Kampot is about 150 km south-west of Phnom Penh. Most people take a minivan or bus, which costs around $6–13 and takes three to four hours, with departures from early morning until evening. A private taxi costs around $35–50 for the whole car and takes about two and a half to three hours. The Royal Railway train also runs, once a day each way: it's slow and cheap. Below is how each option works in October 2026, where you get dropped in Kampot, and how to get from there to your hotel.
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Phnom Penh to Kampot at a glance
| Option | Price (2026) | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minivan (Kim Seng Express, Ekareach Express, Virak Buntham and others) | About $6–10 per person | 3–3½ h | Frequent departures, low cost |
| Big bus (Giant Ibis) | About $10 per person | About 4 h | Legroom, big luggage |
| Train (Royal Railway) | About $10 per person | 4 h or more, often late | Scenery, no rush |
| Shared taxi | Around $5–8 a seat (older figure, check) | 2½–3 h | Not much, unless you're in a hurry and on a budget |
| Private taxi | Around $35–50 per car | 2½–3 h | Groups, families, door-to-door |
Prices are what booking sites and travellers reported in 2026, not official fares. They move with fuel prices and holidays, so check the current fare when you book.
Minivans and buses
Phnom Penh has no central bus station. Each company leaves from its own office, so check the address on your ticket and give it to your tuk-tuk or Grab driver. When we checked one Tuesday in late October 2026, a booking site listed more than 50 road departures to Kampot that day:
- Kim Seng Express: 15-seat vans about every half hour from 6:00 to 20:30, around $8, leaving from the Olympic Market area. They stop at Kampot's Durian Roundabout.
- Ekareach Express: vans roughly every hour from 6:00 to about 20:45, around $10, leaving from Toul Kork. They stop near Kampot's night market.
- Virak Buntham: vans from around $6, plus an early bus at 4:00 (around $11–13), stopping at the company's own Kampot terminal.
- Giant Ibis: a full-size bus with a row of seats taken out for legroom, a 20 kg luggage allowance and water on board, for around $10. It leaves from the company's terminal on Street 106 by the riverside Night Market. Its own schedule shows departures at 8:00 and 14:45, and it takes about four hours. In Kampot it stops at the company office on Street 724, opposite Kampot Park.
Other companies run this route too. You can book through 12Go or Baolau, on the operator's own website, or through your guesthouse (sometimes with a small mark-up and a free pickup).
A few tips from people who do this trip a lot:
- Vans are quicker, but they're cramped, and space for big suitcases is limited. If you have a large bag or long legs, take the bus.
- Book a day ahead in December–January and around Khmer New Year (mid-April) and Pchum Ben (September or October), when half of Phnom Penh heads to the provinces.
- Expect one short rest stop. Keep your phone and wallet on you rather than in a bag on the floor, especially if you fall asleep.
Is there a train from Phnom Penh to Kampot?
Yes, and in October 2026 it's running. Royal Railway lists its southern line (Phnom Penh – Takeo – Kep – Kampot – Sihanoukville) as operating Monday to Sunday, with one train each way. The morning train leaves Phnom Penh station, near the Central Market, at 7:00 and is timetabled into Kampot around 11:00–11:15. A ticket costs around $10. The return train leaves Kampot about 16:15 and gets to Phnom Penh around 20:30.
It's a pleasant ride past rice fields and sugar palms, but it's slow (top speed around 60 km/h), and travellers regularly report delays of half an hour to an hour or more. The train stops at Kep before Kampot, which is handy if you're staying by the sea. You can bring a bicycle or motorbike for a small fee. Kampot station is about 3 km north of the centre, near National Road 3, and tuk-tuks usually wait for the train. The timetable has changed several times in recent years, so check it on Royal Railway's booking site or a booking platform before you plan around it.
Private taxi or shared taxi
A private car for the whole trip costs around $35–50. A traveller on Tripadvisor's Kampot forum reported paying about $40 in August 2026. International transfer websites usually quote more, roughly $55 and up. Your Phnom Penh hotel can book one, or a Kampot guesthouse can send a driver. Agree the price per car, confirm it includes the drop at your hotel door, and get it in a WhatsApp message.
Shared taxis, where you pay per seat and the car leaves when it's full, have been the cheap and fast option for years, at around $5–8 a seat. They get crammed, though: two people in the front passenger seat isn't unusual. With vans this frequent, we'd only use one if you miss the last van.
Where you arrive in Kampot
There's no single bus station in Kampot either. Each company stops at its own office or a regular stop, and all of them are in or near the compact town centre:
- Kim Seng Express: by the Durian Roundabout, the big durian statue in the middle of town.
- Giant Ibis: its office on Street 724, opposite Kampot Park.
- Ekareach Express: near the night market and the old market area by the river.
- Virak Buntham: its own terminal; some evening vans stop near the New Bridge.
- Train: Kampot railway station, about 3 km north of the centre.
- Private taxi: your hotel door.
From the drop-off to your hotel
Tuk-tuks wait at most drop-offs. Within the town centre, expect around $1–3. Riverside bungalows a few kilometres upriver, or places on the roads towards Kep or Bokor, cost more, so ask your hotel what a fair price is before you arrive and agree it with the driver before you load your bags. PassApp, a ride-hailing app paid in cash, works in Kampot and shows you the fare upfront. Many guesthouses will also send someone to meet you if you message them your bus company and arrival time. Our getting around Kampot guide covers town fares, scooters and bikes in more detail.
Going back to Phnom Penh
The same companies run the return trip. Giant Ibis leaves Kampot at 8:30, 14:45 and 19:00, vans leave throughout the day, and the train leaves about 16:15. If you're flying out, note that Phnom Penh's airport is now Techo International (KTI), south of the city, and buses don't go there. See Techo Airport to Kampot for timings and car prices. Coming from the coast or Vietnam instead? Read Sihanoukville to Kampot or Ha Tien to Kampot.
Ride with Seth
Seth was born in Kampot and has been showing visitors around from his tuk-tuk for 12 years; he's rated 5.0 on Tripadvisor. Send him your bus company and expected arrival time on WhatsApp and ask whether he can meet you at the drop-off, or have him collect you from your hotel the next morning for a countryside tour of salt fields, pepper farms and Secret Lake. Typical private prices are around $20–25 per tuk-tuk for the half day; message Seth and he'll confirm a fixed price.
FAQ
How long does it take from Phnom Penh to Kampot?
About three to three and a half hours by minivan, around four hours by Giant Ibis bus, two and a half to three hours by private taxi, and four hours or more by train, which is often late.
What's the cheapest way to get from Phnom Penh to Kampot?
A minivan, from around $6–8 per person. The train costs about the same as the bigger buses, around $10.
Can I go straight to Kep instead?
Yes. The train stops at Kep before Kampot, and a private taxi will take you anywhere. By van, the simplest option is often to ride to Kampot and take a tuk-tuk on to Kep: about 25 km, 35–45 minutes and around $8–12. Our Kampot to Kep guide has the details.
Do I need to book the bus in advance?
Usually a day ahead is plenty, and outside holidays you can often get a seat on the same day. Book earlier for December–January and Khmer holidays, and for the train if you want a particular seat.
