7 Days on Cambodia's South Coast — Kampot, Kep & Islands
3 destinations · 7 days
At a Glance
- ✓ Kampot pepper farms & riverside sunsets
- ✓ Kep crab market by the sea
- ✓ Rabbit Island day trip
- ✓ Bokor Hill Station's abandoned French casino
- ✓ Koh Rong Samloem beach time
- ✓ Zero temples, zero rushing
Not every Cambodia trip needs Angkor in it. This route is for travelers extending a beach holiday, returning visitors who’ve already done the temples, or anyone who’d rather spend a week moving at the pace of a riverside town than queuing for ruins. It skips Siem Reap and Phnom Penh entirely and stays on the coast throughout.
Day 1: Arrive in Kampot
Afternoon: Fly or bus into Phnom Penh and continue straight to Kampot (3–3.5 hours by taxi or bus), or arrive via Sihanoukville if that’s your entry point.
Evening: Settle into a riverside guesthouse. Sunset on the Kampot River — the town’s slow, French-colonial pace sets the tone for the rest of the week.
Stay: Riverside, Kampot.
Day 2: Pepper Farms & Bokor Hill Station
Morning: Visit a Kampot pepper plantation — La Plantation or Sothy’s Pepper Farm both run tours explaining why Kampot pepper carries a protected geographical designation, the same status as champagne.
Afternoon: Drive up to Bokor National Park and the abandoned French hill station — a derelict 1920s casino and church wrapped in mist, one of the stranger sights in the country.
Evening: Sunset cocktails at a Kampot rooftop bar — The Arch or Epic Arts Café are local favourites.
Stay: Kampot.
Day 3: Firefly Cruise & Cycling
Morning: Rent a bicycle and explore the quiet roads around Kampot’s French Quarter and surrounding rice paddies.
Evening: A sunset and firefly river cruise — as it gets dark, mangroves along the riverbank light up with thousands of fireflies. One of the most underrated experiences on the south coast.
Stay: Kampot.
Day 4: Kampot → Kep
Morning: Short drive to Kep (25 minutes). Check in and head straight for Kep Beach for a relaxed swim.
Afternoon: Hike the loop trail in Kep National Park — flat, shaded, and short enough to do in 1.5–2 hours.
Evening: Lunch turned dinner at the Kep crab market — whole crab cooked to order with fresh Kampot pepper, eaten at tables right over the water.
Stay: Kep.
Day 5: Rabbit Island
All day: Boat trip to Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay) — an undeveloped island a short ride from Kep with quiet, shallow beaches and a handful of basic beach shacks serving fresh seafood. Stay for the day or overnight in a simple bungalow if you want to disconnect further.
Stay: Kep, or overnight on Rabbit Island.
Day 6: Kep → Sihanoukville → Koh Rong Samloem
Morning: Drive to Sihanoukville (1.5 hours), then a speedboat ferry (45–60 minutes) to Koh Rong Samloem.
Afternoon: Swim and snorkel at Saracen Bay, among the clearest water on this stretch of coast.
Evening: A bioluminescent plankton night swim — ask any beach bar where the water is calmest after dark.
Stay: Koh Rong Samloem.
Day 7: Island Time & Departure
Morning: A last swim or a short walk to the island’s quieter west-side beaches.
Afternoon: Ferry back to Sihanoukville for an onward flight, or extend with another island day — this stretch of coast rewards staying longer.
Practical Notes
Getting around: Private taxis between Kampot, Kep and Sihanoukville cost $15–30 per leg; the Sihanoukville–Koh Rong Samloem ferry runs $15–25 round trip.
Best time to go: November to March for dry, cooler weather. April–May is hottest. The wet season (June–October) brings dramatic afternoon storms but lush green countryside and fewer visitors.
Budget guide:
- Budget: $30–50/day
- Mid-range: $70–130/day (assumed for this itinerary)
- Luxury: $200+/day, with overwater-style villas available on Koh Rong Samloem
Pairs well with: Add Siem Reap and Angkor Wat before this route for a complete trip — see our 10–12 day Temples & Beach itinerary, which follows the same coastal finale.
