✦ Top pick
Kampot is the best all-rounder for its riverside cafes, pepper farms, and Bokor day trips; choose Kep for quiet seaside and crab, or Koh Rong Sanloem if you want a barefoot island with calm, clear water.
Sihanoukville itself has changed fast, but the coast and countryside around it still hold some of Cambodia's most relaxed towns: sleepy river ports, French colonial holdovers, fishing villages, and island hamlets where the loudest sound is the ferry horn. Most are reachable in under three hours, and several make easy day trips by minivan, tuk-tuk, or boat.
This list ranks them best-first for travelers who want charm, good food, and a slower pace rather than nightlife. Each entry tells you how far it is from Sihanoukville, how to get there, what makes it worth the trip, and who it suits.
Use the comparison details on each town to build your route: Kampot and Kep pair naturally as an overnight loop, the islands are a quick ferry hop, and Chi Phat rewards anyone willing to go deeper into the Cardamom rainforest.
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1tours from $16.20Kampot Google
Kampot is the easy winner for a small-town base on this coast: a low-rise river town of mustard-yellow shophouses, riverside bars, and an unhurried rhythm that pulls travelers in for days longer than they planned. The Praek Tuek Chhu river is the centerpiece, perfect for sunset kayak trips and boat cruises, while the surrounding countryside grows the famous Kampot pepper, some of the best in the world. Spend mornings touring a pepper plantation and the salt fields, afternoons in a riverfront cafe, and use the town as the launch point for Bokor National Park. It is walkable, cheap, and full of good restaurants, from Khmer curry houses to wood-fired pizza.
- Kampot pepper plantation tours and tastings at farms like La Plantation
- Sunset river cruise or kayak past the Green Cathedral mangroves
- Phnom Chhngok cave temple and the salt fields
- Old Market shophouses and riverside dining
Best for first-timers, food lovers, and a relaxed two- to three-night base
Getting there About 1.5 to 2 hours by minivan or bus from Sihanoukville (roughly $6-10), or a private car
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2tours from $55.00Kep Google
Kep is the quietest, most genteel town on the coast, a former French-era seaside resort whose crumbling modernist villas now sit among frangipani and overgrown gardens. The reason most people come is the Crab Market, where you pick blue swimmer crabs straight from the seawater baskets and eat them stir-fried with fresh Kampot green peppercorns at the waterfront shacks. Beyond lunch, hike the loop trail through Kep National Park for sea views, or take a short boat to Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island) for hammocks and simple beach bungalows. It is sleepy by design, which is exactly the appeal.
- Fresh crab fried with Kampot pepper at the Crab Market
- Boat trip to Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island)
- The 8 km loop trail in Kep National Park
- Faded colonial and modernist villa ruins
Best for couples, slow travelers, and seafood lovers
Getting there About 2.5 hours by minivan from Sihanoukville, or 30-40 minutes onward from Kampot by tuk-tuk
3Koh Rong Sanloem Google
If you want the postcard version of the Cambodian coast without a party crowd, Koh Rong Sanloem is the pick. Saracen Bay is a long, calm crescent of pale sand and shallow turquoise water lined with low-key bungalow resorts, while the tiny village of M'Pai Bay on the north shore keeps a backpacker, off-grid feel. There are no real roads, just sandy paths between the bays, jungle walks to lighthouses and hidden coves, and bioluminescent plankton on dark nights. Days are for snorkeling, swimming, and doing very little.
- Swimming and snorkeling in calm Saracen Bay
- Bioluminescent plankton on a night swim
- Jungle trail to Lazy Beach or the lighthouse
- Laid-back M'Pai Bay village
Best for beach calm, snorkeling, and digital detoxers
Getting there About 45 minutes to 1 hour by fast ferry from Sihanoukville's Serendipity pier (roughly $12-25 round trip)
4Koh Rong Google
The bigger of the two main islands, Koh Rong has the headline beach: Long Set (4K) Beach, a long stretch of squeaky white sand backed by jungle. The main village of Koh Touch is livelier and more backpacker-oriented, with cheap guesthouses and bars, but walk 20 minutes along the coast and the crowds vanish into quiet coves like Sok San. It is the place to combine easy island nightlife with genuinely beautiful swimming and snorkeling, and the ferry from Sihanoukville is quick. Go now for the white sand and warm shallows; book a bungalow away from the pier if you want quiet.
- Long Set (4K) Beach for white sand and clear water
- Sok San Beach and its long sandy stretch
- Snorkeling trips and island-hopping boats
- Sunset drinks at Koh Touch village
Best for younger travelers and beach-and-bar combos
Getting there About 45 minutes by fast ferry from Sihanoukville's Serendipity pier (roughly $12-25 round trip)
5Chi Phat Google
Chi Phat is a former poaching and logging village turned community-based ecotourism hub deep in the Cardamom rainforest, and it is the most adventurous escape on this list. Run by the local community, it offers guided jungle treks, mountain biking, river kayaking, and birdwatching, with overnight stays in village homestays or jungle hammock camps. You come here for genuinely wild scenery, waterfalls, and a chance to support conservation rather than for comfort or beaches. It takes real effort to reach, which is precisely why it stays uncrowded.
- Multi-day guided treks and hammock camping in the Cardamoms
- River kayaking and mountain biking
- Birdwatching and waterfall hikes
- Community homestays supporting conservation
Best for adventurous travelers, hikers, and ecotourism
Getting there About 3 to 4 hours: drive or bus toward Andoung Tuek, then a community boat or moto up the river to the village
6Otres Village Google
For the closest small-town feel to Sihanoukville without the construction and casinos, Otres Village is a tiny inland pocket of guesthouses, yoga spots, and cafes set back from Otres Beach. It has a mellow, slightly bohemian atmosphere that survives from the area's backpacker heyday, and it works well as a quiet first or last night near the port. Rent a bicycle or scooter to reach the long, relatively undeveloped sands of Otres 1 and Otres 2, or paddle the mangrove-lined Otres River. It is modest and low-key, more a base than a destination, but a welcome calm right next to the city.
- Long, quieter sands at Otres 1 and Otres 2 beaches
- Cafes, yoga, and the weekend Otres Market
- Stand-up paddle or kayak on the Otres River
- Sunset drinks on the beach
Best for a quiet night near the port and easy beach access
Getting there About 15-20 minutes by tuk-tuk from central Sihanoukville (roughly $3-5)
7Ream Google
Ream is a small fishing community on the edge of Ream National Park, an easy half-day or overnight trip that feels a world away from the city. The park protects mangrove estuaries, beaches, and forest, and boat trips up the Prek Toek Sap River take you past fishing villages with chances to spot monkeys, kingfishers, and even dolphins offshore. Quiet beaches and a handful of simple guesthouses make it a low-key alternative to the islands when you do not want to commit to a ferry. Go for the mangrove boat tours and the unhurried village pace.
- Mangrove and estuary boat trips in Ream National Park
- Wildlife spotting: monkeys, kingfishers, and dolphins offshore
- Quiet local beaches
- Working fishing village atmosphere
Best for nature, easy half-day trips, and birdwatchers
Getting there About 30-40 minutes by tuk-tuk or car from Sihanoukville (roughly $8-12)
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✦ Good to know
Before you go
Getting aroundFrequent minivans and buses run east to Kampot and Kep; book a seat the day before in high season. For the islands, buy ferry tickets at Sihanoukville's Serendipity pier and keep the return open if your dates are flexible.
When to goThe dry season from roughly November to April brings the calmest seas and best beach weather. May to October is greener and cheaper but wetter, and some island ferries reduce service in rough conditions.
Pair your tripsKampot and Kep sit close together and make a natural one- or two-night loop; many tuk-tuk and private tours from Sihanoukville cover both in a single day, including the pepper farms and crab market.
Book aheadIsland bungalows in Saracen Bay and Long Set Beach fill up over weekends and holidays, and the better Chi Phat treks need to be arranged in advance through the community office.
MoneyCarry US dollars in small denominations and some Cambodian riel for change. ATMs exist in Kampot and Kep but are scarce on the islands and absent in Chi Phat, so bring enough cash.
Whether you want pepper farms and river sunsets in Kampot, crab shacks in sleepy Kep, or a barefoot island on Koh Rong Sanloem, the coast around Sihanoukville rewards travelers who slow down. Pick one as a base, link a couple together into a loop, and you will see the calmer, more characterful side of southern Cambodia.
Frequently asked questions
Which small town near Sihanoukville is best for a day trip?
Kampot is the best day trip thanks to its short 1.5 to 2 hour drive and easy combination of pepper farms, salt fields, caves, and a riverside lunch. Many tours pair it with Kep's crab market in a single full day.
How do you get from Sihanoukville to Kampot and Kep?
Minivans and buses run several times daily, taking about 1.5 to 2 hours to Kampot and around 2.5 hours to Kep, for roughly $6-10. A private car or a tuk-tuk tour gives you the flexibility to stop at pepper farms and viewpoints along the way.
Which island near Sihanoukville is the quietest?
Koh Rong Sanloem is the calmer choice, especially Saracen Bay and the small village of M'Pai Bay, with shallow clear water and a low-key bungalow scene. Koh Rong is livelier and more party-oriented, particularly around Koh Touch village.
How long does the ferry to Koh Rong take?
Fast ferries from Sihanoukville's Serendipity pier reach Koh Rong in about 45 minutes and Koh Rong Sanloem in roughly 45 minutes to an hour, with round-trip tickets typically $12-25. Service is most frequent in the dry season.
Is it worth visiting Chi Phat?
Yes, if you want genuine rainforest adventure rather than beaches. Chi Phat is a community-run ecotourism village in the Cardamom Mountains offering treks, kayaking, and homestays, though it takes 3 to 4 hours and a river boat to reach, so plan an overnight.
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