How to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap — Giant Ibis bus

If you find yourself planning a trip to Cambodia, you might be wondering how to travel between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap — the main cities of tourist interest. This post aims to cover this concern!

Table of contents.

Introduction

Phnom Penh, the capital and largest city of Cambodia, is often the arrival point for many tourists, while Siem Reap’s international airport is also a starting point for many (heading to Angkor Wat!). Cambodia’s two most popular cities are approximately 320 kilometres (198 miles) apart by road and many, like us, choose to explore both places.

The different modes of transport

You can get between the cities by land, air, or even water! Boat cruises may take you through the Tonlé Sap river and lake towards Siem Reap, but this is not popular anymore, and not possible during the dry season.

If interested, you can take boat cruises to explore the floating villages on Tonlé Sap, there are budget as well as luxury cruise options which take place over a few days. Check out:

Heritage Cruises, Mekong Cruises

Vegan Travel 14-day cruise* along the Mekong—Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap

*we don’t have experience of this cruise, but it does sound amazing!

While a 45-minute direct flight between the cities is possible, it’s not the most economical or environment friendly option. There are railways in Cambodia, but no known direct route between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Travelling from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by road is an adventure that offers a glimpse into the country’s landscapes and cultural richness. This guide briefly explores the different modes of transport available for tourists on this route, with a review of Giant Ibis luxury bus (our choice of transport).

Road Transport — Car, Taxi, Van, or Bus?

Bus is the most popular and budget-friendly way to travel from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Several companies operate on this route, offering varying levels of comfort and service. The duration of the journey is typically between 5–7 hours, including a couple of stops.

Minivans/Vans are faster than buses, with a travel time of around 4–5 hours. They are slightly more expensive but offer a quicker alternative. They have a smaller seating space and might feel a little cramped for some.

Popular Bus and Minivan Operators

Giant Ibis Transport
- Price: $15-$18
- Features: Wi-Fi, power outlets, comfortable seating, complimentary snack.
Mekong Express
- Price: $12-$15
- Features: Clean and spacious buses, snacks, attentive service.
Cambodia Post VIP Van
- Price: $13-$15
- Features: Smaller vehicle, quicker travel, Wi-Fi, power outlets.
Larryta Express
- Price: $13-$18
- Features: Comfortable seating, Wi-Fi, and efficient service.

Tips for Bus Travel

Book a week or two in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons.

Bring a travel pillow and thin blanket for a more comfortable journey.

Consider getting travel insurance for added security.

I purchased travel insurance from SafetyWing (affiliate link) for the entire stay in Cambodia and recommend the same to you!

Taxi/Private Car

For a personalized and flexible travel experience, you can hire a taxi or car. This option is the most expensive but offers the convenience of stopping along the way for sightseeing or breaks at your own time – this can be agreed with the driver. Approximate cost: 75 USD (one-way trip)

Giant Ibis Luxury Bus

After looking through several options, Giant Ibis seemed like the most reliable and comes highly recommended by fellow travellers. The company operates a frequent service on the Phnom Penh – Siem Reap route, a couple of times daily (morning and noon departures) and overnight.

Phnom Penh to Siem Reap bus Giant Ibis — Giant Ibis transport, Cambodia

It may be expensive compared to other buses, but we think it’s worth the price. Giant Ibis has a great safety record, good customer service and also take part in conservation efforts for the Giant ibis bird species in Cambodia.

Booking

Website: GiantIbis.com

The tickets cost 17 USD per person (one-way), and can be purchased online on the Giant Ibis website (recommended). It may be a bit tricky as the mobile webpage is not very user-friendly.

We considered going to the Giant Ibis office in Phnom Penh, but were unable to find the exact location or opening hours on Google. So, we reserved the tickets online after a few tries, and the online payment went through safely. We can also choose our seats on the bus while booking.

Pick-up and departure point in Phnom Penh

Pickup from partner hotel OR directly head to their bus station. It’s a bit confusing where it is, but it is the location they mention in the ticket confirmation: Sakura Avenue, on the little island in Phnom Penh!

There’s a long list of hotels they can arrange pick-ups from but we couldn’t find out about ours, so we just took a Grab tuk-tuk to the departure point. Be 15 minutes before departure time, they may not wait for you.

Arrival point in Siem Reap

The arrival in Siem Reap is pretty straightforward. It’s a smaller town with a few bus terminals, and Giant Ibis drops us off at the main bus terminal in Siem Reap, on Khmer Pub Street. This is also the departure point for your return from Siem Reap.

Onboard facilities

Giant Ibis is one of the few ‘luxury’ buses on this route. There’s no TV or screen entertainment on board, but they do have excellent service and comfy enough seating (with seatbelts).

Luggage storage space: 1 suitcase per person in bus hold and space for backpacks inside.

There is Wifi on board, but it doesn’t really work once you’re in the countryside. There’s USB points to charge phones.

Air-conditioned bus with a pleasant temperature maintained. Big windows with curtains for shade.

The conductor gives us all the info about the stops and breaks and facilities on board, and announces this in English. They then hand out water bottles, a wet face wipe and a snack to everyone on board. (note: the snack was a croissant, which was probably not vegan so we simply said no, thanks for it. Remember to get your own snacks for the long road trip!)

Phnom Penh to Siem Reap bus stops — Lunch stop on the route.

Journey and stops

The 6 hours journey has a couple of toilet breaks, including a lunch stop. The first stop is just over an hour after departure for a quick WC break of about 15 minutes. I don’t remember the name of the place but remember that it was decent and there were no issues except you need to get your own paper/wipes.

bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Cambodia — At the lunch stop location.

The main lunch stop was about halfway through the journey at a Cambodian roadside restaurant. There was unfortunately nothing vegan on the menu, just fruit juice and fries. Luckily, we had some snacks and purchased chips and nuts from the store attached to the restaurant. The location was lovely, we had a view over a pond and spotted some water buffalo roaming about!

Conclusion

The road was of good condition, it was a smooth ride for most part and the bus did not speed at any point. There was no traffic & it’s a pleasant ride with views of Khmer countryside, fields and traditional houses. My main tip is to bring a good book with you and enough snacks/food for the road!

I hope you find this blog useful for planning your Cambodia trip. Subscribe to Veganhaven for more content on Cambodia coming up!

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