Showing up at a strange airport in a strange country is, for most people, a stressful experience. Luckily, Sihanoukville Airport is so small that there’s almost nothing to worry about. There are limited options for getting from Sihanoukville Airport into town, but it’s best to have an idea in advance of what your plan is.
The Sihanoukville Airport is small but perfectly formed.
The Sihanoukville Airport is located approximately 12 miles (20km) north of Sihanoukville, on Route 4. Only four planes per week that land there, all of them Cambodia Angkor Air’s Siem Reap to Sihanoukville flights.
Getting from the Sihanoukville Airport into town
Because there are so few flights, there aren’t a lot of options for getting from the airport into Sihanoukville, and the prices are pretty fixed (and not particularly good value). Sihanoukville is known to have the most extortionate tuk tuk drivers in the country. They’ve formed a “union” which is little more than a mafia that uses price-fixing and extortion of other drivers to keep prices artificially high. For this reason, even if you see a tuk tuk at the airport, we recommend you avoid them.
The airport seems to have discontinued the shuttle bus (but if they start it back up again, please leave details in the comments section!). If you have three people or fewer, the best option is a taxi ride share.
These eager young gents will guide you to your chariot. Or airport shuttle. Or airport taxi.
For the taxi shares, the cost is the same, $5 per person or $20 for the whole taxi. You can buy a ticket at the same ticket counter on the way out of the airport. They will try and push you to buy a whole taxi, but do not budge if you don’t want to. They will make you wait for more passengers and hope that you will give in.
The trip to Sihanoukville used to take about 20 minutes, but we’ve been getting reports that it now takes between one and two hours. Yikes.
The Sihanoukville Airport shuttle and taxis. Could be worse.
If you’re staying on one of the beaches and you already have a hotel booked, you should bring a map or have an idea of where your hotel is before getting in the taxi. We recommend the detailed and free Canby maps, which can be downloaded online or found in many businesses around town.
If you have four or more people, you’ll save money by taking a private taxi. The going rate is usually around $20, but they will often ask for more. If you want to save yourself the stress, you can book a taxi online for $25. A few bucks more, but they are new SUVs with more trunk space and no haggling. Make your reservation at least 3 hours in advance.
The Sihanoukville Airport arrivals terminal is not particularly busy, with only four incoming flights each week.
Getting from town to the Sihanoukville Airport
If you’ve read the above, you can pretty much follow the same directions but in reverse. You can book a taxi at most guesthouses or any local travel agent, I’ve used Best Beach Travel (T: 015 678 924) for $15 or $20. Taxis are older Toyota Camrys and most do not have a lot of trunk space.
I’ve included some specific taxi recommendations in the transportation section of the Sihanoukville city guide. You can also opt to book a taxi online (at least three hours in advance). They are $25, but nicer, larger SUVs with more space for luggage.
As mentioned above, tuk tuks are usually extortionate in Sihanoukville and are best avoided, but you can usually get a tuk tuk to the airport for $15.
Sihanoukville Airport Shuttle (closed for now, but may reopen)
by United Ground Services (UGS)
T: 088 471 1784; 010 310 737
Bus tickets purchased through links in this post generate affiliate sales for us. This does not affect our reviews for specific bus companies or routes! For more about how we deal with advertising, affiliate sales, and stuff like that, you can read more here.
Hi – update from Jan 2018. Definitely no shuttle bus! Taxi for $20 takes about half an hour, or tuk tuk takes longer but cheaper!
Airport currently being dramatically revamped so be aware, not much space to sit before checking bags in and only two places to eat (one outside security, one inside – the one outside only does snack items).
Thanks for the valuable information we have used this website a lot!!
Thanks for the update, Evie! Were they giving the option of splitting the taxi with other travelers? The last time I was there they just waited until there were enough people to fill the taxi.
Very helpful article, tahnk you!
As of February, 27, no shuttle. Three taxi companies, all $20. I shared taxi with 2 other people, no problem…
Hi Rupert, did they help you find two other people or did you have to do it yourself?
I had to find the other people by myself.
Hey Rupert,
How did you find the other people to share with? Did you just hang around the Taxi counters and wait for someone to come along?
Thanks in advance
John.
Hi Evie, how much roughly does it costs to go to otres beach from sihanoukville airport via a tuk tuk? Will arrive in sihanoukville next week.
Thanks for the information. Given me lots ideas.Don’the land at Bangkok till 3dec17.fews days too climates.Then off Siem Reaplease.
Unfortunately the bus from airport is “broken” and the only possibility to reach the town is taxi.
No possibility to buy a ticket for the bus, drivers are likely to ride for $15.
When you out from the airport to check if taxi is waiting outside, price next to the airport goes up to $20.
I have a feeling the bus may mysteriously fix itself around the time high season starts.
Update of today: No airport shuttle bus anymore, indeed: Best Beach Travel confirmed it, and also no sighting of it in the airport.
If you don’t have big luggage, that can be a easily transported on motorbike, and for a single passenger, I got 7$ motorbike ride from Otres 1 to airport, 20-25 minutes , 18 km (it is a big double distance to Samudera, which is 8km).
The guy will meet me in the airport after few days.
Alternative option from Otres 1 is well-negotiated tuk tuk 12$, that would be great option for 2pax and more (as cost-efficient as former shuttle).
On the side note, I flewn MA60 aircrafts with Bayon, 37$ one way,incl.taxes, flawless, no turbulence, in 50 minute already there, it was faster than by schedule.
My flight out of Phnom Penh at 8 a.m. What time should be at the airport ? Can I take the night bus (Giant Ibis) from Siem Reap the night before and go to the airport from the bus station on arrival at Phnom Penh ?
Shuttle bus no longer we where told they where not paying right tax or something so now just taxi and not share.
Thanks for the update, Sandy. When did you see this?
Thank you so much for this valuable info! Your website has helped us many times during our trip here in Cambodia :) Thank you!
I landed in Sihanoukville from Siem Reap this week and looked for the shuttle bus. There was no ticket desk for the bus, just the taxi one, and no sign of a bus anywhere. I asked a few people about it (the taxi drivers wouldn’t reply) and I was told ‘no more bus’ so it seems that it’s been discontinued. My gut tells me the taxi mafia have somehow managed to squeeze it out. I had to pay the $20 fare to get to town. Felt violated ?
I travelled today(3/22/2016). Not sure of the company name(they are right before the exit door in the airport, can’t miss them).
They have shuttle running at the moment. 6$ for serendipity and 8$ for otres. Return pickup is a dollar less. They also dropped everyone at their respective hotel. I was the unlucky one to be dropped last.
Called Ravy Angkor Tours today and they’re not doing the shuttle anymore.
Then asked a tuk tuk driver close to two lions and his first price was $15. So $10-12 should be possible.
The service has been taken over by United Ground Transport, I’ve updated the blog post to reflect that.
How much is a ticket from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville?
I’ve got a blog post about how to get from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville here: https://movetocambodia.com/transportation/how-to-get-from-siem-reap-to-sihanoukville-and-vice-versa/
It is just a small one and government should modernize it more