Koh Rong

⚠️ Timetables, opening hours, prices and access conditions may change without notice, for reasons beyond our control (season, weather, decisions by operators, venues or local authorities). Before every trip, check the information with the relevant authorities and service providers. Entry requirements and local rules (reserves, quotas) are subject to the same caveat.

Off the coast of Sihanoukville in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Rong and its smaller sister Koh Rong Samloem make up Cambodia’s most popular island getaway. Squeaky white sand, thick jungle, fishing villages on stilts and turquoise water draw travellers to Long Set Beach, Saracen Bay and Lazy Beach, and to swim at night through glowing bioluminescent plankton. Protected since 2018 by the country’s first marine national park, both islands are just 30 to 60 minutes by speedboat from the mainland.

Where are Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem?

Koh Rong lies in Preah Sihanouk province, in southwestern Cambodia, about 25 km off the coast of Sihanoukville in the Gulf of Thailand. The country’s second-largest island, it covers roughly 78 km² and measures about 15 km long and 3 to 9 km wide. Its 61 km of coastline is lined with more than twenty beaches, while the hilly, forested interior rises to 316 m in the northwest. Since 2019 the island and its neighbour have together formed the municipality of Koh Rong.

To the south, Koh Rong Samloem (also spelt Sanloem) is smaller, at about 24.5 km² and 9 km long, with a 210 m summit. Its east coast curves into the great crescent of Saracen Bay, some 3 km across, while the fishing village of M’Pai Bay sits at the northern tip. On Koh Rong, life revolves around Koh Touch, the main village where most boats dock, and the hamlets of Daem Thkov, Prek Svay and Sok San. The private Song Saa islets complete the archipelago.

History and culture of the archipelago

For centuries these islands were home only to a few Khmer fishing communities. Saracen Bay takes its name from HMS Saracen, a British brig that surveyed these waters in the late 19th century, and a lighthouse from the French protectorate era still stands at the southern tip of Koh Rong Samloem. In 1975 the crew of the American cargo ship Mayaguez was briefly held there by the Khmer Rouge. From 1979 to 2000 the navy controlled the waters around Koh Rong, before a civilian commune was created.

Even today, around seven in ten islanders make a living from fishing, and the villages are full of wooden boats, crab pots and stilt houses. The culture is Khmer and Buddhist: a tiny islet facing Koh Touch is home to a pagoda and a handful of monks. Backpacker tourism boomed in the 2010s, then the Royal Group, which holds a 99-year concession, began building a 70 km road network in 2020. In February 2018 the creation of Koh Rong Marine National Park, Cambodia’s first, put the reefs and marine life under protection.

What to see and do on Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem

On Koh Rong, days often start in Koh Touch, among jetties, cafés and small shops; in the evening, fish and seafood barbecues set up along the waterfront. Boat trips are the big draw: as a rough guide, expect 10 to 25 dollars for an outing with snorkelling, fishing, sunset on Sok San Beach and a swim among the glowing plankton. Thrill-seekers can try the High Point treetop course, with suspension bridges and zip lines deep in the jungle.

Koh Rong Samloem is best explored on foot. From Saracen Bay, a trail of about 5 km, or one hour’s walk, leads to the old lighthouse, which you can climb for around a dollar, with views over jungle and sea. Other paths reach Lazy Beach in about twenty minutes or Sunset Beach in 35 to 40 minutes, so wear proper shoes. PADI centres offer diving in Koh Touch, Saracen Bay and M’Pai Bay, and experienced divers head out to remote islands such as Koh Tang and Koh Prins.

Beaches, plankton and underwater life

On Koh Rong, Long Set, also called 4K Beach, stretches its white sand not far from Koh Touch: it is one of the island’s finest beaches, with a few bars, resorts and a ferry landing. On the west coast, the long sweep of Sok San, or Long Beach, is famous for its sunsets, and the village of the same name has a handful of hotels. More remote, Coconut Beach, Palm Beach and Lonely Beach are mostly reached by water taxi. Near the village, Police Beach is known for its ticketed parties, best avoided if you want peace and quiet.

On Koh Rong Samloem, Saracen Bay curves in a crescent of white sand fringed by calm, shallow water, perfect for swimming. To the west, Lazy Beach and Sunset Beach feel wilder, with snorkelling around the rocks. After dark, bioluminescent plankton makes the water sparkle with every movement: pick a moonless night and a beach away from the lights, such as Long Set, Lonely Beach or Sunset Beach. In the marine park, don’t touch the coral, use reef-safe sunscreen and take your rubbish back with you.

Getting to Koh Rong and getting around

There is no airport on the islands. From Europe, fly with a stopover to Phnom Penh’s new Techo International Airport, open since September 2025, then take a bus or minivan to Sihanoukville along the expressway, a journey of about 3 to 4 hours depending on traffic. Sihanouk International Airport (KOS), some 20 km from the city, also has flights from Siem Reap, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Kuala Lumpur. Speedboats run by Buva Sea, GTVC or Island Speed Ferry then link Sihanoukville to both islands in 30 to 60 minutes.

As a rough guide, a one-way ticket costs about 14 to 15 dollars and an open return 25 dollars; several daily departures serve Koh Touch and Long Set on Koh Rong, and Saracen Bay and M’Pai Bay on Samloem. Once there, you mostly get around on foot and by water taxi: on Koh Rong, a few roads and motorbike taxis link the villages, while Koh Rong Samloem has neither roads nor tuk-tuks. A shuttle boat connects Saracen Bay and M’Pai Bay for a few dollars. Schedules and fares change often, so check with the operators and authorities before you travel.

Best time to go, budget and entry requirements

The climate is tropical and hot all year round. The best time to visit is the dry season, from November to April: clear skies, generally calm seas and easy crossings, with the heat building noticeably in March and April. From May to October, the southwest monsoon brings heavy downpours, rougher seas and occasionally cancelled crossings; some businesses slow down, but prices drop and the beaches empty. In strong winds, dive centres sometimes move their trips to the west coast of Samloem.

The official currency is the riel (KHR), but the US dollar is used everywhere and ATMs are scarce on the islands, so bring cash. French citizens need a 30-day tourist visa, available online from the official evisa.gov.kh site or on arrival at the airport, for about 30 to 35 dollars as a rough guide; most EU citizens follow the same rule, but check for your nationality. Your passport must be valid for six months after leaving Cambodia, and you must fill in the free e-Arrival card on arrival.gov.kh within seven days before arriving.

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Nearby islands: Phu Quoc, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.

Photo : Rômulo Gama Ferreira, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons