Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: Bus, Flight or Boat?

It’s the one journey almost every Cambodia trip includes: the 314 km between the capital and the temples of Angkor. There’s no passenger train on this route, so your real choices are bus, minivan, flight, private taxi, or — for a few months a year — a slow boat up the Tonle Sap. Here’s how they compare in 2026, including what’s changed now that both cities have brand-new airports.

The Short Answer

Take a VIP bus or express minivan ($10–25, 5–6 hours) unless your time is worth more than your money — in which case fly. The flight itself is 45 minutes, but both airports are now well outside their cities, so door-to-door you save less time than you’d think.

By Bus and Minivan: The Default Choice

The bus is how most travellers do it, and the good operators have made it genuinely comfortable. The route follows National Road 6 around the top of the Tonle Sap lake, with a meal stop roughly halfway.

• Giant Ibis — the long-standing favourite for safety and reliability: modern coaches with wifi, power outlets and generous legroom, plus overnight sleeper departures. Expect roughly $18–25 depending on class.
• Larryta Express — fast, frequent express minivans, usually the quickest road option at around five hours.
• Vireak Buntham — big network, day and night departures, sleeper buses with lie-flat berths.
• Mekong Express, Cambodia Post VIP, Bayon VIP — solid mid-range alternatives; VIP vans typically run $9–15.
• Economy buses start around $5 if you’re counting every dollar — see our Cambodia budget guide for where that fits.

Timing: 5–7 hours depending on operator and traffic. Book a morning departure — you’ll arrive with the evening free, and daytime driving on NR6 is safer than night runs. Tickets are easy to buy a day ahead through your guesthouse, operator websites, or online booking platforms.

By Air: 45 Minutes, Two New Airports

Flying this route changed completely in the last two years. Phnom Penh’s flights now leave from Techo International Airport (KTI), the vast new hub that opened in September 2025 about 20 km south of the city, replacing the old Pochentong airport. On the other end you land at Siem Reap–Angkor International (SAI), itself only open since late 2023 and sitting around 40 minutes east of town.

Air Cambodia (the national carrier, formerly Cambodia Angkor Air) flies the route directly in about 45 minutes, with return fares typically in the $120–170 range. Factor in the transfers on both ends plus check-in, and door-to-door you’re looking at four hours or so — versus five to six on a Larryta van at a tenth of the price. Fly if you’re short on days or connecting straight from an international arrival; otherwise the road wins on value.

By Private Taxi: Fastest on the Ground

A private car runs about $75–100 per vehicle and does the trip in around five hours, stopping wherever you like — worth it for families or groups of three to four, who’ll pay little more per head than a VIP bus. Any hotel can arrange one; agree the price (and whether tolls are included) before setting off. The classic stop is Skun, the “spider town” halfway along NR6, if you fancy photographing (or eating) fried tarantula.

By Boat: The Scenic Wildcard

A once-daily boat still plies the Tonle Sap between the two cities — around $35, departing 7:30am, taking 8 hours or more. It’s the slowest and least comfortable option, and it stops running entirely in the low-water months (roughly April–June). But it’s also the only one with a view: floating villages, flooded forest and birdlife across Southeast Asia’s largest lake, best from the roof deck with sunscreen. Treat it as an excursion, not transport. It runs best from roughly August to February — check the month-by-month guide for water levels and seasons.

Which Should You Pick?

• Most travellers: morning VIP bus or Larryta van — cheap, comfortable, reliable.
• Short on time: fly Air Cambodia, but budget the full four hours door to door.
• Groups and families: private taxi — flexibility and a Skun stop for the brave.
• No fixed plans, wet season: the boat, once, for the story.

Arriving in Siem Reap? Start with our Angkor Wat sunrise guide and see how the journey fits a 7-day Cambodia itinerary.