Coastal Mangroves & Karst of Kampot

Where the Kampot river basin meets the karst hills of Kep, brackish estuary and limestone cave habitats sit within a few kilometres of each other — a compact but ecologically varied coastal module.

Target fauna: coastal Libellulidae (mangrove dragonflies), cave-dwelling crickets and arachnids, and estuarine cicadas.

Day 1 — Estuary Arrival & Coastal Orientation

Transfer from Phnom Penh to a luxury riverside eco-resort in Kampot. Twilight walk along mangrove boardwalks — estuarine insect adaptations and bioluminescent firefly displays over brackish water.

Day 2 — Limestone Karst Caves & Cryptic Fauna

Trek into the limestone caves around Kampot — troglobitic (cave-adapted) insects, whip spiders (Amblypygi), and specialised wall-dwelling arthropods, shifting to the surrounding forest loop in the afternoon.

Day 3 — Kep Mountain Ridge Trail

The coastal hill forests of Kep National Park — butterflies navigating ocean breezes, hill-topping insect behaviour, and macro-photography of tree-dwelling mantids.

Day 4 — Salt-Marsh Flight Windows & Departure

Early-morning marshland session mapping dawn-active coastal odonata, then handover back to Phnom Penh or onward to Sihanoukville.