Koh Kong

Koh Kong is a province that rewards those who make the effort to get here. Cut off from the rest of Cambodia by the Cardamom Mountains and the Gulf of Thailand coastline, it remained largely inaccessible until the coastal highway was paved — and even now it retains a frontier quality that is increasingly rare in Southeast Asia.

The Cardamom Mountains

The Cardamoms are one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Covering over four million hectares, this ancient rainforest shelters the Irrawaddy dolphin, Asian elephant, sun bear, pileated gibbon, and Siamese crocodile. Wildlife Alliance runs ranger stations and community-based ecotourism that gives travelers responsible access to the forest.

Chi Phat, reached by river boat from Andoung Teuk, is the best-known entry point — a former hunting village where ex-hunters now lead multi-day jungle treks. Botum Sakor National Park, Cambodia’s largest, covers the southern peninsula’s rainforest and mangrove, best explored by boat given its limited road network.

Rivers & Waterfalls

The Tatai River is the heart of the Koh Kong experience — kayak or boat through limestone karsts draped in jungle, stopping at Tatai Waterfall. A handful of eco-lodges sit right on the riverbank, some of the most atmospheric places to stay in Cambodia.

The Coast

Koh Kong’s coastline is largely undeveloped — long sandy beaches accessible only by boat, backed by jungle rather than resort towers. Koh Kong island itself has some of Cambodia’s most pristine coral reefs.