Cambodia’s capital and country’s largest city, Phnom Penh is a bustling yet incredibly beautiful and welcoming city. You can still appreciate the European influences walking through the streets of Phnom Penh, although the city also has beautiful temples and a palace representing Asian culture. Parks, a riverside promenade, museums, shopping malls and some restaurants only add to the charm of Phnom Penh, a place not to be missed on a trip to Southeast Asia. With so many things to do, it can be difficult to escape the city, but we know the perfect place to continue your journey. The city of Kampot will seduce you with its relaxed atmosphere. In addition to being quieter than Phnom Penh, Kampot also has 19th-century European architecture, but has a more rural feel along the river near the Gulf of Thailand. There is a national park not far from Kampot, and you can also practice various sports both on the river and at its mouth. Kampot is a town known for the high-quality pepper grown in the area.
Options to go from Phnom Penh to Kampot
If you want to leave the pace of Phnom Penh’s busy streets behind you, Kampot is a good destination as it is only a short distance from the capital and there are various ways to get there. By road, the route is about 150 kilometers long. It wouldn’t do much if you could cover that distance by highway, and although the roads from Phnom Penh to Kampot have improved in recent years, it’s still not a particularly fast route as the asphalt is not in the best condition. Despite this, it is common to travel between these two destinations by road as there are several buses and vans that offer this route at a reasonable cost. An alternative is to travel by train, which is similar in price to the bus, but takes a bit longer to travel.
From Phnom Penh to Kampot by bus
Traveling by bus from Phnom Penh to Kampot has several advantages, especially if you are looking for a cheap means of transport that is also quite comfortable and easy. By far the best bus company for the Phnom Penh – Kampot route is Giant Ibis Transport. Giant Ibis is one of the most famous and trusted bus companies in Cambodia with a very good safety record. Its buses are modern and comfortable, and many have reclining seats. Additionally, there are services such as snacks, stewardess and Wi-Fi on board, although they do not have bathrooms, so there are a few stops along the way.
There are two daily departures from downtown Phnom Penh, just behind the National Library, which means it’s easy to get to the stop if you’re staying downtown. Departures are scheduled at 8.00 am and 2.45 pm. According to the timetables, the journey can take up to 4 hours, but the truth is that it should be shorter, because in this time the bus should reach Kep, a town south of Kampot where the bus runs. The normal thing is that the bus journey takes about 3 hours, but it’s best to plan 4 hours just in case.
Giant Ibis tickets can be booked online on the travel website 12Go.asia. When you make your booking, you’ll receive instant confirmation, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. On this page, you can read the opinions of other travelers and compare the different options before deciding which ticket to buy. In addition, the purchase process is easy and fast.
From Phnom Penh to Kampot by van
Toyota vehicle often used as a minibus or minivan in Cambodia © nitinut380 / Shutterstock.com
An alternative to the bus is a van. If you are looking for a route from Phnom Penh to Kampot with 12Go, you will see that there are also van options, so you can also book a ticket on this page. The buses are operated by the Cambodia Post VIP Van company and as the name suggests, the journey takes place in VIP vans, but the truth is that these types of vans, although air-conditioned, offer passengers less space than expected. bus. So if you like a bit of personal space or are taller, you can take the bus for more comfortable travel.
The advantage of traveling by van is that it is slightly cheaper than the bus, and you can get from Phnom Penh to Kampot in a slightly shorter time. Departure is scheduled for 7:45 AM, which leaves Phnom Penh Post Office and arrives at Kampot Post Office at 10:45 AM.
From Phnom Penh to Kampot by train
Kampot Train Station © beibaoke / Shutterstock.com
Another option is to take the train from Phnom Penh to Kampot, although the journey is longer than by bus or van. Tickets cost about the same as a bus or van, although many people prefer to travel by train as it can be more convenient.
Trains are operated by Royal Railway Cambodia, although it does not offer this route every day of the week. Times may change but currently trains from Phnom Penh to Kampot run on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, so they do not run on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The best thing about traveling by train is that you can see the Cambodian nature from a different perspective and with peace of mind because you are traveling at a relatively low speed. Trains leave Phnom Penh Station at 7:00 AM and arrive at Kampot Station at 11:40 AM, so a total journey time of 4 hours and 40 minutes. The main disadvantage of traveling by train from Phnom Penh to Kampot is that Kampot railway station is a short taxi or tuk tuk ride from the center, as is Phnom Penh station. Therefore, you will have to have a little more time and add the cost of these transfers.
Since each transport option has its advantages and disadvantages, ultimately your decision will be based on your preferences and travel plans. In our opinion, buses are the easiest solution as there are two departures a day and they can be easily booked online.