Krong Koh Kong

Located near the mouth of the Kah Bpow River, Krong Koh Kong is the capital of a province that is notable for its intense natural beauty and offers a number of easy-to-visit natural attractions.

A bridge connects the eastern and western halves of the town, with most of the town and tourism facilities located on the eastern side of the bridge. Other than access to the nearby Thai border, the western side of the town features moderately attractive koh-kong-beach.

Easy day trip attractions from the town include the mangrove forests of peam-krasop-wildlife-sanctuary and boeng-kayak, and a number of waterfalls, most of which are only accessible by boat.

Known for its great beaches, 23 surrounding islands, waterfalls, mangrove forest and wildlife, Koh Kong is the place to see Cambodia’s well-preserved nature. Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the country’s eco-tourism efforts to maintain the region’s wildlife sanctuary, as well as the largest mangrove forest in Cambodia that stretches up to 7 km long. From November to March, visitors also have a chance to see dolphins via boat trips, as well as bird watching and nightly firefly sightings.

Trapeang Rung and Andoung Tuek and Chi Pat Village are part of the eco-tourism projects that encourage visitors to stay and learn the daily local life and cultural activities to promote and preserve the natural habitat. Boeng Kayak is also an international eco-tourism project that offers elevated walkways through beautiful mangroves, rare wildlife such as birds, monkeys, and fire-flies.

Hiking, kayaking and camping is also recommended for those who visit the waterfalls Koh Kong Waterfalls. The closest one is the Tatai Waterfall, located 20 km from town. The falls originated from the Cardamom Mountain area into Koh Kong. Another waterfall worth mentioning, although a bit harder to access, is the Koh Por Waterfall, a gorge with 14 feet drop in a lush jungle.

In the past few years, Koh Kong has become a newly discovered Scuba Diving haven. Shark Island, Condor Reef and Poulo Wai are the source for pristine and spectacular underwater sightings with a few day trips and dive operators around Koh Kong. Half way between Sihanoukville and the town of Koh Kong is the Koh Sdach or King Island, a small and beautiful island that is ideal for snorkeling and fishing.

For those visiting Koh Kong, Koh Kong Island offers a good number of accommodation, restaurants and bars to choose from, as well as great beaches and chill-out spots.

Scuba Diving

Some spectacular diving spots worth mentioning in Koh Kong is the Shark Island where black tip reef sharks are plenty and prevalent. Poulo Wai is also great for swimming with Manta Rays.

A few scuba dive operators are available here at Koh Kong. Visitors can arrange overnight adventures for day trips and snorkeling in various islands near Koh Kong. To get to Condor Reef, an overnight stay on-site is required due to its remote location.

Waterfalls

Koh Kong Province has many waterfalls hidden away in the Cardamom Mountains. Trekking, boating, and four-wheel driving trips to the falls are popular day-trip activities that can be organized from many guesthouses and tour operators in Koh Kong.

The best cascade in the region is Tatai Waterfall. It’s near Tatai village, which is about 12 miles outside of Krong Koh Kong. The waterfall is named after a legendary farmer who lost his son in the falls and presumed he drowned. A few days later the son showed up, telling fanciful stories about a vampire and a mysterious hero. The legend persists today among the few dozen families that still live in the area. Tatai falls has two tiers. The first is relatively short, dropping around 20 feet; the second tier sees the water plunge nearly 50 feet into a pool. The Rainbow Lodge is located near the falls and offers numerous water activities in addition to easy access to Tatai Waterfall.

Another waterfall that is an easy day trip from the provincial capital is Koh Por Waterfall. It’s short and broad, and during the dry season the waters recede to reveal climbable boulders. The entire gorge is scenic and worth visiting. Speedboats from the capital get here in an hour, but diehard backpackers can save a few dollars by tripling their travel time on a long-tail boat.

There are several other waterfalls farther outside of town. Tourists who are set on seeing as many of these as possible can visit many of them on a single day trip, particularly those in the Nature and Wildlife Reserve. The most popular waterfalls are Kbal Chhay Prek Koh Waterfall, Veal Achaut Waterfall, and Kbal Chhay Kah Bow Waterfall, all of which are accessible via speedboat (one hour) or long tail boat (2-3 hours) from Koh Kong Town.

Most people cross into Krong Koh Kong via the Koh Kong Bridge, which links the town with the border crossing of Thailand and Cambodia. The capital city of Phnom Penh is about 140kms away. The border crossing is open every day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors of many nations (including US, Canada, UK, and Australia) can enter Thailand for 15 days without visas; those crossing into Cambodia must apply for a $20 dollar tourist visa, which requires a passport sized photo, when they arrive at the border.