Discover the best places to stay on Koh Rong Samloem with our ‘Ultimate Koh Rong Samloem Hotel Guide’ – Whether you want to lie back, unwind, and admire the magnificent views, swim in the warm crystal-clear ocean waters, explore the exotic wildlife, or learn the historic Khmer culture, this mesmerising island is your perfect destination.
(See also: Koh Rong Hotel Guide)
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 Samloem).
Koh Rong Samloem Hotels in Quiet Beach Areas
If you’re looking for a quiet relaxing atmosphere, where you can lie back, unwind, and admire the magnificent views, then the main tourist beach on Koh Rong Samloem (Saracen Bay) is your ideal location. Take a look at this video for a better idea:
There are several resorts on this beautiful beach, each with villas / bungalows, a bar, and a restaurant. There is a variety of options to cater for different needs and budgets.
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.
Ocean View at Sweet Dreams Resort
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.
A Dome-Shaped Villa at Moonlight Resort
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.
Finally, there are several outstanding resort on Koh Rong Island. Koh Rong is the sister island of Koh Rong Samloem, and is famous for its serene beauty. Take a look through our guide here: Koh Rong Hotels.
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Koh Rong Samloem Luxury Resorts
If you want to enjoy the wonderful turquoise ocean waters, soft white sandy beaches, and exotic tropical surroundings, but you prefer a more comfortable accommodation during your stay, there are a couple of excellent 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.
Inside a Villa at Sol Beach
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.
Swimming Pool at The One Resort
If you’re looking for luxury resorts, there are several outstanding hotels on Koh Rong you should definitely try. On this scenic island, we recommend Sok San Beach Resort, Koh Rong Resort, Royal Sands Koh Rong, Longset Resort, and the world-renowned Song Saa Private Island Resort.
Learn more: Koh Rong Luxury Resorts
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Kong Samloem Hotels in Secluded Areas
If you would prefer to ‘isolate’ yourself on a tropical island paradise, Koh Rong Samloem has some stunning destinations for a ‘Robinson Crusoe’ experience.
(To learn how to get to all areas of Koh Rong Samloem, see: How to Get to Koh Rong)
Firstly, there’s Lazy Beach Resort. Located on the west side of Koh Rong Samloem, Lazy Beach is a 40 minute walk through the jungle from the main piers of Saracen Bay. This part of Koh Rong Samloem offers beautiful pristine white beaches, sparkling blue ocean waters, and a fantastic jungle mountainside. It is an ideal location for people who want to enjoy the spectacular views in a very laid-back relaxed environment, and who don’t mind the 40 minute jungle walk.
Lazy Beach on Koh Rong Samloem
Secondly, there’s Sunset Beach. The beach area on this isolated part of Koh Rong Samloem is outstanding – Clear glistening ocean waters, soft white sands, and a truly spectacular sunset. Here we recommend Huba-Huba Bungalows and Robinson Bungalows.
Thirdly, there’s Sandy Beach Bungalows. Sandy Beach Bungalows are located on the beautiful south-east beach of Koh Rong Samloem. Being the only resort in this area, it provides a fantastic ‘deserted’ experience that we would definitely recommend you try.
Finally, there are some superb locations on the beautiful Koh Rong Island. In particular, we recommend 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.
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Koh Rong Samloem Hotels in Local Villages
If you want to enjoy the spectacular views on Koh Rong Samloem while learning about the local Cambodian culture, there are a couple of excellent options available.
Firstly, for a real taste of how Khmer live on a day-to-day basis, we recommend you visit the local fishing village of M’Pai Bay. Here you will experience Cambodian life first hand – You will meet the local fishing families, and be an active part of their very friendly 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.
Aerial View of M’Pai Bay
Secondly, we recommend you stay at Inn The Village in Daem Thkov Village on Koh Rong. Just like some of the hotels on M’Pai Bay, Inn The Village is actively involved in the local community, allowing you to get a real grasp of Cambodia. The Inn is 10 minutes away from a beautiful pristine beach where you can enjoy the magnificent scenery in a quiet relaxed environment.
Finally, 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.
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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 Hotels | Yes – Bigger Luxury Hotels | Yes – Smaller Luxury Hotels (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 |
| ATM | Yes – Koh Touch (10% Fee) | No – Only Transfers by WING |
FAQs
Q: When is the best time to visit Koh Rong Samloem?
A: The best time to visit Koh Rong Samloem 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 Samloem?
A: There are now 5 modern ferry services from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong Samloem – 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 the island 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 beach (Saracen Bay) on the island. If your hotel is not on Saracen Bay, please read Sihanoukville to Koh Rong Samloem.
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: What activities are there?
A: Snorkeling & Scuba Diving
The Koh Rong 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 on Koh Rong Samloem.
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.
Jungle Trekking
Explore the exotic jungle habitat by foot. If you’re staying on Saracen Bay (the main tourist area of Koh Rong Samloem) we would definitely recommend for you to see Lazy Beach – A 40 minute walk through the jungle trail.
Bioluminescent Plankton
Sparkling like a starry sky all around you, the bioluminescent plankton are a wonderful sight to behold at night times. Please speak to your hotel about booking a plankton tour.
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. Saracen Bay and M’Pai Bay 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 Koh Rong Samloem?
A: There is currently no ATM on Koh Rong Samloem. However, many resorts now take card (e.g. VISA, MasterCard, etc) and you can take money out using an Eftpos terminal (10% fee). It is also possible to do a WING transfer if you are desperate for cash. Please ask someone when you are there for details.
You can 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?
A: There is currently no medical facility on Koh Rong Samloem. However, Koh Rong has a medical facility on Koh Touch (the main tourist area). 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 Koh Rong Samloem. Please see our Hotel Guide and Beach Guide to learn more.
Q: When is the rainy season?
A: The rainy season on Koh Rong Samloem 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 island 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 Samloem in Rainy Season
Comments
Susana Gomes
Hello , Thanks for the great information!
We were thinking in going to Tamu Koh Rong hotel, what is your opinion? I we like quiet places, but this one We can’t understand if it stays to distant from everything … We are a family with kids. Thanks
Regards
Susana