✦ Top pick
Koh Rong Sanloem is the best all-rounder for a beach day; choose Kampot for countryside and pepper farms, or Ream National Park if you want the closest, cheapest escape from the city.
Sihanoukville itself has become a casino-heavy boomtown, but it sits within easy reach of some of Cambodia's best coastline and countryside. Within an hour or two you can be on a near-empty island beach, walking pepper plantations, or climbing into the cool mist of an abandoned hill station. The contrast is the whole point: use the city as a launchpad and the good stuff is close.
Distances here are short by Cambodian standards. The fast ferries to the islands leave from the Serendipity and Ochheuteal piers, while Kampot and Kep are a smooth two-hour drive east, and the new expressway gets you to Phnom Penh in about two and a half hours. Tuk-tuks, shared taxis, private cars, and organized tours all work depending on your budget.
Below are eight day trips ranked best-first, each with how to get there, who it suits, and the specific things worth your time. Most can be done as a long day, though a couple (the islands, Phnom Penh) reward an overnight if you have the time.
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1Koh Rong Sanloem Google
Koh Rong Sanloem is the quieter, prettier sister to busy Koh Rong, and the easiest island to do as a full day trip. Saracen Bay is a long crescent of pale sand and calm, clear water lined with low-key beach bars and bungalows, ideal for swimming and lazing. Walk the 20-minute jungle path across the island to Lazy Beach or Sunset Beach for fewer crowds, and stay after dark on a tour if you want to see the bioluminescent plankton glow. It feels a world away from the mainland despite the short crossing.
- Swimming and sunbathing at Saracen Bay
- The jungle trail to Lazy Beach and Sunset Beach
- Bioluminescent plankton after dark
- Fresh seafood and a cold drink at a beach bar
Best for beach lovers and anyone wanting the most scenic day out
Getting there Fast ferry (Speed Ferry Cambodia or Buva Sea) from Serendipity/Ochheuteal pier, roughly 45-60 minutes, about $25-30 round trip
2Koh Rong Google
Koh Rong is the larger, livelier island, known for the long white sweep of Long Beach (Sok San) and the backpacker buzz around Koh Touch pier. The water is some of the clearest in Cambodia, and snorkeling, kayaking, and beach-hopping fill an easy day. If you want nightlife and a social scene it beats Sanloem; if you want calm, head straight to Long Beach away from the main pier. It is the more developed of the two but still scenic.
- Long Beach (Sok San) white sand
- Snorkeling in clear water
- Kayaking and boat trips
- Beach bars around Koh Touch
Best for younger travelers, groups, and a livelier beach day
Getting there Fast ferry from Serendipity/Ochheuteal pier, about 45 minutes, roughly $25 round trip
3tours from $24Kampot Google
Kampot is a riverside town of crumbling French shophouses, sleepy cafes, and the world-famous pepper that carries its name. The surrounding countryside is the real draw: visit a working plantation like La Plantation to taste fresh green, red, and black peppercorns, explore the Phnom Chhngok cave temple, and see the salt fields and the Secret Lake. Late afternoon, a slow boat or kayak on the Praek Tuek Chhu River as the sun drops is the classic Kampot wind-down. It is unhurried, green, and the best contrast to coastal Sihanoukville.
- Kampot pepper tasting at La Plantation
- Phnom Chhngok cave temple
- Salt fields and the Secret Lake
- Sunset river cruise or kayak
Best for food lovers, countryside and a relaxed pace
Getting there Private car or tour about 2 hours; shared taxi/minivan also available
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4tours from $55Kep Google
Once Cambodia's chic seaside retreat for the French and the elite, Kep is now a sleepy town of overgrown mid-century villas and one unmissable institution: the crab market. Buy fresh blue swimmer crab straight off the boats and have it wok-fried with Kampot green peppercorns at a waterfront shack, the signature dish of the region. Walk part of the forested Kep National Park loop for sea views, or take the short boat to Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island) for a simple beach. Kep pairs naturally with Kampot on a single full-day loop.
- Crab with Kampot pepper at the crab market
- Kep National Park coastal loop trail
- Boat to Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island)
- Abandoned modernist villas
Best for seafood, a slow seaside afternoon
Getting there Private car or tour about 2-2.5 hours, often combined with Kampot
5tours from $29Bokor National Park Google
Bokor is a high plateau above Kampot where a winding paved road climbs into cool, often misty cloud forest. The eerie draw is the old French hill station: the shell of the Bokor Palace Hotel, the moss-streaked Catholic church, and Wat Sampov Pram with its sweeping views back toward the coast. Add the Lok Yeay Mao monument and, in the wet season, the tumbling Popokvil Waterfall. Bring a layer, because temperatures up top can be 10C cooler than the coast, and the atmosphere is otherworldly when the fog rolls through.
- Abandoned Bokor Palace Hotel
- The old Catholic church
- Wat Sampov Pram viewpoint
- Popokvil Waterfall (wet season)
Best for history buffs and dramatic scenery
Getting there By car or organized tour roughly 2.5 hours; usually visited via Kampot
6Ream National Park Google
Ream is the closest real nature escape from the city, a coastal park of mangrove channels, beaches, and birdlife on the doorstep of the airport. The standout is a boat trip along the Prek Toek Sap River through mangroves, often ending at a quiet beach or a fishing community for a seafood lunch. You can spot kingfishers, eagles, and monkeys, and the pace is slow and low-key. It is the cheapest and quickest way to swap the city for green water and forest.
- Mangrove river boat trip
- Quiet beaches like Koh Sampoch
- Birdwatching and monkeys
- Fresh seafood at a fishing village
Best for nature on a budget and a half-day option
Getting there Tuk-tuk or taxi about 30-40 minutes; boat trips arranged at the ranger station or pier
7Koh Ta Kiev Google
Koh Ta Kiev is the back-to-basics island for travelers who want nature over development: rustic bungalows, hammock bars, jungle trails, and beaches with barely anyone on them. There is limited electricity and no big resorts, which is exactly the appeal. Snorkel, swim, walk between bays, and if you stay into the evening you may catch bioluminescent plankton in the shallows. It is best reached via the Ream/Otres area and makes a wonderfully simple day or overnight unplugged.
- Empty beaches and jungle trails
- Snorkeling in calm bays
- Hammock and rustic beach bars
- Bioluminescence after dark
Best for off-grid travelers and digital detox
Getting there Boat from Otres or Ream area, roughly 30-45 minutes, arranged with island guesthouses or boat operators
8Kbal Chhay Waterfall Google
Kbal Chhay is the easy, family-friendly waterfall just outside the city, a multi-tiered cascade that runs strongest in the rainy season (roughly June to October). Wooden walkways and platforms let you reach swimming pools, and the site is dotted with local picnic huts where Cambodian families gather on weekends. It is not a wilderness experience, but it is a quick, cheap, green half-day and a nice add-on if you want a swim without committing to a full trip. Go on a weekday morning to dodge the crowds.
- Swimming in the waterfall pools
- Wooden walkways and viewing platforms
- Picnic huts and local food stalls
- An easy half-day from the city
Best for families and a quick swim
Getting there Tuk-tuk or taxi about 30 minutes; small entrance fee
9tours from $189Phnom Penh Google
Cambodia's capital is now doable as a long day thanks to the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, which cuts the drive to around two and a half hours. The essentials are the gilded Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, the moving Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and the riverside promenade where the Mekong and Tonle Sap meet. It is a big, busy day, so prioritize two or three sights rather than rushing everything, and consider an overnight if your schedule allows. For cruise passengers on a tight clock, a private shore excursion is the practical way to do it.
- Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- Riverside promenade and Central Market
- Cambodian history in a single day
Best for history, culture, and city sightseeing
Getting there Private car or tour via the expressway, about 2.5 hours each way
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✦ Good to know
Before you go
Getting aroundFor islands, book ferries (Speed Ferry Cambodia, Buva Sea) the day before in high season. For Kampot, Kep, and Bokor, a private car or tuk-tuk tour is far easier than piecing together shared transport, and lets you combine sights in one loop.
When to goThe dry season (November to April) is best for islands and beaches, with calm, clear water. Waterfalls like Kbal Chhay and Popokvil on Bokor are most impressive in the wet season (June to October), though boat crossings can be rougher.
Combine destinationsKampot, Kep, and Bokor sit close together and are commonly bundled into a single full-day tour. The islands and Phnom Penh, by contrast, each deserve a day of their own.
Bring layers for BokorThe Bokor plateau is often 8-10C cooler than the coast and frequently shrouded in mist, so pack a light jacket even on a hot day.
Cash and small notesUS dollars are widely used across the region, but carry small bills and Cambodian riel for entrance fees, tuk-tuks, market food, and ferry snacks.
Sihanoukville may not be the prettiest base on Cambodia's coast, but its position is unbeatable: near-empty islands, peppercorn country, a misty hill station, and the capital are all within a couple of hours. Pick one or two that match your pace, book the ferry or car ahead in high season, and let the city be the door rather than the destination.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best day trip from Sihanoukville?
For a beach day, Koh Rong Sanloem is the best pick, reachable in about 45-60 minutes by fast ferry. For countryside and food, Kampot and its pepper plantations are the standout, around two hours east by road.
Can you visit Koh Rong as a day trip from Sihanoukville?
Yes. Fast ferries from the Serendipity/Ochheuteal piers reach both Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem in roughly 45-60 minutes, so a full day on the beach is easy. Many people enjoy it enough to stay overnight.
How do you get from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh?
The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway has cut the drive to about 2.5 hours by private car, taxi, or tour. It is doable as a long day trip, though an overnight is more comfortable if you want to see the main sights without rushing.
Which day trip is closest to Sihanoukville?
Ream National Park (about 30-40 minutes) and Kbal Chhay Waterfall (about 30 minutes) are the closest and cheapest escapes, both easy half-day options by tuk-tuk.
Can you do Kampot and Kep in one day?
Yes. They are only about 25 km apart and roughly two hours from Sihanoukville, so a single full-day tour can cover a pepper farm, the Kep crab market, and a cave temple comfortably.
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