If you’re skeptical about getting from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by bus, allow me to assure you that it’s an excellent way to travel in Cambodia! The road from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap is sealed now, which means a smooth rode with views of the Cambodian countryside, and the trip takes between 5.5 and 6 hours. Giant Ibis, with its onboard power points and WiFi, offers the best full-size bus experiences in 2023. In this post, I’ll cover Giant Ibis day buses and night buses between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, both of which I have taken many times.
Giant Ibis is the most popular full-size bus between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Photo from 2023.
Giant Ibis table of contents
- Giant Ibis bus schedule
- Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (and vice versa) day buses
- Giant Ibis night buses
- Frequently asked questions
- Buy Giant Ibis tickets online
Giant Ibis Phnom Penh – Siem Reap buses
This schedule is current as of February, 2023.
| Phnom Penh to Siem Reap | 8:45 a.m. | 12:30 p.m. | 10:30 p.m. | 11 p.m. |
| Siem Reap to Phnom Penh | 8:45 a.m. | 12:30 p.m. | 10:30 p.m. | 11 p.m. |
→ Buy a ticket on Giant Ibis now
Giant Ibis Transport
Giant Ibis Transport began operations a decade ago and offers a variety of services that will appeal particularly to visitors. Their fleet of buses is new, the seats recline, they offer free WiFi, power outlets, a bottle of water and a pastry and their staff speak English. They are also the only full-size bus company in Cambodia to offer seat belts. Best of all, they offer online booking and seat reservation, thus eliminating the 30-odd minutes one would usually have to spend at a Cambodian travel agent’s while they call the bus company and laboriously write out a ticket.
This isn’t the only thing that sets Giant Ibis apart from the other bus companies in Cambodia. One of my favorite things about the journey is that it does not involve multiple pickups and dropoffs along the way as many of the mini-bus companies do.
The best thing about Giant Ibis, though, is safety. They have a maximum speed of 95 kph/60 mph, and management is alerted automatically if drivers go over this speed. The company has ten full-time mechanics and their dedication to safety seems very genuine. They are also more reliable than the local airlines that ply this route, who often cancel flights if they deem them not profitable enough, leaving people stranded and with little recourse other than to wait an extra day.
Giant Ibis daytime buses from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
The trip from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap takes about 6 hours give or take about thirty minutes. It’s a nice way to see a bit of the countryside; along the way you’ll see traditional Khmer homes, family gardens, rice paddies, flocks of ducks, and water buffalo being led home. The 38-foot buses seat 41 passengers and while there are no toilets on board, the bus stops at the 1.5 and 3.5 hour mark. The first stop isn’t always the same, but always has a relatively clean Western toilet. Usually, the bus stops at Batheay Res Area on National Road 6, where you can also buy snacks and cold drinks.
Your stop for food. Prey Pros Rest Area and Restaurant.
The lunch stop is a restaurant on National Road 6 contracted by Giant Ibis called Prey Pros Restaurant. This is much nicer than their former stop, and offers beautiful views over the rice paddies while you eat. Giant Ibis passes out the menu on the bus and has you order in advance, and the food will be ready for you when you arrive. They serve Western and Khmer food, and the Cambodian food is quite good and priced between $3.75 and $6.25. Moreover, the toilets are clean and usually have toilet paper (but bring your own just in case).
View from the rest stop, with Instagram-ready photo spot.
On board the Giant Ibis day bus
WiFi is offered onboard, using 3G and 4G. This means that the connection is available when there’s a 3G/4G signal available, which is more than half the journey. It doesn’t work in the more rural parts of the trip, but there’s no avoiding that; this isn’t the fault of Giant Ibis, there is just no mobile service there. The are also individual power outlets on all of the buses between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. They’re international-style plugs that feature inputs for most standard plugs from around the world.
Interior of a Giant Ibis on the Siem Reap to Phnom Penh route. Still looking good!
Of course everything on Giant Ibis is not perfect–the seats are narrow enough that it’s unpleasant to sit next to a large stranger, but they have more legroom than any of the mini-buses, and the ride is smoother and more comfortable than on a mini-bus.
Giant Ibis day bus schedule from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (and vice-versa)
Currently, buses run from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap at 8:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., the schedule is the same in the opposite direction, with buses from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh at 8:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. as well. They also have a night bus service in both directions at 10:30 p.m. and and 11 p.m
Tickets on the Giant Ibis Phnom Penh to Siem Reap route cost $18, and prices are the same for locals and foreigners. You can buy tickets online and choose your seats in advance.
Giant Ibis night buses from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
Over the years, I’ve taken more Giant Ibis night bus journeys than I care to admit. When I first moved to Cambodia, I vowed I would never take a night bus in Cambodia. Since then, I’ve made an exception for Giant Ibis because of their safety record and precautions. I’m now a regular on the Giant Ibis night bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh.
The Giant Ibis night bus looks great in the morning, too.
Night buses in Cambodia are notoriously unsafe. Giant Ibis, on the other hand, makes safety a priority. Their buses go slowly, with a maximum speed of 60km (37 miles) per hour. They enforce this by transmitting the speed via GPS to the Giant Ibis office so that management knows if a driver breaks the rules and go faster. Going slowly is not only safer, but allows for a better night’s sleep, because even at at these speeds the bus usually arrives in six or seven hours. Another safety precaution Giant Ibis takes is to always have two drivers on each bus, and they switch half-way through the journey. If one driver feels fatigued he can switch out and take a nap.
On board the Giant Ibis night bus
In addition to offering a safe ride, each seat is equipped with a power socket that accept standard American, Euro, and UK plugs, and most of them usually work. The bus has WiFi (password: giantibis) that is provided by 4G. The lights go off soon after the journey begins, so if you do want to read you will need to bring your own lighting. The buses are air-conditioned and have a toilet on board. Overly cautious types such as myself bring a sweater for the former and tissues for the latter. Passengers are all given a bottle of water, and each bed comes with a pillow and blanket. When you board the bus you’ll be given a bag to keep your shoes in, so as not to get the beds dirty.
There are two Giant Ibis night buses going each way between between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and currently they have the same configuration: 30 angled seats, with 14 on the bottom and 16 on the top. There isn’t always a bed for the driver who may end up sleeping next to you in the aisle. On these buses, there are eight single beds and 11 seats of double beds.
The seating plan for the 10:30 p.m. Giant Ibis night bus.
The buses do not have two levels, rather, the seats are designed like bunk beds with one on the top and one on the bottom. All of the Giant Ibis night buses are arranged with one row of two beds next to each other, and a row of single bunks with an aisle in the middle. If you are traveling alone, try to get one of the single beds. I have traveled alone on the Giant Ibis night bus many times and have never felt unsafe as a solo woman, but again, be sure to get a solo bed (if you buy a ticket online, you can make an advance seat reservation).
Off to dreamland on the Giant Ibis night bus beds.
As on all buses, the toilets are not the nicest in the world (if you are a larger person you’ll have a hard time squeezing in) but at least these ones are usually clean. I travel between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap regularly, and the trip can be excruciatingly long. Because I save so much time by sleeping through the journey, I’ve become a regular on the Giant Ibis night bus. Despite being pretty highly strung about road safety in Cambodia, overall, I think the Giant Ibis night bus is a safe way to get across the country (here are the other options for this route).
Giant Ibis night bus schedule from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (and vice-versa)
| Phnom Penh to Siem Reap night bus | 10:30 p.m. | 11 p.m. |
| Siem Reap to Phnom Penh night bus | 10:30 p.m. | 11 p.m. |
→ Buy a ticket on Giant Ibis now
Frequently asked questions about Giant Ibis
Where does Giant Ibis stop in Phnom Penh?
In Phnom Penh, Giant Ibis stops at their office on Street 106, near the night market. This is where they drop-off passengers in Phnom Penh who are coming from Siem Reap. Here’s a map.
Where does Giant Ibis leave from in Phnom Penh?
If you are going from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, your bus will leave from the Sakura Ave office at Chroy Changvar. This is outside of central Phnom Penh and will take a minimum of 20 minutes to get to from the riverside, and longer from elsewhere in town. Be sure to give yourself enough time to get there before your bus departs. Here’s a map.
Where does Giant Ibis stop in Siem Reap?
Giant Ibis buses leave and depart from their main bus terminal on Khmer Pub Street. Here’s a map.
How long does it take to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap on Giant Ibis?
Giant Ibis takes between five-and-a-half and six hours to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap during the daytime, depending on traffic when leaving Phnom Penh. The buses at night drive slower, so can take about an hour longer.
How long does it take to get from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh on Giant Ibis?
Giant Ibis takes between five-and-a-half and six hours to get from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh during the day, dependent on how bad traffic is when arriving in Phnom Penh. Because the night buses go slower, they can take about an hour longer.
Which are the best seats on Giant Ibis buses?
Whether you are traveling during the day or at night, the closer to the front is better, in my personal opinion.
How can I get from the Phnom Penh Airport to the Giant Ibis bus terminal?
Download the Passapp or Grab app on your phone and hail a tuk tuk from just outside the gates of the airport. You can also negotiate with a tuk tuk driver inside, but it is usually cheaper to use an app.
Buying tickets on Giant Ibis
Tickets on the Giant Ibis Phnom Penh to Siem Reap route cost $18, and prices are the same for locals and foreigners. You can buy tickets online and choose your seats in advance.
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The day bus departs from the Ibis bus terminal the night bus still departs from near the night market. Confirmed with giant ibis.
The departure address is no longer correct. The city office is just for ticketing. The bus departs from the new Giant Ibis bus station on Sakura Avenue on the far side of the river, quite a way out of town. Check their website for a map. You will need to allow extra time to get there as it is not very central.
Thanks, Andrew. I’ve just updated it. The buses from Siem Reap drop off in Phnom Penh at the city office, but I should have also included where they leave from!
Hey Lina, thanks for the article. I’m quite nervous about taking the sleeper bus solo but reading your article helped.
All the single seats are booked up on the trip I want. I wonder if you think booking both seats so no one sits next to you is a good idea. Is that possible or will they stick someone next to me?
Hello Lina
I was hoping you could help with a question. We where booked on the night bus this evening, and the staff at the office in phnom penh told us the pick up point was at the bus terminal at Sakura avenue. However the bus never showed up and there also was no other people waiting for it there, so I’m wondering if they gave us a wrong pick up point.
Hello Lina, thanks for all the information! Very useful :)
One small question. I’m guessing they have a cargo for the suitcases right? Will a big 23 kg suitcase/per person be ok? Or do they have a limit about the size?
Cheers!
Yes, big suitcases are fine. They have a large area under the bus for luggage.
ITS I GREAT RIDE , TOOK IT WITH MY GIRLFRIEND ,,,A CAMBODIAN. NO PROBLEMS JUST VERY CRAZY , WE HAVE TAKEN IT ABOUT 50-60 TIME , ONLY THING IS THEY LIKE TO PUT THE CARGO WITH THE PASSENGERS ,OH WELL,/.
Good review, except for the “site seeing” on the ride. What you’ll see the most of is millions upon millions of tonnes of garbage on both sides of the road from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. It’s really disheartening.
You were only promised views of the Cambodian countryside, no promises that it wouldn’t be filled with garbage. ;)
I would have to strongly disagree on the safety part. While the big coach bus is generally safe and comfortable, like many bus companies in Cambodia, when profitability is involved, passenger safety is thrown out of the window.
Below is an account of my experience that first appeared on TripAdvisor review-
DOES GIANT IBIS BUS COMPANY CARE ABOUT PASSENGER SAFETY ANYMORE?
So I’m writing this at 6pm on a minibus from Larryta bus company on my way back to Phnom Penh from Siem Reap. My wife and I should be on the 2:30pm bus from Giant Ibis instead.
We had almost ridden exclusively on Giant Ibis buses because they were the safest. Like the company website wrote: they always have two drivers for long journeys, and all their buses come with seatbelts. And we always take the big coach buses despite their slower speed because of safety.
So what happened?
Let me take you back to 2pm on the same day when we arrived at the Giant Ibis bus depot. We realized immediately that there would only be six other passengers on the journey.
Shortly after, the bus attendant arrived and said apologetically that the coach bus (typically a thirty-seater) meant for the journey had broken down and we would be going on a small minibus.
Coincidentally of course, it happened on a trip where there are only eight passengers.
Nonetheless we boarded. And when we sat down, we noticed there were no seatbelts. Or more accurately there were webbings, retractors, latches, but no buckles. Which makes the contraceptions practically useless. Understanding that sometimes buckles are tucked away at the back of the seats or something, I asked the bus attendant if she knew where the buckles have gone and she replied there were no seatbelts. Which made some of the other passengers worried too, and they too started protesting.
After reassuring us unconvincingly that she is also going on the journey with us too, she relented and decided to look for other solutions. One of which involved driving us in two separate cars. Now remember, they were supposed to have two drivers. But that solution got tossed aside because the other driver was apparently with the broken-down coach bus.
Which means that Giant Ibis was prepared to take passengers on board a bus without seatbelts with one driver for the entire journey in spite of what it says on its website.
(Now the attendant did offer to refund 50% of the fare but the point lost on her wasn’t the money but that passengers like us were prepared to pay more for the assurance of safety)
So a second solution came up. There was a coach bus arriving in half an hour’s time from Phnom Penh. If we could wait that could be arranged. So some of us were happy with the arrangement. So Liwen and I got off with our luggage and sat down in the waiting area.
What happened next really took the cake.
The bus attendant alighted and asked us to board the bus again. Her reason was that the other passengers didn’t want to wait. A claim which we could neither prove nor disprove.
But my suspicion was that someone at the top was making decisions based on dollars and cents. Why would you want a thirty-seater ferry eight passengers if you can persuade them to take a fifteen seater?
So we asked to speak to the manager. A call was made to the office in Siem Reap and we took turns speaking to a certain “Mr Ka”. He insisted there were seatbelts on the minibus and simply refused to listen to any solutions we had to offer. We couldn’t take the night buses either because they were fully booked.
While all this was happening, another employee came along and told the minibus driver to drive off. And two minutes later after the minibus left, the big coach bus, full of passengers from Phnom Penh arrived.
So we could all have been on the big coach bus as promised if the bus attendant had just told the passengers to wait a few minutes longer. A point which we made to Mr Ka.
And then Mr Ka changed his story. He asked Liwen rhetorically if it made sense for a coach bus to ferry two passengers only. All the while insisting there were seat belts on the minibus and cutting us off when we said otherwise.
To cut a long story short – we did get a full refund back at the end, but they didn’t think that us having to possibly incur costs for an extra night’s accommodation was their problem and refused to offer anything more than one free ticket. There was absolutely no effort made to help us find alternative safe modes of transportation by other bus companies, and a higher manager we spoke to, “Siew Ping” even said he couldn’t check the availability of seats on the night bus for the next two hours because he was in a meeting. Nevermind that we informed him that my wife had to attend a training tomorrow morning.
He also claimed that there were six working seatbelts on the minibus, which if it were true, would also mean that there were less than half the available seats with seatbelts.
Well there had never been a need for me to check on the reviews for this bus company because we’ve always had good experiences up until now. But when we finally got ourselves tickets on a Larryta bus with seatbelts and I had time to check, it turned out that amongst the negative reviews the most common remark was that Giant Ibis used to be good. But now it’s “just like any other bus companies”.
You can add one more review that has the same opinion I guess.
(Postscript: And Giant Ibis, if you’re reading this because I’m making sure it gets to you, make sure you make your bus safe for your attendants too. Having them sit in the front next to the driver on a foldable stool without seatbelts and unattached to the floor of the bus is a surefire way to turn them into human missiles if a collision, even a moderate one, occurs )
Hi Joshua, I have taken Giant Ibis literally a dozen times with fewer than 6 people on the bus. In fact, I once took their bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap when my partner and I were the only ones on the bus, and that is a long, expensive trip. So I don’t think the number of passengers factored in to any of their decisions, that’s really not how they operate.