Over the past year many new attractions and activities have opened up on Koh Rong. Below, we are going to summarise the best things to see and do on the beautiful island – From snorkelling / scuba diving with the exotic marine life, to watching mesmerising sunsets and seeing glowing plankton, to paddle boarding, kayaking, windsurfing, jet skiing, and more. P.S. You can book some of these activities online now and save up to 15%:

 

Snorkelling & Scuba Diving

Koh Rong is home to some of the most exquisite marine life, so Snorkelling and Scuba Diving is a very popular activity (please speak to the Koh Rong Dive Center on Koh Touch or Reef Dive Resort on Long Set Beach).

On Koh Touch, several places organise snorkelling trips where they take you to good locations around the island. This is your best way to see some of the wonderful miniature eco-systems, coral, seahorses, and nudibranches that are abundant on the islands. Take a look at this video to see some of the beautiful wildlife on the island:

 

Booking a trip is very straight forward – You’ll see them advertised on the main beach. A typical snorkelling trip will also include fishing, seeing the glowing plankton, BBQs, and sunsets. They tend to cost around $10 and are from 1pm – 7pm.

If you want to splash out a little bit more (around $70 for the trip), we recommend hiring a private long boat to take you further north towards Pineapple Island (you can also take a trip around the whole of Koh Rong this way).

Around here there are some fantastic pristine beaches with superb snorkelling locations, and if you like, you can stop several times to try the local Khmer fishing techniques (using only a plastic bottle and some fishing wire).

Glowing Plankton

Sparkling like a starry sky all around you, Koh Rong’s bioluminescent plankton are a wonderful sight to behold at night times. (Learn why they glow on Wikipedia)

 

Although this phenomenon is abundant on the islands, the glowing plankton can only be seen in places with very little light pollution.

As such, if you’re staying on Koh Touch the easiest way for you to see the plankton is by booking a boat tour (you can also walk to Police Beach on non-party nights (15 minutes left from the main pier) and Tree House Bungalows (15 minutes right from the main pier), or make your way to Long Set Beach around the corner from Koh Touch).

Booking a tour is very easy (they are advertised along the beach) and a trip to see the plankton will cost about $5 (leaving at 7pm). You can also see the plankton during a boat trip (see above).

Sunsets

In case you’re a sunset enthusiast (who isn’t!?), the best sunsets are generally to be found on the western and northern sides of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem.

 

Some great locations include: Sok San Beach Resort, The Royal Sands, and Lonely Beach on Koh Rong, and M’Pay Bay, Lazy Beach, and Sunset Beach on Koh Rong Samloem.

Island Tours

Koh Rong is a very big island – If you’d like to see some of the other stunning locations (and there are many), we recommend for you to take an island tour.

The tour will take up a whole day, but some of the views are truly spectacular – From pristine untouched beaches, to wonderful little-known resorts, to world-renowned private islands and little fishing villages. Take a look at this video to see all of the areas on Koh Rong:

 

You can hire a tour boat quite easily on Koh Touch – You’ll see them advertised everywhere along the beach. A long boat can take up to 10 people or so, and you’ll be looking at paying roughly $100 between you for the whole day (try to set off early so that you can see all the sights before it starts to get dark).

One great thing about island tours is that you can stop anywhere along the way and choose how long you’d like to spend at each location. You can even go to all the best snorkelling areas or stop on desert islands (check out Pineapple Island).

Jet Skiing

For some fast paced action on the beautiful clear waters, you can hire a Jetski at either KM Watersports (located by Monkey Island Resort) or at Golden Bungalows. Prices tend to vary depending on the season (and sometimes on the demand on the day) so you could be looking at paying $150 for 1 hour of fun. Please be careful of people snorkelling or diving!

Windsurfing

Further out away from the main swimming areas there can be a bit of wind, which is great for activities like windsurfing. Whether you’re an expert or a beginner, you can learn or rent windsurfing with Rong Wind (at Reef on the Beach – Long Set Beach).

Kayaking

 
On a nice day the water can be calm with very little waves – ideal for a little adventure! You can Kayak to a small island for snorkelling or to the Mangrove River on Long Set (4K) Beach. The cost for rental is about $5 per hour or $12 per day.

Paddle Boarding

If the adventure above sounds like just too much work, take advantage of the beautiful calm waters with some gentle paddle boarding. A few places rent paddle boards on Koh Touch – Just ask someone on the main beach when you’re there (you can also rent them at Rong Wind above).

High Point Zip Line and Rope Park

The High Point Zip Line and Rope Park is an obstacle course up among the trees. To quote the founder, it is a sort of ‘jungle gym’ for those who want to see wonderful jungle scenery while having some active fun.

 

20 ropes hang between the trees, each one presenting a different challenge. For example, one is a tightrope and one is a horizontal ladder.

Now and then throughout the course you’re rewarded for your hard work with ‘easier’ activities: Two zip-line courses and a swing and barrel that fly between the trees at heights of up to 24 metres.

To find the High Rope Park head left off the main pier towards Police Beach – You’ll see signs advertising it. The cost of the course is roughly $25 in low season and $35 in high season.

Bicycle Rental

The Royal Group have built a road connecting their fabulous Royal Sands Resort to Koh Touch, so you can now get to Long Beach from Koh Touch by bicycle.

This makes for a fantastic day trip, as you can sit and relax on the soft white sandy beaches with very few people around you.

Blob Jump

If you’re up for trying something very different and exciting, there is a Blob Jump at Tree house Bungalows.

In case this is something you’ve never tried – You jump from a height of 4-6 metres onto a giant blow up ‘blob’. You’ll then move to the opposite end and a friend will bounce you back up into the air and into the water beneath. This exhilarating experience will cost about $3 per go.

 

Walk to Long Set (4K) Beach

If you’re a fan of sightseeing, there is a fantastic walk on the island. The walk we have in mind is on Long Set (4K) Beach, towards Pura Vita and Long Set Resort, heading right as you get off the ferry on the main pier of Koh Touch.

Now, in general, if you are looking for a quieter holiday on Koh Rong, there are some fantastic resorts on this part of Koh Touch (we recommend White Beach Bungalows and Tree House Resort, as well as Paradise Bungalows). However, even if you choose not to stay here, you should definitely try to see this area during your stay, as the beach is in a great condition and the ocean waters are fantastic.

Long Set Beach on Koh Rong

 

If you head past Paradise Bungalows and White Beach Bungalows on your left hand side, the next resort is Tree House. Keep walking following the beach area around and you’ll pass Star Fish Resort. At times you will need to go off the actual beach itself into the forest, but the path is very easy to follow. After about 15 minutes you will walk out onto a large beach expanse (about 4km or so) with relatively little development.

 

FAQs

Q: When is the best time to visit Koh Rong?

 A: The best time to visit Koh Rong Island is between the middle of November and the start of May. During these months you’ll have beautiful hot days with very little cloud and low humidity. To give you a rough idea of the average temperatures over this past year:
 
Middle of November / December / January / February: Warm and dry. 25°C daytime.
March / April / May: Hot and dry. 35°C daytime.
June / July / August: Hot and wet. 35°C daytime.
September / October / Early November: Warm and wet. 25°C daytime.
 
Please see our Weather Guide for more information.

Q: How do I get to Koh Rong?

 A: There are now 5 modern ferry services from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong Island – Speed Ferry Cambodia, Island Speed Boat Cambodia, Buva Sea, Angkor Speed Ferry, and GTVC. (There are also a couple of $5-$10 ‘Slow Boat’ services that take 1.5 – 2.5 hours – These services are not professionally run and are not recommended).
 
It will take about 40 minutes to get to your destination if it’s the first stop. If the boat first stops elsewhere, it may take 1 hour or so.
 
All 5 services will charge roughly $25 return, though prices can vary depending on time of year, special offers, etc. All services leave from the Ochheuteal (AKA ‘Serendipity’) pier in Sihanoukville and go to the main tourist beaches on the islands. If your hotel is not on the main beaches (Koh Touch / Saracen Bay), please read Sihanoukville to Koh Rong.
 
The 5 services offer modern speed boats with comfortable chairs, life jackets, and the option to buy food and drink on board. Not all of the ferries have air-conditioning, but once the boats set off there is a strong cool breeze throughout the sitting areas which more than makes up for it.
 
All ferry services tend to be very busy – we strongly recommend you buy your tickets in advance. You can buy your tickets online now here: Book Ferry Tickets Online Now

Q: Is Koh Rong a party place?

 A: Please ignore what you might read elsewhere – Koh Rong is NOT just a party place! Yes, the main tourist area, Koh Touch, has a reputation for being quite lively, but there are MANY other areas that are peaceful, relaxing, and truly mesmerising. Even on Koh Touch itself there are beautiful, quiet areas a little further down the beach. Please read our Hotel Guide and Beach Guide for more information.

Q: Where are the best beaches?

 A: There are many wonderful beaches on Koh Rong. To give you an idea, here are three beaches that we like (please read our Beach Guide to learn more):
 
1) Lonely Beach – Possibly the best beach on the islands (even bettering Lazy Beach on Koh Rong Samloem), is Lonely Beach to the northern side of Koh Rong Island. Although it is not in the most convenient location, it really is absolutely stunning. The small alcove feels like a real island-paradise, with crystal clear ocean waters, soft white sandy beaches, and tall palm trees all around. The atmosphere is quite serene – so peaceful and quiet with just a few crickets chirping in the background. There are very few people around, so you feel quite isolated and secluded out in a truly beautiful setting.
 
2) 4K Beach (Long Set Beach) – We would say that 4K beach is number two on the list, though there are now several resorts built along this wonderful stretch of white sand, sparkling turquoise ocean, and tropical jungle wilderness. What’s great about this beach, apart from the stunning scenery and inviting pristine waters, is that it’s a short walk away from the main tourist area on Koh Rong Island (Koh Touch).
 
3) White Beach – At number 3 we are going to put White Beach – A 10 minute walk from the main pier on Koh Touch. Admittedly, there are probably better beaches, but the convenience of White Beach and the quality of the resorts around this area push it up a place or two. Despite what you might read elsewhere, this far side of Koh Touch is not a party location and does not suffer from the same setbacks that other more popular areas experience. The beach on this part of the touristy stretch is clean and well-kept, with soft white sands and beautiful clear ocean waters.

Q: What should I bring with me?

 A: We recommend that you bring plenty of cash, mosquito spray, sun tan lotion, and any other necessities. Both islands have small shops where you can buy most of what you might need, but prices can be inflated so it’s a good idea to stock up on the essentials before you go.

Q: Is it easy to get a Cambodian Visa?

 A: Yes – it is generally very easy to get a Cambodian Visa. Although there are tighter restrictions for Business Visas (which now require a Cambodian work permit), the Tourist Visa (1 month stay) is very straight forward and can be obtained at the airport / border crossing as you arrive. If you’d like to skip the ques, you can buy your visa online now here: Buy a Visa Online Now.

Q: Is there an ATM on the islands?

 A: Although there is no ATM as such, you can still get cash out at any of the three Eftpos terminals on Koh Touch (the main tourist area on Koh Rong Island). There is an Eftpos terminal at Green Ocean Guesthouse, White Rose Guesthouse, and Koh Lanta.

Q: Is there a medical facility on Koh Rong?

 A: There is a medical facility on Koh Touch (the main tourist area on Koh Rong Island). Please ask someone when you are there for directions.

Q: Is it a family-friendly place?

 A: Yes, there are many quiet, family-friendly places on the islands. Please see our Hotel Guide and Beach Guide to learn more.

Q: When is the rainy season?

 A: The rainy season on Koh Rong Island is from the middle of May to early November. During these months there will be short bursts of heavy rain during the day. One thing to note is that, although it is wonderfully hot throughout the peak season, there are several advantages of visiting the islands during the rainy season.
 
For example, those that visit during the rainy season get to enjoy half-priced accommodation and beautiful rainy scenes, and because it never gets too cold in Cambodia, swimming in the ocean is still a very pleasurable experience (the water rarely drops beneath 25°C). Take a look at this article for more information: 5 Reasons to Visit Koh Rong Island in Rainy Season

Q: Where was Survivor Kaoh Rong filmed?

 A: Koh Rong Cambodia has hosted the popular reality programme ‘Survivor’ several times.
 
In 2012, a special edition of the French Survivor (‘Koh Lanta’) was filmed near Sok San Village with an All-Star cast. The production team returned in 2013 and again in 2016 to film the regular editions.
 
In 2015, the American version of Survivor produced Season 31 (Survivor: Cambodia – Second Chance) and season 32 (Survivor: Kaoh Rong – Brains vs Brawn vs Beauty) on Koh Rong Island.
 
The 16th edition of Expedition Robinson (Sweden’s Survivor) was also filmed on the island.