Southern Cambodian Coast

Fast becoming one of the hottest tourist destinations in Southeast Asia is Cambodia. After years of being torn by civil war and an isolationist government policy, Cambodia has now emerged into a must—see destination for travelers who want to experience the real Asia.

Cambodia has a lot more to offer than the majestic Angkor Wat ruins. For those who fancy a few days of relaxation, away from the well—worn tourist trail, the place to go is the country’s beautiful southern coast, which straddles the Gulf of Thailand. Filled with sandy beaches and interesting landmarks, the coast is still at its infancy with regard to commercial tourism, which has resulted in a very laid—back beach scene.

A Cambodian Town

The small town of Kampot, a mere five kilometers from the sea, is home to a number of charming guesthouses, resorts, restaurants and casinos.

Once the premier holiday spot for the French colonialists, ’La Perle de la Cote d’ Agathe’ is dotted by beautiful islands and islets. One of these picturesque islands once belonged to King Sihanouk, where many days of Royal revelry no doubt must have occurred. The Kampot region is also famous for its durian farms — the infamous smelly fruit with a custard—like pulp. Gourmands will also love this region as it purportedly has the best seafood in the whole country, with amazingly cheap but delicious crab buffets found all over town.

Returning to King Sihanouk, the southern coast is also the location of ’Sihanoukville’, or Kompong Som. This maritime port, the first deep—water port in the country, is easily accessible from the capital of Phnom Penh. Beach bums will be in heaven as the area has a large concentration of pretty palm—fringed beaches — some of them completely deserted giving one the feeling as if they were marooned in some exotic island.

The most popular beaches are the Occheuteal, Independence, Sokha, and Victory beaches. These spots are good jumping—off points for those wanting to island—hop, scuba dive, snorkel, or fish. A trip to Sihanoukville of course, is not complete without digging into a seafood feast at one of the many beachside restaurants, or simply watching the dramatic sunset with an ice—cold beer in hand.

Bokor Hill Station

Another place not to be missed in Cambodia’s southern coast is the Bokor Hill Station. Located in the Elephant Mountains, it was established by the French elite in the 1920’s as a summer retreat to escape the heat of the lowlands. The area is situated just 1,000 meters from the foot of the mountain and is famous for its pleasant, cool climate and peaceful surroundings. The Bokor Hill Station is sprinkled with old colonial buildings that were previously hotels, casinos, even Catholic churches, as well as attractive residences of French nationals — now abandoned.

Visitors can wander around these old, moss—covered structures and soak in the history of Cambodia’s colonial past. Nature lovers, on the other hand, can bask in the breathtaking vistas of the coastline and the jungle — which is home to monkeys, wild elephants and other exotic animals. The area has recently been declared a National Park to protect these historical monuments as well as the jungle habitat of these creatures.