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Cut off on the island

April 27, 2019 | Michael Turtle | 31 Comments

TROPICAL ESCAPE

Rabbit Island, Kep, Cambodia

In the world these days, it seems the most isolated you can feel is when you are without the internet. No wifi with which to read your emails, no connection to check current events, no broadband to browse your bored friends and their updates on social media.

So it is that I feel isolated here on Rabbit Island… but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Rabbit Island, Kep, Cambodia

Rabbit Island is a small patch of land in the sea off the coast of southern Cambodia. From the town of Kep, it’s accessible only by boat through choppy but refreshing waters.

With only a few backpackers and a few backpacks as its cargo, the boat takes just 30 minutes to glide to the island.

There’s only one part of the island where visitors can stay – on the beach which the boats land on. Stretched along it, just metres from the sand, are dozens of small bungalows.

There are no guesthouses or hotels. The only accommodation option is a simple little shack.

There must only be about one hundred bungalows on the whole island. That means no more than two hundred people here at any one time… although I suspect it’s normally much less.

Rabbit Island, Kep, Cambodia

Rabbit Island, Kep, Cambodia

Every ten or so bungalows belong to a different owner, and each has also built a little bar or restaurant by the shoreline. They’re the only places to get anything to eat or drink – not that it’s a problem because the food is delicious and the prices reasonable.

I order crabs for lunch and, several minutes later, the boy who took my order wanders out into the water and collects some crabs from the cage floating ten metres out to sea. There’s no denying the food is fresh.

Rabbit Island, Kep, Cambodia

There isn’t really much to do except eat, drink, relax and enjoy the water. The only power on the island comes from generators – and usually only for a few hours during dinner in the evening.

There are no electronic distractions, no other places to be, no outside influences. The most exciting parts of the day tend to come from finishing a chapter of your book.

Rabbit Island, Kep, Cambodia

I decide to be slightly active one morning and go for a walk around the whole island. It takes me almost two hours… but not because it is particularly large.

It’s more because there is no obvious path or development so at times I’m forced to beat my way through bushes, clamber over rocks, or wade through a rising tide.

Rabbit Island, Kep, Cambodia

Local fishing families and their small wooden shacks are the only signs of life on the walk. Some of them are clearly out to sea, but others have the boats and nets pulled up close to the sand.

I get smiles and waves from them as I walk past… and on one occasion, a friendly point towards the path which I couldn’t quite find myself.

Rabbit Island, Kep, Cambodia

But for the most part, Rabbit Island is about doing nothing. The other tourists here seem content to lie in the sun, read a book, take a leisurely lunch, nap in a hammock, and any of the other things you might expect on a remote beach.

One hairy backpacker told me he was here to detox after a week of partying in Phnom Penh, but I don’t think that is the norm.

Rabbit Island, Kep, Cambodia

No, this is just one of those little tropical getaways where the worries of the world are left at the mainland. It’s far enough off the trail to not feel crowded.

It’s the perfect little place to get away from it all for a few days.

Cambodia Travel Guide

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CAMBODIA?

See my Cambodia Travel Guide

To help you plan your Cambodia travel:

  • Is Cambodia safe for travellers?
  • The perfect one day itinerary for Angkor from Siem Reap
  • How to have the ultimate jungle temple experience
  • The World Heritage Site that two countries are fighting over!
  • The best things to see around Battambang
  • What to expect at Phnom Penh’s Killing Fields
  • The gruesome side of ‘Genocide Tourism’ in Cambodia
  • Escape from it all on Rabbit Island
  • Staying in a local village with a community ecotourism project
  • Where you can eat tarantula (urgh!)

Let someone else do the work for you:

You may also want to consider taking a tour of Cambodia, rather than organising everything on your own. It’s also a nice way to have company if you are travelling solo.

I am a ‘Wanderer’ with G Adventures and they have great tours of Cambodia.

You could consider:

  • Cambodia Experience (9 days)
  • Essential Vietnam & Cambodia (17 days
  • National Geographic Journey: Discover Southeast Asia (18 days)

When I travel internationally, I always get insurance. It’s not worth the risk, in case there’s a medical emergency or another serious incident. I recommend you should use World Nomads for your trip.

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. Natasha von Geldern |

    March 12, 2013 at 2:30 pm

    Reply

    Sounds like absolute paradise, for a time. I never got to the coast when I was in Cambodia – obviously a mistake!

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 26, 2013 at 3:30 am

      Reply

      The coast was beautiful. And not nearly as crowded as the beaches in the neighbouring countries. I love the laidback atmosphere at places like Kep.

  2. Jade Johnston - OurOyster.com |

    March 12, 2013 at 4:06 pm

    Reply

    Sounds like a lovely get away! I didn’t make it to the coast when I was in Cambodia and now I regret it.

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 26, 2013 at 3:32 am

      Reply

      It was really peaceful. I wouldn’t have minded wifi and power. If I’d had that I would have stayed for a week!

  3. Arjen - On My Way To Freedomland |

    March 12, 2013 at 7:11 pm

    Reply

    hhmmm…I get totally relaxed by reading this. When I was in Cambodia I went to sihanoukville to chill out for a couple of days but this sounds like a much better option.

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 26, 2013 at 3:33 am

      Reply

      Sihanoukville is nothing like Rabbit Island. If you want to party, go to the big town. If you just want to relax and enjoy a peaceful environment, this is the place!

  4. TammyOnTheMove |

    March 12, 2013 at 11:07 pm

    Reply

    Love love love Rabbit Island. That’s how I imagine the Thai Islands used to be about 10-15 years ago.

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 26, 2013 at 3:33 am

      Reply

      Oh, I hope Rabbit Island doesn’t become like the Thai islands. I’ve got no problem with them but I like to think there are small places like this where you can escape the mayhem!

  5. Andrew |

    March 13, 2013 at 6:55 am

    Reply

    The idea of a tropical island away from everything including the Net could be really nice. Time to read and time to think would be really great, especially a warm place.
    Not sure I could do it for very long, I tend to be a city person. I need people around, just a quiet oasis among them.

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 26, 2013 at 3:36 am

      Reply

      Yeah, I’m the same, I get a bit antsy. I don’t mind being away from the net and civilisation and all that… but I like the ability to check in occasionally and just make sure there’s nothing urgent to deal with.

  6. Dale |

    March 13, 2013 at 3:43 pm

    Reply

    I always love the idea of going to the beach & taking it easy reading, swimming, sipping cocktails & eating fresher-than-fresh fish, but when every I get to a white powder sand beach I get so unbelievably bored after 30 minutes. The same for Franca. I don’t know what it is. Maybe we just don’t know how to relax. Maybe it’s just not our type of relaxation?

    I don’t know, either way it looks like you had a nice time and a much deserved break.

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 26, 2013 at 3:39 am

      Reply

      I don’t mind relaxing, in the sense of not doing much. But I’m with you – I get bored pretty quickly with just lying in the sun. A good book can help but ultimately I want to explore things!

  7. Jennifer |

    March 14, 2013 at 3:13 am

    Reply

    Sounds lovely and just my kind of place!

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 26, 2013 at 3:41 am

      Reply

      I’m sure you would love it!

  8. Lillie - @WorldLillie |

    March 18, 2013 at 2:26 am

    Reply

    This is making me miss the best parts of Southeast Asia!

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 26, 2013 at 3:58 am

      Reply

      Awww… don’t be like that. I’m sure you’ll be back here soon enough! 😉

  9. Cam @ Traveling Canucks |

    March 23, 2013 at 12:46 pm

    Reply

    Looks wonderful! I love places that force you to disconnect and take a deep breath.

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 26, 2013 at 6:16 pm

      Reply

      Yeah, but disconnecting is something I’m not entirely comfortable with! 🙂

  10. Laura @Travelocafe |

    March 26, 2013 at 10:40 am

    Reply

    Rabbit Island! You find so many interesting places!

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 26, 2013 at 6:20 pm

      Reply

      Didn’t find any rabbits, though. Probably for the best 🙂

  11. The GypsyNesters |

    April 8, 2013 at 1:17 am

    Reply

    Wow! Love the idea of crabs coming straight out of the water. What a find.

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 16, 2013 at 10:34 pm

      Reply

      Oh my gosh – and they tasted so good!!

  12. Michel |

    June 4, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    Reply

    Funny. We just missed each other by a couple of days. 🙂

    I am doing an internship in Phnom Penh and with all of these public holidays here I was able to escape the buzzling city for a couple of days. As I just read your text about Sihanoukville, you can imagine why I choose to go to Koh Tonsay or Rabbit Island (as tourists call it).

    I just think it’s great there. Hanging around in a hammock and some wandering around the island. Usually the beach dogs keep followi8ng you within their territory, which is quite funny. And having a huge gecko in the bamboo hut is quite special – even when he shits on your backpack. After a can of cold beer at sunset, the moon comes out and bats emerge in the sky.

    When I arrived there were only 3 (!) foreign people at the beach. I loved it. But now in the low-season you better rent a private boat, as I met people who waited 1 day to go back to Kep. So they were pretty stuck. Also some jellyfish action was on one day. But they diasappered as the burning did the next one.

    Anyway. – Write on.

    • Michael Turtle |

      June 23, 2013 at 12:40 am

      Reply

      What a pity we missed each other. I MUCH preferred Kep and Rabbit Island to Sihanoukville. The crowds were a bit too much for me but the quiet beach with the hammocks was really relaxing.

  13. Mike Petersen |

    August 28, 2013 at 7:01 pm

    Reply

    Look like heaven on earth. After reaching the island you will forget all your tensions easily. I just want to know more about this island. How can we go there? Is there any danger of Cambodian rebels?. Can we rent or purchase hammocks there?

    • Michael Turtle |

      August 29, 2013 at 4:25 am

      Reply

      You can get to Rabbit Island by boat from the town of Kep. It doesn’t take too long at all and you can easily arrange accommodation beforehand or when you get there. I’m not sure what you mean by ‘Cambodian rebels’ but it’s all very safe.

  14. Rachel |

    February 10, 2014 at 3:57 pm

    Reply

    I am about to travel to Cambodia and am planning to go to Kep. I am so glad that you’ve confirmed what I thought- that it is a real escape, tranquil and almost untarnished by people! Did you need to bring your own mat and sleeping bag for the huts?

    • Michael Turtle |

      February 10, 2014 at 4:35 pm

      Reply

      It’s so peaceful – the perfect place to get away from everything! And, no, you don’t need to take any sleeping equipment for you. There are a few different types of huts you can stay in but they all have bedding.

  15. thonmey |

    November 20, 2014 at 2:43 am

    Reply

    Retaining the theme by Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker

    As successful furniture shop in Cambodia construction materials informed, visual consistency plays an important role when a kitchen is designed to become an addition to the adjacent living environment as the pictured kitchen portrays by architects Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker.
    The duo duplicate the traditional millwork found throughout the house. “We also replicated the crown moulding, base boards and the casing around the doors,” said Hacker. “But we invented the rest of the vocabulary of the woodwork. The island and sink cabinet, for example, feature a classical column design, which is a homage to renowned English architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.”
    Other key features include retro pieces that enhance the traditional theme of the design such as a custom steel hood and cabinet brackets in antiqued patina. A walk-in pantry and a large butler’s pantry were also added.

  16. Pierre-Camille VERNET |

    February 9, 2019 at 6:08 am

    Reply

    Nous sommes 3 adultes avons besoin de 2 chambres du 17 au 22 fevrier ma femme est enceinte et avons besoin de nous reposer . merci de me faire des propositions.
    cordialement

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This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

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