Koh Rong Travel Guide: Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem?
The Cambodian islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem are some of the most beautiful islands in South-East Asia. Think white sand beaches, warm turquoise water, backpacker beach bars and some of the best sunsets we saw anywhere in Cambodia.
We visited the Koh Rong islands in February and March 2022 whilst backpacking Cambodia, and honestly ended up staying way longer than we originally planned. Between the beach parties, snorkelling trips and lazy afternoons reading by the sea, it quickly became one of our favourite stops in the country.
However, planning a Koh Rong travel itinerary can feel surprisingly confusing. There are multiple islands, several ferry routes, different beaches and wildly different vibes depending on where you stay.
This guide to Koh Rong covers:
- how to get to Koh Rong
- Koh Rong vs Koh Rong Samloem
- the best beaches in Cambodia
- where to stay
- things to do in Koh Rong
- travel tips
- backpacker hostels
- island maps
- costs and practical advice
Whether you’re backpacking Koh Rong, travelling as a couple or visiting Cambodia with kids, this guide should help you decide exactly where to stay and what to expect.
Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, are the best products possible whilst travelling.
Koh Rong Map
Before booking accommodation, it’s important to understand the layout of the Koh Rong islands because each area has a very different atmosphere.
Main Areas on Koh Rong
- Koh Touch (Koh Tuich) – backpacker area with bars, restaurants and hostels
- Long Set Beach (4K Beach) – quieter beach with resorts and nicer swimming
- Sok San Beach – peaceful side of the island with luxury resorts
- Pagoda Beach – calmer and more relaxed
Main Areas on Koh Rong Samloem
- Saracen Bay – the main tourist area with resorts and hostels
- M’Pai Bay – backpacker village with a more local feel
- Lazy Beach – quieter beach perfect for sunsets
- Mad Monkey Beach – private beach hostel area
If you’re deciding between Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem: Koh Rong is better for nightlife and social backpacking, and Koh Rong Samloem is quieter and more relaxing.
Koh Rong vs Koh Rong Samloem
One of the biggest questions people ask when planning Cambodia’s Koh Rong travel is: Which island is better?
Honestly, both islands are amazing; it just depends on what type of trip you want.
| Feature | Koh Rong | Koh Rong Samloem |
| Backpacker nightlife | Better | Limited |
| Relaxation | Good | Excellent |
| WiFi & signal | Better | Worse |
| Beaches | More variety | More peaceful |
| Couples travel | Good | Better |
| Families | Decent | Better |
| Hostel scene | Strong | Smaller |
| Party atmosphere | High around Koh Touch | Very chilled |
| Best for | Backpackers & groups | Couples & relaxation |
We personally preferred Koh Rong Samloem overall because it felt quieter and more tropical, especially around Saracen Bay. However, Koh Rong had far more energy and was definitely the more social island.
If you have a couple of weeks in Cambodia, we’d recommend splitting your trip between both islands.
How to Get to Koh Rong
We will keep this section short as we have a WHOLE guide on How to get to Koh Rong, but the only way to reach the Koh Rong islands is by boat from Sihanoukville.
Most travellers arrive in Sihanoukville either from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or Kampot.
Ferries leave daily from Serendipity Pier and usually take 45 minutes to Koh Rong or 30–45 minutes to Koh Rong Samloem.
Koh Rong Travel Tip
Sea conditions can get rough, especially in rainy season. If you get seasick, definitely sit outside at the back of the boat and pick up some sea sickness tablets.
Best Time to Visit Koh Rong
The best time to visit Koh Rong is between November and April.
We visited in February and had almost perfect weather every single day:
- temperatures around 30°C
- very little rain
- calm sea conditions
- fewer mosquitos
April and May can become extremely hot and humid, while the rainy season can make ferry crossings rougher and beaches less enjoyable. If possible, January and February are ideal.
How Long Should You Stay?
This totally depends on your travel style.
Our recommendation would be 3–5 days if you’re short on time or 7 days if you want to fully enjoy both islands.
We stayed around 10 days in total across Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem during our one month in Cambodia. While we absolutely loved it, by the end, we were definitely craving air conditioning and reliable wifi.
Still, it ended up being one of the highlights of our Cambodia trip.
Important Koh Rong Travel Tips
Cash Is King
There were no reliable ATMs when we visited, so make sure you bring enough cash before leaving Sihanoukville.
You’ll need cash for everything from accommodation, food, ferries and tours. If you’re staying a week, we’d recommend bringing more than you think you’ll need because prices on the islands are higher than on the mainland Cambodia.
Don’t Leave Your Belongings Unattended
Unfortunately, theft can and does happen, especially around Koh Touch.
We repeatedly heard stories of phones disappearing from beaches while people were swimming. Even locals mentioned stolen phones regularly being resold around the village.
It sounds obvious, but never leave phones, wallets, passports or bags unattended on the beach, that includes around the hostel!
Expect Power Cuts
Power cuts are very common on the Koh Rong islands. Most places rely on generators, and outages can last anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour.
This is all part of the island experience, but it’s worth knowing before you arrive, especially if you need reliable WiFi for work.
Where to Stay in Koh Rong
Best Backpackers Hostel: Nest Beach Club
If you’re backpacking Koh Rong and want the social hostel experience, Nest Beach Club is probably where you’ll end up.
We stayed here for six nights, which, in hindsight, was probably slightly too long unless you absolutely love partying.
What we liked:
- beach volleyball every day
- social atmosphere
- great place to meet travellers
- famous “Nestival” beach party
- beautiful beachfront location
Downsides:
- food was slow and expensive
- rooms got very hot
- showers were basic
- power cuts happened regularly
Despite the negatives, we still had a brilliant time here and met loads of people.
If you’re travelling solo or with friends, this is probably still the best backpackers’ hostel in Cambodia!
Best Accommodation Koh Rong: BeachWalk Hotel
If your budget stretches slightly further, BeachWalk Hotel was probably our favourite place on the island.
The pool alone made escaping Nest worthwhile.
Compared with the backpacker hostels:
- rooms looked much nicer
- food quality was excellent
- atmosphere was quieter
- location felt more relaxing
It’s ideal for couples or anyone wanting a more comfortable beach resort experience.
Where to Stay on Koh Rong Samloem
Best Hostel: Onederz Hostel
We actually split our time on Koh Rong Samloem between Onederz Hostel and Mad Monkey. Both are great choices, but Mad Monkey is more secluded, so you might want to only book a night or two here.
We suddenly had:
- proper WiFi
- air conditioning
- clean dorms
- hot showers
- decent workspace
The location on Saracen Bay was perfect and it’s one of the best places to stay Koh Rong Samloem on a budget.
Best Beach Resort: Sara Resort
Sara Resort became our go-to place for food on Saracen Bay.
The beachfront setting was beautiful, and the Western food genuinely tasted amazing after weeks of backpacking in Cambodia.
If you’re travelling as a couple or wondering where to stay with kids in Koh Rong, this area is much calmer than Koh Touch.
Things to Do in Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem
Snorkelling Trip
One of our favourite experiences was the snorkelling and fishing tour.
The tiny nearby islands had some of the clearest water we saw anywhere in Cambodia and it ended up being some of the best snorkelling in Cambodia during our trip.
The trip included snorkelling, fishing, beach time and a cooked dinner afterwards. Definitely worth the money!
Beach Volleyball at Nest
This became our daily routine. Even if you don’t know anyone, it’s one of the easiest ways to meet people on the island.
Hiking to Remote Beaches
Some of the best beaches in Cambodia are hidden away from the main tourist areas.
Popular hikes include Lonely Beach, Coconut Beach, Pagoda Beach and Sok San Beach
Just bring:
- sunscreen
- water
- mosquito spray
because the heat gets intense quickly.
Bioluminescent Plankton
One of the coolest things we did in Cambodia.
At night, the water glows when disturbed because of bioluminescent plankton. It genuinely feels surreal the first time you see it.
Nestival
This “festival” is put on every Saturday by Nest Beach Club. It is essentially just one massive party and people come from all over Cambodia to attend; it really is good fun and it’s a chance for you to meet loads of people from all over the world. In addition, “party games” like a sack race and beach volleyball are set up with prizes for the winning team.
Trip to the village
Admittedly, our trip to the village was centred around finding our evening meal. Other than this, there isn’t really tons for you to do in the village; we mainly found a laundrette. However, it’s definitely a nice place to visit if you want to escape Nest for a day.
Kayaking
You can hire a kayak for the day for around 25,000 Riel and it’s a really good way of seeing Koh Rong Sanloem’s best bits. Plus, you can row at your own pace and you don’t have to be surrounded by anyone else; simple bliss! Just remember to make sure your boat is in working order, to put sunscreen on and keep all your belongings in a dry bag in case the worst should happen.
Pier Party
This party is only available at Mad Monkey Hostel and in our opinion, is totally worth experiencing. We were lucky enough to have it happen when we visited as there is no defined schedule. However, given the frequent comings and goings, I would presume it occurs every couple of days as the weather is always so nice.
Where to eat & drink on the Koh Rong Islands
BeachWalk Hotel
As the pictures will hopefully attest, the food here was utterly amazing. Given our location, we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and immediately wished we’d eaten here more often.
White Rose Guesthouse & Restaurant
White Rose is the place to be. We found that everyone staying at Nest Beach Club would always eat here in the evening. As with a lot of restaurants, they served both western and Khmer food which is why we went back so many times. The prices are really affordable and if you’re craving western food, it’s the place to go.
N.B. White Rose is located in the main village on Koh Rong (by Koh Rong Community pier) which means a 20-30 minute walk if you’re staying at Nest. However, don’t let this put you off as it’s nice to have a change of scenery and it’s worth trying different food.
Enocafe Coffee & Restaurant
Located further up the alleyway from White Rose, Enocafe’s Italian restaurant is another place to check out. We particularly enjoyed the sandwiches, pizza and pasta whilst their coffee was also very refreshing!
Sara Resort
We were SO glad we found Sara Resort on Saracen Bay as we felt the island’s other options were pretty limited; especially with Leah being gluten-free. As a result, we pretty much ate here the whole time we were at Saracen Bay. The breakfast was good portion size, well priced and it has a great range of western food to cure your cravings.
FAQ: Koh Rong Travel
Absolutely. Koh Rong is one of the best tropical island destinations in Cambodia and perfect for backpackers, couples and beach lovers.
Koh Rong is better for nightlife and backpackers, while Koh Rong Samloem is quieter and better for relaxation.
We’d recommend at least 3-5 days across both islands.
Compared with mainland Cambodia, yes slightly. Accommodation, food and alcohol all cost more because everything must be transported to the islands.
Yes. Boats regularly operate between the islands and many travellers visit both during the same trip.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Koh Rong
The Koh Rong islands ended up being one of our favourite parts of backpacking Cambodia.
Between the white sand beaches, beach bars, snorkelling trips and ridiculously warm sea, it genuinely felt like paradise at times.
Yes, there are occasional frustrations with the power cuts, weak WiFi, expensive food and rough ferry crossings.
But honestly, that all becomes part of the experience.
Whether you stay on lively Koh Rong or peaceful Koh Rong Samloem, visiting these islands is something we’d recommend to anyone travelling Cambodia.
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Disclaimer: Some of the links included on our website may contain affiliate links. We may receive some commission from purchases made via these but it will NOT affect the price you pay. This is to allow this site to stay online and ensure that readers use, what we believe, are the best products possible whilst travelling.
This is so complete and detailed! I’m planning to go in Thailand in February 2023 and I would love to add Cambodia and Laos as well. This post is definitely gonna help me! Thank you 🙂
Thank you so much Anita. You’ll absolutely love it! Definitely go to Cambodia and the islands of Ko Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in Thailand.
The Koh Rong Islands look like paradise! The Beach Walk hotel seems like a gorgrous place to stay and spend time on the beach. Added the Koh Rong Islands to my bucket list!
They really are Kate and we LOVED Beach Walk! So glad we’ve been able to help and feel free to ask us any questions you may have.
I think kayaking and snorkeling would be the first half of my day and then some beach volleyball and the Nestival would be the second half! Talk about a perfect vacation day.
It definitely is! Its hard not to love it on the islands!
This looks like a really peaceful and serene vacation! I think just the hotels alone would have me wanting to stay forever! 😍
Absolutely! Plus, it’s quite cheap so you could definitely stay out there for a while.
What a beautful place! I had to laugh at your warning against leaving belongings unattended and the stolen phones being sold secondhand – after growing up in a 3rd world toursit country, I can totally see that happening! The Koh Rong islands look like a unique destination.
Ahah yes! Whilst I completely understand (but don’t agree) it, I’m amazed people are stupid enough to do that.
Wow, you have some gorgeous photos on here. I would love to stay at the Sara Resort, and enjoy those views. Prices don’t sound too bad. I was surpised that you could get a rod and bait for just 8 bucks. You could enjoy a day fishing and make a meal of it later! Sounds like an ideal trip.
If we ever go back, we’re definitely staying at Sara Resort! I know right?!
Planning a huge trip to Asia and this is exactly what I needed – an updated article with all the necessary tips. Great work, like always!!
Thank you so much Lasma; pleased we’ve been able to help! Would love to hear about your big Asia trip.
This looks like a gorgeous place to visit. Walking on the beaches and relaxing would easily eat up most of my days. Your guide is very detailed and helpful! Thank you.
It really is beautiful. Thank you for your kind comment Gail.
The Koh Romg islands are absolutely beautiful. I had never heard of them before, but they look like they should definitely be on my bucket list!
You should definitely add the Koh Rong Islands to your bucket list; absolutely worth the visit.
I love that it seems like you pretty much had the place to yourselves. Such a beautiful spot, and such lovely looking accommodations. I could happily relax here for a few days
It really is easy to relax here for a few days Emma, and we pretty much did!
This was incredibly helpful, and I also had no idea that there weren’t any ATMs!! A1 tip right there! I would love to be able to see the bioluminescent plankton
We were quite amazed too! So glad we have helped Kay.
We haven’t been able to visit Cambodia yet, but we are glad we waited because we had no clue about Koh Rong Islands. They look beautiful and we cant wait for all the outdoor activities like snorkeling!
Snorkelling is amazing; you get to see so many beautiful fish! Definitely make sure to visit, its super easy.
Wow this looks amazing!! I missed out on this on my trip to Cambodia and looks like I missed a great time
Oh no, gutted to hear you weren’t able to visit; we absolutely loved our time on the islands!
Cambodia has been on my list for the longest time. Thank you for introducing me to Koh Rong Islands. Added this to my list, hopefully, I get to visit super soon – shall definitely come back to this post for research 🙂
You should definitely visit Bea; we absolutely loved it in Cambodia and on the Koh Rong Islands. Feel free to drop us a message if you have any questions!