Koh Rong

Cambodia’s Untamed Island Paradise

Koh Rong is a Cambodian island in the Gulf of Thailand, known for its white sand beaches and clear blue waters. The coastline stretches for miles with few signs of development beyond small fishing villages and eco-friendly resorts. Visitors can swim in calm bays or hike hills to find quiet spots away from crowds. Local markets sell fresh seafood and handmade crafts. At night, the sky often fills with stars because light pollution is minimal. The pace here encourages relaxation without rushing.

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Island in Cambodia

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 5.6

General Safety:	6
Health & medical:	5
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	5

Read details

3/5

English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hostels, and by boat operators. Most menus and signs are in English, but in remote spots or local villages, Khmer is the main language. Learning a few Khmer phrases is appreciated.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Koh Rong Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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Excellent for tropical beaches and island relaxation. Swim in clear waters, snorkel coral reefs, hike jungle trails and enjoy quiet sunsets.

Place score

6.8

Best at:

Islands

Sea

Beaches

Walkable

Natural sites

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

Cambodia – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A , Type C Type A: Type C: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Cambodian Riel (KHR) £1 ≈ KHR 5,432.97
Cashless info:	Rating 3/5 Cashless payment options are available in larger cities, particularly in tourist areas. Credit cards are accepted in many establishments, but cash is still preferred. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated in Cambodia but not mandatory. In restaurants, a 5-10% tip is common. Taxi drivers and hotel staff also appreciate small tips.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally permitted, especially in designated areas. However, excessive drinking in public places may be frowned upon.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places, such as restaurants, bars, and public transport.

Khmer New Year (April)	A major festival with national celebrations and events
Pchum Ben (Sept-Oct)	A festival for honouring ancestors, with cultural events and ceremonies

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 117 (Police), 119 (Ambulance), 118 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Grab
Other:	Cambodia is famous for the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, vibrant markets, and rich cultural heritage. It is a popular destination for history and adventure enthusiasts.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Koh Rong, Cambodia

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

🔥

Apr

⛈️

May

⛈️

Jun

⛈️

Jul

⛈️

Aug

⛈️

Sep

⛈️

Oct

🌦️

Nov

🔥

Dec

High season:	Jan. - April, Dec.
Shoulder season:	May, Nov.
Crowdedness:	5 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Rainy season May to October: many bungalows and restaurants close, ferries from Sihanoukville cancelled in rough seas

Bioluminescent plankton visible at night in dry season, best around new moon

Khmer New Year (mid April): Cambodian holidaymakers fill ferries and bungalows, book ahead

Don't miss

🏖️ Swim in the turquoise waters of Long Beach
🤿 Snorkel with tropical fish near Coconut Beach
🌌 See glowing bioluminescent plankton during nighttime swims
🌴 Hike through jungle trails to reach pristine viewpoints
🪸 Relax in a hammock at a beachfront bungalow

You've been here?

Why travel to Koh Rong?

Koh Rong is perfect for anyone craving a mix of adventure and relaxation. Spend your days beach-hopping, snorkeling, kayaking through mangroves or hiking to hidden waterfalls. By night, join a sunset boat tour to swim with magical bioluminescent plankton or dive into the backpacker-friendly party scene at Koh Touch village. The island is still relatively undeveloped, with no mega-resorts or paved roads, so you get a taste of real island life-barefoot, breezy and blissfully simple. But Koh Rong isn’t for everyone: power outages are common, Wi-Fi is patchy and sandflies can be a nuisance on some beaches. The island is growing fast, with new resorts popping up, so overdevelopment and sustainability are real concerns. Roads are rough or non-existent-expect to walk, take boats or hop on the occasional motorbike taxi. If you’re after luxury or seamless service, you might be happier elsewhere. Still, for a slice of tropical freedom and unforgettable sunsets, Koh Rong is hard to beat.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Coconut Beach
2 Long Set Restaurant
3 Palm Beach Bungalow Resort
4 Koh Rong Samloem
5 Police Beach

🎡Places for activities

1 Sok San Village
2 4k beach (the best)
3 Koh Rong Dive Center
4 Nest Beach Club

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Long Set Restaurant
2 Long Beach

🎈Events

Nestival (weekly party at Nest Beach Club)
Full Moon Parties (occasional)
Khmer New Year celebrations
Local beach festivals

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

No roads. Use boat taxis or walk jungle paths.
Fast ferry from Sihanoukville takes 45 minutes; book ahead during peak season.
Power outages common at night; bring headlamp and portable charger for blackouts.
Lonely Beach requires 45-minute hike through jungle; pristine sands reward the effort.

How to travel to Koh Rong

The only way to reach Koh Rong is by ferry from Sihanoukville (45–90 minutes, depending on the boat and weather). Sihanoukville is accessible by bus, train or domestic flight from Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. Ferries arrive at Koh Touch (main village) and other key beaches‑check your accommodation’s location before booking your ticket.

Access summary

From Sihanoukville Airport (KOS): Taxi to pier, then ferry 45–90 minutes.
From Phnom Penh: Bus or taxi to Sihanoukville 4–6 hours, then ferry.
Island only by boat; multiple daily speed ferries from Sihanoukville piers.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Koh Rong

Accommodation ranges from simple beach bungalows and backpacker hostels to mid-range resorts and a few upscale options. Most are on or near the beach, with rustic charm and varying levels of comfort. Book ahead in high season (December–April) and expect basic amenities-power cuts and patchy Wi-Fi are part of the experience.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

WHITE SAND ARK RESORT

9.3

The Secret Garden Koh Rong

9.3

Coconutbeach Bungalows

8.3

The Royal Sands Koh Rong

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Koh Rong

There are no cars or paved roads. Most visitors walk, rent bicycles or use motorbike taxis to get between beaches and villages. Boats and water taxis connect different parts of the island and nearby Koh Rong Samloem. Bring cash, as ATMs are rare and card payments are uncommon. Be prepared for basic infrastructure and sandy, sometimes muddy, paths.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-65 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 65% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to KHR) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Sihanoukville, Cambodia - 30 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£26	£55	£139
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£8	£26	£60
🍝 Food per day	£14	£24	£64
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£5	£15

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£11.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£2.80
🍟 Fast food combo	£5.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£4.90
☕ Cappuccino	£1.70
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£0.75

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.20
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£8
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.80

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£3.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£24
🤧 Cold medication	£4.80
💇 Basic haircut	£3.20

Safety information overview

General safety

Koh Rong is generally safe, but take care with valuables — petty theft can happen, especially at parties or on the beach. Watch for strong currents when swimming and be cautious with late-night travel between villages.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities are basic. Bring any needed medications and use insect repellent to avoid bites. Tap water is not safe to drink — stick to bottled or filtered water. Sunburn and dehydration are common, so protect yourself and stay hydrated.

Accessibility

The island is not wheelchair-friendly-most paths are sandy, uneven or involve steps. Getting around requires walking or boat rides. Some resorts offer basic accessibility, but check ahead if you have mobility needs.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe to drink. Always use bottled or filtered water for drinking and brushing teeth. Bring a reusable bottle and refill at your accommodation.