I’ve been told various stories about the two Cambodian islands – Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem. I wasn’t sure whether I should travel to Koh Rong, which supposed to be party island, or to the small quiet Koh Rong Sanloem. I chose Koh Rong because of the PADI diving center and I must say not even once I was disturbed by noisy parties. Here is how to get to Koh Rong Island from Sihanoukville. The island is a total surprise, it’s going to welcome you with amazing atmosphere, fabulous bars and of course incredible underwater world.
How to get to Koh Rong Island?
Koh Rong is situated only 20 kms off the west coast of Cambodian mainland.
Koh Rong Sanloem is just below Koh Rong Islands and there are multiple direct ferries daily from Sihanoukville to either of the islands.
In order to access paradise, it’s necessary to take a 30min to 1 hour ferry from Sihanoukville.
Single ferry ticket is 15 USD, 25 USD for a return. Ferries leave from Serendipity Pier in Sihanoukville port/prices may differ depending on a ferry type.
The best platform to search all types of tickets and book your ferry is 12go.com.
You’ll find plenty of options for fast ferries and boats leaving from Sihanoukville.
Once you get to Koh Rong Island you’ll discover phenomenal white sand beaches, surrounded by a tropical forest and a bunch of great restaurants. Most importantly all at very affordable prices! Surprising but true.
Koh Rong Islands are a tropical paradise off the coast of Cambodia and an ideal destination for freestyle travelers. It’s very straighforward to get to Koh Rong island on your own.
On the evenings we were chilling out in the beach clubs, enjoying fresh grilles sea food and amazing drinks. My worry was the island will be overcrowded since it’s quite popular among tourists, but it was
Feries to Koh Rong Sanloem.
Koh Ron Sanloem is the smaller of the two islands. The island is only 36 square kilometers. There are direct ferries from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong Sanloem at the same price as for Koh Rong, approx, 15 USD one-way.
Is Koh Rong worth visiting?
Once you get to Koh Rong Island you’ll be able to go for amazing snorkeling and diving. As I said, the reason I was going to Koh Rong Island was PADI Open Water Diving Corse. At that time I was backpacking Southeast Asia for months and I wanted to pick a special piece of paradise for my first diving course. I was also traveling to many tropical islands and actually I was positively surprised how attractive Koh Rong Island is.
If you wanna start your diving adventure Koh Rong is the place. Surprisingly the course was much cheaper than in Thailand. I paid 400$ for a 3 day Padi Open Water Diving Course. The teacher was Italian but she did a great job. Although I felt seasick I manage to finish the course.
Padi Diving in Koh Rong Island.
First day is a theory, you are spending a day in front of a tv watching educationa videos which finish with a test. If you pass you’re in for your first dive. We had 3 dives a day. I advice everyone to pay attention to what the instructor has to say regarding the biodiversity – you won’t be able to ask questions under water. The waters surrounding Koh Rong are teeming with marine life, which can become dangerous if you get to close.
A popular spot for snorkeling is the nearby Koh Rong Samloem, where the underwater scenery is just breathtaking.
Best hotels in Koh Rong Island.
Accommodation options on both islands are just amazing! Budget friendly options start from 8USD/per night in fabulous backpackers hostels.
If you’re looking for some temporary work you can easily get it on Koh Rong and Sihanoukville, they are constantly looking for bar stuff. Maybe you not gonna get paid much but accommodation and food will be provided. Same opportunities as in Bali. It’s kind of popular way of employing foreigners. Koh Rong island is rather cheap and it’s a really nice place to chill out and join few full moon parties! 🙂
Island hopping in Koh Rong.
Koh Rong serves as a perfect base for island hopping. Take a boat tour to explore nearby islands, such as Koh Rong Samloem, with its serene atmosphere and beautiful beaches. Each island has its own unique charm and offers a different experience, so make sure to spice up your itinerary with these short excursions.
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