Full Day City Tour with A Boat Trip to 2 Islands

Sihanoukville’s best feature is out at sea, and this seven-hour island trip gives you a full day of it. You visit a fishing village, ride a traditional boat toward Koh Chalous and Koh Takeiv, fish, snorkel, swim, and eat a beach BBQ with squid, shrimp, chicken, beef, bread, salad, and fruit. Guide Sothy has earned especially warm praise for his friendly, hands-on service and strong English.

I like the mix of sea time and local stops. You are not simply shuttled from port to beach, since the day also includes floating houses, Phsar Leu market, and Wat Leu Pagoda. I also like the generous food and drinks, with beer, soft drinks, and mineral water included rather than sold one can at a time.

The main caution is important: the word private does not always mean a private boat for just you and your party. Some departures have been small groups of six, while others had 10 to 12 people, and two recent bookings reported seeing only one island. Confirm the day’s plan before paying if both islands are essential.

Key points to know

• A traditional fishing boat sets the tone: One recent trip used a 40-foot wooden fishing vessel powered by two car engines, giving the outing a more local feel than a polished speedboat cruise.
• Fishing can become part of lunch: Fish caught at sea may be grilled along with squid, shrimp, chicken, beef, and other BBQ items.
• Koh Takeiv is the main beach reward: Expect time for swimming and rest on fine sand, with some departures finding the beach quiet and lightly visited.
• The city portion adds useful context: Floating houses, Phsar Leu market, and Wat Leu Pagoda show parts of Sihanoukville beyond the resort strip.
• Sothy is a guide to request: His name appears repeatedly in the strongest feedback, with praise for his English, care, and willingness to adjust snorkeling stops.
• This is an active day: You need to manage a boat ride, moderate walking, swimming, and snorkeling, so it is not suited to non-swimmers or people prone to seasickness.

From Port Gate 1 to Sihanoukville’s Fishing Waterfront

If you arrive by cruise ship, meet the guide outside the main port gate 1. A free shuttle bus runs from the ship to gate 1, and your guide should hold a sign with your name. That small detail matters in a port setting, where several tour vehicles may be waiting at once.

The day begins with transportation through Sihanoukville and a look at a fishing village with floating houses. This is one of the most useful parts of the outing for anyone wanting more than a beach stop. You get a glimpse of working waterfront life before heading to Otres pier for the boat.

Do not expect a long, formal city tour at this stage. The focus is on seeing the port area and local fishing life before the sea portion takes over. The visit is best understood as a short cultural introduction, not a full lesson in Cambodian coastal history.

The Wooden Boat Ride Toward Koh Chalous

At Otres pier, you board the boat for the island portion. One highly praised departure used a traditional 40-foot fishing boat with two car engines. That detail tells you what kind of outing this is: practical, local, and less polished than a resort cruise.

The boat ride is part of the experience, not merely transport. You have time to look back at the coast, settle into the pace of the day, and take in open-water views. The crew provides lifejackets, and a first-aid kit is carried on board.

Unlimited drinks are included during the boat trip. The listed choices include soft drinks, beer, and mineral water. You should still bring sunscreen, a hat, and a change of clothes, since the combination of sun, sea spray, and swimming can leave you feeling worn out by early afternoon.

The fishing stop adds a nice bit of purpose to the ride. Fishing is explained on board, and your catch may be used for the meal later. One guide even grilled the food himself, which turned the catch into a personal part of lunch rather than a forgotten activity.

Snorkeling Around Koh Chalous

Koh Chalous is planned as the snorkeling and fishing stop. Gear is supplied, though you can bring your own mask and snorkel if you prefer a familiar fit. The activity is suitable for confident swimmers, but the tour is specifically listed as unsuitable for non-swimmers.

Water conditions and visibility can change. One guide made repeated attempts to find a better snorkeling place for a participant who was having trouble seeing fish and coral. That kind of flexibility is worth having, since snorkeling is never equally good at every point around an island.

Keep your expectations sensible. This is a short island excursion rather than a specialist marine tour, and no detailed information is provided about reefs, fish species, or water depth. You may see fish and coral, but the quality depends on the day and the exact stop.

If you are uneasy in the water, tell the guide before getting in. Lifejackets are available, but you should not treat the snorkeling stop as a substitute for swimming ability. Seasickness is another concern. If boat motion affects you, bring whatever remedy you normally use and stay near the center of the boat when possible.

Koh Takeiv and the Beach BBQ

The second planned stop is Koh Takeiv, described as having a beautiful beach and clear water. This is where the schedule shifts from activity to rest. You can swim, sit on the sand, dry off, and enjoy the island setting without having to rush straight back into the boat.

Several details make this stop particularly appealing. One departure found a clean, quiet half-mile stretch of beach with very few people. Another described fine sand and exceptionally clear water. Conditions are not guaranteed, but Koh Takeiv appears to be the day’s main reward for anyone who wants a proper beach break.

Lunch is served on the beach. The menu includes squid, shrimp, chicken, beef, bread, salad, and fresh fruit, with drinks available throughout the meal. The food list is unusually generous for a boat-and-beach outing, especially at a price that already includes transportation, activities, and refreshments.

The meal also has a social side. On some departures, the guide or crew grills the food directly, including fish caught during the trip. That makes lunch feel connected to the morning’s fishing rather than like a standard catered box.

There is one practical weakness. The changing room has been described as less than ideal. Bring a towel and a change of clothes, and do not count on a spacious, comfortable place to change. Wearing swimwear under light clothing is the simplest solution.

The published timing says you leave Koh Takeiv at 1:30 p.m. and reach Otres pier at about 2:20 p.m. That leaves roughly three and a half hours for the afternoon city visits and the return to your ship by 4 p.m. Port passengers should take this timing seriously. A late departure from the beach could make the final part of the day feel rushed.

Phsar Leu Market for Small Cambodian Souvenirs

After returning to Otres pier, the route heads to Phsar Leu local market. This is the shopping stop, intended for souvenirs and a quick look at ordinary local commerce.

You should approach it as a practical market visit rather than a major sightseeing monument. Bring cash for personal purchases, and remember that personal expenses are not included in the $110 price. The tour does not specify particular products or a set amount of shopping time, so keep your expectations flexible.

I like having this stop at the end rather than at the start. You can browse after the beach portion, when you already have a feel for the area, and you do not need to carry purchases onto the boat. If shopping is not your priority, the visit may feel brief, but it gives the day a more local finish.

Wat Leu Pagoda and the View Across Town

Wat Leu Pagoda is the final sightseeing stop. It sits high enough to provide broad views over Sihanoukville, making it a useful place to understand the town’s shape after seeing it from the port and from the water.

The pagoda visit is not just a photo stop. Dress respectfully and wear comfortable shoes, since the day includes a moderate amount of walking. A hat and sunscreen are still useful here, especially after hours in the sun.

The contrast works well: fishing village first, islands in the middle, market and pagoda afterward. You see local life, coast, and town views in one day. The tradeoff is that none of these city stops receives the attention of a dedicated cultural tour.

What $110 Buys You

At $110 per person, this is not a cheap beach transfer. It is also more than a simple boat ticket. The price covers transport, the boat, an English-speaking guide, snorkeling and fishing activities, lifejackets, first-aid equipment, a cold face towel, unlimited boat drinks, a beach BBQ, the market, and Wat Leu Pagoda.

That package has real value if you plan to do all parts of the day. A separate boat trip, meal, transport from the port, and city taxi could quickly become inconvenient, even if the total price were lower. You are paying for a coordinated day and for someone to handle the port-to-pier connection.

The value is less convincing if you mainly want a quiet beach day. You could spend much of the morning on the boat, and the city visits may feel secondary after the islands. The price also deserves closer checking if you expect a private experience. The advertised wording suggests a private boat trip, but actual group sizes have ranged from six to 12 people.

Ask before booking:

• Is the boat private for your party, or shared with other people?
• Will the route include both Koh Chalous and Koh Takeiv?
• How much time is planned for snorkeling and fishing?
• Will the group return to Otres pier at the stated time?

Those questions are not nitpicking. They determine whether the tour matches your reason for booking it.

Guide Sothy and the Feel of the Day

Sothy is the guide name most closely linked with the strongest experiences. He has been described as warm, attentive, professional, and fluent in English. He also helped with grilling lunch and tried different snorkeling locations when one participant could not see fish or coral clearly.

That matters on a boat trip. A good guide can explain how fishing works, watch the group around the water, keep lunch moving, and help bridge the awkward moments that come with changing clothes or boarding a working-style boat.

The advertised guide language is English, with German available upon request. Confirm the language you need when booking. Guide quality can shape this outing more than any single beach, since weather and water visibility are outside anyone’s control.

Who Will Enjoy This Sihanoukville Day?

I would choose this for a port day when you want a broad taste of Sihanoukville rather than one narrow activity. It suits confident swimmers, couples, families with older children who meet the height requirement, and anyone who likes mixing food, scenery, local stops, and water activities.

It is especially good for people who enjoy informal outings. The boat may be a wooden fishing vessel, the changing facilities are basic, and the schedule depends on the sea. Those are not problems for the right person, but they are worth knowing in advance.

I would skip it if you are prone to seasickness, cannot swim, dislike group tours, or need fully predictable access to both islands. It is also not suitable for babies under one year or children under 90 centimeters. Food allergies are listed as a concern, so ask about the menu before booking if you have dietary restrictions.

Wear comfortable clothing and shoes, and bring swimwear, beachwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, a camera, snacks, and cash. Smoking, drugs, littering, and alcohol brought from outside are not allowed. Beer is included with the tour, so the restriction concerns prohibited behavior and outside substances, not the listed onboard drink service.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if you want a full, active introduction to Sihanoukville and you value the convenience of having the boat, meal, transport, and city visits arranged together. The strongest reasons are the traditional fishing boat, the generous BBQ, the quiet beach possibility at Koh Takeiv, and the care shown by guides such as Sothy.

Before booking, confirm the group size and island schedule in writing. That is the one point that can change the experience from a private-feeling day into a standard shared excursion. With those details clear, the tour offers good value for a cruise-port visitor who wants sea time plus a quick look at local Sihanoukville.

FAQ

Where do I meet the guide?

Meet the guide outside the main port gate 1. The guide will hold a sign with your name, and a free shuttle bus runs from the ship to gate 1.

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts seven hours. The planned return to the ship is by 4 p.m.

Which islands does the boat visit?

The planned route includes Koh Chalous for snorkeling and fishing, followed by Koh Takeiv for swimming, beach time, and lunch. Confirm both stops before booking because the route may vary.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The beach BBQ includes squid, shrimp, chicken, beef, bread, salad, and fresh fruit. Soft drinks, beer, and mineral water are also included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear is provided, and you may bring your own equipment if you prefer.

Is the tour suitable for non-swimmers?

No. The tour is listed as unsuitable for non-swimmers and people prone to seasickness. Lifejackets are provided, but swimming ability is still required.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option lets you book without paying immediately.