Getting lucky in Koh Ta Kiev, Cambodia

by couplertw · Published April 1, 2017 · Updated April 2, 2017

Koh Ta Kiev (sometimes Koh Tar Kev) is an island in the gulf of Thailand just a few kilometers off the coast of Sihanoukville. Although relatively big, it seems to be completely frozen in time and an eternity away from Sihanoukville, Koh Rong and even further away from close by Thailand. How did we end up there? And why did we got lucky?

We didn’t want to go to Koh Ta Kiev, we wanted to go to Bamboo island (Koh Russei)! After asking around we found a day tour right from serendipity beach to Koh Russei. GREAT! It looked tailor-made for us! We walked around Sihanoukville returned by the end of the day to buy the tickets…

Yeah… The “tour” isn’t exactly what we were sold in the first place (Now, I wonder if it was the same tour at all). The boat goes to Koh Ta Kiev and then we need to get another boat to Bamboo Island… This was an open ticket, meaning we could stay in Koh Ta Kiev and return in another day. We didn’t like it, It wasn’t what we were told initially, but we went with it anyway. After all, we would be able to see 2 islands for the price of one 🙂 . Also, we heard somewhere that Koh Ta Kiev was OK.

Again, the tour wasn’t exactly what we were told initially. It’s a 3 island tour! Hopefully it will stop in Koh Ta Kiev as sold, so we could get to Bamboo Island. We now understand that’s an actual tour (not just a ferry) with snorkeling in Koh Preus, lunch and swim in Koh Ta Kiev and then snorkeling again in Koh Tres…

Snorkeling in Koh Preus

Snorkeling by Koh Preus was fun! We are starting to really enjoy this snorkeling thing! But then again, how can we not enjoy warm and clear water, swimming right from the boat and enjoying the view underwater, full of plants, coral and fishes… It’s a 3D, colorful whole new world to discover! We found that the water wasn’t as clear as in Phi Phi Islands, but there was a bigger variety of fishes. These were 30 to 40 minutes really well spent! In other countries it would be worth the price by itself.

Koh Ta Kiev

The second stop was Koh Ta Kiev and the crew told us that we should get accommodation for the night right after we stop and then return for the free lunch! While arriving to Koh Ta Kiev we notice the long yellow sandy beach! As we approach things look even better the water is clean and pristine… When we jump to the water we feel it is warm and the sand is soft, really soft… Koh Ta Kiev beach was very close to perfect!

We liked it so much we ended up staying for 2 nights (instead of one), despite not being possible to go to Bamboo island! Our bungalow in Nak’s Shack was completely no-frills, only a bed with mosquito net, but it was in front of the almost desert beach, our beach! No internet, electricity only for a few hours at night. We got lucky in Koh Ta Kiev! Even without realizing we found exactly what we were looking for: a stress free beach, with few people where we could rest and enjoy ourselves. These were the best beach days we have ever spent. Paradise is a bungalow by the beach in Koh Ta Kiev.

Snorkeling in Koh Tres

After the 2 days in paradise we got back and finished the tour. The last stop of the tour was snorkeling in Koh Tres. It was pleasant and fun, but not as good as the first. Anyway, after Koh ta Kiev and everything we got on the trip it really didn’t matter 🙂

We got lucky, really luck! Nothing seemed to be as it was supposed, but in the end we found what we were searching for a long time in South East Asia: The perfect place to relax by the beach.