When traveling from the bustling capital of Phnom Penh to the relaxed coastal province of Kampot, most visitors default to taking a bus. However, for a unique, scenic, and nostalgic slow-travel experience, the Cambodia Royal Railway train is a fantastic alternative.
In this guide, we share our first-hand experience of taking the daily train from Phnom Penh to Kampot. From how to purchase tickets at the station and what to expect on board, to practical arrival tips and local platform logistics, here is everything you need to know to plan your ultimate Cambodian rail journey.
🇯🇵 この記事を日本語で読む: カンボジア鉄道に乗ってみた！プノンペンからカンポットへの列車旅・チケット購入と乗車記
Quick Travel Summary: Phnom Penh to Kampot Train
- Service Operator: Royal Railway Cambodia
- Departure Time: 7:00 AM daily (Punctual departure from Phnom Penh)
- Ticket Price: USD 9 per person
- Journey Duration: Approx. 4 hours (Scheduled for 3 hours, but expect a slower pace)
- How to Buy Tickets: Easily purchased at the Phnom Penh Railway Station ticket office.
Why Choose the Train from Phnom Penh to Kampot?
Kampot is the capital of Kampot Province in southern Cambodia. With a population of approximately 50,000 (2012), the city is close to the coastline and is famous for pepper cultivation.
The distance from Phnom Penh is approximately 150 km and most people take buses, but we decided to take the train.
In fact, we absolutely love train travel. While rail journeys often take a bit longer than roads, we always prefer to choose the train whenever the schedules align. It’s the perfect way to truly experience the slower rhythm of the country.
How to Purchase Train Tickets at Phnom Penh Railway Station
There is one train a day from Phnom Penh to Kampot leaving at 7am.
Phnom Penh is the starting point, so you can expect a punctual departure!
Phnom Penh railway station is in the city centre and we walked there the day before to buy our tickets.
The woman at the counter spoke English, so buying tickets was easy. The train fare from Phnom Penh to Kampot is USD 9 per ticket.
She laughed when I asked what time we would arrive in Kampot. She said the journey would take about three hours, but we shouldn’t expect much.
At the ticket office, there was a sign advising us to come to the platform 40 minutes before departure time on the day of the train.
On the Morning of Departure: Getting to the Station
Phnom Penh Railway Station is located in the centre of the city and can be reached on foot. We were staying at a hotel slightly out of the centre, so we travelled by tuk-tuk using the transport app Grab the morning we left. The tuk-tuk fare was 5,500 Riel for a distance of approximately 3 km to the station.
Buying a Local Takeaway Breakfast Before Boarding
When we arrived at the station at around 6.30 am, several restaurants were already open in front of the station. We bought a takeaway chicken and rice for breakfast. It cost 6,000 riel per person with a fried egg and pickles.
Boarding the Royal Railway Train & The On-Board Experience
When we entered the platform, the train was already there. Check the destination sign at the boarding gate and board the train.
There was something that looked like a seat number printed on the ticket, but it seemed that we were free to sit in any seat.
The seats are blue bench-type seats. There is also a toilet, which I filmed on video, and it is was quite clean.
The train departed on time at 7am with a classic whistle blowing. The train crossed the city of Phnom Penh and went out to the suburbs, gradually changing to a countryside landscape.
Enjoying Breakfast with a Countryside View
We had breakfast while watching the cows munching on grass in the flat rice fields.
White rice cooked with a mixture of red rice, topped with chicken and a fried egg. It was accompanied by plenty of pickles pickled in sweet vinegar.
Arrival at Kampot Station and Transport to the Town Centre
The train travelled on, stopping at several stations along the way, arriving at our destination, Kampot, at around 11am.
Kampot railway station is a little far from the town centre.
The guesthouse we had booked was about 2.5 km away, which was within walking distance, but we negotiated with the tuk-tuk driver waiting on the platform to give us a lift for 5,000 Riel.
In Kampot, we enjoyed sightseeing by bicycle.
Explore More of Southern Cambodia
After arriving at Kampot station, we negotiated a tuk-tuk to our guesthouse and spent the following days exploring this wonderful region by bicycle, eventually moving further down to the coastal town of Kep.
➡ Visiting a Kampot Pepper Plantation & Getting to Kep from Kampot: A Practical Travel Guide
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