We were torn between the two islands in southern Cambodia: Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem. We knew that Koh Rong Sanloem was a more relaxed, chilled-out vibe, and Koh Rong was known to be more of a party island. But, when we found out the nicer beaches were on Koh Rong, we decided we would have to check out both islands. Koh Rong is a jungle paradise. It is an island about the size of Hong Kong, but it is 80% uninhabited. There are 23 beaches on Koh Rong, but most of them are only accessible by boat, as there are no real roads that go through the island (January 2020). The sand was snow-white, soft as sugar, and the ocean water was as clear as a swimming pool.

How to get to Koh Rong?

We got a local wooden boat from M’Pai Bay, Koh Rong Sanloem to Koh Rong. The trip was about 45 minutes, and cost about US$8/per person. The boat only goes to their pier at Koh Toch, so we had to get a motorbike taxi about 45 minutes to the Sok San village, where we were staying. **Make sure you know exactly which part of the island you are staying on, and that your boat/ferry can get you as close to your accommodation as possible.** We had a few issues with this during our time, and it was a bit stressful especially when it started to get dark.

Where to stay in Koh Rong?

We stayed at Sok San Beach Resort, in the Sok San Village. It is about a 45 minute journey from the famous Koh Toch village. This was actually the accommodation for the filming crew and producers of the TV show Survivor. After multiple seasons of different countries all filmed here, they transformed the place into a beach resort.

Best places to take Instagram photos in Koh Rong, Cambodia.

Where to eat in Koh Rong?

Sok San Beach Resort: Breakfast was included during our stay, and we did have dinner a few nights while we were staying in the resort. The prices were comparable to those in the village, For vegetarians/vegans, the food choices were limited, but we recommend the garlic fried rice with sauteed vegetables.

Falafel Sok San: A nice change if you want something different than Khmer/Asian cuisine. Mediteranean inspired food, with delicious falafel and vegetarian options. We recommend the falafel wraps and couscous salad.

Village Restaurants: We visited a few of the local restaurants in the village, which mostly specialized in Khmer and Asian food. The prices are affordable, and it is nice to contribute to the local, family-owned businesses.

A few of our favorite things in Koh Rong:

Relaxing: The main reason you go to a beautiful island, right? We spent most of our time relaxing, reading books, and in the sea. Sok San Beach Resort also has a spa which offers massages, and they have various activities such as sunset yoga, volleyball games, and water aerobics.
Snorkeling: Although there was not a ton of marine life in the sea near our resort, there were tons of sand dollars, which Charlie had never seen before. The water was so clear, it felt like we were in a huge swimming pool.
Boat tours: There are daily boat tours that are either offered at Sok San Beach Resort, or in the local village, that take you all around the different beaches and areas of Koh Rong Island, and normally include snorkeling.
Pirates of Koh Rong: Although we didn’t have time for this tour ourselves, we met Scott, a British expat who has been working with the company for a long time. He was telling us about Pirates of Koh Rong, and how they like to be a good mix of a party/good time, but also focus on environmental awareness. Some of their efforts include cleaning the local beaches, and they offer free beers or drinks if you collect trash from the beach. A day trip around Koh Rong on the boat is $US30/person, which includes 2 free drinks, lunch, and snorkeling.