Three or more nights of beach at the end of a trip
Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem are two neighbouring islands about 25 km off Sihanoukville in the Gulf of Thailand, reached by fast ferry in 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Koh Rong, Cambodia's second-largest island at 78 km², has at least 23 beaches and the lively village of Koh Touch, while smaller Koh Rong Sanloem, at 24.5 km², is quieter, with Saracen Bay and M'Pai Bay. Both sit within the Koh Rong Marine National Park, established in 2018.
September 2026
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Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem are Cambodia’s best-known islands, two jungle-covered neighbours in the Gulf of Thailand about 25 kilometres off Sihanoukville. They have powdery white beaches, clear water, glowing plankton on dark nights and very little traffic. Koh Rong is the bigger and livelier of the two; Koh Rong Sanloem is smaller, slower and made for doing nothing at all.
After temples, cities and long road days, the islands are where most of our guests finally slow down. The trick is choosing the right beach for the trip you want, because the character changes a great deal from one bay to the next.
At 78 square kilometres with at least 23 beaches, Koh Rong has everything from the busy village beach at Koh Touch to long, empty stretches reached by boat or jungle path.
A smaller island of 24.5 square kilometres, with fewer than 600 residents at the 2019 census. Days revolve around swimming, reading and sunset drinks.
Long Set and Sok San on Koh Rong, or the western beaches of Koh Rong Sanloem, give you space, quiet and dark skies at night.
Saracen Bay on Koh Rong Sanloem has gentle water, soft sand and easy boat links, making it the simplest choice with children.
If you have four nights or more, split your time between the two. They are only a short boat ride apart, and they feel quite different.
Koh Rong is about 15 kilometres long, rising to 316 metres, with around 43 kilometres of its coastline made up of beach. About 4,000 people live here, mostly in four villages around the coast. A road network built from 2020 now links several of the beaches, although boats are still the easiest way to reach many of them.
Koh Rong Sanloem lies about 4 kilometres south of its larger neighbour and is only 9.5 kilometres long. There are no real roads, so you walk along forest paths or take a boat between bays.
On dark, moonless nights, the water around both islands can sparkle blue with plankton as you swim. It is not guaranteed, but it is magical when it happens.
Dive schools on both islands run courses and trips to nearby reefs and islets. Visibility is best in the calm, dry months.
Day trips combine snorkelling stops, fishing and a barbecue on a quiet beach, often ending with a sunset and a plankton swim.
Paths cross both islands between bays. They are hotter and longer than they look on a map, so start early and carry plenty of water.
The islands follow Cambodia’s two main seasons, and the difference on the water is large.
| November to April | Dry season: calm, clear water, sunny days and the best conditions for boats, snorkelling and diving |
|---|---|
| May to June | Hot, with the first showers; still a good time and quieter than the peak |
| July to September | Wettest months: rougher seas, and ferries can be delayed or cancelled in bad weather |
| October | Rains easing; conditions improve through the month |
| Plankton | Best on the darkest nights around the new moon, away from resort lights |
All passenger ferries leave from Sihanoukville, usually from the Autonomous Port, with some services from the Serendipity pier near Ochheuteal beach. Several companies run fast boats, and together they offer a handful of sailings a day, typically in the morning, around midday and in mid-afternoon.
| Fast ferry crossing | 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on stops |
|---|---|
| Slow boat | Three to four hours |
| Fast ferry fare | About $13 one way, or about $25 return, at the time of writing |
| Koh Rong landings | Koh Touch pier, with some services to Sok San |
| Koh Rong Sanloem landings | Several piers on Saracen Bay, plus M’Pai Bay |
| Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville | About three to four hours by road via the expressway |
There are no scheduled crossings after dark. If you are flying into Sihanoukville, or driving down from Phnom Penh or Kampot, allow a comfortable buffer before the last afternoon boat. Many travellers spend a night at Otres Beach on the way in or out.
In February 2018 the waters around the islands became the Koh Rong Marine National Park, Cambodia’s first marine national park. It protects coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves that support seahorses, turtles and many reef fish. Development on both islands has grown quickly, so how visitors behave really matters.
We match you to the right beach and the right bungalow, then handle your transfers from Phnom Penh, Kampot or Sihanoukville airport and book the ferries so the timings work. The islands are the finale of our Angkor & Koh Rong Island Escape and part of our Pepper Coast & Islands journey. See our island experiences, or tell us how you like to relax and we will do the rest.
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