centre of Battambang
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
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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.
