The Best Beaches in Cambodia

Skip the Mainland, Take the Ferry

Cambodia's beach story is a tale of two realities. Sihanoukville, the mainland beach city, has been transformed by a Chinese construction boom into a forest of half-finished casinos, dusty construction sites, and a vibe that most travelers find actively unpleasant. The backpacker beach town that existed here a decade ago is gone. You'll transit through Sihanoukville to reach the ferry terminal, and that's exactly the right amount of time to spend there.

The islands — Koh Rong, Koh Rong Samloem, and the smaller outliers — are a different world. White sand, clear water, $5 bungalows on the beach, and a simplicity that's increasingly rare in Southeast Asia. These are the beaches you came for.

Cambodia's coast faces the Gulf of Thailand, which means warm water (82-86°F year-round), moderate waves, and a monsoon season that runs roughly June through October. The dry season (November through May) brings the best conditions, with February through April being peak season.

Koh Rong

Long Set Beach (Long Beach)

Long Set Beach on Koh Rong is one of the longest white sand beaches in Southeast Asia — 7 kilometers of powder-fine sand lapped by warm, turquoise water, backed by jungle. The northern half has a cluster of budget guesthouses and restaurants. The southern half is nearly empty. You can walk for an hour and see no one.

This is one of the reasons Cambodia Beaches continues to draw visitors year after year.

Accommodation along Long Set ranges from hammock-and-hut setups for $5-8/night to slightly more substantial bungalows with fans and mosquito nets for $15-25. Tree House Bungalows is the classic backpacker spot — basic wooden structures on stilts in the trees, cold-water showers, and a communal vibe built around sunset beers. Long Set Resort offers the most comfortable option on this stretch, with air-conditioned rooms for $50-70.

Electricity on Koh Rong runs on generators, and some places still have limited hours (typically 6 PM to midnight at the budget end). Wifi exists but works like it's 2005. This is part of the appeal — or the problem, depending on your perspective.

Koh Touch (Main Village)

Koh Touch is where the ferries arrive and where Koh Rong's party scene lives. The village clusters around a small beach, with bars, restaurants, and hostels built along a concrete pier and wooden walkway. The Nest Beach Club hosts full-moon and half-moon parties that draw a young, international crowd. Expect $1-2 beers, bucket cocktails, fire shows, and bass-heavy music until sunrise.

Compared to similar options, Cambodia Beaches stands out for its mix of quality and accessibility.

If you want to party, Koh Touch delivers. If you don't, pass through to Long Set Beach or Sok San Beach on the other side of the island. Police Beach, between Koh Touch and Long Set, is a quieter compromise with a few mid-range resorts including Royal Sands ($80-120).

Bioluminescent Plankton

Koh Rong's signature experience is the bioluminescent plankton that lights up the water on dark nights. The effect is real and spectacular — every movement in the water creates trails of blue-green light. Wade in and your legs glow. Splash and sparks fly. It looks like science fiction.

The plankton are most visible on moonless nights in calm conditions, typically between October and April. The best spots are the quieter beaches away from village lights — Long Set Beach and the small coves on the island's west side. Some tour operators run night boat trips ($10-15) specifically for plankton viewing, but you can experience it just by walking into the water after dark at the right beach.

Local travel experts consistently recommend Cambodia Beaches as a top choice for visitors.

Koh Rong Samloem

Saracen Bay

Koh Rong Samloem (sometimes spelled Sanloem) is Koh Rong's quieter, more beautiful sibling. Saracen Bay, on the east side, is a gently curving crescent of fine white sand with water so clear you can see fish from the shoreline. It's the beach that people picture when they think "tropical island" — and it delivers.

The bay has about 20 properties strung along the sand, ranging from budget to mid-range. Orchid Resort does solid bungalows for $30-50. The One Resort has air-conditioned rooms for $60-90. Easy Tiger is the backpacker hub with dorms for $8-10 and a bar that serves as the social center of the bay.

Snorkeling off the rocks at either end of Saracen Bay is decent — expect coral, clownfish, parrotfish, and the occasional turtle. Dive shops on the bay offer PADI Open Water courses for $300-350 and fun dives for $35-50 per tank. The dive sites around Koh Rong Samloem include soft coral walls, underwater rock formations, and macro critters — seahorses, nudibranchs, and ornate ghost pipefish.

If Cambodia Beaches is on your list, booking during shoulder season typically delivers the best value.

Lazy Beach

On the southwestern tip of Koh Rong Samloem, Lazy Beach is a tiny cove with a single resort (also called Lazy Beach) that charges $35-60 for beachfront bungalows. The beach is small — maybe 150 meters — and the resort limits bookings to maintain a peaceful atmosphere. Kayaks are free for guests, and the surrounding coastline is dotted with empty coves reachable only by water.

This is the Cambodia beach experience at its most distilled: a hammock, a book, the sound of waves, and nothing else demanding your attention.

Sunset Beach

The west side of Koh Rong Samloem faces the open gulf, and Sunset Beach catches the evening light in full. A handful of properties — Robinson Bungalows, Sunset Bungalows — offer basic accommodation for $10-20/night. The beach is quieter than Saracen Bay, the sunset views are better, and the bioluminescent plankton are more visible here due to less light pollution.

Repeat visitors to Cambodia Beaches often say the second trip reveals layers they missed the first time.

The Mainland: What's Worth Your Time

Otres Beach

If you must spend time on the mainland coast, Otres Beach — south of Sihanoukville proper — is the only stretch that retains some of the old backpacker charm. The beach runs about 3 kilometers and splits into Otres 1 (more developed, with restaurants and bars) and Otres 2 (quieter, still slightly funky).

Otres has been impacted by Sihanoukville's construction boom but remains swimmable and pleasant during the day. Wish You Were Here is a good restaurant on Otres 1. Papa Cambodia does Thai and Khmer food in a garden setting. Accommodation ranges from $10 guesthouses to $50-80 boutique rooms at places like Tamu Hotel.

Kep

Kep is a faded French colonial resort town on the coast southeast of Sihanoukville, known primarily for its crab market. The beach is small and not particularly attractive — a narrow strip of gray sand along a seawall. But the town's charm lies elsewhere: the crumbling colonial villas being reclaimed by jungle, the national park with hiking trails to hilltop viewpoints, and the crab market itself.

What gives Cambodia Beaches an edge is the rare combination of natural beauty and straightforward logistics.

Kep's crab market is a row of thatched-roof restaurants on stilts over the water, all serving the same thing: fresh crab in Kampot pepper sauce. Kampot pepper is considered among the best in the world — floral, complex, with a slow heat — and the crab it's paired with comes straight from the traps visible in the water below. A plate costs $6-10 depending on the size of the crab. Order it with a cold Angkor beer ($1-1.50) and it's one of the best meals in Cambodia.

Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island)

A 25-minute boat ride from Kep ($7-10 round trip), Koh Tonsay is a small island with a single beach lined with basic bungalows. The accommodation is deliberately simple — thatched roofs, mattresses on platforms, shared bathrooms, no air conditioning. Rooms cost $5-10/night. Electricity runs on generators, available evenings only.

The beach is pleasant — a curve of sand with calm water and a few hammocks strung between palms. The food (served at the bungalow restaurants) is basic Khmer cooking: fried rice, fish amok, vegetable stir-fry, for $3-5 per dish. Rabbit Island works as a day trip from Kep or an overnight escape from everything — no wifi, no agenda, nothing to do but exist.

Getting to the Islands

Ferry Routes

Ferries to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem depart from Sihanoukville's ferry terminal. The two main operators are Speed Ferry Cambodia and Buva Sea. The crossing takes 45 minutes to Koh Rong and about an hour to Koh Rong Samloem.

Tickets cost $22-25 round trip and can be booked at the terminal or online. During peak season (December-March), the popular morning departures sell out — book a day ahead. During rainy season, ferries may be cancelled due to rough seas, particularly in September and October. Check conditions before committing to island travel during this period.

Getting to Sihanoukville

From Phnom Penh, buses to Sihanoukville take 5-6 hours and cost $8-15 on Giant Ibis, Mekong Express, or BookMeBus. Giant Ibis is the most reliable, with comfortable seats and functioning wifi. Alternatively, a domestic flight on Cambodia Angkor Air or JC Airlines takes 45 minutes and costs $50-100 one way.

Practical Details

Money

Cambodia uses the US dollar for most transactions. Riel, the local currency, functions as small change (4,000 riel = $1). ATMs in Sihanoukville and Kep dispense dollars. On the islands, ATMs are scarce or nonexistent — bring enough cash to last your stay. Many island businesses don't accept cards.

Avoiding Sihanoukville City

Transit through Sihanoukville as quickly as possible. The bus terminal, ferry terminal, and a few hotels near the port are all you need. If you arrive late and need a night, Stay Inn Hostel near the ferry terminal is clean and cheap ($8-12). Morning ferries depart between 8-9 AM, so time your bus arrival accordingly.

Health

Mosquitoes are present on all islands. Malaria risk is low on the coast but not zero — consult a travel doctor. Dengue fever is the more realistic concern. Use repellent, sleep under nets. Medical facilities on the islands are minimal — serious injuries or illness require evacuation to Sihanoukville or Phnom Penh. Bring a basic first aid kit and any medications you might need.

Budget

Cambodia's islands are some of the cheapest beach destinations in the world. On Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem, a backpacker can survive on $15-25/day: $5-10 for a bungalow, $5-10 for food, and a few dollars for beers. Mid-range spending — a nicer room, restaurant meals, a snorkeling trip — runs $40-60/day. By comparison, similar island experiences in Thailand cost 50-100% more. For official planning information, see Tourism Authority of Thailand.