If you’re staying on Koh Touch (the main tourist area on Koh Rong Island), there are a couple of restaurants and bars that I would recommend.

(See also: Best Attractions & Activities on Koh Rong)

Best Place for Wi-Fi

Firstly, we are often asked about Wi-Fi on Koh Touch. Now, although many places do have Wi-Fi, it is often slow and unreliable. I’d say the best place is Dream Catch – Immediately left off the main pier. If I need to check my messages while staying on Koh Touch, I will go here first thing in the morning. The Wi-Fi tends to be consistent, and the food and drinks here are of a good quality.

Best Place for Coffee

If you like your coffee first thing in the morning (as I do), I would recommend Monkey Island Resort – A 5 minute walk along the beach heading right as you get off the ferry. Monkey Island do a nice Vietnam coffee (Vietnam coffee is very popular in Cambodia), and you get a nice sized cup. My main criticism of Monkey is that their Wi-Fi isn’t great, and if you’re considering staying here, White Beach, Tree House, and Paradise Bungalows (which are all very close by) are better value for money.

Best Places to Eat

If you’re looking for good places to eat, Sigi’s (just off the main beach area down a side alley) does fantastic authentic Thai Food. Nice Food restaurant (down the same side alley) is very cheap and the quality is OK. Several bars (e.g. Coco’s and Bunna’s) do pretty decent western food.

Sigi’s Thai Food on Koh Touch

 

In general, the best value for money tends to be the BBQ’s, and there are several places offering a good standard (just take a walk along the beach front and find something that catches your eye).

Best Party Places

With regard to the best party places, Coco’s and Bunna’s tend to get quite busy, with late night events, good dance music, and plenty of special offers. If you’re looking to start early on in the day, there are several bar crawls around offering very cheap drinks (beer can be as cheap as 50c / glass, shots $1, and cocktails $2). In general, there is a constant vibrancy on the main tourist area of Koh Touch, so you won’t be disappointed if you’re looking for a Party Atmosphere on a tropical island paradise.

Sky Bar

For fantastic views over Koh Touch, be it at night times or during the day, you should make a trip up to Sky Bar (you will see it up high on your arrival, and there is a sign for it along the beach – It’s a 5-10 minute walk up some steep steps). The atmosphere at Sky Bar tends to be very pleasant, and it’s a great place to relax and admire the scenery.

 

Things to Remember

One thing that I would recommend you do is to stock up on any necessities before you go to the islands (e.g. Suntan lotion and mosquito spray – remember to bring plenty). Although there are several mini-mart style shops around, prices tend to be inflated. It is not uncommon to see tourists leave the islands red and covered in bites!

It is also useful to bring smaller denominations ($) with you, as it can be difficult to change large notes. There is now a way to get cash out on Koh Touch, but there’s a 10% charge, so perhaps consider taking enough cash with you.

 

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: What activities are there?

 A: Snorkeling & Scuba Diving
The islands are known for their stunning underwater panorama. Whether it’s snorkeling or scuba diving that you’re after, there are plenty of superb locations.
 
Kayaking & Paddle Boarding
Enjoy the crystal clear ocean waters by Kayaking or paddle boarding your way around – An ideal activity for couples and families alike.
 
Mountain Biking & Jungle Trekking
Explore the exotic jungle habitat by foot or via a mountain bike.
 
Bioluminescent Plankton
Sparkling like a starry sky all around you, the bioluminescent plankton are a wonderful sight to behold at night times.
 
Jet Skiing & Windsurfing
For some fast paced action on the beautiful clear waters, hire Jetskis or Windsurf.
 
To learn more, please read our Activities Guide.

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: Where can I see the glowing plankton?

 A: Sparkling like a starry sky all around you, the bioluminescent plankton are a wonderful sight to behold at night times. 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 main tourist area on Koh Rong) or on Saracen Bay (the main tourist area on Koh Rong Samloem), 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) on Koh Touch, or make your way to Long Set Beach around the corner from Koh Touch).
 
For more information, please read: Glowing Plankton on Koh Rong

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.