8 different ways to travel from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh.

320 kilometers separate the tourist hub of Siem reap from Phnom Penh, the bustling capital city of Cambodia. While many opt for the public bus or the 30-minute flight there are a number of more exciting options to choose from. For those looking for something a bit different. Here we explore some of the possibilities:

1-Bus

Hundreds of buses make this journey along national road 6 in both directions every day. With improvements to the road over the last few years, journey times are often down to 5 hours on a good day. If you are only visiting Siem Reap and Phnom Penh then the view from the window will give you a brief glimpse of rural Cambodian life along the way. You normally get a 15 minute stop midway through the journey at a service station where you can use the facilities. You can buy things like crisps and fruit at slightly inflated prices.

There is no central bus station in either Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. Each company will pick you up and drop you off at their own ticket office. If you book your tickets through your guesthouse they will often include pickup for an extra dollar.

Tickets start at just $5, it is recommended to spend a little more if you want a newer more comfortable bus though. Giant Ibis is among the best. They offer free Wi-Fi, seat belts, a snack and a drink and their fleet of buses are new and comfortable, prices are normally $12. Mekong Express is another good option, they also offer free Wi-Fi, seat belts, a snack and a drink but their buses are now a bit older.

Night buses are the popular choice for backpackers. You get to save shelling out for a night of accommodation and you will free up another day for exploring.

2-TAXIs

Taxis can be booked at all guesthouses and travel agents in town. Expect to pay around $60-$80 dollars each way. The driver will take you door to door meaning no need to arrange transport to and from the bus stations. The taxis are usually in Toyota Camrys, they can accommodate 3-4 people depending on luggage. You can now book your bus or taxi tickets in advance through the camboticket website.

3-Boats

Between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap is the Tonle Sap. South East Asia’s largest lake. Tara riverboat cruises offer perhaps the most relaxed journey to Phnom Penh on a cruise. This includes a bbq lunch and a chance to see rural life taking place on the banks of the lake.

Public ferries normally run in rainy season, July-March each year. The prices start at $35 each way for the 8 hour journey.

4-Flight

Those who are pushed for time might want to fly. The price has reduced as competition has increased of late. The trick is to book in advance when prices can be as low as $30 each way. Airlines include the national airline, Cambodia Angkor Airlines, Bassaka Air, and the newly formed JC Airlines, a new subsidiary of a Chinese conglomerate.

Getting to Siem Reap airport is relatively easy, normally a 20-minute tuk tuk or taxi journey from the city. In Phnom Penh, though it can be a different story, particularly if you arrive before rush hour. At best the journey will take 30 minutes and the worst experience we had was 2 hours from airport to hotel. On arrival at each airport there is a fixed price taxi desk to get into town. The current price is $8 in Siem Reap and $10 in Phnom Penh.

5-Via Kampong Thom

Why not break up the journey half way with a stop in Kampong Thom. Kompong Thom is home to one of Cambodia’s most beautiful temple complexes, Sambor Prei Kuk, Unlike at Angkor though you will not be sharing it with hundreds of other tour groups (for now.) at 1200 years old, the red brick temple predates Angkor and is set in a lovely tranquil setting. Sambor may soon be on the map as it has just been awarded Unesco world heritage site status. The town offers a laid back riverside park perfect for an evening stroll as well as an interesting market. Also on offer is a range of boat cruises on the peaceful and scenic Stung Sen River including a fantastic 1 hour sunset cruise.

6-Via Battambang

An alternative option is to take a side trip via Batambang province. The charming town of Battambang is only 3 hours’ drive from Siem reap and has a much more laid back vibe and the countryside around the town is some of the most beautiful in Cambodia.

For this option you will need to stay over at least one night (2 is recommended). Fortunately there is a range of accommodation available from basic $10 a night guesthouses to $100 boutique hotels.

7-Jeep

Another interesting idea is to charter a vintage army jeep for an adventurous 2 day journey between the 2 cities. We give you the chance to stop at floating villages, Angkorian temples and you will visit parts of the country that few tourists venture. Most of the time you will travel off the main roads on red dirt tracks through small villages. You can include a night in a homestay with a local family where you can amerce yourself in rural Cambodian village life.

Check out Cambodiajeep.com for more details.

8-Cycle

You can also make your way to Phnom Penh by pedal power on a 3 day organized cycle trip. You would break up the journey with a stop at the jungle temples of Sambor Prei Kuk and in the laid back Mekong riverside town of Kampong Cham. The cycling is about 60km per day on mainly flat terrain and there are plenty of shady and scenic spots for rest breaks along the way, where curious locals are sure to say “Hello.”

Contact us if you would like us to help design your perfect Cambodia tour itinerary.

Christmas is not an official holiday in Cambodia. Do will see Christmas trees, blinking colorful lights and kids dressed up in Santa costumes. Christmas celebration in Cambodia, how does that work?

The way you dress in Cambodia is very important in their culture. It’s different from what you are used to. You don’t want to unintentionally offend the locals and that’s why it’s good to read up into the cultural differences. This is not your home country and sometimes you just need to adapt. This way you show respect and will avoid difficult situations. We give you some advice about the dress code in Cambodia.

When you’re traveling in Cambodia in November, there is a chance you will experience the water festival. It is to celebrate the end of the rainy season and the water is flowing up north from the Tonlé Sap lake. Discover what the water festival (Bon Om Thook in Khmer) is and where you can join the festivities.

Unique in the world: the flow of the water

To understand the water festival, it’s good to know a bit more about Tonlé Sap lake. The lake covers approximately 7.5% of Cambodia. It means ‘Big Lake’ in Khmer. In the dry season the size of the lake can reach up to 2590 square kilometers and in the rainy season it can even get up to 24.605 square kilometers. During the dry season, the water flows through the Tonle Sap river back into the Mekong river. This is visible in the Capital, Phnom Penh. During the wet season, the water level in the Mekong rises and the water flows back into Tonle Sap lake and so it becomes the biggest freshwater lake in southeast Asia.

Dragonboats in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap

The change of the current is probably unique in the world and the water festival is here to celebrate. They will hold boat races on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The long dragon boats are beautiful and can sometimes hold 30 people. In the weeks before, they train a lot. Who doesn’t want to be the first to cross the finish?

Tip: accommodation will be booked faster than normal, so consider booking upfront.

Huge crowds, danger of oppression

Expect a big crowd in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for the water festival Bon Om Thook. People will visit the city to see the boat races. In 2010, on the last day of the festival it all went wrong on a bridge in Phnom Penh. People got oppressed and panic started. 347 people died and hundreds of people got injured. In 2014 the festival was celebrated again, but in 2015 it got cancelled again because of the low water level. It seems like the water festival will be celebrated again this year and it’s scheduled for 13, 14 and 15 November.

Tip: Watch out for pickpockets. Be cautious and keep an eye on your personal belongings.

Festivities in the villages

The festival falls with full moon of the Buddhist calendar Kadeuk. Khmer believe the full moon is a sign for a good harvest. In the rural areas, villagers will gather and show their gratitude to the moon. Festive and traditional meals are prepared. Candles and incent are lit and sacrifices are being made. The priest drips the candle wax on banana leave, which is spread under de candles. The shape of the wax on the leaves are believed to be a forecast of the harvest of next year.

Festivities in Phnom Penh

It won’t come as a surprise Phnom Penh is transformed into a big festival area during Bon Om Thook. You will find concerts, stalls, carnival and loads of picnic areas. Official building will be decorated colorful and when the sun sets, the Royal Palace will be illuminated with colored lights. And the icing on the cake, fireworks to close the festival. It is amazing to experience the water festival in Cambodia in person.

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