2024 Ultimate Guide To Cambodia’s Best Beaches and Islands
Cambodia’s best beaches and islands are all found on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Its coastline is spread across four provinces located in the South, Southwest and Northeast, namely Sihanoukville, Koh Kong, Kep, and Kampot.
Cambodia boasts about 60 islands with Cambodia’s most well-known and popular islands being Koh Rong Island and Koh Rong Samloem Island. However, many others are also worth a visit such as Koh Thmei Island, Koh Totang Island and Koh Sampoch.
Depending on what type of island experience you prefer – unwinding on a hammock on an isolated shore, exploring the jungle-clad interior, taking a dip underwater among pristine coral reefs or the nightly magic of bioluminescent plankton, Cambodia has an island for you.
Cambodia’s Best Beaches and Islands
- Kep Beach – Cambodia’s Best Beach for Families
- Koh Tonsay Island – Cambodia’s Best Island for Switching Off
- Koh Sampoch – Cambodia’s Best-Kept Secret
- Koh Rong Island – Cambodia’s Most Popular Island
- Koh Rong Sanloem Island – Cambodia’s Best Relaxing Beach
- Koh Thmei Island – Cambodia’s Best Island For Nature Lovers
- Koh Totang Island – Cambodia’s Best Island for Isolation
- Essential Travel Toolkit
The islands of Cambodia differ in size, shape, and character and as such offer different attractions and experiences for all travellers. Some are popular tourist destinations, while others are secluded and tranquil. Some islands are easily accessible by boat, while other islands require more adventurous travel.
Best Time to Visit Coastal Cambodia’s Islands
The peak tourist season is from November to February when most of Cambodia’s tourists are searching for a relaxing beach vacation.
It’s not advised to visit Cambodia’s beaches from June to September because of heavy rains and humid air. Additionally, the heavy rains leave the sea choppy, affecting transport to and from the islands and the water quality and visibility.
Starting in Kep in the south and moving up the coast to Koh Kong in the northwest; here’s our ultimate guide to Cambodia’s beaches and islands.
Kep Beach – Cambodia’s Best Beach for Families
Starting on the mainland, the small beachside town of Kep is home to a small crescent-shaped white sandy beach. Boasting calm and temperature-perfect water, Kep Beach is Cambodia’s best beach for families, and fantastic for both swimming and sunbathing.
Kep is easily reached from Phnom Penh by bus or minivan. Depending on the traffic and which bus company you use, It takes approximately four hours to reach Kep. You can also reach Kep from the riverside town of Kampot in about 30 minutes by tuk-tuk or scooter. If you want to check out all the transport options use the box below to explore prices and travel times.
Kep Beach is brimming with hammocks and dining platforms with street food stalls and seafood vendors. Making it popular with both tourists and locals alike. This makes for a great place to spend the day, whilst you kick back and relax with great food, a few drinks and a beautiful beach to unwind on. Another attraction that Kep is famous for is its crab market, which happens to be just down the road from the beach. Crabs can be ordered by the kilo, fetched straight out of the water and cooked to your liking. It doesn’t get much fresher than that!
Tip – Find Transport – Ferry, Buses, Trains and Planes
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Koh Tonsay Island – Cambodia’s Best Island for Switching Off
Koh Tonsay translates as ‘Rabbit Island’ in English and is also known by this name because of its shape. This island is located close to the Vietnamese border and it is easily accessible from the charming resort of Kep. You can reach the island by boat in just 20 minutes. Check the ticket prices above.
Clear shallow waters, deserted beaches and hammocks in the trees make this tiny island of Koh Tonsay the perfect island to get back to nature. With limited development on the small island, accommodation comes in the form of a few basic wooden huts on the shoreline. Most visitors simply stop off at the island for the day to lounge in the shallow waters, feast on the local food and relax in the hammocks that swing beneath the palm trees. With no wifi on the island, there’s very little to do other than swimming, snorkelling, reading and a little jungle hiking. Perhaps you’ll find yourself in a hammock or on the beach with a book and a cold fresh coconut simply enjoying the peace and quiet.
Getting to Koh Tonsay Island
There are three ways to get to Koh Tonsay Island. You can take the daily community boat from Koh Tonsay Pier in Kep at 9 am or 1 pm, pay for a more flexible private boat from the same pier, or take The Crab Shuttle from Kampot.
Koh Sampoch – Cambodia’s Best-Kept Secret
Prince Island, also known as Koh Sampoch, is in the Gulf of Thailand. Is not a true island, but it is known as that.
The beaches of Koh Sampoch are some of the most beautiful beaches in Cambodia. The sand is white and soft, and the water is clear and calm. The jungle on Prince Island is lush and green. There are a few hiking trails that lead through the jungle, and there are also a few waterfalls located in the area. However, it’s one of the beaches of Ream National Park where many private resorts are now popping up.
To get there you can catch a tuk-tuk or motorbike from Preah Sihanouk. The journey will take you roughly 44 minutes.
Koh Rong Island – Cambodia’s Most Popular Island
Koh Rong Island, the second largest island in Cambodia, is located about an hour’s speed boat ride away from Sihanoukville. Easily accessible by all the main ferry services, Koh Touch is one of the most convenient places to get to on Koh Rong Island. Koh Rong Island is the ultimate destination for party lovers and sun seekers and has earned its reputation as a party island thanks to Koh Touch, where you’ll find a sandy guesthouse-packed stretch.
The island can be divided into two halves, the bustling Koh Touch village and the rest of the undeveloped island. The real highlight of this island is not the party-going Koh Touch, but Long Set Beach which stretches for 7 km along the western shore. However, it is a popular spot and many visitors come here to snorkel, swim and sunbathe. You can get to Long Beach in two ways. Either a 45-minute walk in the jungle or by taking a boat from the pier. Thankfully, peace remains easy to find, thanks to the island’s 28 beaches.
Koh Rong Sanloem Island – Cambodia’s Best Relaxing Beach
Considered as the sister island of Koh Rong, Koh Rong Sanloem is smaller, quieter and slightly more chill-out. Koh Rong Sanloem Island is Cambodia’s best island for relaxing. Koh Rong Sanloem Island is reached by taking the same high-speed ferry that goes to Koh Rong Island from Sihanoukville, or via a 20-minute ferry from Koh Rong Island. the heart-shaped Saracen Bay can be found on the eastern side of the island, the most developed bay on the island.
With calm turquoise surf and blinding white sandy beaches, there are more than a dozen choices of accommodation. You can find anything from simple wooden bungalows to luxury beachfront villas. The island is perfect for a relaxing vacation, snorkelling the reefs, paddle boarding slowly along the shore, or just relaxing under a palm tree.
On the other side of Koh Rong Sanloem island, Lazy Beach and Sunset Beach offer a more secluded getaway. Perfect for relaxing on the hammock all day long, these gorgeous yellow sandy beaches are also perfect for watching the pink and purple sunsets over the water every afternoon. Additionally, you can also watch the gorgeous sunset on Sunset Beach, which offers amazing views of the horizon. If you want to experience some local culture, visit M’phey Bei village, where you can stay in cheap homestays and interact with friendly fishermen. If you visit Koh Rong Sanloem Island between April and July, you may have the chance to stroll along the shoreline and have your footsteps light up the bioluminescent plankton.
Koh Thmei Island – Cambodia’s Best Island For Nature Lovers
If you want to experience the idea of being a castaway, then Koh Thmei Island is the perfect spot to escape it all. This island has a rustic charm that ensures you, sending you head over heels the moment your feet touch the powdery white sandy beach. Flanked by mangrove forests, the almost uninhabited island of Koh Thmei Island sits off Ream National Park. This island is home to monkeys, civets, and lizards, as well as several threatened species like fishing cats. This is a stellar island option for nature lovers of all kinds.
The beach is littered with exotic shells, and there’s a coral reef for snorkelling just offshore or go for a kayak in the clear waters. The jungle interior is home to more than a hundred species of birds. You can see over 150 species of birds on Koh Thmei Island, such as eagles, hornbills, pelicans, and kingfishers. Koh Thmei Resort is the only option for an overnight stay. We use “Resort” loosely because the resort is rather several eco-friendly off-grid wooden bungalows equipped with solar power.
Getting to Koh Thmei
The best way to get to Koh Thmei is by taking a boat from Ream National Park headquarters near Sihanoukville airport. The boat ride takes about an hour
Koh Totang Island – Cambodia’s Best Island for Isolation
If you are looking for Cambodia’s best island to give you isolation, then Koh Totang Island is the place for you. However, if the idea of living without WiFi for a few days seems inconceivable, perhaps then Kho Totang is not the ideal destination for you. This slice of paradise is geared towards those who want total escape. Koh Totang is situated in the Koh Sdach Archipelago and is Cambodia’s best island for isolation. The island’s solo resort, Nomads Land, sits in splendid isolation upon the shore and flies the flag for sustainable chic.
Isolated Tropical Island
The island has no electricity or internet connection, so you can truly disconnect from the world and reconnect with yourself. You can swim or snorkel in the calm waters, walk on the beach or in the jungle, or join a fishing trip with the locals. The only way to get to Koh Totang is by taking a boat from Koh Sdach Island, which is about 4 hours away from Sihanoukville. The boat ride will then take you about an hour.
Cambodia’s islands are arguably the most beautiful and diverse of all the Indochina islands. There is an island for whichever adventure you are seeking. However, time is of the essence. These unspoiled gems won’t remain hidden for long. As Cambodia’s tourism industry grows, the islands will see more commercial development.
So, if you’re planning a trip to Cambodia, don’t miss the chance to explore its scenic, untouched beaches and islands.
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Wendy is a traveller, writer, and photographer with an insatiable curiosity for the world. Her journey, spanning South Africa, the UK, and now Australia, infuses her work with a rich tapestry of experiences. Join her on Getting Lost Again as she shares her creative perspective and passion for overland travel alongside Dan.
