Kbal Chhay Waterfall

Kbal Chhay is a set of waterfalls where the river divides around rock outcrops and drops in several channels into pools below, set in forest a short drive north of Sihanoukville, and it is a domestic destination first: Cambodian families come at weekends to picnic on bamboo platforms, swim in the shallows and eat from the food stalls, and the whole site is set up for that with walkways, bridges and vendors. The falls became widely known after appearing in a Cambodian film in the 1990s. Volume varies sharply with season, strong after the rains and reduced to trickles by March. It is the standard escape from Sihanoukville and easily reached, which is most of its appeal.

What you actually see

• The split channels - the river dividing around rock into several falls.
• Picnic platforms - bamboo decks and stalls along the banks.
• Swimming pools - shallow basins below the drops.
• Weekend crowds - Cambodian families filling the site.

When to go

September to January, after the rains, when the falls have volume; by March and April they are much reduced. Weekdays are far quieter than weekends and holidays, when it is packed.

Honest expectations

It is a developed picnic site rather than a natural retreat, with stalls, music and litter at busy times. Flow is weak in the late dry season. Swimming areas are shallow and unsupervised. Entry and parking are charged separately.

Nearby

Sihanoukville lies south; Ream National Park is southeast.