How to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by bus, plane

Cambodia's two attractions are the capital, Phnom Penh, and the resort town of Siem Reap, home to the spectacular Angkor Wat. Thus, the route between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap is one of the most visited in Cambodia, providing tourists with many different travel options from one city to another.

Ways to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

Travelers of all income levels, from ordinary tourists to luxury travelers, can easily make the trip north of the capital because there are many different travel companies that provide this service. If you don't want to travel about 320 kilometers (200 miles) on your own, take a bus, minibus or plane from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. What's unusual about bus service is that there are sleeping buses that actually have beds! Read on to learn more about these buses and all the other transportation options.

Flights to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh

The fastest way to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap is by flight. You will take off from Cambodia's largest airport and arrive at the second largest airport. So these are major international airports with all the services you might need.

Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is only 7 kilometers (4 miles) from Siem Reap City, so you can easily get from the airport to your hotel or go straight to Angkor: since the flight takes only about an hour, you will arrive in Siem Reap quickly and will not have time to get tired on the way!

Many airlines offer flights to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh. Not all of them fly every day, so if you are limited in time, this will affect your choice of carrier. Also keep in mind that there can be very large price differences between morning, evening and afternoon flights, and by planning your trip for a certain time of day, you can save money.

Cambodia Angkor Air has flights usually four times a day. These are reliable flights with good service. Other airlines are JC International Airlines, Bassaka Air, and Lanmei Airlines. As mentioned, prices vary considerably, so look at all the options to find the best ones.

From Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by bus

If you are happy to spend anywhere from 5 to 6 hours by bus, you can get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap much cheaper than by plane. And if you compare different bus companies, you can save even more money by choosing the cheapest service. Cheap isn't always the best, but if you're traveling on a tight budget, saving a few dollars here and there can work out quite well!

So, which bus companies can you choose from? You can buy a standard bus seat from Giant Ibis Transport, Mekong Express or PSD Xpress. All of these companies offer an express bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap with about the same services on board. The Mekong Express, for example, provides air conditioning, snacks, and steward service.

The PSD Xpress has the same thing with the addition of a TV on board. The giant Ibis Transport has two options: the Universe Luxury service is a daytime bus that will have wi-fi, air conditioning and snacks, while the Kia Grandbird service runs at night and, as mentioned earlier, has beds so you can relax and unwind.

Reviews of the Kia Grandbird service are generally very good. The beds are simple, but if you are looking for something more comfortable than a standard bus seat, this is fine. All of these buses are also equipped with air conditioning, toilet and wi-fi, and passengers are offered snacks.

One thing to know about the giant Ibis Transport is that according to their advertising, the bus takes 7 hours to Siem Reap. Sometimes, during busy traffic on the roads, it can actually take as long as 7 hours, but most of the time it's more like 6 hours. If you make an appointment with your hotel to be picked up from the bus station, you can keep that in mind. If you give them an announced arrival time, however, you may have to wait at the bus station for an hour early in the morning.

There is another option, a bus trip to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh. Minibus services are offered by Thero Express, and they depart four times a day. A minibus may be preferable when traveling with a group, but if you are traveling alone, you may feel much more cramped than in a large bus.

Especially considering the very limited luggage storage space. The good thing, though, is that the minibus is usually a little faster to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, taking about 5.5 hours, and there's air conditioning; besides, minibuses with save you a few more dollars if you're trying to stick to a tight budget.

So with four different airlines, three different bus companies, and a minibus to choose from, you can see for yourself that your options for traveling from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap are far from limited! Whichever way you choose to travel, be sure to make reservations in advance if possible so you have a better choice when it comes to schedules and prices.