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Wondering which bus company in Cambodia to book with?
When traveling around the Kingdom of Wonder, taking a bus is usually the easiest way to get between destinations.
Stevo and I have spent a lot of time in Cambodia! We first traveled in Cambodia together in 2012 and we lived in Phnom Penh from 2015-2018. We spent one month traveling all around Cambodia by bus in 2019. And we’re heading back to Cambodia in 2023!
I’ve been researching what’s changed with transportation since we were last there, so I wanted to update this article. Unfortunately, quite a few bus companies we used to recommend have shut down.
In all our years of living and traveling in Cambodia, it’s safe to say we’ve had our fair share of great and terrible bus experiences.
That’s why we want to share our advice with you on which bus companies are still worth recommending when traveling around Cambodia in 2023.
These are the bus companies that we have had the best experiences with over the years. We recommend these companies to our own friends and families too. Hopefully, we’ll be able to recommend more companies after our next trip!
We have based our bus recommendations on safety, comfort, speed, and price. Just because you’re visiting ancient ruins doesn’t mean the bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap should feel like the Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland!
Taking a Private Taxi in Cambodia Instead of Buses (Cheaper than you might think!)
If you have a group of 4 or more people, it is sometimes cheaper, and definitely faster and more convenient to book a private taxi or minivan to your destination. When we lived in Phnom Penh we often did this for weekend trips to Kampot, Kep, or Sihanoukville.
If you only have 1 or 2 people you can also look for shared taxis in the Facebook group Taxi Share Cambodia. We’ve done this many times and even made friends this way!
Where to Book Bus Tickets
We book buses and private taxis with the online companies CamboTicket or 12Go.Asia. These booking sites are the easiest, cheapest, and most convenient way to book transportation online in Cambodia.
Both companies also sell ferry tickets if you are going to one of Cambodia’s islands.
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These are the best bus companies to use when traveling in Cambodia:
- Giant Ibis (our top recommendation)
- Mekong Express
- Virak Buntham
- Private Taxis and Minivans
Check ticket prices with these bus companies.
We will add to this list if we try any other bus companies worth recommending.
Giant Ibis (our top recommendation)
Where they go: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Kampot, Kep, Sihanoukville, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Bangkok (Thailand)
Giant Ibis was established in 2015 and is the leading bus company for travelers and expats in Cambodia. Their buses have upped the game in terms of service, safety, and amenities. Giant Ibis buses have WiFi, snacks, air-conditioning, and electrical outlets.
They use rest stops with clean bathrooms and restaurants offering both local and international foods. They also have more legroom than most buses.
Giant Ibis is a bit more expensive than most other bus companies, however, they are also notably nicer than most other companies. If you’re taking a long bus journey like a night bus from Sihanoukville to Siem Reap or a bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap then in our opinion, the extra cost is well worth it.
Giant Ibis is also our top choice when traveling overland from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City or from Bangkok to Siem Reap. The bus attendants are very helpful throughout the whole border crossing process.
A portion of Giant Ibis ticket sales goes to BirdLife International toward the preservation of the national bird of Cambodia, the Giant Ibis.
Check ticket prices for Giant Ibis with CamboTicket | 12Go.Asia
Read: Where to Stay in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Mekong Express
Where they go: Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
Mekong Express started operating in Cambodia in 2002 and has long been regarded as one of the leading private bus operators in Cambodia.
Mekong Express has air-conditioned buses and minivans, mostly taken by locals. They give you water, a cold towel, and a complimentary Blue Pumpkin pastry on long-haul trips. Free WiFi is available on every bus.
The drivers are safe and the buses are clean. They only have onboard toilets on their night buses, which we appreciate because those tend to smell!
There is minimal luggage space, enough for one bag and a carry-on. We recommend booking a seat toward the front of the bus for more comfort and space on Mekong Express. Siem Reap to Phnom Penh is a popular route with many bus times available.
Check ticket prices for Mekong Express with CamboTicket | 12Go.Asia
Read: 10 Awesome Places to Go in Cambodia
Virak Buntham
Where they go: Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Battambang, Sihanoukville, Mondulkiri, Kampot, and 15+ more cities around Cambodia, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Bangkok (Thailand) + Speedboat
Virak Buntham was founded in 2004. They have a variety of vehicles including minivans and sleeping buses.
Their routes cover many destinations around Cambodia and they also offer cross-border journeys to Vietnam and Thailand. Unfortunately, there are many negative reviews regarding sleeping buses. We haven’t personally used them so we can’t form an opinion.
Virak Buntham’s vehicles are equipped with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and an onboard toilet. Passengers are served complimentary drinking water.
They also offer speedboat service with Buva Sea Cambodia between Sihanoukville, Koh Rong, and Koh Rong Samloem.
Check ticket prices for Virak Buntham with CamboTicket | 12Go.Asia
Read: Unusual Accommodation in Cambodia
Private Taxis and Mini Vans
Where they go: Anywhere you want to go in Cambodia!
CamboTicket also offers services to Laos and Vietnam.
12Go.Asia offers private chartered vehicles all throughout Asia.
Although we realize it sounds fancy, it’s not much more expensive to take a private taxi or minivan around Cambodia instead of a bus. We often take private taxis or minivans when traveling around Cambodia with friends.
If you have a group of 4 people or more, a private taxi or minivan can even be cheaper than taking the bus. For example, a group of 15 friends went down to Kep for Jen’s 30th birthday and we each only paid $9 one way.
Another advantage to taking a private taxi is that you can leave any time you want. Drivers are knowledgeable about the quickest routes to take, they pick you up from anywhere in the city, and they can drop you off directly at your accommodation when you arrive. The pickup and drop-off service alone makes up for several dollars in tuk-tuk expenses on either end of your journey!
Check prices for private taxis or minivans with CamboTicket | 12Go.Asia
Read: Where to Stay in Kampot, Cambodia
Renting a Car in Cambodia
Some readers have asked us if it’s possible to rent a car during their trip to Cambodia. The short answer is yes, but we personally would not drive a car in Cambodia for several reasons.
The main reason is safety. Though there are technically laws in Cambodia, rules of the road are rarely followed. If it’s your first visit to the Kingdom of Wonder, you’d be much better off hiring a private taxi, as mentioned above, or taking a bus between destinations.
That said, if you do want to drive your own car in Cambodia, car rental in Phnom Penh is available near the Phnom Penh International Airport and near the Riverside. You can also rent a car in Siem Reap near the Siem Reap International Airport. The most popular car rental companies in Cambodia are AVIS and Europcar. There are several smaller local car rental shops in Phnom Penh as well.
Although you are legally allowed to drive in Cambodia with a driver’s license from your home country or an International Driver’s Licence, this usually won’t be accepted if you get pulled over. Bribes are very common in Cambodia and you can expect to pay a police officer anywhere from $2-$10 if you are stopped.
You can apply for a Cambodian Driver’s License at most car rental shops by presenting your driver’s license from your home country and paying a fee of $60 however, it takes about three weeks to receive the Cambodian license.
Again, if you are just traveling through Cambodia then the hassle of renting and driving a car yourself isn’t really worth it in our opinion.
Great article! I really appreciate how detailed your insights are on bus companies in Cambodia, especially with your firsthand experiences over the years. It’s super helpful for travelers like me who are planning trips to Southeast Asia and want reliable and comfortable transportation options. Giant Ibis sounds like a great choice, particularly with their focus on safety and extra amenities, not to mention the environmental contribution to BirdLife International – that’s a nice touch! Thanks for keeping the recommendations updated, and I’ll definitely be looking into CamboTicket and 12Go.Asia for booking. Looking forward to hearing about more companies after your next trip!
Hey Shawn, thanks so much for your kind comment. We’re glad to hear the recommendations are useful as we also love getting recommendations from fellow travelers. Giant Ibis is our favorite bus option within Cambodia and across the borders to Vietnam and Thailand. If you feel like it/think of it, please come back to share your experience if you think it would be helpful for others. Wishing you happy travels!
It’s great that you share your experience. I am a novice traveler, and for me your blog is an aid in planning my trip. Thanks!
Happy to hear that, Victoria! Thanks for your comment 🙂
Every day you learn something new!
I never heard of CamboTicket – since now.
Will use your link to look for a ticket – thank you for the detailed information
How coincidental that every company you’ve “personally used” just so happens to have an affiliate program that pays you a commission when I click on the links. You’re just as bad as the scammers in Cambodia.
Hey CJ, sorry you felt the need to comment that! Like you said, the links in this post point you to the CamboTicket website, which is the website we like to book buses through in Cambodia. We openly disclose every affiliate we are associated with. We’ve partnered with companies we use and trust that we think other travelers might find useful too. Plus it doesn’t cost our readers anything extra to book through those links. As this website is also our business, we make no apologies for partnering with affiliates! The buses we’ve recommended are the ones that we have used. There are dozens of bus companies in the country, and they are not all equally good, so we wanted to share the ones that we have had good experiences with in this post.
I often wonder how people who make comments like that think that you get paid for providing them with all this excellent free information. It’s not as if you’re not upfront about it. Thanks for a great website.
Thanks so much for your comment, Lesley! Luckily those negative comments are few and far between. We’ll continue doing our best to provide useful content for fellow travelers. 🙂
Some people that do this for a living. Like JC in Thailand charge a monthly fee to join their website!
So this couple are doing this only for advertizing?
I say more power to them!!!!
Thank you, Jim! 🙂
Thanks for the great post! Have you used Kimseng Express before?
Thanks for your comment! 🙂 We haven’t used Kimseng Express before. I’m not seeing anything about them on TripAdvisor either. If you end up using them, let us know how it goes!
Very useful! Have you ever used Olongpich Express, Champa Mekong Bus or Virak Buntham Express? They come up on camboticket. Thanks! Hayley
We haven’t used any of those, so can’t vouch for how they are. Buses are definitely hit or miss, but the ones we’ve recommended in this post we have used personally. Safe travels!
Thanks very much! You’ve really helped me start planning my trip. I was planning on flying between all cities. I think I’ll enjoy taking the bus, saving money, and seeing the countryside! Thank you so much for your assistance!
We’re happy it was helpful! Enjoy your trip 🙂
Truly informative and educational post! Keep up the awesome work, Jen and Stevo!
Glad you found it helpful, Agness! Cheers for your comment 🙂
I agree– I’ve been on some really good/nice buses and some terrible ones! Sometimes it’s tempting to go for the cheapest option but you also really need to factor comfort into the equation- especially when on long haul buses!
So true! As we’ve gotten older (29 and 30 now) we are definitely more willing to spend a few extra bucks to get to a destination more comfortably. As you said, those long haul bus rides can be a killer!
You guys are the ultimate source on Cambodia. I’ll be sure to pass on the info. Thanks!
Thanks Penny! We figured we might as well make ourselves useful while we live here 😉
I’m hoping to hit up Cambodia this time next year. Very helpful article, always good to know the best modes of transport when I’m in a foreign land. Certainly a step up from the chicken buses I’ve used in the past.
Haha we’ve taken some chicken buses in Cambodia too 😀 There are definitely more comfortable, less poultry filled bus options now!
This is an interesting idea. Normally when my family and I go travelling, we prefer to rent a car so we can go at our own pace. There isn’t any plan to head to southeast Asia this year but maybe in the next few years?
Apparently there are car rental services in Cambodia now too, but we personally wouldn’t want to drive on the roads here! A good alternative is hiring a car with a private driver, which surprisingly isn’t all that much more expensive than the bus options if you have a group. You can also hire private cars through CamboTicket.
A great timing that I read this when I am planning Cambodia. Thanks so much for sharing this, this is a boon. Glad I found your blog 🙂 following now!
Cheers Divsi! Let us know if you have any questions come up while you’re planning your trip 🙂
A useful list of bus companies when travelling in Cambodia. Is travelling by bus much cheaper than booking a taxi in Cambodia? I’m also interested to know if tips are expected in Cambodia.
Hey Christina, cheers for your questions 🙂 It depends on how many people you have for the taxi. If you have 4-5 people then it will be about the same cost as taking a bus. You also save money by not needing to take transport to the bus station and then to your accommodation one you reach the bus station at your destination. A private taxi can pick you up and drop you off directly! Tips are appreciated, but not expected. We tip based on excellent service.
Never thought they would have power and Wifi, that’s more than our local bus service. Also rest stops with clean bathrooms sound good too.
The WiFi and clean restrooms are a total game changer!
I wish I read your post before going to Cambodia…I was so confused about the bus services that ended up taking taxi and paying much more. Bookmarking this now for my next visit…
Dang! We’ve been there. You just don’t know until you know. Glad to hear you’ll be visiting again though!
I never pay attention to the bus company when I book a bus in Southeast Asia. I just book with whatever company is the cheapest. 😀 Definitely had my fair share of bad bus experiences though, so I appreciate it you taking time to tell us which ones are the best in Cambodia. Will bookmark it for my next trip to Cambodia 😀
We tend to do that when we travel too, but since moving to Phnom Penh we’ve taken A LOT of trips on buses, so we’ve gotten to know which companies to use and which to avoid. 🙂
This is so helpful for anyone going to Cambodia! We did a few different buses, all random and it was hit or miss! I wish we had this when we were traveling there!
Cheers Megan! 🙂
I used Giant Ibis once or twice and they are indeed good.
x
They are one of our favorites for sure!