If you’ve been craving a slow escape — the kind that doesn’t demand much but gives you everything in return — this read is for you. This is a story for anyone who wants to step away from the noise, slow down, and let the days flow differently for a while.
For the past six months, I’ve been working over 10 hours a day, seven days a week — planning, building, and executing nonstop. And truthfully, I loved it. Watching things slowly take shape, stabilizing, and seeing my goals inch closer gave me purpose and momentum. But even with the occasional day off, fatigue had been quietly catching up to me. I could feel it in my body, in the way my mornings started slower, my evenings ended heavier. Deep down, I knew — this wasn’t just about needing a break. It was about choosing one before I completely burnt out.
So, I add in more hours to finish all the backlog, packed a small bag, turned off the work notifications, and took a trip — not to escape, but to breathe. From Phnom Penh to Koh Rong, then to the quieter shores of Koh Rong Samloem, and finally into the gentle stillness of Kampot.
This won’t be a story full of packed schedules or back-to-back activities. It’s a journey defined by a complete change of pace — where time felt slower, the pressure lighter, and I gave myself permission to simply be.
Let’s Go……
Day 1 – The Long Ride, the Blue Sea, and a Familiar Kind of Peace
There were four of us on this trip — a mix of familiar faces and personalities that made the journey feel both lively and grounding. One of them, in particular, had this uncanny ability to be both wildly chaotic and strangely comforting — often in the span of a single conversation. It kept things interesting, to say the least.
We boarded the VET Air Bus First Class at 9AM from the Cannon Rifle Roundabout station, their main branch in Phnom Penh. If you’re wondering — yes, we went with their premium service. It cost a few dollars more, but it was absolutely worth it. I’m the kind of person who usually hates long-distance travel — there’s just something about it that drains me so usually I just slept through it. From the moment we got on board, I felt… great. If you are wondering, then yes I am hooked to these seats since I first tried it to Siem Reap.
Upon arriving at their Sihanoukville branch, we were picked up by a small transfer van — provided free of charge by Vireak Buntham — that took us straight to the pier. A surprisingly nice touch. We grabbed lunch and coffee nearby and waited around 45 minutes for our boat.
Andd…another hour and a half later, we docked at Koh Rong.
At the pier, we met a cheerful and talkative tuk-tuk driver who offered to take us to our accommodation. Along the 25-minute ride from Royal Beach Pier, he pointed out local spots, hidden paths, and random fun facts about the island — the kind of guide you don’t expect but instantly appreciate.
By the time we reached our place, the fresh island air and the steady sound of waves had already started to work their magic. I checked in, dropped my bags, and practically ran to the beach.
And here’s a hill I’ll die on: Koh Rong still has one of the best beaches in the world. Soft sand, insanely blue water, and just the right amount of breeze. We spent nearly two hours in the sea — doing everything and nothing at all. Floating. Splashing. Laughing. Letting it all wash off.
We ended the day with a beachfront barbecue: grilled beef, fresh seafood, and that kind of full-body tiredness that only comes from sunshine, salt water, and freedom.
Day 2 – A Calm Ride, a Cold Waterfall, and the Chillest Dog Alive
We started late. It was already 9AM before we even left the resort and made our way toward Koh Toch Village. Riding slowly through the island on our rented motorbike was… honestly indescribable. It was one of those feelings you immediately recognize but can’t quite put into words — a stillness that settles into you without asking.
The ride took around 45 minutes, winding through patches of rain and sun. We stopped in the small village to grab a few drinks and rehydrate — yes, it was hot, even though it had rained just a little earlier. We rested for a bit, snapped some photos, and casually discussed our next move.
We’d all been on fishing boats before — and we’d seen plenty of them docked and out at sea. So, this time, we agreed to do something a little different. “Let’s go hiking,” someone said. “Even though we’re at the sea.”
Dare I said “Don’t ask why, ask why not.”
We pulled out a map and found a place marked Prek Svay Waterfall. It wasn’t hard to locate, especially with a few friendly directions from the locals. The road there wasn’t the smoothest, but it was manageable — and there were signs along the way, which helped. After a bumpy ride, we reached the entrance and continued on foot. From the parking area, it was about a 15-minute walk.
The waterfall itself was small, but peaceful. The water was crystal clear and cold, surrounded by tall trees and the kind of quiet you rarely get in the city. We sat, spaced out, chatted, took a few photos — and yes, a special shoutout to Rith and Ny, who left their names carved into a tree (as one does). We stayed there for about an hour, just letting the moment be what it was, before realizing we’d completely missed lunch… and it was already 2PM.
We headed back and decided to split up — two of us went to grab food from Koh Toch village, while the other two started prepping for dinner at our place. Somewhere in between that errand, I found myself weirdly attached to a dog. My friend told me not to obsess over it, but come on — the guy had literally been sleeping in the middle of the road since morning and was still there when I passed by again in the evening. He didn’t even move an inch when we drive close.
At one point, we came up with a slogan that felt weirdly perfect:
“I hope my life was as chill as the dogs here.”
No plans. No stress. Just sun, naps, and not a care in the world.
We gather up and had dinner, and talked a bit on whether we should sleep or just wait until 4AM and shower. Well sadly, we ended the night early — tired in that good way — not because we knew we had to catch a morning boat to Koh Rong Sanloem the next day but one of us someone was already in a deep sleep when we are all done with showering.
Day 3 – A Boat Full of Surprises, Off-Road Detours, and a Climb to the Sky
The alarm went off at 4:30AM. We had to be at the pier by 6:00, which meant getting up in the dark, scrambling through our morning routine, and hopping on a tuk-tuk with just enough chill in the air to make us forget we were on an island. A tuk-tuk ride full of people who were never early to work.
When we got to the pier, we realized we weren’t just catching any boat — our accommodation had booked us a logistics boat to get from Koh Rong to Koh Rong Samloem – we were the extras. Kinda angry since it is not ideal, but apologies accepted since it was amusing. Before passengers could even think about boarding, they had to load up supplies. We stood around watching three men very seriously try to get a big motorbike onto the boat using a thin flat log. It was half comedy, half miracle.
Luckily, the ride wasn’t long — and in no time, we docked at Koh Rong Samloem.
Just when we thought our last stay had excellent service, One Beach Resort raised the bar. From the moment we arrived, it felt seamless — warm greetings, a pick-up from the pier, and a refreshing welcome drink. While we sat ordering breakfast, our luggage had already made its way to our room. That kind of service. We flipped through their activity catalog while sipping coffee. We wanted to do everything but we were too tired so we decided to rest for a few hours first.
After our break, we rented a UTV to head toward the lighthouse. But halfway there, we were blocked with a huge fallen tree cut across the path. To our surprise, the resort not only didn’t charge us for the failed trip, they also arranged an ATV quad bike and rerouted us via a short boat ride to start from the opposite side.
It was my first time driving a quad bike, and honestly? Not that different from riding an electric bicycle. At one point, we fell into a roadside ditch — a small accident, no injuries. Just a lot of laughter, a few bruised egos, and dirt-smeared legs. The ride itself was fun. Fast, bumpy, loud. We joked around, shouted nonsense over the wind, and then, right before the final stretch, was informed that we had a 600-meter uphill hike ahead. No backing out now!!
At the top, we met the lighthouse watcher — a kind man who handed us coconuts and even boiled water so we could rehydrate. The view from the mountain alone was breathtaking. But when we climbed to the very top of the lighthouse, it felt like we were touching the sky. From up there, Sihanoukville looked like it was just a breath away. Everything felt wider, clearer, more possible.
For a moment, I genuinely wished we could camp up there. Stay for the stars and the moon. But it wasn’t allowed — so we descended and wrapped up the afternoon with a few rounds on the beach, salt on our skin and wind in our hair.
Back at the resort, we started planning the night — maybe cards, a few drinks, some Netflix. Classic. But of course, one of us once again fell asleep before 9PM. Some traditions are just too strong.
And now, somehow, the island part of this trip was already coming to a close. But how do you even begin to wrap up a peaceful vacation like this?
Well… you don’t. Remembered that Kampot is well-known for its relaxed atmosphere. So yep…another 2-hour ferry ride. This time, directly from Koh Rong Samloem to Kampot.
Day 4 – Ending with Kampot: Doing Nothing, Beautifully
With our ferry scheduled for 2PM, the morning moved at its own slow pace. We had brunch at 10:30, then drifted back to the room to rest again — because why not? At noon, we checked out and made our way to the pier to wait for the ferry.
Two hours later, we arrived at Kampot New Port, hopped into a tuk-tuk, and made our way to our final stop on this trip.
Kampot — the town known for doing absolutely nothing, beautifully.
And we beautifully did absolutely nothing on the first few hours of arriving.
We caved in our rooms the moment we arrived, barely moving until 7PM, when we finally agreed it was time for dinner. A quick disclaimer to the quote: it is because Kampot is one of the most relaxing cities in Cambodia. It doesn’t ask anything from you — and you gladly give it all your time.
After dinner, we wandered down the riverside, grabbed ice cream and cake, and picked up snacks and drinks for the night. The plan was simple: stay in, put on a movie, and munch until we knew it is time we split up and get some sleep.
With our return bus to Phnom Penh scheduled for 4PM, we gave ourselves full permission to sleep in — again beautifully so. Around late morning, we went to our targeted a local restaurant near Old Kampot Market that served one of the best breakfasts in the city. Big portions, delicious. Just what we needed.
Back at our accommodation, we packed up and dropped our bags at the Vireak Buntham Kampot branch, giving us the rest of the afternoon to roam freely.
Kampot is full of small, hidden cafes — many of which we unfortunately didn’t get to explore. But we did manage to pick up a famous tiramisu from a little shop right in front of Starbucks Kampot. From there, we followed a short café-hopping trail based on places we’d bookmarked on social media. No regrets. We ate and drank everything we could get our hands on — iced coffees, cakes, pastries, juices — as if the entire trip was training us for this moment.
It was the perfect ending to a trip that never tried to impress — just to slow us down. I wasn’t sure of the title, the schedule was jumping from places to places. We felt like we were talking it slowly, and yet after I wrote it, it felt fast too?