Kampot is about 100 km east of Sihanoukville, two to three hours by road. A minivan costs around $7–10 per person, a private car around $40–70, and the afternoon train about $7 for a 2¼-hour ride. From Sihanoukville International Airport (KOS) there's no bus to Kampot, so plan on a taxi of roughly $45 and about two hours. From the cruise port, Kampot makes a long but doable day out if you plan the timing carefully.
On this page
Sihanoukville to Kampot at a glance (2026)
| Option | Price | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booked minivan | About $7–10 per person | 2–3 h | Several companies, several departures a day |
| Local shared van | Around $5 per person | 2–3 h | Often overloaded |
| Train (Royal Railway) | About $7 per person | About 2¼ h, can run late | One afternoon departure |
| Private car | Around $40–70 per car | About 2 h | Door to door |
| From KOS airport by taxi | Around $45 per car (1–3 people) | About 2–2½ h | No bus |
These are 2026 booking-site and guidebook figures, not official fares; check the current price when you book. A tuk-tuk is not an option for this trip: 100 km on a main road with trucks is too far and not safe in a tuk-tuk.
Minivans and buses
This is how most people do the trip. Booking sites in 2026 list several companies, including Vibol Express (from about $7, around 2¼ hours), Ekareach Express (from about $10, around 2½ hours), Champa, CP Express, CTT and Kampot Transports. Some pick up from hotels or agencies in Sihanoukville; others leave from their own office, so check the pickup point on your ticket.
You'll also see cheaper local vans at around $5. They're cheap for a reason: drivers tend to keep squeezing people in until the van is full. For a two-hour ride, a booked van is worth the few extra dollars.
In Kampot, each company stops at its own office or stop in the town centre. Champa, for example, stops at the old market, and CTT across from the main bus station. Ask where you'll be dropped when you book, and send that to your guesthouse if they're meeting you.
The train
Royal Railway's southern line runs between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville via Kep and Kampot, and the operator lists it as running every day. In October 2026 the Sihanoukville to Kampot train leaves at 14:00 and is timetabled into Kampot at 16:15, for about $7. In the other direction, the morning train from Phnom Penh reaches Kampot around 11:00–11:15 and continues to Sihanoukville.
The train is comfortable, with air-conditioning and soft seats, but slow, and delays of half an hour or more are common. Sihanoukville station is about 3 km from the town centre, and Kampot station is about 3 km north of Kampot's centre. Add a tuk-tuk ride at both ends. Check the timetable shortly before you travel: it has changed several times in recent years.
Private car
A private car costs around $40–70 depending on the vehicle and who you book with; hotel-arranged cars can cost a few dollars more. International transfer websites can quote much more, $90 and up. The drive takes about two hours. Agree the price per car and the exact drop-off (your hotel, not a bus office), and get it in a WhatsApp message.
From Sihanoukville International Airport (KOS)
KOS is about 25 km east of Sihanoukville town, on the Kampot side, and roughly 90 km from Kampot. No public bus or van links it to Kampot, so your options are a taxi from outside arrivals or a car you book in advance. Guides put a car for one to three people at around $45, with pre-booked transfers starting from about $48. Drivers may open at $60 or more if you don't agree a price first. The drive takes about two to two and a half hours.
KOS has far fewer flights than Phnom Penh's airport. If you're choosing between the two, compare total travel time, not just the flight. Phnom Penh's new Techo International Airport (KTI) is about two and a half to three hours from Kampot by car; see Techo Airport to Kampot.
From the cruise port
Cruise ships dock at Sihanoukville's port, about 10–15 minutes from the town centre. Tuk-tuks and taxis wait outside. Kampot is about two hours each way by car, so it's possible on a port day, with some arithmetic:
- Work back from all-aboard time. Port guides suggest planning at least six hours for a day trip and leaving a generous buffer for the drive back. On a two-lane road, one slow truck or a rain shower can cost you 20 minutes.
- Know the rule: ships wait for their own excursions, not for independent travellers. If you go independently, use a driver who waits for you all day and knows your deadline.
- Keep it realistic. With four or five hours on the road, you have roughly three to four hours on the ground. That's enough for Kampot's riverside and old town, plus one or two stops in the countryside such as the salt fields or a pepper farm. Kampot, Kep and Bokor in one port day is too much.
- Carry small US dollar notes, your ship card and photo ID.
Our Kampot countryside guide explains which stops are worth the time.
Arriving in Kampot
Kampot is small. From any van drop-off in the centre, a tuk-tuk to your hotel costs around $1–3, and more if you're staying upriver or out of town. Agree the price before you set off. PassApp, a ride-hailing app paid in cash, works in Kampot too. For everything about moving around once you're here, read getting around Kampot.
Ride with Seth
Seth was born in Kampot, has guided travellers from his tuk-tuk for 12 years and is rated 5.0 on Tripadvisor. Tell him your van company and arrival time and ask whether he can meet you at the drop-off, or have him collect you from your hotel for a private day planned around you. If you're coming by car on a cruise day, message him your ship's times first. If he's free, he can meet your car in Kampot town for a tuk-tuk loop that fits your deadline. Message Seth on WhatsApp for a fixed quote.
FAQ
How long does it take from Sihanoukville to Kampot?
About two hours by private car, two to three hours by minivan, and about 2¼ hours by train if it's on time.
Is there a train from Sihanoukville to Kampot?
Yes. In October 2026 it leaves Sihanoukville at 14:00 and reaches Kampot around 16:15, for about $7. Check the timetable shortly before you travel.
Can I take a tuk-tuk from Sihanoukville to Kampot?
No. It's about 100 km on a busy main road, too far for a tuk-tuk. Take a van, the train or a car, and use tuk-tuks once you're in Kampot.
Can I visit Kampot from a cruise ship in Sihanoukville?
Yes, if your ship is in port for most of the day. Allow about two hours' drive each way plus a buffer, and pick one or two stops rather than trying to see everything.
Is Kampot or Kep closer to Sihanoukville?
Kampot. Kep is about 25 km further along the coast, 35–45 minutes beyond Kampot by tuk-tuk. See Kampot to Kep by tuk-tuk.
