Major city · Cambodia
Tatai
Stop for one night if you want jungle and river without crowds; skip if you need beaches, nightlife or a full-service town.
Tatai is a tiny truck-stop village on Highway 48 in the Cardamom Mountains, 19 km east of Koh Kong. It has no bank, no ATM and a handful of guesthouses and lodges. The reason to come is the river and the jungle: boat trips, waterfalls and quiet. One night is enough for most travellers.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry season)
- avoid May–Oct (heavy rain, leeches, some lodges close)
- Airports
- KOS · PNH
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Cambodia ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra. Some nationalities can also get a visa on arrival.
- Cambodia ↗Angkor Wat and other active temples enforce a dress code: shoulders and knees covered, or you are turned away at the gate.
- Cambodia ↗US dollars are used for most tourist prices; carry clean, undamaged small notes and some riel for change under one dollar.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Tatai117 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Tatai, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?US dollars for hotels, tours and restaurants; riel (KHR, about 4,000 to the dollar) for change and small street purchases.Cambodia-wide
- SIM or eSIMSmart, Cellcard and Metfone sell tourist SIMs at the airports with passport registration; a week of data costs a few dollars.Cambodia-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Cambodia-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Round up or leave US$1–2 where no service charge is added.Cambodia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/G. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Cambodia-wide
- SafetyTatai is safe; petty crime is rare.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, restaurants and at the Angkor ticket office and main temples; squat toilets with a hose or scoop on the road.Cambodia-wide
- Emergency numbers117 police · 118 fire · 119 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany shops close for Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben; government offices close all public holidays; Angkor temples open every day.Cambodia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckKOS Sihanoukville International Airport (About 2.5 h by road; check).
- Getting aroundThe village is walkable.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Budget bedBudget guesthouse (Samphos Tatai style), a night, per roomUS$5
- Mid-range bedBudget guesthouse (Samphos Tatai style), a night, per roomUS$8
- High-end bedBudget guesthouse (Samphos Tatai style), a night, per roomUS$12
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$20 · Mid US$55 · High US$150
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- KOS Sihanoukville International Airport (About 2.5 h by road; check) · PNH Phnom Penh International Airport (About 4–5 h by road; check)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Feb
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Mar
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Apr
Best
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
May
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Nov
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Dec
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: May–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)), coolest Jan (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C) low), wettest Jul (23 rain days), driest Jan (4). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Tatai: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
4 rd
Feb
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
5 rd
Mar
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
8 rd
Apr
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
12 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
20 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
22 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
23 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
22 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
21 rd
Oct
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17 rd
Nov
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
9 rd
Dec
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
4 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The village is walkable. Lodges up or down the river provide boat transfers. For the waterfall or treks, arrange a guide or boat at your guesthouse.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 30 min
Bus or taxi on Highway 48, about 20–30 min
Border town with markets, restaurants and a riverfront.
Tatai Waterfall
goDoor to door: About 1 h round trip
Boat from the bridge, about 15 min
Best in wet season; check water levels.
Door to door: About 3 h
Bus via Highway 48, about 2.5 h
Beaches and islands; skip if you only want jungle.
Kampot
overnightDoor to door: About 3.5 h
Bus via Highway 48 and National Road 3, about 3 h
River town with pepper farms; worth a separate stay.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Near the bridge (Highway 48)
Budget guesthouses and the pick-up point for river lodges.
Up the river (Rainbow Lodge area)
Eco-bungalows, all meals included, no air con.
Down the river (4 Rivers Floating Lodge)
Luxury floating tents, meals extra, boat transfer.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- US$15–25 (dorm or basic room, self-catered)
- Mid
- US$40–70 (Rainbow Lodge, all meals)
- High
- US$130+ (4 Rivers Floating Lodge, meals extra)
Trip budget
| Eco-bungalow (Rainbow Lodge, all meals)2 × 1 night × US$40 | US$80 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$55 | US$110 |
| Boat trip (1 h, up to 4 people)1 × US$20 · check | US$20 |
| Guide for jungle trek (half day)1 × US$25 · check | US$25 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$24 |
| Trip total≈ US$130 per person per day, bed included | US$259 |
Fan only, no air con.
2026 estimate in US dollars; flights and long-distance buses excluded.
Prices of common things
| Budget guesthouse room | US$5–12 |
| Rainbow Lodge (per person, all meals) | US$30–50 |
| 4 Rivers Floating Lodge (per room) | US$115–200 |
| Boat trip (1 h, up to 4 people)check | US$20 |
| Guide for jungle trek (half day)check | US$25 |
| Bus Koh Kong → Tataicheck | US$3–5 |
| Meal at a truck-stop restaurant | US$3–6 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No bank or ATM: bring enough US dollars cash from Koh Kong or Phnom Penh.
- Electricity may be limited (some guesthouses cut power at 10 pm).
- Rainy season (May–Oct) brings leeches and muddy trails; some lodges close.
- Mosquito nets are standard; bring repellent.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 117
- Fire
- 118
- Ambulance
- 119
Pocket card
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TataiTatai
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
សូមទៅអាសយដ្ឋាននេះTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police117
- Fire118
- Ambulance119
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Koh Kong → Tatai: about US$3–5, 20–30 min (check)
- Boat from bridge to Rainbow Lodge: free with booking; otherwise about US$5 (check)
- Boat from bridge to 4 Rivers: included in room rate
Say or show
- សួស្តី — Hello (suos-dey)
- អរគុណ — Thank you (or-kun)
- ប៉ុន្មាន? — How much? (bon-maan)
- ថ្លៃពេក — Too expensive (tlai pek)
- កន្លែងណាទូក? — Where is the boat? (kon-laeng naa tuek)
US dollars are used everywhere; riel for small change.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Tatai. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season) · avoid May–Oct (heavy rain, leeches, some lodges close) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Tatai
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