Koh Tonsay, which translates loosely as Rabbit Island, is a small sandy island off the south coast of Cambodia.
The nearest town on land is Kep. It is justifiably popular with tourists as it boasts a very long, shallow slope off the beaches, making it better for swimming than on mainland beaches.
The water here tends to be surprisingly clear and calm, which makes it for ideal snorkeling, even if there isn’t a huge variety of fish and there is very little coral.
The entire island is only two square kilometers, though it features two bungalows for those who wish to stay overnight. Reservations are not usually required, despite the island’s popularity, since touts from both hotels will greet visitors on the Kep mainland and book them into rooms usually before they have set foot on the ferry.
Wild horses live in the island’s interior and only seven families call Koh Tonsay home. This peaceful set up makes it ideal for travelers in search of quiet and relaxation; it is not really a party island and backpackers in search of some fun in the sun would probably be advised to look elsewhere, though holiday weekends on the island can get pretty wild (and less serene) with many Cambodians and Phnom Penh expats taking over the rooms on the island.
Getting There
Catch a bus to Kep from Phnom Penh (2-3 hours). Ferries from Kep take around 30 minutes to 1 hour and run during daylight hours for US$5 in each direction.
Need to Know
- What is it? A popular island off the southern coast of Cambodia.
- Opening hours: 24 hours, daily but ferry services run during daylight hours only.
- Entrance fees: no admission charge.
- Where: off the southern coast of Cambodia, near the port town of Kep.