Sihanoukville is Cambodia’s most popular beach resort thanks to its expansive white-sand beaches. Initially built in the 1950’s as Cambodia’s first and only deep-water port, today Sihanoukville is a bustling and expanding city, attracting visitors from all corners of the world. Although none of Sihanoukville’s beaches qualify among Asia’s finest, the sandy stretches lined with palms and casuarina trees have plenty of rustic tropical charm and it is easy to find a spot all to yourself, specially if you venture beyond the main strip. If you’re willing to travel further, you can catch a ferry to one of the Southern Cambodian islands of Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem, where picture perfect beaches of white sand and clear waters await.
There are more than a dozen islands off the coast of Sihanoukville for visitors to hop around and explore, though only a handful have been developed for overnight stays.
Situated west off Sihanoukville and an hour boat ride away, Koh Rong island offers numerous beaches and environments along its coast. The fantastic Long Beach on its southwest coast, stretching about 5 kilometres, is among the most beautiful and popular with travelers, who come here on daily excursions from the island’s main town. Today, a wide selection of accomodation is available throughout the island, from backpacker hubs to world renowned resorts, such as the Song Saa Private Island. Koh Rong has fresh water resources and a bustling fishing community on the southeast.
Koh Rong Samloem Island is slightly smaller than Koh Rong and situated on its south. Beautiful beaches are on the east coast, where a large heart-shaped bay with some shellfish cultivation is located. The marine life around Koh Rong Samloem is very diverse and is a great spot for scuba diving or snorkelling.
Koh Russey, also known as Bamboo Island, is a medium sized island located a few kilometers out from Otres Beach in Sihanoukville. Here, Koh Russey Villas & Resort boasts 50 luxurious pavilions and 13 pool villas, an ideal natural retreat with its 1.2 Km private beach facing the open ocean.
The 12-hectare, Koh Krabey island off the south coast of Cambodia, is home to the exclusive Six Senses Koh Krabey resort. Featuring 40 luxurious pool villas, the resort combines comfort with the wild natural surroundings. You’ll find a combination of intimate privacy for when you don’t want to do much, and excellent amenities and unique experiences for when you do!
Some of the islands have awesome jungle trails that you can explore on your own. Embark on daytime treks to other parts of the island, often ending at different and deserted beaches. During your treks expect to see lizards, monkeys and other creatures that inhabit the island.
Many of the accommodation options available in Sihanoukville and the islands offer snorkeling gear, and there are daily boat trips for snorkelers to great spots with reefs and plenty of marine life. In addition, there are several dive outfits in Sihanoukville and Koh Rong Sanloem that can organize anything from PADI certification to fun dives.
