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Getting to SihanoukVille
You could fly into SihanoukVille (from Angkor Wat, Bangkok, China, Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh, or Vietnam), or take the SihanoukVille Express Train. (which comes from Phnom Penh and Kampot.)
From the Thai border, you can enter Cambodia from Trat (Hat Lek) into Koh Kong, Cambodia, and take a bus or taxi to SihanoukVille. About $9 or less for a bus or shared taxi.
From Phnom Penh, buses, vans, and cars leave several times a day. buses leave from 7am until 9pm. Prices are $6 - $14. The ride is 5 - 7+ hours. Note: The new expressway takes only 2+ hours from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville.
Bus Schedules to SihanoukVille, Cambodia.
Cars leave from the Central Market in Phnom Penh near Monivong street, and are about $55 for a whole car, or $10 per passenger. (note: if you want a comfortable ride, buy the whole front seat for $20, they usually pack 2 people in the passenger seat.). About 3 - 4 hours to SihanoukVille. The new expressway is very quick, but getting out of Phnom Penh is another matter. There are now comfortable?? Vans to and from Phnom Penh for about $10 - $12.
And from Kampot, by car, bus or motorcycle. It's $10 and a 2 to 3 hour ride. $45 for the whole car.
Another option, is a cruise ship. From the ship, you can see SihanoukVille for a long day. |
Motorcycle Taxis and Tuk Tuks
The main form of transportation around town is by motorcycle taxi or Tuk Tuk. You can find one anywhere, anytime. Just look for a guy sitting on a Tuk Tuk with a cart in back. (if he doesn't ask you first). Rides around town are from 2 dollars to 15 dollars, and you can usually get 4 people or more in a Tuk Tuk. Most trips were only a few minutes, now, a 5 minute ride from town to the beach can take well over an hour. But you can hire a Tuk Tuk to take you outside of town as well. Nighttime, prices go up a bit, and for more than one passenger, prices go up as well. You should agree to the price for your trip in advance.
BUT WAIT ! PassApp is in town now, and they have nice small Tuk Tuks with very good prices and service. Download the app, and you're on your way. You'll probably save more than 50% of what you would have paid. (and you don't have to explain where you are going!)
Helicopter: Helistar Cambodia has charter flights anywhere in or out of SihanoukVille you want to go. Also, Island service. |
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Car
Cars can be rented by the half day or full day with driver. You must have a valid Cambodian driver's license if you want to drive yourself, but very dangerous. Traffic travels mostly on the right side of the road, and the steering wheel is (usually) on the left side of the car.
Ana Travel also can help. Or, you can rent a car with driver for about $60/day + gas. Ream National Park and the Kbal Chhay waterfalls are popular destinations outside of town.
Train
Train service is now EVERYDAY between SihanoukVille and Phnom Penh, (with few stops on the way). Enjoyable, Safe, and Cheap, but it takes a little more time for the trip. Or can be quicker if there's flooding on the street or traffic.
Prices are $8 to $12. You can buy tickets at the train stations (sometimes). Travel time: SihanoukVille / Phnom Penh - 7-9 hours. SihanoukVille / Kampot : 2-3 hours. Tickets $8 for short trips, $12 for SihanoukVille to Phnom Penh. |
| Walking & Biking
If you see someone walking down the street, it's probably either a tourist, student, beggar, or someone selling something.... Local people here rarely walk. The walk from downtown to most beaches is a half hour, (5 to 15 minutes by car or Tuk Tuk, depending on traffic) and you can walk around downtown in a couple hours. A few places have bicycles for rent. But you really might want to think twice about that. |
By Boat
From any beach or hill in town, you can see islands. The day trips to the islands with snorkeling and breakfast and lunch generally cost about $30 and up. Get your own boat with captain for $150 or more for the day.
Boat Schedules |
| Day Trips
Unless you're taking a boat, motorcycles, bicycles, tuk tuks, vans, and cars are the only option to get outside of town. There are many nice sights outside of town, but you gotta get there somehow. Ana Travel can also arrange tours. You can rent a car with driver, for about $60- $80/day for local trips. |
Leaving already?
Car, bus, boat, motorcycle, bicycle. That's it. (except for the guys that walked 6 days to Phnom Penh). Cars and buses leave hourly for Phnom Penh several times a day from the bus station starting at 7am. Many offer pickup at your hotel as well, but this might add an hour or more to your trip. To Thailand, a minibus to Koh Kong, Cambodia and then onwards.... And to Kampot or Kep, by car, van or bus. If you have your own motorcycle or car, you can go most anywhere. Ask around to find out where the current location of the bus station is, as it sometimes changes. |
