After the crowds of Angkor Wat and the city of Siem Reap, Battambang is an interesting place to head off to. You’ll find a lot fewer Western tourists here, in this city on the Sangkae River. There are colonial buildings here, the infamous bamboo train, and several caves to be explored. You have a variety of ways to travel from Siem Reap to Battambang, and one of those options is only available at certain times of the year. So today we’ll cover the best way to go from Siem Reap to Battambang and what your choices are. Here’s our guide on how to get to Battambang from Siem Reap
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BEST WAY TO TRAVEL
The Easiest Way to Go from Siem Reap to Battambang
The easiest way to go to Battambang from Siem Reap is to take a minivan. There’s the most choice and this is a comfortable way to travel this route.
Where is Battambang
Battambang is Cambodia’s third-largest urban area and is probably Cambodia’s most underrated city. Most foreign visitors will know Battambang for the famous bamboo train. Battambang is 165 kilometers (102 miles) from Siem Reap and 293 kilometers (182 miles) from Phnom Penh.
How to Go from Siem Reap to Battambang – Transport Options
In this guide on how to go from Siem Reap to Battambang, we’ll cover the fastest way to travel from Siem Reap to Battambang, the easiest way to go to Battambang from Siem Reap, and the cheapest way to get to Battambang from Siem Reap, as well as the most fun way to get to Battambang from Siem Reap, although it’s only available at certain times of the year. There are buses, minivans, private transfers, and boats that can be used to go to Battambang from Siem Reap. Here are the details.
How to get to Battambang from Siem Reap
There are several ways that you can travel to Battambang from Siem Reap – from a day trip to a minivan to a boat along the river.
The easiest way to go to Battambang from Siem Reap is to take a day trip from Siem Reap. Small group tours travel in a minivan and give you the maximum time in Battambang with minimum hassle.
Minivans from Siem Reap to Battambang
It’s 165 kilometers (102 miles) by road from Siem Reap to Battambang and taking a minivan from Siem Reap to Battambang is one of the easiest ways to go from Siem Reap to Battambang.
There are 2 minivan companies that go to Battambang from Siem Reap, and you will need to get to their offices to take the minivan. Between the two companies, there are up to 8 minivans a day that go on this route.
Check the times of the minivans from Siem Reap to Battambang here.
It takes about 3 hours to go from Siem Reap to Battambang by van – that’s from their offices in Siem Reap to their offices in Battambang. You can see where the offices are on our map, but also 12GoAsia’s booking system shows you where the pick-up and drop-off areas are before you book.
The vans are relatively new and have air conditioning and some have WiFi. If you go to the offices of the minivan company to buy tickets to take a van to Battambang then you’ll need to confirm the price and pay in cash.
The first minivan of the day from Siem Reap to Battambang leaves at 07:00 and the last minivan to Battambang from Siem Reap leaves at 19:00. Some of the times that you can book have a large bus and others have a smaller bus.
Check availability, prices, and book seats on minivans from Siem Reap to Battambang here.
We took the Virak Buntham minivan to Battambang from Siem Reap. We took a remorque (read about them in our guide to Cambodian Transport here), from our fabulous hotel, the Golden Boutique Hotel, and arrived about 20 minutes before the van was due to leave.
The seats are comfortable, the A/C was great and the driving was safe and the staff was helpful. We also used Virak Buntham when we traveled up to Sen Monorom for the Mondulkiri Jungle Trek and we’d used them for part of our journey from Koh Chang to Sihanoukville too.
On arrival in Battambang, you’ll be dropped at the offices of whichever bus or van company you booked with. The tuk-tuk drivers in Battambang will offer you either a free transfer to your hotel or hostel or a very, very cheap ride. This is to get the chance to do a deal with you to take you on a tour of the surrounding countryside the next day. It’s a good deal. Unless you plan to rent a motorbike to see Battambang or have pre-booked a tour of Battambang, it’s a good way to find yourself a tuk-tuk or remorque driver to show you the area.
Bus from Siem Reap to Battambang
If you prefer a big bus to a minivan, then you’ll want to check the times of the online booking. While minivans to Battambang usually have 16 seats, larger buses have about 26 seats. It takes the same amount of time to travel by bus from Siem Reap to Battambang as it does by using minivans. This is because all the options start and finish at the same offices.
Check availability and times on Siem Reap to Battambang buses here.
Taxi from Siem Reap to Battambang
Taking a private taxi to Battambang from Siem Reap is the fastest way to go to Battambang, as you’ll get transported from your hotel in Siem Reap to your hotel in Battambang and not have to faff around getting to the bus company offices. If there are four or more of you, this is likely a really good deal. It is the most comfortable way to travel. You can check prices for Siem Reap to Battambang taxis here.
Boat Trip from Siem Reap to Battambang
The first thing to be aware of is that the boat from Siem Reap to Battambang is only a viable option during the wet season in Cambodia. This way of going to Battambang along the Sangkor River uses a traditional wooden boat and travels from the pier in Siem Reap (but also includes a transfer from your hotel) and it will drop you at the Khmer Prahok Market near the city center in Battambang.
Getting to Battambang by boat takes from 6 to 8 hours, depending on the season and the water levels and it’s a great way of combining sightseeing and getting from A to B! Want to see more about this route?
Map of Bus Company Offices & Boat Piers for going from Siem Reap to Battambang
You can also see the full map of bus company offices from Siem Reap to Battambang here
The quickest way to get from Siem Reap to Battambang
The quickest way to get to Battambang from Siem Reap is to take a transfer. It takes about 3 hours to go to Battambang from Siem Reap from door to door and you can book a taxi from Siem Reap to Battambang here.
The cheapest way to go from Siem Reap to Battambang
The cheapest way to get to Battambang from Siem Reap is to take a minivan or bus – reserve your seats here.
The best way to go from Siem Reap to Battambang
Well, now this depends. If you want to combine sightseeing and travel AND you’re traveling at the right time of year (the wet season in Cambodia is from May to September), then I’d take the boat to Battambang and enjoy the ride. Otherwise, then the van is perfectly comfortable and convenient.
Popular Routes Around Cambodia
If you’re traveling around Cambodia, then check out these popular routes that we’ve taken and written up. You’ll also want to read our guide to transportation in Cambodia.
- How to Go from Phnom Penh to Chau Doc (Cambodia to Vietnam by Boat)
- Go from Kampot to Phnom Penh
- Going from Phnom Penh to Mondulkiri
- How to Go from Sihanoukville to Kampot
- How to go from Mondulkiri to Siem Reap
- How to Go from Siem Reap to Battambang
- Going from Battambang to Phnom Penh
- How to go from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
- Here’s how to go from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh – Vietnam to Cambodia
Travel Tips for Exploring Cambodia
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- Download and install a VPN BEFORE you travel to Cambodia > discount coupon here
- Arriving by air? Book your airport transfer with Welcome Pickups here.
- Book the best Cambodia tours and guides on Get Your Guide
- Save money in Cambodia with a Wise debit card
- Read about getting around Cambodia in our guide to Cambodian Transport
- Book Buses in Cambodia with 12goAsia
- Book accommodation in Cambodia with Booking
Final Words on How to Go from Siem Reap to Battambang
Whether you choose to take a day trip to Battambang from Siem Reap, use the river as a mode of transport, or take the bus, there are a variety of options that make this trip easy. Don’t forget if you’re taking the bus or a minivan that you’ll need to get to the offices of the bus company, as they don’t do local pickups.
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