Koh Rong Holidays
Koh Rong
Holidays
White sand beaches, bioluminescent plankton, jungle trekking and the most beautiful island in Cambodia — Koh Rong is Southeast Asia's last great undiscovered paradise
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Flight Time
11–12h to Phnom Penh, then 3–4h bus to Sihanoukville, then 45min fast boat
Best Time
November–May (dry season); best October–December (lush after rains, fewer crowds)
Country
Cambodia
Suppliers
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Koh Rong Holiday Guide
Koh Rong is Cambodia's most beautiful island — a 78 square kilometre island of white sand beaches, turquoise water and dense jungle interior in the Gulf of Thailand, 25km off the coast of Sihanoukville. It is the kind of island that Thailand used to be before the crowds arrived: genuinely pristine, relatively undeveloped and still capable of delivering the feeling of having found somewhere special.
The island has two distinct personalities. The main beach (Koh Tuch Village) on the southeast coast has a lively backpacker scene — beach bars, guesthouses, dive shops and restaurants that stay open until the early hours. The rest of the island — Long Beach (4km of white sand on the west coast), Lonely Beach (remote and quiet), Police Beach and the northern beaches — is almost deserted, accessible only by boat or on foot through the jungle. The interior of the island is protected jungle, home to hornbills, monitor lizards and the occasional wild pig.
Koh Rong is famous for its bioluminescent plankton — swimming in the sea at night, your body glows blue-green in the dark water, a phenomenon caused by dinoflagellates that emit light when disturbed. The effect is extraordinary and is best seen on moonless nights away from the lights of the main beach. Koh Rong Samloem, the smaller island to the south, is even more pristine and is the better choice for those seeking peace and quiet.
The island is accessible by fast boat from Sihanoukville (45 minutes) or Koh Rong Sanloem (20 minutes). The best time to visit is November–May (the dry season); the island is at its most beautiful October–December when the rains have ended and the vegetation is lush.
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Average Temperatures
Jan
28°C
Feb
29°C
Mar
31°C
Apr
32°C
May
30°C
Jun
28°C
Jul
27°C
Aug
27°C
Sep
27°C
Oct
27°C
Nov
27°C
Dec
27°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Koh Rong
The beaches, bioluminescence, jungle and island life that make Koh Rong the most beautiful and unspoilt island in Southeast Asia.
Long Beach — 4km of Undeveloped White Sand
Long Beach (Sok San Beach) is the finest beach in Cambodia — a 4km stretch of white sand on the west coast of Koh Rong, backed by jungle and facing the open Gulf of Thailand. Unlike the main beach (Koh Tuch), Long Beach has almost no development — a handful of simple bungalow resorts and beach bars, and long stretches of completely empty sand. The water is clear, warm and shallow; the sunsets are extraordinary. Long Beach is accessible by boat from Koh Tuch (15 minutes) or on foot through the jungle (1.5 hours).
Bioluminescent Plankton — Swimming in Blue Fire
Koh Rong is one of the best places in the world to see bioluminescent plankton — microscopic dinoflagellates that emit blue-green light when disturbed. Swimming in the sea at night, every movement of your body creates a trail of glowing light; waves breaking on the shore glow blue; fish leave luminous trails through the water. The effect is extraordinary and otherworldly. The best conditions are on moonless nights, away from artificial light — the beaches away from Koh Tuch Village are best. The phenomenon is present year-round but most intense in the dry season.
Jungle Trekking — Into the Interior
The interior of Koh Rong is protected jungle — dense tropical forest covering most of the island's 78 square kilometres, home to hornbills, kingfishers, monitor lizards, wild pigs and dozens of species of butterfly. Several trails cross the island from Koh Tuch to Long Beach (1.5–2 hours) and to the northern beaches. The jungle is hot, humid and can be disorientating — a guide is recommended for longer treks. The trail to the island's highest point offers panoramic views of the Gulf of Thailand and the Cambodian coast.
Koh Rong Samloem — The Pristine Sister Island
Koh Rong Samloem, 3km south of Koh Rong, is the more pristine and peaceful of the two islands — a smaller island (27 square kilometres) with fewer visitors, no main beach party scene and some of the finest beaches in Cambodia. Saracen Bay, on the east coast, is a perfect horseshoe of white sand and calm water ideal for swimming and snorkelling. M'Pai Bay, on the north coast, is a small fishing village with excellent seafood restaurants. The island is accessible by fast boat from Sihanoukville (45 minutes) or from Koh Rong (20 minutes).
Snorkelling & Diving — Coral Reefs in Clear Water
The waters around Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem contain some of the best snorkelling and diving in Cambodia — coral reefs teeming with tropical fish, sea turtles, reef sharks and occasional whale sharks. The visibility is excellent (15–25m in the dry season). Several dive operators on Koh Tuch offer PADI courses, fun dives and snorkelling trips. The best snorkelling spots are around the smaller islands to the north of Koh Rong (Koh Kon, Koh Bong) and the reefs off the southern tip of Koh Rong Samloem.
Koh Tuch Village — Beach Bars and Island Life
Koh Tuch Village is the main settlement on Koh Rong — a lively strip of beach bars, guesthouses, dive shops and restaurants on the southeast coast that comes alive at night. The beach is beautiful (white sand, clear water) but busier than the rest of the island. The village has a good range of accommodation from budget bungalows to mid-range beach resorts. The beach bars (Coco Bar, Koh Rong Bar) are lively until late; the restaurants serve fresh seafood, Cambodian food and Western dishes. The weekly beach party is a Koh Rong institution.
Fresh Seafood — Straight from the Gulf of Thailand
The seafood on Koh Rong is exceptional — fresh from the Gulf of Thailand and cooked simply: grilled fish, steamed crab, garlic prawns, amok (fish steamed in coconut milk and lemongrass). The fishing boats come in every morning and the restaurants buy directly from the fishermen. The best seafood is at the smaller restaurants away from the main tourist strip — ask your guesthouse for recommendations. Prices are very low by any standard; a fresh seafood dinner for two with beer costs USD $15–20.
Lonely Beach — Remote and Almost Deserted
Lonely Beach, on the northwest coast of Koh Rong, is the most remote and peaceful beach on the island — a small cove of white sand accessible only by boat (30 minutes from Koh Tuch) or on foot through the jungle (2–3 hours). There are a handful of simple bungalows and one or two beach bars; the beach is almost always quiet. The snorkelling off Lonely Beach is excellent. Staying overnight at Lonely Beach — watching the bioluminescent plankton glow in the dark sea, with no light pollution and no noise — is one of the great experiences in Southeast Asia.
Explore Koh Rong on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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