Besides Poipet, Koh Kong has been popular among independent travellers who cross the Thailand border and use Koh Kong as a stop-off place before going to Sihanoukville, Kampot and Phnom Penh. Travellers take a 30-minute ride on a taxi or van from Thailand border (Trad Province) to Cambodia’s international checkpoint (Cham Yeam) before entering Koh Kong town. The town, whose name is often mistaken for the island of the same name off its coast, is the place where guesthouses, hotels and restaurants are located.
Sitting by Tonle Kah Bpow River with one side facing the ocean, the town is easy to get around either by foot or motorcycle taxi. There are some 2 and 3 star hotels and plenty of guesthouses in town, some of them overlooking the ocean. Most restaurants serve Cambodian, Chinese and Thai food and the price is cheap. Some restaurant like Otto’s restaurant and guesthouse offers western food with an English menu.
There are a few places worth visiting if you are done with exploring the local life in town and have a day or two to spare in Koh Kong.
Koh Kong Island
Having the same name as its town, Koh Kong Island is the biggest island off Koh Kong’s coast. A half an hour ride on a fishing boat will bring you to the island. There are a number of unspoiled beaches around the island. The water is clear particularly in the dry season. This island visit is good for a one-day trip.
Cardamon Mountains
Considered Cambodia's "Wild West", Cardamon Mountains are ideal for adventurous trips. The mountains are a part of a national park, which separates central Cambodia from the coastline. The forest in the part is largely pristine with rivers, waterfalls and tropical jungle. Even though activities in the park are limited to boating and trekking, it has potential for eco tourism and adventure trips. A typical day tour in Cardamon involves a boat trip upstream into the jungle, a visit to Tatai Waterfall and a short trek.
There is a new casino resort near the immigration checkpoint called "Koh Kong International Resort club". This huge resort, which is located on the beach, has 3 star hotel facilities with Internet access, currency exchange office, a swimming pool, a shopping complex, a restaurant and a coffee shop.
Getting to Sihanoukville
From the pier in town, you can take a ferry to Sihanoukville. The speedboat, which operates one trip a day everyday, departs Koh Kong at 8 am and arrives at the ‘Port of Passenger Ship’ near Hun Sen Beach in Sihanoukville around noon. The trip from Sihanoukville departs from its pier around noon and reaches Koh Kong around 4 pm. The cruise is suspended occasionally during the rainy season.
Alternatively, you can take a van or taxi from Koh Kong to Sihanoukville. The road conditions are relatively good but it is better to hire a driver who knows the route well to avoid the bumpy ride. A 5 to 7 hour ride is expected on this road trip.
