12-day family trip to Cambodia: opinions and advice

Hi

J4 Kampot Kep (scooter)

Doing both in a single day would be completely unreasonable, if not downright far-fetched. So, Kampot OR Kep. They don’t have much in common, and each deserves more than a day. Personally, I much prefer Kampot—it has way more charm. Plus, it’s a bit closer to your next stop.

J5 Kampot to Koh Rong via Sihanoukville

Are you sure the route is doable in the same day?

I’m hesitating about adding a stay in Battambang since it also seems worth visiting... Is the lake level high enough in February for it to be worthwhile?

It’s not a must-see, but the boat trip between Battambang and Siem Reap is definitely a highlight. As for the water level, February is usually the cutoff. Your overall itinerary is already pretty fast-paced as it is, so I wouldn’t add another stop.

Good evening

I was thinking of taking a stroll on Tonle Sap Lake to visit the floating villages during our 3 days in SR, but I’m hesitating about fitting in a stay in Battambang since it also seems worth visiting.

If you’re hesitating, go for Tonle Sap. In my opinion, Battambang is "skippable." An extra day in Siem Reap is better than a day in Battambang.

Is the lake level high enough in February for it to be worthwhile?

Yes, you’ll see lots of birds, and observing the local way of life is still a special moment. It’s also a great complement to visiting Angkor to better understand this civilization. It was one of our highlights. Get in touch with the Osmose association.

See here.

Hello,

Your itinerary looks good as long as it matches your tastes and travel preferences. The comments below are also very relevant. Kampot or Kep—sticking with Kampot does save time. Though personally, I find Kep more pleasant. The fishermen, the pepper plantations, etc.—it feels more intimate to me. Battambang is a real favorite of mine, and the boat trip is a great memory. Given your schedule, though, I agree it’s best to skip it due to lack of time. Personally, I’d swap Koh Rong for Battambang, but I get that others might prefer a "paradise" island for a few days.

As for Siem Reap, it really depends on how much you love ancient ruins and these incredible structures. If you have three full days there, try to dedicate at least half a day to exploring the Tonlé Sap and its floating or lakeside villages—just avoid the overly touristy spots. In a full day, you could even head upriver toward Battambang! Have a great trip! Eric

Hi there, Only visited Cambodia once, but it was recent (2023). Avoid Koh Rong Sanloem—lots of resorts are abandoned there; COVID hit hard in that area😕. I don’t know Koh Rong. Little tip to save a day: we did it in reverse, and it worked (check if it applies to your direction). Night bus from Sihanoukville to Siem Reap—comfortable and safe. Just make sure to pick a reliable company; some aren’t trustworthy. Siem Reap: minimum 3 days + 1 for Tonlé Sap. Check out my profile for the travel journal from this trip.

Hi Songsam, After thinking it over, we’re going to spend 2 full days in Kampot by cutting out a day in PP. Since we’ll arrive early in the morning in PP, we’ll have a full day plus a long morning to visit Tuol Sleng and wander around PP. That way, we can spend 1 day in Kampot and 1 in Kep.

For Kampot-Koh Rong, there are usually buses+ferry that make the trip possible. Battambang will have to wait for next time...

Thanks anyway for your feedback!

Bonjour

Day 4: Kampot Kep (scooter)

Doing both in a single day would be completely unreasonable, if not downright crazy. So, Kampot OR Kep. They’re quite different from each other, and each deserves more than a day. Personally, I much prefer Kampot—it’s got way more charm. Plus, it’s a bit closer to your next stop.

Day 5: Kampot-Koh Rong via Sihanoukville

Are you sure the trip is doable in the same day?

I’m considering adding a stay in Battambang since it seems worth visiting... Is the lake level high enough in February to make it worthwhile?

It’s not a *must-visit*, but the boat trip between Battambang and Siem Reap is definitely a highlight. As for the water level, February is usually the cutoff. Given how fast-paced your overall itinerary already is, I wouldn’t add another stop.

Good evening Herodotos, thanks for your feedback. I think I’ll actually skip Battambang but try to explore Tonle Sap Lake during our stay in SR. Thanks for the info about Osmose.

Gérald

Good evening

I was thinking of exploring Tonle Sap Lake to visit the floating villages during our 3 days in SR, but I’m hesitating about adding a stay in Battambang since it also seems worth visiting.

If you’re unsure, prioritize Tonle Sap. In my opinion, Battambang is "skippable." An extra day in Siem Reap is better than a day in Battambang.

Is the lake level high enough in February for it to be worthwhile?

Yes, you’ll see lots of birds, and observing local life is a special experience. It’s also a great complement to visiting Angkor to better understand this civilization. It was one of our highlights. Check out the Osmose association.

See here.

Hello Hernon21, thanks for your feedback. I’ll take all your suggestions into account and skip Battambang since, as you say, others prefer paradise islands!!

I’ll still try to fit in a trip on the Tonle Sap and its floating villages. I was thinking of leaving from Phnom Krom, but do you have any suggestions for spots that are less touristy than Kampong Khleang?

Best regards, Gérald

Hello,

Your itinerary seems good as long as it matches your tastes and travel plans. The comments that follow are also very relevant. Kampot or Kep—actually, sticking with Kampot saves time. Though personally, I find Kep more pleasant. The fishermen, the pepper plantations, etc... it’s more intimate in my opinion. Battambang is a city I love, and the boat trip is a great memory, but given your schedule, I agree it’s best to skip it due to lack of time. Personally, I’d drop Koh Rong for Battambang, but I understand others prefer a "paradise" island for a few days. As for Siem Reap, it all depends on your interest in ancient stones and these incredible structures. Try to dedicate at least half a day during your 3 full days on-site to explore the Tonle Sap and its floating or lakeside villages, avoiding the most touristy spots. In one day, you could even go upriver toward Battambang! Have a great trip! Eric

Hi Montagnard74, thanks for your replies. I did consider the overnight bus trip, but my travel companions (my wife and my teenage daughters) vetoed it outright, so we're going with the plane!! Koh Rong seems less wild than KR Sanloem, so we’ll see.... I’ll go check out your travel journal!! Gérald

Hello Montagnard74, thanks for your replies. I did consider the overnight bus, but my travel companions (my wife and my teenage daughters) vetoed it outright, so it’s the plane for us!! Koh Rong seems less wild than KR Sanloem, so we’ll see.... I’ll go take a look at your travel journal!! Gérald

Too bad—for us, a night on the bus is part of the "ritual" when traveling in Asia, as long as the company’s decent. But if there’s a veto… [;)] KR Sanloem isn’t wild; it’s just deteriorating after the economic carnage of Covid. At least 4 resorts are abandoned….

I think the veto came after a previous overnight trip in Thailand where the company (travelers, not a bus company!!) was particularly sketchy [:)] I’ll give it another try later!! Too bad for Koh Rong Sanloem, which seems to have some great perks though…

If you're leaving from Phnom Krom, then it's the village of Chong Khneas you'll be visiting—it's not great. Kampong Phluk is further east, touristy as well, and Kampong Khleang is even farther, so it's less visited. Southwest of Siem Reap, there's also the small village of Me Chrey, entirely floating, which is nice and very little visited. Or a day with Osmose in Prek Toal. Don’t forget to check out the sunset at Phnom Krom—the view is lovely, and entry is included in the Angkor temple pass.

For me, I’d rather spend 2 days in Kampot—I’m not really into Kep. In Kampot, if you like water excursions, you can do the mangrove tour with Kayak and Co—it’s really great. And like everyone else, I’d say spend more time in Siem Reap and skip Battambang.

Thanks for the feedback. I’ve actually planned 2 days in Kampot, including 1 to visit the Pepper Plantation. I’ll check out your tip about the mangrove[;)]

Thanks for the feedback. Duly noted for the villages, and I’d already planned the walk to Phnom Krom

Hi Gérald,

For the pepper plantation, I can highly recommend this one:

https://extensionembed.wanderlog.com/place/details/8448002/nyann-kampot-pepper-farm

A really interesting visit with the very friendly Mr. Ty. He’ll show you around his entire organic and IGP-certified pepper plantation, as well as his huge orchard. Plus, the pepper is much cheaper than at the plantation—more than half the price—for the same quality since the terroir is identical. You’ll also be supporting a real local family [;)] instead of plantations run by foreigners who exploit the Khmers. It’s located just after Sothy's Pepper Farm, so don’t get mixed up... A tuk-tuk from Kampot can easily take you there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOiCYCUbPKs

https://kep-cambodia.com/kep-cambodia/kep-activities/ny-ann-kampot-pepper-farm/

Wishing you a lovely and informative trip. Just to clarify, I don’t have any shares in this plantation

Good evening

It’s recommended to visit pepper plantations—I remembered that the ones I visited were mostly near Kep. The latest one recommended by Dancoine (and he’s right) is also near Kep (10 km), because the Kampot province extends around Kep!!! That’s why I’d advised staying overnight in Kep: take the chance to have dinner at the crab market, see the salt marshes, and take a trip to Rabbit Island. So depending on the location of the plantation you want to visit, stopping in Kep could make sense. ?? Safe travels Eric

Hi, Kep used to be part of Kampot province, which is why the pepper is named after it, even though it was mainly grown around Kep. Still, it's worth noting that Kampot pepper production only accounts for 1 to 2% of the national output. There are other excellent peppers grown on equally rich lands, especially around Memot—where it’s the same variety as Kampot’s—or in Mondolkiri, at much more affordable prices since they don’t benefit from the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) set up for the European market like Kampot does.

Here’s some useful info. Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind.

Thanks Erwan for this info!!

Hello, Kep used to be part of Kampot province, which is why the pepper is named after it, even though it was mainly grown around Kep. Still, Kampot pepper production only accounts for 1 to 2% of the national output. There are other excellent peppers from equally rich lands, especially around Memot, where it’s the same variety as Kampot’s, or in Mondolkiri, at much more affordable prices since they don’t benefit from the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) set up for the European market like Kampot does.

Thanks Erwan for the details—pepper in Mondolkiri is indeed more affordable in a region that’s worth the detour. Unfortunately, I didn’t have your info back then, and it was very hush-hush at the time, so I didn’t stop in Memot to try their pepper, which is highly praised in Vietnam among other places. Definitely something I’d do over! Have a great evening, Eric

Hi Eric, You can find Mémot pepper in Phnom Penh at the Sela Pepper shop—it’s the largest pepper cooperative in the Mémot region. Last year, the price per kilo directly from the producer was 19,000 riels (just under $5). It shouldn’t be much more expensive at the shop, maybe around $10/kg when you factor in storage, packaging, and transport to PP. The 2025 harvest has already started over the past two or three weeks and will continue, depending on the producer (soil quality, watering frequency, use of fertilizers or not), until June. You can start seeing pepper drying on mats or tarps in front of houses or by the roadside in some places. From February to April, you’ll see it everywhere when you’re out and about—the smell in the air is amazing! !