Cambodia sleeper bus detailed guide: reliable recommendations, prices, safety tips & Giant Ibis review (Siem Reap to Sihanoukville)

If you don’t want to waste your daytime traveling between cities in Cambodia, taking a Cambodia overnight bus is a great option! However, the quality of the bus and ticket prices offered by different bus companies and booking platforms varies, so how do you find a reliable bus option? This article will share a guide on how and where to book tickets, reasonable ticket prices, recommendations for reliable bus companies, important safety tips for taking a Cambodia Sleeper bus, as well as a detailed review based on my personal experience with Giant Ibis sleeper bus from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville.

• A trustworthy website for booking transportation in Cambodia (I booked all my bus, train, and ferry tickets for trips in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries in advance here. It allows credit card payments, so if you’d prefer not to exchange too much local currency while traveling, booking in advance here is a good choice. Otherwise, you will likely need to pay cash when purchasing tickets offline.
• Click here to check the bus schedule and prices for the Siem Reap to Sihanoukville route.
• Click here to check the ferry schedule and prices for the Sihanoukville to Koh Rong route.
• Essential Angkor Wat Guide for first-timers: must-see temples, sunrise spots and more
• 13 cultural and artistic things to do in Siem Reap.

Trustworthy sleeper bus companies in Cambodia

Giant Ibis Transport and Virak Buntham Express are both trustworthy bus companies/operators in Cambodia.

I’ve personally had a great experience taking Giant Ibis Transport sleeper bus, as for Virak Buntham Express, it’s recommended by a hotel manager in Koh Rong Cambodia.

The departure and arrival times of the two bus companies are different, so you can evaluate which one suits you and your upcoming travel plans better

These two bus companies offer different departure and arrival schedules, so you can choose either one based on your travel plans.

Safety tips for taking a sleeper bus in Cambodia

1. Make sure to book your bus through reliable booking platforms, carefully review customer feedback, and choose a reputable, well-known bus company with high ratings to ensure a smoother journey and feel safer. Your choice of the Cambodian sleeper bus company has a significant effect on your travel experience and safety on the road. I’ve seen some negative reviews online about long-distance bus experiences in Cambodia, mentioning issues like the dirty bus environment, uncomfortable beds, old vehicles and bumpy journey etc. So, do not book a bus in Cambodia just because it’s cheap!
2. It’s advised that not to bring valuable items when traveling in Cambodia, if possible. But if you do have some, make sure to hide them under the pillow or place them in ordinary-looking bags far from the aisle on the Cambodia night bus. This way, they won’t be easily taken while you are asleep.
3. Whenever possible, avoid selecting bus departure and arrival times that fall in the middle of the night or early morning when the streets are less crowded. It can reduce risks when taking a tuk-tuk, walking, or waiting for transportation before and after your bus journey. Additionally, check the environment of pickup and drop-off locations, as these differ depending on the bus company.
4. While the pillows and blankets provided by the Cambodian sleeper bus may seem clean, it’s a good idea to place your own jacket or towel between your body and these items to avoid direct contact.
5. When you board the bus, take a quick look around to get a sense of your surroundings and the people near you. It’s always a good idea to stay alert and keep an eye on the environment.
6. It’s also a good idea to bring a mask and hand sanitiser, just in case you need them.

Trusted Website for Booking Cambodia Bus Tickets

I’ve used this website to book all my transportation while traveling in Cambodia and Southeast Asia, including day buses, overnight buses, trains, and ferry tickets.

From my experience, I can say that it’s a reliable platform with a wide range of options and responsive service. For example, when a night train in Sapa, Vietnam got canceled due to the storm destroying the tracks, I got my refund from them within just a week or two. I highly recommend this site and will definitely keep using it. Just remember to check the reviews for each transportation company before booking.

Cambodia sleeper bus reviews

For our journey from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville in Cambodia, I booked the overnight bus on this reliable website (I will share a guide below on how to book tickets online and important tips) and chose the Sleeper Bus operated by Giant Ibis Transport.

The Giant Ibis overnight sleeper bus from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville usually departs around 10 pm and arrives at 8 am the next day. This timing is perfect, as it gives you a full day to explore upon arrival (our plan was to take a tuk-tuk directly to the pier and catch the 9 am ferry to beautiful Koh Rong Island).

My experience on the Giant Ibis sleeper bus from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville exceeded my expectations! I was able to lie down and sleep comfortably throughout the night, and arriving in the morning saved a lot of daytime for exploring.

From the facilities and cleanliness to punctuality and overall comfort, it was much better than I had imagined! I’d rate it 8/10.

Below, I will share a detailed review of my experience to help you better understand what to expect from this Cambodia sleeper bus and make a confident choice.

Facilities and amenities provided on the Giant Ibis sleeper bus from Siem Reap

8.5/10

The Giant Ibis sleeper bus from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville we took is equipped with a restroom and offers free Wi-Fi.

Each bed comes with a USB charging port, adjustable lighting, air conditioning controls, a privacy curtain, a pillow, a blanket, and a bottle of water. It’s a very thoughtful and well-equipped bus—having such amenities and services in Southeast Asia is quite impressive!

For luggage, larger items are stored in the bus’s luggage compartment, while smaller bags and valuables should be kept with you in your bed.

My friend and I had two small backpacks each, and both fit comfortably in the bed space.

Cambodia Sleeper Bus Comfort and Safety

7.5/10

Every seat on the Cambodia Giant Ibis Transport Sleeper bus we took is designed as a sleeper berth, allowing passengers to stretch out and rest comfortably.
There are two types of berths to choose from: a double berth and a single berth. We accidentally booked a double berth, but the space was just right for the two of us. I’m 152 cm tall, so I could stretch my legs out completely, and my Italian friend, who is a 167 cm girl, also had no problem stretching out and resting comfortably.

The mattress on the bus was just the right level of firmness, perfectly acceptable for a long-distance bus journey!

The ride was smooth, and once my friend and I closed the privacy curtain, we both fell asleep right away. We slept peacefully all the way to our destination with no interruptions. Overall, it was a comfortable, hassle-free long-distance bus experience.

The Cleanliness of the Giant Ibis Sleeper Bus Cambodia

8/10

The overnight sleeper bus we took from Siem Reap, operated by Giant Ibis, was exceptionally clean and didn’t have any strange or unpleasant smells. The inside was bright, tidy, and felt cozy, with the air conditioning set at an ideal temperature.

When we got on, everyone had to take off their shoes to maintain the cleanliness on the bus. The sleeping berths were neat and spotless, and the pillows and blankets looked fresh and clean, which made it easy to relax. It was the kind of setup where you could actually get some decent rest.

Giant Ibis Sleeper bus Cambodia price (from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville)

8/10

The ticket price for a Cambodia sleeper bus from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville typically ranges from around 13 USD to over 30 USD. Generally, you get what you pay for—the more you spend, the better quality the bus tends to be. For a better experience, I recommend choosing a sleeper bus in Cambodia with fares above 20 USD and with positive reviews. Ours was around 30 USD per person, and it’s worth it!

Taking an overnight long-distance bus in Cambodia is a great way to save time and money. Not only does it free up your daytime for activities, but it also saves you the cost of a night’s accommodation. If the ticket price is close to what you’d spend on a hotel and transportation combined, it’s already a good deal. And often, overnight buses in Cambodia are even cheaper, making them a convenient and budget-friendly option.

I booked my Cambodia sleeper bus ticket here with my credit card. After the payment was done, the e-ticket was sent straight to my email, (Note: In Cambodia, buying transportation tickets at the ticket booth usually is cash only.) There’s no need to print the ticket—just show it to the driver on the day of travel, and you are good to go. It’s super convenient! A quick tip: When booking a sleeper bus in Cambodia, make sure to choose a departure time that is after 6 pm and the arrival time that is after 4 am to ensure it’s an overnight trip.

Punctuality

8/10

Our overnight bus with Giant Ibis (10 pm to 8 am) went smoothly, with hardly any delays. It stayed on schedule, making the trip easy and stress-free.

We arrived at the designated Giant Ibis bus station 30 minutes before departure, as required (always make sure to check in 30 minutes early!). After the staff checked our e-tickets, we were allowed to board around 9:40 pm, and the bus departed shortly after 10 pm.

The next morning, we arrived at the Sihanoukville Giant Ibis bus station around 8:10 am, which gave us enough time to catch a tuk-tuk to the pier and board the 9 am ferry to Koh Rong Island. The entire trip was smooth and hassle-free! Unlike some reviews that mention delays on long-distance buses in Cambodia, we were lucky to have a pleasant experience with Giant Ibis sleeper bus.

One thing to keep in mind is that, regardless of which bus company you book with, arrival times are rarely guaranteed to match the schedule exactly. They often depend on road conditions and other factors. So, when planning your trip, it’s a good idea to allow some buffer time for potential delays, as these things can be unpredictable.

Luggage allowance for Giant Ibis Cambodia sleeper buses

8/10

Each bus company has slightly different luggage policies.

For our Giant Ibis overnight sleeper bus from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville, we were allowed two pieces of luggage with a combined weight of around 20 kg to be stored in the luggage compartment. For carry-on, we could bring one bag up to 7 kg onto the sleeper.

However, the e-ticket mentioned that operators usually aren’t too strict about this. In our case, no one checked our bags when we boarded (probably because we didn’t have much stuff). As long as you keep it reasonable, it shouldn’t be a problem.

How and where to book a Cambodia sleeper bus ticket & important tips for choosing your seat

1. Book your Cambodia sleeper bus tickets through this reliable ticketing website. And simply select your departure city, destination, and travel dates.

2. For the departure time, make sure to choose a departure time that is after 6 pm to ensure you are booking an overnight bus.

3. Make sure to choose ‘bus’ as your transport option.

4. Choose the operator and time for your sleeper bus (below, I will use Giant Ibis sleeper bus as example).

5. Click “confirm booking” and select the number of passengers.

6. Enter your phone number, email, last name, and first name.

7. Select your seats! Here’s an important tip based on my experience: Seats E and F, as well as A and B, are double sleeper berths. If you’re traveling with someone and want to sleep together, choose seats with the same number for E and F or A and B (e.g., 3E and 3F). If you prefer a single sleeper berth, go for H or D.

We didn’t know this when we were booking our tickets, so my friend and I chose 3E and 3F—only to find out it was a shared double sleeper space! So be extra careful when selecting your sleeping spot.

8. Choose insurance: you can either opt for their insurance or skip it and purchase travel insurance on your own.

9. Select your payment method and complete the payment online.

10. Shortly after completing your payment, you’ll receive an e-ticket with a QR code in your email. The ticket will also include the boarding location, luggage guidelines, and check-in time (usually 30-40 minutes before departure).

On the day of travel, simply show your e-ticket and arrive at the designated location 30-40 minutes before departure, depending on the requirements provided.

Important note: Most operators only run one overnight bus per day, so be sure to book in advance!