yulianidastories

If you are planning to travel from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, there are two convenient ways to get there: by bus or minivan, or by flight.

Since I wanted to experience both ways of traveling around Cambodia, I decided to take a sleeping bus for my first trip to Siem Reap. I also wanted to try something different instead of taking a flight, and since the journey takes several hours, traveling overnight seemed like an interesting option. I could travel while I was sleeping and arrive in Siem Reap the next morning, without spending most of my daytime on the road.

It was also my first time trying a sleeping bus, so I thought it would be a great experience to try. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would I actually be able to sleep? Would it be comfortable? And what is a sleeping bus in Cambodia really like?

So, in this post, I’m sharing my first experience traveling from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by sleeping bus, including how I booked my ticket, what the bus like, how the journey went, and some tips that might be helpful if you’re planning to try it yourself.

Well… let’s get on the bus and find out! 😆

Booking My Larryta Sleeping Bus

For my trip from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, I chose Larryta Bus and decided to take the midnight departure. My bus was scheduled to leave Phnom Penh at 11:58 PM and arrive in Siem Reap at around 5:00 AM.

The ticket mentioned that the journey would take around 6 hours, but my actual journey took approximately 5 hours.

The ticket cost me 69,000 Riel (around US$17.25). I booked my ticket online directly through the Larryta Bus website (www.larrytabus.com). You can also buy tickets directly at the bus station, but I would recommend booking online, especially if you want to choose a specific sleeping bed.

I booked my ticket at around 5:00 PM on the day of departure, and there were already only 5 beds available at that time. So, if you already know your travel date, I recommend booking your ticket early because the sleeping beds can sell out quite quickly.

You can also download the Larryta Bus app, which I found useful because your ticket and trip details will be shown in the app. It makes it easier to keep your booking information with you.

How to Get to the Bus Station

From my apartment, it took me around 20 minutes by tuk-tuk to get to the Larryta Bus station.

You can also purchase your ticket directly at the station if you prefer, but based on my experience, I wouldn’t wait until the last minute. Since the beds were already selling quickly when I booked mine, booking online in advance is a safer option if you have a preferred bed.

Choosing Your Sleeping Bed

One thing I didn’t know before booking was that the bed numbers are arranged in a specific order.

The arrangement is:

• 1, 2, 3 → Lower bed
• 4, 5, 6 → Upper bed
• 7, 8, 9 → Lower bed
• 10, 11, 12 → Upper bed
• And the pattern continues until bed number 30.

I booked bed numbers 25 and 26, so I got the lower beds.

If you have a preference between the upper and lower bed, make sure to check the bed number carefully when booking. And my biggest tip: book early if you want to have more choices!

Arriving at the Bus Station

I arrived at the Larryta Bus station around 20 minutes before my departure time. The station is located on France Street 47 in Phnom Penh.

There is a waiting area at the station with charging points, which is really convenient if your phone needs some extra battery before the journey. There is also a café, so you can grab a drink or some snacks to bring with you on the bus.

Around 10 minutes before departure, the staff directed passengers to put their luggage into the luggage compartment. After that, I could simply hop onto the bus and get ready for the journey.

Inside the Sleeping Bus

One of the first things I noticed was that the bus was clean, including the toilet.

Before settling into my bed, the bus staff gave me a small bag to keep my shoes in. I actually thought this was quite convenient because you don’t have to leave your shoes somewhere or worry about them getting in the way.

The sleeping bus also provided quite a few things for the journey, including:

• 🛏️ Pillow and blanket
• 🪥 Toothbrush
• 💧 Small bottle of mineral water
• 🍪 Small snacks
• ❄️ Air conditioning
• 💡 Individual reading light
• 🚻 Toilet

The sleeping bed was around 165 cm long. Since I’m not very tall, the size was still comfortable enough for me. However, if you are taller, you might find the bed a little short and possibly less comfortable.

There was also a reading light beside the bed, which is useful if you want to read or do something on your phone without disturbing other passengers.

Can You Actually Sleep on the Bus?

Surprisingly… yes! I actually slept! 😂

I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to sleep because it was my first time taking a sleeping bus. But the road wasn’t as bumpy as I expected. It felt somewhat like being in a car, just with much less space.

I managed to get quite a deep sleep and didn’t even realize that we had arrived in Siem Reap at around 5:00 AM.

When I woke up, it was still dark, and honestly, my soul had not come back to my body yet. Kkkkk. 😂

But then I remembered my secret weapon: my AirPods with noise cancellation turned on!

That helped me sleep much better because it blocked out most of the noise from the bus and the road. If you’re a light sleeper, I would definitely recommend bringing noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs.

Arriving in Siem Reap

The bus arrived at the Larryta Bus Station in Chong Kaosou Village, Siem Reap, at around 5:00 AM.

As soon as I got off the bus, there were quite a few local drivers waiting outside, offering tuk-tuk and car rides to passengers’ next destinations.

Since I usually use Grab when I travel, I decided to order a tuk-tuk through Grab and went directly to my hotel.

The driver actually offered to take me to see the sunrise after dropping my luggage at the hotel. It sounded like a nice idea, but after sleeping on the bus and arriving at 5:00 AM, I was simply too tired. 😂

I needed more sleep!

What I Did After Arriving

I arrived at my hotel very early in the morning, so I already knew that I probably wouldn’t be able to check into my room yet.

Instead, I asked the hotel if I could get a toothbrush, washed my face, and left my luggage with them.

Since it was still very early, I decided to walk around the nearby area while waiting for the cafés to open so I could finally get some breakfast.

And honestly, after waking up at 5:00 AM, I was more than ready for some food and coffee! 😂

How Much Did I Spend?

For my journey from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, I spent 69,000 Riel (US$17.25) for the sleeping bus ticket.

For me, I think the price was reasonable, especially considering that I could travel overnight and save my daytime for exploring Siem Reap.

The Pros & Cons

Of course, every type of transportation has its advantages and disadvantages. After trying the sleeping bus for the first time, here are my thoughts:

The Pros 🚌✨

• The bus was clean, including the toilet.
• You can travel overnight and sleep along the way.
• You arrive in Siem Reap early in the morning.
• You have almost the whole day to explore Siem Reap.
• You save your daytime instead of spending several hours traveling.
• The ticket was reasonably priced compared to taking a flight.

The Cons 😅

• The sleeping bed has limited space.
• You can hear some noise from the bus engine.
• The road can be a little bumpy sometimes.
• It’s still quite a long journey compared to flying.
• If you’re tall, the bed might not be very comfortable because it’s only around 165 cm long.

Would I Take the Sleeping Bus Again?

Yes, I would! 🙌

Even though it wasn’t the most spacious or luxurious way to travel, I actually enjoyed the experience. Since this was my first time trying a sleeping bus, I was curious about what it would be like, and surprisingly, I managed to sleep quite well.

For me, the biggest advantage was saving time. Leaving Phnom Penh around midnight and arriving in Siem Reap around 5:00 AM meant I didn’t have to sacrifice most of my daytime for traveling.

If you’re not in a hurry and want to save your daytime for exploring, I think taking a sleeping bus can be an interesting option to consider.

Would I choose a flight every time? Not necessarily. Sometimes, the journey itself can be part of the travel experience. And for me, trying the sleeping bus was definitely something different and memorable.

Final Thoughts

Taking the sleeping bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap turned out to be a fun first experience for me. I was initially curious about whether I would actually be able to sleep on a bus, but thankfully, I slept much better than I expected. My noise-cancelling AirPods definitely helped! 😂

It’s not perfect — the space is limited, there is some engine noise, and the journey takes several hours. But being able to leave Phnom Penh at night and wake up in Siem Reap the next morning makes it a convenient option for travelers who want to maximize their time.

For my first sleeping bus experience, I would definitely say it was worth trying! And now that I’ve experienced traveling by bus, I’m also curious to try the other option and experience the Phnom Penh–Siem Reap journey by flight.

Would you also try a sleeping bus in Cambodia? Or would you rather take a flight? Let me know! ✈️🚌💕