Blue sea, white sands, golden sun, and me at Koh Rong, Koh Rong Samloem

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Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 1/5/2026

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Blue sea, white sands, golden sun, and me at Koh Rong, Koh Rong Samloem

Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem, two pristine and beautiful islands of Cambodia. In recent years, these islands have increasingly attracted tourists from around the world.

Blue sea, white sands, golden sun, and me at Koh Rong, Koh Rong Samloem

Both Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem boast beautiful clean beaches with crystal-clear waters gently caressed by tranquil white sands. These are truly ideal destinations for travelers seeking relaxation.

Additionally, these two islands also have their own very special attractions.

Choosing between Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem?

After experiencing both islands, I prefer Koh Rong. Koh Rong is the second largest island in Cambodia with an area of 78km² and a coastline of 43km. It has 4 small villages inhabited by locals, namely Koh Tuich, Dam Dkeuw, Prek Svay, and Soksan. Therefore, Koh Rong is livelier due to the local community.

Located about 4km south of Koh Rong is Koh Rong Samloem Island. Koh Rong Samloem is purely a tourist island with resorts, hotels, and bungalows, without the local community atmosphere.

Tourists love this island because it remains pristine, with minimal human impact, preserving its natural beauty.

Both islands offer various water activities such as swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, scuba diving, coral reef exploration, plankton watching, boat trips, ziplining, jungle trekking, or mountain climbing. However, Koh Rong provides more choices.

Koh Rong is especially unique because, if lucky, you can spot dolphins in the sea around 09:00-10:30 in the morning or 17:00-19:30 in the evening. Areas with jungles, mountain treks, boat trips, ziplining, or plankton are also closer to Koh Rong.

However, Koh Rong is much larger than Koh Rong Samloem, so trekking on Koh Rong Samloem is safer and easier than Koh Rong. Koh Rong Samloem also boasts serene, calm beaches, perfect for kayaking.

Bars on Koh Rong are livelier than those on Koh Rong Samloem. However, during weekends on Koh Rong Samloem, there are also more nightlife activities such as forest parties, which are quite exciting. When you arrive on the island, ask the receptionist about the party schedule; they might have information about the parties.

If you're fortunate enough to visit Koh Rong Samloem during a full moon period, you'll have the opportunity to join a very enticing party called the Full Moon Party, featuring various activities like singing, dancing, dining, bonfires, and more.

While Koh Rong caters to travelers seeking vibrancy, youthfulness, and liveliness, Koh Rong Samloem is ideal for those who seek tranquility and serenity.

However, if you're looking to save money, Koh Rong is a reasonable choice because prices there are much cheaper compared to Koh Rong Samloem.

How to get to the island?

The ideal time to explore Koh Rong Samloem is from March to May. About two weeks before your journey, it's advisable to book your hotel accommodations in advance.

To reach either of these islands, you'll need to take a boat from Sihanoukville. Both islands are approximately 20 km from Sihanoukville. The ferry ticket from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem costs 20 USD for a round trip per person.

On Koh Rong Samloem, you can trek through the jungle to Robinson Beach. While the east side features Saceren Bay with The Beach Resort, the west side is Robinson Beach. To reach the beach on the other side, you'll need to trek through the island's jungle for about 40-45 minutes.

Exploring this jungle area is an incredibly exciting experience. It's best to go in the morning after having a hearty meal, and it's advisable to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to avoid mosquito bites and make climbing easier.

The initial stretch of the path is quite easy to walk, but as you progress, it becomes slightly rugged. Keep the upcoming scenery in mind to boost your morale for completing the jungle trek.

Robinson Beach, after trekking through the jungle, is completely different from The Beach. If The Beach is serene, then Robinson is rugged; the waves are very strong here. Be cautious when swimming here and don't venture too far from the shore, no matter how good a swimmer you are. The highlight of visiting Robinson is a charming bungalow called Huba Huba.