Getting around Cambodia: buses, cars, trains, flights and boats
How to travel between Cambodia’s regions: buses, private cars, the coast train, domestic flights, the expressway and island boats, with typical times.
National Road 76 from Snuol towards Sen Monorom
Researched from published sources
In short
Most travelers move between Cambodia’s regions by bus or minivan (cheapest), private car with driver (fastest and most flexible), or a domestic flight between Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. A slower train runs to Kampot, and speedboats serve the islands. Typical road legs are 3 to 6 hours, and Phnom Penh is the hub.
Cambodia’s main roads radiate from Phnom Penh, and almost every trip passes through the capital at least once. The choice on each leg is between price, speed and comfort.
The options
Buses and minivans. Companies such as Giant Ibis run between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (about 5.5 to 6 hours), with other operators on every main route. Minivans are faster but more cramped. Book a day or two ahead, and check whether a bus has a toilet on board.
Private car with driver. Door to door, faster and flexible, quoted per vehicle. Agree the total price, vehicle, air conditioning, seatbelts and departure time in writing. Travel in daylight.
Domestic flights. Recent reports describe daily flights between Phnom Penh’s Techo airport and Siem Reap, and between Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. A flight saves a long road day, but both airports are well outside their cities (about 26 km in Phnom Penh, 45 km in Siem Reap), so the door-to-door saving is smaller than it looks.
The expressway to the coast. Since 2022, the toll expressway has cut Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville to about two hours, which makes the islands far easier to reach.
The train. Slow and scenic, from Phnom Penh to Kampot and on along the coast. Good if you are not in a hurry.
Boats. Speedboats from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem take about 30 to 45 minutes; the community boat to Chi Phat takes about two hours.
Typical legs
| Leg | Distance | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Siem Reap to Phnom Penh | About 316 km | 5.5 to 6 h by bus |
| Phnom Penh to Kampot | (road) | 3 to 4 h |
| Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville | About 187 km expressway | About 2 h |
| Phnom Penh to Kratie | About 253 km | Most of a morning |
| Phnom Penh to Sen Monorom | About 359 km | About 6.5 h by car, 6 to 8.5 h by van |
| Phnom Penh to Andoung Teuk (Chi Phat) | About 195 km | Around 4 to 5 h by bus |
What is not possible
The land border with Thailand is closed and official advice warns against travel near it. Enter Cambodia by air, or overland from Vietnam or Laos.
Questions travelers ask
Is it better to take the bus or a private car?
Buses are cheap and comfortable enough on main routes, but leave from company offices on fixed timetables. A private car costs more, is faster, picks you up at your hotel and lets you stop. For two to four people on long legs, a car is often worth it.
Are there domestic flights?
Yes. Recent reports describe daily flights between Phnom Penh (Techo) and Siem Reap, and between Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, by more than one airline. Schedules change, so check the airlines directly; both main airports are 26 to 45 km from their cities.
Is there a train?
A train runs between Phnom Penh and Kampot (around 3 hours 40 minutes according to booking sites) and on towards Kep and Sihanoukville. It is scenic and slow, and 2026 traveler reports mention delays.
Sources and checks
Time-sensitive details on this page (prices, schedules, travel times, access) were last checked against the sources below on 12 October 2026. They change, so any proposal reconfirms them with the provider first.
- Move to Cambodia: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap transport (2026)
- Go Asia: new domestic flights linking Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and the coast
- Open Development Cambodia: Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville expressway
- Baolau: Phnom Penh to Kampot bus and train timetables
- Direct Ferries: Sihanoukville to Koh Rong
- UK FCDO travel advice for Cambodia (border crossings)
- OpenStreetMap routing (road distances)
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