Koh Rong, Cambodia: travel guide
Cambodia's famous backpacker-and-beach island off Sihanoukville, with white sand, snorkelling and bioluminescent plankton.
- Country
- Cambodia
- Currency
- KHR
- Time zone
- Asia/Phnom_Penh
- Nearest airport
- KOS
Top places to visit in Koh Rong
Koh Rong Sanloem Lighthouse
Viewpoint · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h
Hilltop lighthouse on Sanloem reached by a jungle trail from Saracen Bay.
Lazy Beach (Koh Rong Sanloem)
Beach · 4.6 rating · about 2 h
Idyllic west-facing beach famed for sunsets, on Koh Rong Sanloem.
Lonely Beach
Beach · 4.6 rating · about 2.5 h
Remote far-north beach with great snorkelling and a single eco-resort.
Palm Beach
Beach · 4.1 rating · about 1.5 h
Quiet boutique-resort beach between Koh Touch and Long Set.
M'Pai Bay (Koh Rong Sanloem)
Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h
Laid-back fishing-village hamlet on northern Sanloem, popular with backpackers.
Koh Touch Beach
Beach · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h
The main pier village beach, the island's budget-and-party hub.
Sok San Beach (Long Beach)
Beach · 4.5 rating · about 2 h
7 km of near-empty white sand on the island's west side.
Sunset Beach (Koh Rong Sanloem)
Beach · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h
Tiny boulder-strewn cove on Sanloem with the best sunset on the islands.
Coconut Beach
Beach · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h
Quiet palm-backed beach near Koh Touch with mellow bungalows.
Clearwater Bay Dive Site
Nature · 4.1 rating · about 2 h
Sheltered bay with coral and clear water, a top island snorkel-and-dive spot.
Saracen Bay (Koh Rong Sanloem)
Beach · 4.0 rating · about 2 h
Crescent of turquoise water and resorts on neighbouring Koh Rong Sanloem.
Long Set Beach (4K Beach)
Beach · 4.8 rating · about 2 h
Long sweep of squeaky white sand, the island's most beautiful main beach.
Things to do
- Bioluminescent Plankton Night Swim Adventure · 2 h · from KHR 42,400 per person
- Koh Rong Island-Hopping Snorkel Tour Nature · 6 h · from KHR 76,400 per person
- Koh Rong Sanloem Day Trip Nature · 6 h · from KHR 76,400 per person
- Sunset & Fishing Boat Trip Sightseeing · 3 h · from KHR 50,900 per person
- PADI Discover Scuba Diving Adventure · 5 h · from KHR 127,000 per person
- Long Set Beach Day & Jungle Walk Adventure · 3 h · from KHR 25,500 per person
- Sunset Beach (Sanloem) Sunset Tour Sightseeing · 2.5 h · from KHR 34,000 per person
- Stand-Up Paddleboard & Kayak Hire Adventure · 2 h · from KHR 29,700 per person
Day trips and tours
- Koh Rong Island Snorkel & Beach Hop 8 h · from KHR 176,000
- Bioluminescent Night Swim & Sunset Fishing 5 h · from KHR 123,000
- Koh Rong Samloem Day — Saracen Bay & Lazy Beach 9 h · from KHR 141,000
Where to stay in Koh Rong
- Koh Touch Village & Police Beach about KHR 20 per night
The main hub of Koh Rong — ferry pier, beach bars, budget bungalows, and hostels. Police Beach is the party strip. Best for backpackers wanting nightlife, easy connections, and dive shops on the doorstep.
- Long Set / 4K Beach about KHR 70 per night
A short jungle walk or 5-min boat ride north of Koh Touch. Pristine white sand, crystal water, and only a handful of boutique resorts. Same island, entirely different atmosphere — perfect for beach purists.
- Koh Rong Samloem — Saracen Bay & Lazy Beach about KHR 100 per night
The quieter sister island. Saracen Bay has calm turquoise water and mid-range eco-resorts. Lazy Beach faces west for legendary sunsets. No motorised vehicles; absolute peace. A separate speedboat from Sihanoukville or…
Hotels
- Song Saa Private Island 5-star · USD 800 to USD 2,500 per night
- The Royal Sands Koh Rong 5-star · USD 150 to USD 400 per night
- Lazy Beach Resort 3-star · USD 70 to USD 170 per night
- The Sanctuary Villa Koh Rong Samloem 4-star · USD 90 to USD 220 per night
- Vagabonds Hostel 2-star · USD 8 to USD 30 per night
- Lonely Beach 2-star · USD 40 to USD 110 per night
Where to eat
- The Lighthouse Restaurant Cambodian, International, Seafood · about USD 9 per person
- Family Seafood BBQ Seafood, Cambodian · about USD 8 per person
- White Rose Restaurant Cambodian · about USD 4 per person
- Nest Beach Club International, Bar · about USD 10 per person
- Coco Loco Bar & Grill International, Bar · about USD 9 per person
- Vagabonds Restaurant International, Cambodian · about USD 6 per person
- Sweet Dreams Restaurant Cambodian, International · about USD 7 per person
- EYST Restaurant Cambodian, International · about USD 6 per person
Getting around
- Bicycle main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Boat main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Boat Fare Inflation at Koh Touch Pier
Main pier and speedboat landing area, Koh Touch
Operators quote new arrivals 2–3× the going rate. No meters exist and fares are fully negotiated. Tourists who don't know prices pay significantly more.
How to avoid it: Ask your guesthouse for current standard fares before heading to the pier. Quote the local rate politely — another operator will usually accept if the first refuses.
Unofficial Island-Tour Guides at the Pier
Koh Touch pier and beachfront
Unlicensed individuals offer island-hopping and snorkel tours. They take cash upfront then deliver a poor experience, use unsafe boats, or fail to show up.
How to avoid it: Book all island tours through your accommodation or established operators with recognisable signage and life-jacket-equipped vessels.
Unattended Valuables on the Beach
Police Beach and Koh Touch beachfront
Belongings left on towels while owners swim are occasionally taken in peak season when the beach is crowded.
How to avoid it: Use your accommodation's safe for valuables. Swim in pairs so one person can watch belongings. Take only what you need to the beach.
Best time to visit Koh Rong
- May 33°C · calm · MoWRAM/WMO WWIS 1982-2024 normal for May: 292.9 mm over 19 rain days (nearest national station Preah Sihanouk (WMO WWIS city id 3654), 31.5 km away - used as a proxy, no rain gauge on Koh Rong). Sea: the wave model gives only 0.34 m mean (90th pct 0.64 m) at the 10.708N 103.458E cell - the water is calm. The degradation here is SERVICE, not sea state: the resort operator's published schedule states "Due to the monsoon period (May-October) has strong wind from the West of Koh Rong, Gulf of Thailand, sea can be fairly rough" and runs ONE crossing a day in each direction against two in November-April. https://www.theroyalsandskohrong.com/boat-schedule .
- Jun 31°C · moderate · MoWRAM/WMO WWIS 1982-2024 normal for June: 508.9 mm over 21 rain days (nearest national station Preah Sihanouk (WMO WWIS city id 3654), 31.5 km away - used as a proxy, no rain gauge on Koh Rong). Sea: mean significant wave height 0.50 m (90th pct 0.84 m) at the 10.708N 103.458E model cell, hourly series 2022-2025 (4 complete years), https://marine-api.open-meteo.com/v1/marine?latitude=10.708&longitude=103.458&start_date=2022-01-01&end_date=2025-12-31&hourly=wave_height&timezone=UTC . Corroborated by the operator's published schedule: one crossing a day in each direction May-October against two in November-April, and the west-facing main jetty unusable. https://www.theroyalsandskohrong.com/boat-schedule .
- Jul 31°C · moderate · MoWRAM/WMO WWIS 1982-2024 normal for July: 562.3 mm over 23 rain days (nearest national station Preah Sihanouk (WMO WWIS city id 3654), 31.5 km away - used as a proxy, no rain gauge on Koh Rong). Sea: mean significant wave height 0.65 m (90th pct 1.06 m) at the 10.708N 103.458E model cell, hourly series 2022-2025 (4 complete years), https://marine-api.open-meteo.com/v1/marine?latitude=10.708&longitude=103.458&start_date=2022-01-01&end_date=2025-12-31&hourly=wave_height&timezone=UTC . Corroborated by the operator's published schedule: one crossing a day in each direction May-October against two in November-April, and the west-facing main jetty unusable. https://www.theroyalsandskohrong.com/boat-schedule .
- Aug 31°C · moderate · MoWRAM/WMO WWIS 1982-2024 normal for August: 617.0 mm over 20 rain days (nearest national station Preah Sihanouk (WMO WWIS city id 3654), 31.5 km away - used as a proxy, no rain gauge on Koh Rong). Sea: mean significant wave height 0.55 m (90th pct 0.86 m) at the 10.708N 103.458E model cell, hourly series 2022-2025 (4 complete years), https://marine-api.open-meteo.com/v1/marine?latitude=10.708&longitude=103.458&start_date=2022-01-01&end_date=2025-12-31&hourly=wave_height&timezone=UTC . Corroborated by the operator's published schedule: one crossing a day in each direction May-October against two in November-April, and the west-facing main jetty unusable. https://www.theroyalsandskohrong.com/boat-schedule .
- Sep 30°C · moderate · MoWRAM/WMO WWIS 1982-2024 normal for September: 487.2 mm over 29 rain days (nearest national station Preah Sihanouk (WMO WWIS city id 3654), 31.5 km away - used as a proxy, no rain gauge on Koh Rong). Sea: mean significant wave height 0.62 m (90th pct 1.08 m) at the 10.708N 103.458E model cell, hourly series 2022-2025 (4 complete years), https://marine-api.open-meteo.com/v1/marine?latitude=10.708&longitude=103.458&start_date=2022-01-01&end_date=2025-12-31&hourly=wave_height&timezone=UTC . Corroborated by the operator's published schedule: one crossing a day in each direction May-October against two in November-April, and the west-facing main jetty unusable. https://www.theroyalsandskohrong.com/boat-schedule .
- Oct 31°C · calm · MoWRAM/WMO WWIS 1982-2024 normal for October: 309.5 mm over 27 rain days (nearest national station Preah Sihanouk (WMO WWIS city id 3654), 31.5 km away - used as a proxy, no rain gauge on Koh Rong). Sea: the wave model gives only 0.22 m mean (90th pct 0.46 m) at the 10.708N 103.458E cell - the water is calm. The degradation here is SERVICE, not sea state: the resort operator's published schedule states "Due to the monsoon period (May-October) has strong wind from the West of Koh Rong, Gulf of Thailand, sea can be fairly rough" and runs ONE crossing a day in each direction against two in November-April. https://www.theroyalsandskohrong.com/boat-schedule .