There have been some changes on the Koh Rong islands this past year, so we thought we’d write ‘the ultimate’ Koh Rong hotel guide and review all the accommodation on Koh Rong and its sister island Koh Rong Samloem.

(See also: Koh Rong Samloem Hotel Guide)

Now, finding the best places to stay on Koh Rong isn’t easy – the beautiful islands are very big, with many different types of guest houses, bungalows, and luxury resorts scattered around their 30+ beaches.

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To help you plan and book your trip, we’ve split the accommodation into simple categories – Just choose a type of category below, and explore the hotels we recommend (to learn more about how to get to these hotels, read: Sihanoukville to Koh Rong).

Koh Rong Hotels in Party Areas

If you’re looking for a vibrant party atmosphere on a tropical island paradise, then the main tourist area on Koh Rong (Koh Touch Beach) is your ideal location. Here is a short video about the area:

 

Situated immediately in front of you as you get off the ferry, this part of Koh Touch is packed with guest houses, bungalows, bars, restaurants, and night clubs. Expect a vibrant nightlife with late nights, cheap alcohol, and heavy dance music.

It is not uncommon to see events start early in the day, and many bars create a lively atmosphere first thing in the morning. This part of Koh Rong is also full of activities and fun things to do (See: Attractions and Activities on Koh Rong).

Accommodation around this area is relatively low-priced, ranging between $5-$30 per night. But don’t have high expectations – Most hotels, bungalows, hostels, and guesthouses are very basic. We recommend Sunflower Guest House, Natural Lounge Guesthouse, and White Rose Guest House, and if you want to rent a small bungalow, Smile Bungalows and Happy Bungalows are OK value for money.

If you want to stay near the busy centre but would like a better night’s sleep, Happy Elephant resort and Island Palace are of a good standard – Though the rooms are quite basic, the bungalows are a little uphill so noise is not as big a problem. If these are fully booked, Natural Bungalows (next to Happy Elephant) are OK.

You can also take a room at one of the guest houses on ‘Police Beach’ which holds regular late-night party events. Police Beach is a 15-minute walk from the main pier (heading left off the ferry) through a very short jungle trail. The beach here is reasonably clean and well-kept, and during the day it tends to be less busy than the main tourist area on Koh Touch. Don’t expect much from the accommodation however.

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Koh Rong Hotels in Quiet Beach Areas

If you want a peaceful relaxing environment, where you can lie back, unwind, and admire the magnificent views, then there are several quieter areas on Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem that are ideal.

Firstly, you can stay on less-busier parts of Koh Touch. Here you can enjoy the white sandy beaches and beautiful ocean waters in a calm tranquil atmosphere, while being a short walk away from the main piers and the busy bars, restaurants, and shops. Here is a short video about the quieter areas:

 

We recommend White Beach Bungalows, Tree House Bungalows, and Paradise Bungalows, which are all a short walk from the main pier (heading right as you get off the ferry). For fantastic views over Koh Rong, try the Highland Beach Bungalows which are a little uphill (head left as you get off the ferry).

Secondly, there are several resorts based on more secluded areas of Koh Rong. Pura Vita and Palm Beach Resort in particular offer spectacular views of the beach and ocean scenery.

We recommend you try Sok San Beach Bungalows (not to be confused with the nearby Sok San New Beach Bungalows and the Sok San Long Beach Bungalows). Sok San is a small fishing village on the west side of Koh Rong – A boat trip away from Koh Touch. The beach area around here is quiet, peaceful, and relaxing, and being next to the local Khmer allows you to learn about the Cambodian culture during your stay.

Finally, the main tourist beach on Koh Rong Samloem (Saracen Bay) is a fantastic option.

Aerial View of Saracen Bay

 

There are several resorts on this beautiful beach, each with villas / bungalows, a bar, and a restaurant. On Saracen Bay, we recommend Sweet Dreams Resort, Moonlight Resort, Secret Paradise Resort, Paradise Villas, Saracen Bay Resort, GreenBlue Beach Bungalows, and Cita Resort.

The ocean views at Sweet Dreams Resort are fantastic, and the modern western-style villas provide comfortable accommodation.

Secret Paradise Resort is located near the centre of Saracen Bay, and has superb views of the ocean expanse.

Being so close to the end of the island, Paradise Villas offers fantastic views of the jungle wilderness surrounding the ocean waters.

Saracen Bay Resort is conveniently located near a main pier of Saracen Bay. The beach area around this resort is particularly impressive.

The iconic dome-shaped Moonlight Resort stands out along the beach front. The eco-friendly villas are cleverly designed to keep cool at night times, and the rooms are of a good standard.

The recently refurbished rooms of GreenBlue are of a good standard, and the restaurant has a great selection of Khmer food.

Cita Resort takes a more humble approach, but the accommodation is clean, comfortable, and in a beautiful location on the beach.

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Koh Rong Luxury Resorts

If you want to enjoy the crystal-clear ocean waters, beautiful white sandy beaches, and exotic tropical surroundings, but you prefer a more comfortable accommodation during your stay, there are several outstanding luxury resorts available. On Koh Rong, we recommend Sok San Beach Resort, Koh Rong Resort, The Royal Sands, Long Set Resort, and the world-renowned Song Saa Private Island. On Koh Rong Samloem, you should definitely try Sol Beach Resort and The One Resort, which are both situated on Saracen Bay.

Sok San Beach Resort is truly mesmerising – The beach area on this part of Koh Rong is superb, and the self-contained resort offers everything one would want (the cast and crew of the U.S. Survivor TV show have stayed there in the past).

Sok San Beach Resort on Koh Rong

 

Similarly, Koh Rong Resort is fantastic. The private beach area is ideal for lying back and admiring the wonderful scenery, and the crystal clear ocean waters are magnificent. Their ocean-facing swimming pool creates a perfect setting to relax and watch the time go by.

Ranging from $200-$1500 / night, The Royal Sands Koh Rong offers premium luxury accommodation on a spectacular part of Koh Rong. It is a breathtaking destination, with private swimming pools, deluxe accommodation, and world-class service.

Long Set Resort is based on a beautiful white sandy beach, and some of the views are truly sensational. Relax by the pool or swim in the warm ocean during the day, then at night times admire the sparkling bioluminescent plankton.

At over $2000 / night, the illustrious Song Saa Private Island is known for its stunning views and world-class service. Being the only resort on Koh Rong with an international 5-star rating, Song Saa is a recommended destination for those who want to enjoy an island paradise in the most elegant of fashions.

Aerial View of Song Saa Private Island on Koh Rong

 

There are also a couple of outstanding luxury resorts on Koh Rong Samloem. These are Sol Beach Resort and The One Resort, which are both situated on Saracen Bay.

Sol Beach Resort is located in the centre of Saracen Bay. The modern western-style villas come with Air-Conditioning, Free Wi-Fi, comfortable beds, and en-suite bathrooms with a hot shower, a bath, and a western toilet. The beautiful white sandy beaches are in pristine condition, and the ocean waters are truly mesmerising, changing from green to blue to turquoise on an hourly basis.

The One Resort provides a similar standard of accommodation to Sol Beach, with modern western-style villas, Air-Conditioning, Free Wi-Fi, comfortable beds, and en-suite bathrooms with a hot shower, a bath, and a western toilet. In addition, The One Resort has a wonderful infinity edge swimming pool overlooking the beautiful ocean expanse, and a great range of cocktails to complement the scene.

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Koh Rong Hotels in Secluded Areas

If you prefer to seclude yourself on a tropical island paradise, Koh Rong has some stunning destinations for a ‘Robinson Crusoe’ experience.

(To learn how to get to all areas of Koh Rong, see: How to Get to Koh Rong)

Firstly, there’s Lonely Beach Resort. The beach on this isolated part of Koh Rong is superb – Clear glistening ocean waters, soft white sands, and tall enveloping palm trees. The small resort offers quite basic accommodation, but the views are fantastic, and the atmosphere is quiet and relaxing.

Lonely Beach on Koh Rong

 

Secondly, there are several fantastic resorts on more isolated parts of Koh Rong Samloem. Here you can lie back and enjoy the magnificent views in a peaceful tranquil atmosphere. We recommend Sandy Beach Bungalows, Huba-Huba Bungalows, Robinson Bungalows, and Lazy Beach.

For the more adventurous travellers out there, there is also the option of tenting. Koh Rong is a very large island, with many undeveloped and uninhabited areas. As such, there are lots of magnificent locations where you can put up a tent and sleep for free. For example, if you get off the ferry and head right along the beach (past Tree House Resort towards Pura Vita), there is over 1km of empty beach space with outstanding views.

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Koh Rong Hotels in Local Villages

If you want to enjoy the spectacular views on Koh Rong while learning about the local Cambodian culture, there are a couple of excellent options available.

Firstly, we would recommend you stay at Inn The Village in Daem Thkov Village. Here you will learn about the local Khmer culture, meet the very friendly fishing families, and get a taste of how real Cambodians live on a day-to-day basis. The Inn is 10 minutes away from a beautiful pristine beach where you can enjoy the magnificent scenery in a quiet relaxed environment.

Secondly, for a real taste of the local Khmer culture we recommend you visit the local fishing village of M’Pai Bay on Koh Rong Samloem. Just like Inn the Village above, several hotels on M’Pai Bay are actively involved in the local community. What’s more, you are a short walk away from a fantastic white beach where you can lie back and enjoy the stunning views. On M’Pai Bay, we recommend Harmony Bungalow, Easy Tiger, and Sunset Bungalows.

Finally, we recommend you try Sok San Beach Bungalows. The beach area around here is quiet, peaceful, and relaxing, and being next to the local Khmer allows you to learn about the Cambodian culture during your stay.

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Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem?

To conclude, when it comes to choosing your perfect destination, the stunning Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem islands offer very similar experiences – Breathtaking scenery, crystal clear ocean waters, white sandy beaches, and a tropical climate environment.

The main difference is that, if you are looking for a livelier party atmosphere, then the main tourist beach on Koh Rong (Koh Touch) is right for you (though there are a couple of party places on Koh Rong Samloem now also). However, even on Koh Touch itself there are several peaceful, relaxing locations.

Most people try to visit both Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem during their stay, as the two are a short ferry trip away from each other (see map). To help you decide which island is right for you, we’ve summarised the key differences below.

Criteria	Koh Rong	Samloem
Main Tourist Area	Koh Touch: Busier & Easy to Get to	Saracen Bay: Quieter & Easy to Get to
Party Atmosphere	Yes – Koh Touch	Yes – In Select Areas
Quiet Beach Location	Yes – Quieter Areas on Koh Touch / Other Areas	Yes – Saracen Bay
Luxury Resorts	Yes – Bigger Luxury Resorts	Yes – Smaller Luxury Resorts (Saracen Bay Only)
Desert Island Experience	Yes – Easier to Get to	Yes – Harder to Get to
Local Culture	Yes – Daem Thkov Village	Yes – M’Pay Bay
Budget Pricing	Yes – Koh Touch / Daem Thkov Village	Yes – M’Pay Bay
Activities	Yes – Snorkelling, Scuba Diving, Kayaking, Fishing, Windsurfing, High Point Zip Line, Rope Park, Water Park, Bicycle Rental, Paddle Boarding, Jet Ski Rental, Blob Jump	Yes – Snorkelling, Scuba Diving, Kayaking, Fishing, Paddle Boarding
Western Shops	Yes – Koh Touch	Yes – Saracen Bay
Wi-Fi	Yes – Koh Touch / Luxury Resorts (Good Quality)	Rare – Saracen Bay / M’Pay Bay (Poorer Quality)
24-Hour Electricity	Yes – Koh Touch / Luxury Resorts	Rare – Saracen Bay Only
Air-Conditioning	Rare – Mainly Luxury Resorts	Rare – Mainly Luxury Resorts
Cash Withdrawal	Yes – Koh Touch (10% Fee)	No – Only Transfers by WING

 

FAQs

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: When is the best time to visit?

 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: 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 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