How to get from Phnom Penh to Kampot (and vice-versa)

Not too long ago, getting from Phnom Penh to Kampot by bus was a complete headache. Buses detoured to stop in Kep on their way to Kampot, making the trip closer to five hours long. Now, though, there are direct mini-buses from Phnom Penh to Kampot that make the trip in around three hours, and taxis are even faster.

Kampot River Cambodia

Going from Phnom Penh to Kampot? Here’s how to get there.

Taxi

You can get a taxi from Phnom Penh to Kampot for between $35 and $50, although the prices can rise during public holidays (and that not so public holiday, Chinese New Year). Taxis are generally very clean Toyota Camrys that can seat four passengers. However, most have very little room for baggage, so if you have a lot of baggage, you may want to look into getting a van. Taxi drivers like to affirm their existence by driving as fast as possible and you’ll be able to make the trip in less than three hours. You can book a taxi online in advance, or at any travel agent or guesthouse in Phnom Penh or Kampot, although they will add a surcharge. Larger CRV or SUV taxis cost around $60. They seat four passengers more comfortably than the regular taxis.

Bus

There are several bus companies that go from Phnom Penh to Kampot, but many stop in Kep first, making the trip a long five hours.

Sorya is the major player on this route. They drive older buses that stop in Kep first. They used to be ridiculously cheap, but now at $8.50 per ticket there’s not really much reason to take them over one of the more comfortable mini-vans listed below.

Check all of the bus options between Phnom Penh and Kampot with BookMeBus.

Giant Ibis mini-bus

Travel in style with a mini-bus between Phnom Penh and Kampot.

Mini-bus

Mini-buses are a great option for the trip between Kampot and Phnom Penh. There are several companies that do this route, the primary ones being Giant Ibis and Kampot Express.

Giant Ibis are a tourist-oriented bus company that places a huge priority on safety. They run 21-seat mini-buses and tickets cost $9 for all passengers and full review of the Giant Ibis service between Kampot and Phnom Penh, including photos and seating tips. The trip takes about two-and-a-half hours.

Giant Ibis schedule:
Phnom Penh – Kampot: 8 a.m, 2:45 p.m
Kampot – Phnom Penh: 8:30 a.m., 2:45 p.m.

Giant Ibis
3Eo Street 106, next to the night market, Phnom Penh
T: 023 987 808
37, Street 7 Makara, Behind Sokimex Gas Station, Kampot
T: 095 666 809

Kampot Express is another popular mini-bus, with tickets going for $8 for foreigners and $6 for locals. If you get your ticket directly through Kampot Express and make your booking in Khmer, it’s possible you’ll get the local price. Kampot Express uses 15-seat vans and has a ten minute stop along the way. They arrive in less than three hours. You can buy tickets and reserve a seat online with BookMeBus.

Kampot Express schedule:
Phnom Penh – Kampot: 8 a.m., 1 p.m., 16:30 p.m.
Kampot – Phnom Penh: 8 a.m., 1 p.m., 16:30 p.m.

Kampot Express
#2 Street 215, at the corner of 230 at Sokimex Station, Phnom Penh
T: 078 555 123, 0888 555 123
South of the durian roundabout next to Phnom Khev Guesthouse, Kampot.
T: 077 555 123, 081 555 123

Shared taxi

You can always travel between Kampot and Phnom Penh by shared taxi. You can get shared taxis at Psar Dang kor in Phnom Penh. The cost is approximately $5 per person, and the drivers wait until they have enough customers to fill up the taxi like a sardine can. Although the cars are 5-seater Camrys, most will wait for at least seven passengers (plus the driver) before departing. Offer to pay for two spots to take the front seat, otherwise you’ll be squeezed in with three or four others in the backseat. The journey takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours.

Train

Cambodia has resurrected some of their old train lines, and it’s now possible to travel by train from Phnom Penh to Kampot on weekends. The trip takes between four and five hours and costs $6. For more details, please see our blog post about taking the train in Cambodia.

Bus tickets purchased through links in this post may generate affiliate sales for us. This does not affect our reviews for specific bus companies or routes! For more about how we deal with advertising, affiliate sales, and stuff like that, you can read more here.

9 Responses to How to get from Phnom Penh to Kampot (and vice-versa)

    Saeed Ahmad says:

    which city is is batter for visit of Cambodia
    how many money i need for 5 night stay

    CannabisTourist says:

    Hello,

    So, what is the best way to arrive alive ?

    Do big buses drive slowly ?

    Thank you.

    Mike Mann says:

    Hi
    I saw some orange color half size buses in Kampot. It looked like the name was VVIP.
    I am looking for their terminal in Phnom Penh to go back with them

    thanks
    Mike

    zachary says:

    I have been doing a little bit of research and it looks straight forward, but I just want to ask the question if it’s possible to go from kampot to siem reap in a day? Thanks in advance.

      Lina says:

      Yes. Check out the Giant Ibis website for their bus times and you can get the early morning bus from Kampot and the mid-day bus to Siem Reap.

    Ryan Lavallee says:

    Thanks for this post.. Am on the Kampot express 4:30 having learned about it from this page, which is a useful services having come from siem reap thus morning (ie avoid a stay over in pp).. Was pleasantly surprised on entering the bus… Unlike most others, the vehicle is new and seating really comfortable (thick cushioned seats!)

    ice says:

    Hi!do you know how can i get to Phnom Chhngk from Kampot? Thank you!

    michal says:

    does the minibus from kampot to PP pass the airport?
    How long K to Airport?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.