Yes, you can do Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay) as a day trip from Kampot. Take a tuk-tuk to the boat pier at Kep, about 35–45 minutes away, then a 20–30 minute boat ride. Scheduled boats have usually left Kep around 9am and 1pm and come back around 3–4pm, for roughly $6–10 return; a private boat costs around $25–30. Times and fares change, so check at the pier. Expect a simple, rustic island with a sandy beach, seafood shacks and hammocks, not a resort.
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Rabbit Island at a glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Koh Tonsay, usually translated as Rabbit Island |
| Where | About 4–4.5 km off Kep, in the Gulf of Thailand; part of Kep province |
| Size | About 2 km², small enough to walk around |
| Boat from Kep | About 20–30 minutes |
| From Kampot | Allow about 1.5 hours door to beach, including the tuk-tuk, buying tickets and the boat |
| On the island | Family-run guesthouses and restaurants, mainly on the main beach |
Getting there from Kampot
Step 1: tuk-tuk from Kampot to the Kep pier
Kep is about 25 km from Kampot, 35–45 minutes by tuk-tuk on a flat road past the salt fields. Boats to the island leave from the pier on the Kep waterfront, where there is a Koh Tonsay boat ticket office. Aim to arrive about 30 minutes before a scheduled boat to buy a ticket and get a seat. For fares from Kampot, see Kampot to Kep by tuk-tuk and our Kampot tuk-tuk prices.
Step 2: the boat
| Boat | Approximate price | Times |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled boat | About $6–10 per person, return | Out around 9am and 1pm; back around 3pm or 4pm |
| Private boat | About $25–30 per boat, return, for up to about 6 people | When you choose; arrange at the ticket office |
These figures come from guidebooks and traveller reports of the last few years, and they don't all agree. Check the current schedule and fare at the pier or with your guesthouse; tickets can also be booked online through some Cambodian transport booking sites. Keep your return ticket safe and confirm the time of your boat back before you leave the pier.
The sea: the crossing is short, but it can be choppy, especially in the rainy season (roughly May to October). Look at the boat before you board, ask for a life jacket, and keep your phone in a dry bag. If the weather turns, boats may be delayed or not run.
What's on Rabbit Island
- The main beach. Fine sand and clear, shallow water that slopes gently, which makes it good for children. It's lined with simple restaurant shacks and guesthouses. It's narrower and less dazzling than the beaches of Koh Rong, so adjust your expectations.
- Seafood lunch. Most guesthouses serve lunch, mainly fish and seafood, at reasonable prices.
- Hammocks and lazy hours. Hammock huts for napping, inner tubes to rent for floating, and massages on offer.
- Snorkelling and boat trips, arranged through the guesthouses.
- A walk around the island. A path through the forest leads to quieter beaches where fishing families live. A few hours is enough to see most of it.
The honest downsides: some beaches and guesthouses have a litter problem, especially after busy weekends. Watch the tides, and look out for the occasional jellyfish. Accommodation is basic, and electricity has often been reported as limited to a few generator hours in the evening; that only matters if you stay the night.
A little history: in the 1950s and 60s, under Prince Sihanouk's government, the island held a rehabilitation centre for convicted criminals, and wooden hotels were built here. Little of that survives. In 2019 a private company was given a 50-year concession for a large resort project on the island, and construction reportedly began in 2021; a visitor report from 2024 still described the island as untouched by major projects. Things may have changed by the time you go.
Planning the day from Kampot
Plan A: a full beach day
- About 7:45 Tuk-tuk pickup in Kampot.
- About 8:30 Kep pier: buy tickets.
- About 9:00 Boat to the island.
- Morning to mid-afternoon Beach, lunch, a walk around the island.
- About 15:00–16:00 Boat back to Kep, where your tuk-tuk meets you.
- Late afternoon The salt fields on the way back, in the best light (workers are out from about January to May).
- Around 17:30 Back in Kampot.
Plan B: crab lunch, then the island
- Morning La Plantation (opens at 9am) and Secret Lake next door, or simply a slow ride to Kep.
- Around 12:00 Lunch at the Kep crab market.
- About 13:00 Boat to the island.
- About 16:00 Boat back, then the salt fields and Kampot by about 18:00.
Plan B only works if the last scheduled boat back is at 4pm. If it's at 3pm, you'd get barely an hour and a half on the island, so check first, or take a private boat.
Combining the island with a tuk-tuk day
Rabbit Island takes most of a day, so it doesn't fit alongside the full Kampot countryside loop. What does work is a tuk-tuk for the bookends: a ride down to Kep with a stop or two, a drop at the pier, and a pickup for the ride home with the salt fields at golden hour. Agree with your driver in advance whether they wait in Kep or come back for you, and which boat you're aiming to catch.
If you have more time, there's a gentler option: spend a night on the island or in Kep, and do the countryside stops on the way back the next day. Our Kampot countryside guide explains the stops.
Is it worth it?
If you want a lazy, low-key beach day with fresh seafood and no nightlife, yes, and it's cheap. If you're expecting powder-white sand, smart beach clubs or perfectly clean beaches, you may be disappointed. With only one or two days in Kampot, most people get more from the countryside and the crab market; with three or more, the island is a good change of pace.
Bring: cash in small notes, sun cream, a hat, water, swimwear and a dry bag.
Ride with Seth
The boat isn't part of Seth's set tours, but his custom day can be planned around it: the ride to the Kep pier, stops on the way and the trip home. For the crab market and countryside without the island, see the Kampot & Kep Full Day. Seth was born in Kampot and has guided for 12 years. Tell him which boat you're aiming for and message Seth for a fixed quote on WhatsApp.
FAQ
How do I get to Rabbit Island from Kampot?
Take a tuk-tuk to the Kep pier (about 35–45 minutes to Kep), then a boat for 20–30 minutes. Allow roughly 1.5 hours door to beach.
How much is the boat to Rabbit Island?
Around $6–10 return per person on the scheduled boat, or about $25–30 return for a private boat. Prices change, so check at the pier.
What time do boats leave Kep for Rabbit Island?
Scheduled boats have usually left around 9am and 1pm, coming back around 3pm or 4pm. Confirm the current times at the ticket office.
Can you stay overnight on Rabbit Island?
Yes, in simple family-run guesthouses on the main beach. Expect basic rooms and limited electricity.
Is Rabbit Island worth a day trip from Kampot?
For a quiet, rustic beach day, yes. On a short stay in Kampot, the countryside and the Kep crab market usually come first.
