Sihanoukville: Excursions, Cruises & Islands

Boats & Water Sports

Boating: Island and party cruises…

There are several nearby tropical islands with good snorkeling waters and secluded sandy beaches – most within a 40-minute to 2 hour boat trip. If you just want a leisurely daytrip cruising amongst the island, it’s easiest to arrange through a tour operator or guesthouse. Standard island tours will take in three islands for snorkeling, swimming, lunch and drinks, starting around $15. Lunch is usually included, drinks are extra. See the Islands of Sihanoukville page for much more on the islands, island accommodation, getting there, etc.

Several operator specialize in sunset and midnight party cruises with bar, food, music, dancing, sometimes even DJ, fire dancers and the like., most departing Ochheuteal/Serendipity. Many of the beach restaurant, guesthouses and the  tour operators along Serendipity Beach Road and at the Serendipity Beach Boat Dock sell tickets for party cruises. Also see the tour operator page. Be smart, make sure your boat has sufficient safety equipment and is not overloaded.

Fishing and Boating Excursions

For the fishermen, there are many different angling opportunities in the waters around the local islands, within 30 minute – 2 hours of Sihanoukville. The best fishing is in the dry season when the weather is fair. A large variety of game species inhabit the local waters including the prized barracuda.

Many tour operators offer fishing trips and a couple specialize in it. Also check the Tour Operator listings.

Water Sports

A gradually increasing number of places offer water sports equipment rental – jet skis, kite surfing, hobie-cats, kayaks and more. Several of the beach restaurants on Otres Beach rent kayaks.

Off-roading 

Bird watching/Prey Nup Mangrove Forest

Ream National Park 

Ream National Park, officially called Preah Sihanouk National Park, the park has become known as “Ream” because it is located in the Ream commune. The park was established in 1993, inaugurated in March 1995, and encompasses 21,000 hectares of coastal area including sandy beaches, mangrove forests, the Prek Tuk Sap estuary, off-shore coral reefs and two islands (Koh Thmei and Koh Seh). Though rarely seen the Park provides refuge for such species as macaques, sun bear, dolphins, mouse deer, pangolin, over a hundred species of birds and there is even rumored to be a tiger. The Park and tour operator out of Sihanoukville offer a number of different tours of the park including jungle trekking and river boat trips along the Prek Tuk River through the jungle and mangroves to the ocean. The river trip is the most popular tour of the Park and is also more likely to provide wildlife sightings. Most tours are less than a half-day. Tours may be arranged through a tour operator (see page 36) or directly through the Park at the Park Office (located 23 km north of Sihanouk Ville, 500m off Route 4 on Airport Road, opposite the entrance to the airport). The Park office is open 7 days per week 7AM to 5PM and there are usually several guides of varying linguistic skill levels on hand.

Park Office phone: 012-875096, 012-215759. Several guesthouses in Sihanoukville as well as tour operators can arrange transportation and tours of the park.

There are set programs offered by the Park though itineraries are flexible and can be tailored to individual or group needs. Prices may vary. 

Bokor Hill Station (Phnom Bokor)   

Tours out of Kampot to the old Bokor Hill Station in the nearby Elephant Mountains have long been popular. A new casino/hotel complex has gone up over the last couple of years, and the road up the mountain improved, but the reminants of the old hill station are still there – a mountaintop collection of crumbling buildings – hotel, casino, church and royal residence. The station was originally constructed by French authorities in the early 1920s as a complement to the Kep resort area. In its day Bokor was an elegant getaway for officials and foreign visitors – a classic colonial ‘hill station’ located in the mountains to allow foreigner visitors accustomed to more temperate climes to escape the tropical heat. The old building were abandoned in the 1970s, leaving ghostly ruins – vestiges of a different age, often shrouded in fog and clouds.

One thing that the years have not changed is the absolutely spectacular view of the coast and the cool (sometimes cold) mountain air. Bokor is jungled and excursions beyond Bokor, including trekking, can be arranged by local tour operators.

The road up the mountain has been completed and is in good condition. Full day Bokor tours can be arranged through a local tour operator. Tours run about $10/person inclusive for an all-day tour including a sunset boat cruise on the Kampong Bay River. The Park Office and turn-off to the Hill Station are 37km west of Kampot on National Route 3. The drive from the base to the top takes 30-45 minutes. See Kampot page for more.

Sihanoukville Tour Operators: Boats, Islands, Equipment Rental… 

In addition to the tour operators and dive shops, most of the hotels and guesthouses in Sihanoukville and even several of the restaurants and bars (especially the beach bars) arrange boat trips and island picnics, trips to the waterfalls, the national parks and Bokor Hill Station. Bear in mind that different operators offer different levels of expertise, types of boats, quality of equipment and service, etc. Shop around for the tour operator that best fits your requirements.