Buses and minivans
Almost every route you will want is covered by road. Two broad categories:
Large coaches are slower, more comfortable, and stop more. Established operators on the main routes have reclining seats, air-conditioning, a toilet on the longer services and a rest stop. This is the sane choice for Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.
Minivans are quicker and cheaper and take fifteen people plus luggage into a space designed for twelve. Fine for two or three hours. Less fine for seven.
Sleeper buses run overnight on the long routes with flat or semi-flat berths. They save a hotel night; whether you sleep is another matter.
| Route | Time | Typical fare |
|---|---|---|
| Phnom Penh → Siem Reap | 6–7 h | US$10–20 |
| Phnom Penh → Sihanoukville | 3–4 h | US$8–15 |
| Phnom Penh → Kampot | 3–4 h | US$7–12 |
| Siem Reap → Battambang | 3–4 h | US$6–12 |
| Phnom Penh → Kratie | 5–6 h | US$9–14 |
| Phnom Penh → Sen Monorom | 7–8 h | US$10–15 |
The Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville expressway has cut that journey substantially — make sure your ticket is for an express service using it, not the old national road.
Domestic flights
Domestic aviation is thin. The realistic route is Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, around 45 minutes in the air, and it mainly makes sense if your time is short or you are connecting to an international flight. Once you add airport transfers at both ends the saving over the bus is smaller than it looks.
Cambodia now has three international airports: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap–Angkor (opened 2023, about 40 km east of Siem Reap town) and Sihanouk.
Ferries to the islands
Fast ferries leave Sihanoukville for Koh Rong (about 45 minutes) and Koh Rong Sanloem (45–60 minutes) several times a day. A few points that catch people out:
- Tickets are usually open-return but you must reserve your return sailing — do it when you arrive.
- Different piers serve different bays. Confirm whether you are landing at Saracen Bay or M'Pai Bay.
- Afternoon sailings are the ones cancelled when the wind gets up. Take the first boat of the day if the weather looks marginal.
- In the green season, crossings can be genuinely rough.
Getting around town
Ride-hailing apps are the easiest way to move around Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. They show the fare up front, which removes the negotiation entirely, and they will summon a tuk-tuk as readily as a car. Both Grab and the locally built PassApp are widely used.
Tuk-tuks come in two shapes: the classic trailer towed behind a motorbike, and the smaller Indian-style auto-rickshaw ("remorque" versus "tuk-tuk" locally). Agree the fare before you get in if you are not using an app. Short hops in town are typically US$1.50–3.
Hiring a driver for the day is common and good value — roughly US$18–30 depending on distance. For Angkor this is the standard arrangement.
Motorbikes and self-drive
Renting a scooter is easy and cheap — around US$5–10 a day — and in Kampot, Kep, Battambang and the north-east it transforms what you can reach. Three cautions:
- Most travel insurance policies void motorbike cover unless you hold a licence valid for that engine size. Check your policy, not the rental shop's assurances.
- Helmets are legally required for the driver and are simply sensible for everyone.
- Motorbike rental has historically been restricted in Siem Reap; most visitors use tuk-tuks there.
Renting a car to drive yourself is possible but uncommon and not recommended for a first visit. Hiring a car with a driver costs little more and removes every problem.
Road safety
Cambodian roads take some adjusting to. Traffic moves on the right, but flows around obstacles rather than stopping for them, and right-of-way is negotiated rather than enforced. Larger vehicles assume priority.
Night driving on intercity roads is best avoided — lighting is poor, unlit vehicles are common, and livestock wander. If you have a choice between an overnight bus and a daytime one, the daytime one is safer.