Coast & Islands

From Phnom Penh's rooftops to the pristine islands of Koh Rong and the...

From Phnom Penh's rooftops to the pristine islands of Koh Rong and the pepper farms of Kampot.

A Wine Memories curated trail · winememories.fi

5 experiences 🇰🇭 Cambodia easy 3 days

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Stops

Curated by Wine Memories

  1. 1
    🍷

    Phnom Penh Rooftop Wine Scene

    Cambodia's capital has a surprising upscale wine scene. Eclipse Sky Bar and Sora Skybar offer wine with views of the Mekong and city lights.

    wine_bar $$
  2. 2
    🗺️

    Killing Fields Wine Reflection

    Visit Choeung Ek Killing Fields and S-21 Tuol Sleng. The sobering history of the Khmer Rouge demands wine reflection after. Process what you've witnessed.

    tour $$
  3. 3
    ⛰️

    Koh Rong Sunset Wine Beach

    Cambodia's party island has spectacular sunsets. Long Beach on the west coast has the best views and beach bars serving wine as the sky turns gold.

    adventure $
  4. 4
    ⛰️

    Koh Rong Samloem Lazy Wine Days

    The quiet sister island to Koh Rong. Lazy Beach and Saracen Bay offer pristine turquoise water and hammock wine sessions.

    adventure $
  5. 5
    🍷

    Kampot Pepper & Wine Pairing

    Kampot pepper is world-famous. Tour the pepper farms, then pair the different varieties with wine at the colonial-era riverfront town.

    tasting $

Plan the trip

Getting there and around

Car required
No
Nearest airport
Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) - start point. Or Sihanoukville (KOS) direct to coast.
Drinking and driving
PassApp everywhere on the mainland. On islands, everything is walking distance from accommodation. Never ride scooters after drinking.
Other airports
  • Sihanoukville Airport (KOS) if skipping Phnom Penh - direct flights from KL, Singapore
Without a car
Giant Ibis buses connect all cities (best quality, WiFi, snacks). Ferries to islands from Sihanoukville. PassApp for city transport. Scooters available but not needed.

Where to stay

Base yourself in
Multiple bases: PP (1-2 nights), Koh Rong (2-3 nights), Kampot (2 nights)
Why there
This trail covers the whole coast - you need to move. Pack light.
Booking tip
Phnom Penh walk-in OK. Island high season (Dec-Mar) book 1-2 weeks ahead. Kampot book weekends ahead.
Nightly range
$8-250/night depending on location
Peak season
Christmas/New Year period: island accommodation books out, prices 2-3x. Kampot Water Festival (November) needs advance booking.

Recommended stays

Shoestring
PP: Eighty8 Backpackers ($8), Koh Rong: Vagabonds ($10 dorm), Kampot: Monkey Republic ($6 dorm)
Wanderer
PP: Pavilion ($50-80), Koh Rong: Tree House Bungalows ($40), Kampot: Rikitikitavi ($50-70)
Flashpacker
PP: Rosewood ($200), Koh Rong Samloem: Song Saa Private Island ($600+), Kampot: Knai Bang Chatt ($100-150)

What it costs

Includes
Accommodation, transport between cities, food, some activities
Wine prices
Stock up in Phnom Penh! Celliers d'Asie wine shop near Russian Market has good selection. Islands have minimal wine and huge markup. Kampot has decent wine scene for Cambodia.
Meals
Street food $2-4, mid-range $6-12, PP rooftop dinner $25-40, island restaurant $10-20
Per person
Dirtbag: $30-50/day | Wanderer: $60-100/day | Flashpacker: $150-300/day
Ways to spend less
  • Buy wine at Phnom Penh duty free or Lucky supermarket before islands - 3x cheaper
  • Giant Ibis buses are worth the extra $3-5 for comfort and reliability
  • Haggle ferry prices at the port, not online
  • Kampot is significantly cheaper than islands for food and drink

Booking and timing

Lead time
Transport: book Giant Ibis 1-2 days ahead. Ferries: 1 day ahead high season. Accommodation: varies by location.
Visas
e-Visa $36 online or VOA $30 + photo. Same as all Cambodia.
Walk-ins accepted
Yes
Closed days
Ferries run daily in dry season, may cancel in heavy rain/storms (June-September).
Peak season
December-January the coast is packed. Sihanoukville has become very Chinese tourist focused - transit through quickly.
Rainy season
May-October sees afternoon storms. Islands are quieter but some ferries cancel. Roads can flood near Kampot.

Where to eat

Wine bars
  • PP: Celliers d'Asie wine shop (buy to take)
  • PP: Eclipse Sky Bar (rooftop wines)
  • Kampot: Rikitikitavi rooftop (best wine selection on the coast)
Street food
  • Phnom Penh Central Market - morning food halls, $1-3
  • Koh Rong - limited street food, mostly restaurant based
  • Kampot riverside - seafood BBQ stalls, $3-6 per person
Restaurants
  • PP: Romdeng (social enterprise, bugs on menu, $8-15)
  • Koh Rong: Vagabonds beach BBQ (fresh seafood, $10-15)
  • Kampot: Epic Arts Cafe (social enterprise, great brunch, $5-10)

If your time is short

Do not miss
  • Phnom Penh rooftop sunset
  • Killing Fields reflection
  • Koh Rong beach sunset
If you only have one day
Not possible - this is a multi-day journey minimum
If it rains
Phnom Penh: Royal Palace and National Museum. Kampot: Pepper plantation tours run rain or shine.
Skip if time is short
  • Koh Rong Samloem if you have Koh Rong
  • Sihanoukville (transit through only)

Mistakes to avoid

  • Don't spend time in Sihanoukville - it has changed dramatically and is now mostly Chinese casino focused. Transit through to ferries.
  • Don't arrive at Killing Fields unprepared emotionally - it is heavy
  • Don't expect island wine selection - bring your own
  • Don't book the cheapest overnight buses - pay for Giant Ibis quality
  • Don't skip Kampot for more island time - the pepper and riverside scene are special

Worth stopping for

  • Phnom Penh rooftop: Eclipse or Sora for best city views at sunset
  • Koh Rong: Long Beach looking north at sunset, palm silhouettes
  • Kampot: Secret Lake sunset (hire tuk-tuk to take you)
  • Killing Fields: Be respectful - some areas prohibit photography