Phnom Penh to Kampot by train: is it right for your trip?

The train from Phnom Penh to Kampot is worth considering if you want the journey to be part of your trip. It is less compelling when your day depends on arriving at a precise time or making a tight connection. Before comparing fares, compare the whole day: leaving your hotel, reaching the station, travelling and getting to your accommodation at the other end.

A real route, with details to check for your date

Royal Railway serves Kampot on its southern line from Phnom Penh. The operator links to its Easybook ticketing site, where you search by route and date.

The official Royal Railway website announces a daily 7am departure on the southern line. The Phnom Penh–Kampot route table on Easybook lists fares from US$10. These details were consulted on 11 November 2026; they do not confirm availability on your chosen date.

A 7am departure means an early start from your hotel: allow for the transfer and boarding before booking. Check the scheduled arrival, final fare and conditions on the ticket offered. Passenger services can help on +855 78 888 582 or +855 78 888 583. Older descriptive pages are not all consistent with the current timetable, so we do not reproduce an unconfirmed journey duration.

The Map Cambodia · Travel journal

The slow journey to Kampot

Train, bus or private car: compare the whole cost

This is a decision guide, not a ranking of journey times. We do not have comparative punctuality measurements for these options. Work out the total cost for your group, including transfers at both ends. An inexpensive individual ticket and a car quote are difficult to compare until you account for everyone travelling and all the additional journeys.

Apply the same logic to time: a scheduled arrival is not necessarily the moment you will put your bags down at the hotel. If you want to book an activity in Kampot, leave a generous margin or plan it for the following day.

Booking: a payment receipt is not the final ticket

The ticketing FAQ distinguishes the payment summary from the electronic ticket sent afterwards. Check that you have received the latter. It says you can present a printed ticket or one saved on your phone, with every page visible.

Save it before leaving your accommodation and keep the booking number handy. Our offline maps guide also helps you save useful locations without relying on a connection when you arrive.

The same FAQ describes tickets as non-changeable and non-refundable. Read the conditions displayed for your purchase before paying, particularly if the trip depends on a flight or another transfer.

Bags and arrival: small details that make a difference

If you have a bicycle, motorbike, bulky pushchair or several large suitcases, ask the operator about the arrangements before booking. Royal Railway lists vehicle transport among its services, but that does not establish availability on your train or inclusion in the passenger fare.

In Phnom Penh, the operator gives the departure location as the Central Railway Station in Sras Chork, Daun Penh. For Kampot, save the arrival point shown on your booking and send it to your accommodation if arranging a pick-up. Avoid agreeing simply to meet “in Kampot”.

If you are travelling onward, consider a night in Kampot rather than joining several independently booked legs with minimal time between them. That is a recommendation for flexibility and comfort, not a guarantee against delays.

Our choice for a Kampot stay

We would choose the train for someone who wants the railway journey and can keep arrival day open. For a traveller trying to make the most of a very short escape, we would first compare available bus departures and a private-driver quote.

Once you have chosen your transport, explore our Kampot guide. A pepper-farm visit fits more comfortably into a full day there than into a tightly scheduled afternoon immediately after leaving the train.