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 main tourist area on Koh Rong Island) 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).
Booking a tour is very straight forward – You’ll see them advertised all around the beach. A trip to see the plankton will cost about $5 (leaving at 7pm). You can also see the plankton during boat trips that will include snorkeling, fishing, BBQs, and sunsets. These tend to cost around $10 and are from 1pm – 7pm. You can book some of these activities online now and save up to 15%:
A couple of resorts are also well situated so as to see the plankton glow at night times. Of these, we would recommend the fantastic Longset Resort, located on the beautiful Long Set Beach. Providing a little bit of luxury during your stay, here you can see the glowing plankton when the sun goes down.
Book Longset at Best Price
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: 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.
Comments
Anar
I’m planning to travel with family to Koh Rong, but worried about jellyfish. Is there too many during July?
Visit Koh Rong
Hello. No there is generally no major problems with jelly fish on Koh Rong!
Jamie
Hello, we will stay in Koron island next week, we don’t mind on which beach to stay as the main thing for us is the bioluminescent placton.
We would like to know the best beach to stay at to find it without a tour, just sitting on the sand to be able to see it.
What beach would you recommend?
Iga
Hi. We are going to koh Rong tomorrow. I wonder if is some place to see the plankton from beach without taking a boat?
Sadia
Hello! Do you have to snorkle in the water in order to see the plankton or can you see it from the boat tour? My partner is very scared of deep waters (can’t swim and can’t even think about floating vests because it is too scary). We are staying at Saracen bay, koh rong samloem
Visit Koh Rong
Hi Sadia, you can see the glowing plankton directly from the boat during your tour, so you do not need to swim.
Brigitte
So it is not true that the plankton can be seen every single night? It depends on the circumstances, correct? (no moonlight seems to be ideal).
If I come to Koh Rong just for the plankton and just for one night, it could happen that I won’t get to see any?
Visit Koh Rong
Hi Brigitte, it can depend on the weather conditions on the day – unfortunately this is the case with any natural phenomenon. But there are many beautiful things to see on the islands, so even if you are unlucky and you cannot see the plankton, you’ll still have an amazing time!!
Sebastian
Hello,
we are staying at Long Set Resort, is there a near by company for a plankton tour you can recommend?
Thank you
Sebastian
Visit Koh Rong
Hi Sebastian, it would be best for you to ask Long Set to help you organise a tour. The resorts on that part of the island will know a tour that could come and pick you up
Lizzie
Thank you for this information, very helpful ☺️
Visit Koh Rong
Thanks Lizzie!
Adam
Hi, we are staying at the One Resort 18/8/19-25/8/19, and have 2 children aged 3 and 5. Are the plankton tours safe for small children?
Visit Koh Rong
Hi Adam, plankton tours tend to be at night times, so we would not recommend them for children just in case…
Jane
Is it possible to dive in the glowing plankton?
Visit Koh Rong
H Jane, we generally do not recommend that you swim with the glowing plankton – this is because you are in tropical waters late at nights so creatures like e.g. octopuses come out to hunt.
Julia
Hello, will we be able to see the plankton after a few days of rain from PoliceBeach ?? Early July.
Visit Koh Rong
Hi Julia, it will depend on the cloud conditions on the day, so you will have to play it by ear, but in general, you should be able to see them yes
Kim
We just swam tonight – staying at the one Koh rong shaloem – fabulous! 5 min boat ride 40 min in water we’ll worth it!
Jean
Hi! Would travelling to Koh Rong Samloem be a good time around mid June? Possible to see the glowing planktons? thanks!
Visit Koh Rong
Hi Jean, it will really depend on things like the weather on the day, but in general, you should be able to see the plankton in June in some parts of Samloem – ask a tour guide when you are there
Neelima
Hi there,
Thank you for detailed information and helping us!!
We are planning to travel end of Sept – beginning of Oct 2019. Its going to be rainy season I guess. Could you please help us in knowing whether rainy season affects plankton show anyway?? Are those plankton visible any night or should we keep 2-3 days for the same in case we get unlucky first day??
Visit Koh Rong
Hi Neelima, it depends on the day, sometimes rain can actually help to see the plankton.
Irena
Hello,we are now here KRS, it’s possible see the plankton? Or isnt season for this?
Visit Koh Rong
Hi Irena, it should be possible to see the plankton – but it may depend on the weather on the day. If you ask a tour guide they can help you
Brandon
I swam with the plankton on Koh Rong Samloem last night (April 03).
You don’t need to spend the $10 on an overpriced boat tour, just walk out from the beach after dark and you will see them. Most bays are extremely shallow so you can go out 100m and its only waist deep.
Visit Koh Rong
Hi Brandon, it is up to you of course, but the plankton tours take you to some wonderful locations…
Mardy
Hi Brandon, Which beach were you staying in order to see it without going on a tour?
Alix
Hello, i come tomorow to koh rong, i stay fore 3 days in sok san ( ryta beach bungalow ) i want book tour and see the plankton. See you soon
Alix
Hello, i come to koh rong sanloem the next week, its possible i see the plancton glowing you think ?
Visit Koh Rong
Hello, yes it should definitely be possible, but it might depend on the weather. The best thing to do is to book a tour – try Sky tours.
Nikki
Hi I am staying at Sok San Resort, is there a good tour company near here you recommend to use ?
GP
If staying at THE ONE, what is the nearest location for us to see the BioLum Plankton? Also, any tours you recommend that are safe and close to where I’ll be staying? I have emailed the hotel but they do not answer even though we already booked our reservation and paid for it…
Visit Koh Rong
Hello. There are a couple of tours on Samloem now – Sky Tours is pretty near The One. In general, take a walk up the beach and you will see them advertised!
Kaz
We’re going to go koh rong.
We want to stay in a place where we can take a warm shower. Where should I stay?
Phuong Phan
I stay at Tree House in 8 Feb 2019, it’s sure that i can see plankton without boat tour ?
If not, there’s any tour just to see plankton (just take around 2 hours at night)
Hope soon reply. Tks Ad.
Visit Koh Rong
Hello. It would depend on the weather conditions, but there are tours to see the plankton also yes
Jenna
Hi just wondering the best beach to see plankton on if we are staying at Moonlight resort Koh Rong Samloem?
Visit Koh Rong
Hi Jenna, the best way is probably to go on a plankton tour – there are a couple of tours now on Saracen Bay. The closest to Moonlight is Sky Tours (head right from Moonlight for a couple of minutes)
Alex
I am planning to stay at Long Set resort in early February – would I have a good chance of seeing the plankton?
Visit Koh Rong
It would depend on the weather on the day but you should be able to see the plankton near Long Set Resort
gabriele
best beach to see plankton without boat tour ?
Visit Koh Rong
Hi Gabriele, it depends on where exactly you are staying?
Lewis
I’m staying on 4k beach is there anywhere on the beach that would be best to see it
Edna
Que meses es mas probable ver este fenómeno y que meses es más complicado ?
Voy la última semana de agosto, sera Factible ?
Visit Koh Rong
Hello. There is plankton all year round, but it will depend on the day you go, as it is better when the moon is covered by the clouds. In August you should have more clouds, so you have a good chance of seeing them
Ding Chee Kok
Best time to see plankton is during no moon. Boatman will take u to a really dark area and when off all the lights, the moment u stir the seawater, the plankton will glow like star dusts!!
asdfghjkl
Is there plankton on Koh Rong Samloem too or just on Koh Rong island?
Visit Koh Rong
Hello,
Yes you can see the plankton on several areas of Koh Rong Samloem too – Captain Kem’s Caribbean Tours on Saracen Bay can help you with a trip to see them! https://www.visitkohrong.com/5-things-to-see-and-do-on-saracen-bay/
Kavitha
Just want to know if these planktons are seasonal?
Visit Koh Rong
Hello, you’re more likely to see the plankton after a few clear days with no rain, so although the phenomenon isn’t seasonal as such, during peak season is better.
caro
There is plankton year-round. And it actually can be better in raining season as the light of the moon is often covered by the clouds.
Katy
Very useful thank you – You’re right everyone says to go swimming with plankton but it totaly makes sense that it’s dangerous! Especially if you’ve had a few drinks 🙂
Visit Koh Rong
Indeed 🙂