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12 Best Things to Do in Koh Rong - Best Beaches & Adventures

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When I first started planning my trip to Cambodia and saw pictures of Koh Rong, I knew it was one of those places I just had to see. And after exploring the island in depth, I san safely say that this is one spot where the pictures don’t lie. The beaches were honestly some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, and at times there were so few people that we had one almost entirely to ourselves.

It’s a completely different experience from exploring temples in Siem Reap or wandering the streets of Phnom Penh. Here, the days are much more about finding a beautiful beach, swimming, walking through the jungle, watching the sunset and simply slowing down for a while.

So if you're planning a trip and wondering what to do in Koh Rong, this guide covers the best things to do, the beaches worth visiting and the experiences I wouldn't miss. Whether you're visiting Koh Rong for a few days or adding it to a longer Cambodia itinerary, here's everything you need to know to make the most of your time on the island.

The 12 Best Things to Do in Koh Rong, Cambodia

As always I’ll start with the fun part first, namely the top things to do in Koh Rong. If you also want more practical information like where you should base yourself, how to get around and my favourite restaurants, just scroll further down and you’ll find everything you need.

Go Wine tasting in The Hills

I was very surprised when I found a place that offered wine tasting in Koh Rong. Don't misunderstand me, this isn't a vineyard that makes its own wine. However, it’s a really cozy spot at the top of a hill overlooking the ocean.

You can come and enjoy just a glass of wine with the view or order a flight and try various ones. You can also get cheese and charcuterie, so if you feel like you want something a bit different than the beach bars, this is a great option.

It’s called The balcony and is run by a really sweet Swedish lady who's been living in Cambodia for en eternity.

Wine tasting in Koh Rong
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Explore Koh Touch Village

Even if you're staying in one of the quieter parts of Koh Rong, I think it's worth spending a little time exploring Koh Touch Village, which is the island's main hub. This is where many of the ferries arrive, and you'll find a mix of restaurants, beach bars, cafés, small shops and tour operators along the waterfront.

Koh Touch Village

There’s nothing specific to do in the town, and I don’t think the beach here is one the best on the island, so I recommend coming in the evening before sunset. That way you get to see the local village when it’s still light outside, see the boats come and go, and then grab a drink somewhere while watching the sunset.

If you want you can stay late and join one of the parties here. I personally didn’t, but based on what I heard there are plenty to choose from every day.

Koh Touch Village

Take a Snorkelling Trip Around the Island

One of the most popular things to do on the island is to take a boat tour around it. There are multiple ones to choose from so no matter what you’re into you’ll find one you like. You can go snorkelling, fishing or just watch the sunset, or all of them for that matter.

Most tours include a BBQ and drinks. Some of the tours turn into big parties and some don’t, so check that before you book so you get what you want. You can easily book a tour either at your accommodation or close to the pier, that way you’ll get what you want.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

Go Jungle Trekking on Koh Rong

Koh Rong isn’t just beaches. The island actually has dense jungle trails connecting different parts of the island. Some routes are easy, others more intense, but it’s always humid and a bit adventurous.

If you take a look at a map it might not look like it's possible to walk from beach to beach, or from beach to village, but in reality it is. You just have to cross the jungle paths and explore. We did a couple of ones from Long Set beach and even though we stopped a couple of times wondering if we were on the correct path it was fairly easy. On some of the trails you’ll walk past small villages, bars and hostels tucked into the jungle.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

You can also choose to explore more of the jungle inland on Koh Rong, but I recommend getting a guide for that as the trails aren’t as easy. If you want to explore that part of the island, there is also a waterfall called Prek Svay you can reach which is really nice.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

Kayaking or Paddleboarding Along the Coast

If you want to explore the coast line on your own you can choose to rent a kayak or paddle board. You’ll find small shops renting them out all along the beach, so if that's your thing you’ll have no problem renting one to explore.

Koh Rong, Cambodia
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Watch a Fire Show

Almost every night there is a fire show on Longest beach. The two Hostels next to each other called Mad Monkey and OneDerz alternate which day they host the shows so just grab a seat at their beachfront restaurant, order a drink and enjoy.

The show usually starts at 8:30 PM and it’s a quite fun experience to add to you itinerary. The show itself is free, but they do encourage tips at the end which I personally think they deserve.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

Join a Party (If You Want To)

Koh Rong has a huge backpacker party scene, especially around Koh Touch and Longset Beach. It’s easy to join, or completely avoid, whatever you choose. I didn't feel like partying during my stay here, but I still witnessed some of it, and it looked like lots of fun.

Around Koh Touch and Longset beach you’ll find lots of bars and hostels offering parties on different nights. There is no set day that I know of so you’ll just have to ask around for where the party is at that specific day. The locals and people working at the various hostels will let you know. Some spots have bonfire nights and dancing in cages, while others are more lowkey with beer pong and beer towers.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

The only specific one I know that has a set day is the Nestival which takes place every Saturday at the Nest Beach club.

This is one I actually wanted to check out because I’ve heard it’s supposed to be super fun! However, we didn’t plan well enough and arrived on a Sunday and left on Saturday. So if that sounds like something for you, just plan better than me.

We still visited the beach club and I have to say that it looked like such a fun place for a party. The food there is also really good if you just want to come for a lunch or dinner one day.

Nestival on Koh Rong
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Just Relax on Longset Beach

Koh Rong is one of the best places to do absolutely nothing. And that’s kind of the point. I know it might seem silly to point it out, but I highly recommend just grabbing a hammock, a beer, coffee or smoothie and just relax watching the ocean or reading a book. This place feels incredibly peaceful and it’s been a long time since I relaxed so much in a beach chair as I did here. Even months afterwards we still talk about how nice it was to just spend some days relaxing on Koh Rong.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

Swim with Bioluminescent Plankton

At night you can swim with bioluminescent plankton which makes the ocean glow light blue when you move through it. It’s supposed to be one of the most surreal experiences on Koh Rong.

Unfortunately this is one of the few things I didn’t do while on the island. The reason is that it turns out that the plankton is best during the dry season, and since we came at the beginning of the rainy season it didn't seem like it was worth it from the people I talked to.

However, I have seen it before in Jamaica and thought it was one of the wildest things I’ve ever seen, so if you’re here when it’s good I would definitely add it to the itinerary.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

Enjoy a Beach BBQ Night

All over the island you’ll find that they do some properly good BBQs right on the beach. My favourite was the Longset restaurant for a more formal dinner, but the Barracuda also offers some truly good food with a more chilled vibe. You wont go wrong no matter where you go, just make sure to scope out the place and see how they store and grill the fish to be sure it’s good.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

Relax at Long Beach and Sok San Beach

This was my favourite beach on Koh Rong. It’s a 7km stretch of soft white sand and turquoise water that honestly rivals any other place I’ve been. It’s the kind of place where you just go “WOW” when you get there.

It’s much quieter than Longset, so quiet in fact that it felt like we had the whole beach to ourselves. I was honestly surprised there were no more people here.

Compared to Longset there aren't that many spots to grab something to eat or drink, but you have a couple of resorts both in the Sok San part of the beach and the Long Beach part, so you wont go hungry.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

We agreed with a tuk tuk driver in Longset to take us there and back for 20$, but because there wasn’t any cell service on the beach we couldn't reach him when we wanted to go back. Instead we asked someone at the Long beach resort to book a tuk tuk for us back. It was a bit pricier, but only 12,5$ one way. Obviously the best way would have been to just rent a scooter and get there on our own.

So learn from me and know that if you want to book something back and forth you have to agree on a time to be picked up in advance, because there was no way for us to reach anyone, and I was honestly a bit surprised that the tuk-tuk driver just told us to call him when we were ready.

I’ve also read that the sunsets here are unreal. It started raining so we didn't get to see it, but just from being on that beach I can imagine it being amazing.

Koh Rong, Cambodia
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Go Beach Hopping to the smaller beaches

There are plenty of really cute beaches scattered around Koh Rong. Even though I think Longset, Long beach and Sok San were the best, you can choose to either hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day or rent a scooter and explore the beaches along the coast.

Some nice options to consider are Coconut beach, Pagoda beach and Lonely beach.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

Where Is the Best Place to Stay in Koh Rong?

Koh Touch Village is best if you want to be close to plenty of restaurants, bars, shops, activities and the ferry pier. However, I personally think it lacks the charm you can get other places on the island. But if you want plenty of parties this might be a good fit.

Long Set Beach is my pick if you want the best balance between a beautiful beach and having some restaurants and resorts nearby. You are close enough to walk towards Koh Touch, but you can still have a much more relaxed beach holiday. There are also plenty of nice spots to eat on Long Set beach.

Pagoda Beach is a good choice if you want a quieter, more resort-focused stay. There are fewer things immediately around you, so it's better if you’re happy spending most of your time at the hotel or on the beach.

Sok San Beach is worth considering if you want to get away from the main tourist hub. The beach is long and beautiful, and the area feels much more removed from Koh Touch. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches on the island in my opinion.

Below you’ll see my three favourite hotels that I recommend checking out first. This is my personal favourite, and I highly recommend staying there if you want a relaxing, but fun stay in Koh Rong.

The Secret Garden Koh Rong
The Secret Garden Koh Rong

This is a beautiful beachfront resort option if you're looking for something a little more upscale and peaceful. It has a private beach area, pool and garden, and the location feels much more secluded than staying in Koh Touch.

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BeachWalk Koh Rong
BeachWalk Koh Rong

This is one I would seriously consider if the beach is your priority. It's directly by Long Set Beach, with a pool overlooking the sea, comfortable bungalows and a restaurant, so you can have the classic beachfront island experience without needing to leave the property.

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Golden Beach Resort
Golden Beach Resort

This is a more upscale option on Long Set Beach, with a pool, garden and beachfront setting. It would suit those who want a comfortable resort stay but don't necessarily want to pay for one of Koh Rong's ultra-luxury properties.

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Map of the Best Hotels in Koh Rong

Below you'll find a map where I've pinned my favourite hotels in Koh Rong to make it easier for you to navigate when you're looking for where you want to base yourself.

How to Get to Koh Rong

Getting to Koh Rong is actually pretty straightforward, but you do need to plan around the ferry. You first have to reach a place called Sihanoukville on Cambodia's mainland and then take a ferry or speedboat across to the island. It’s fairly easy to book transport to Sihanoukville either from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or Battambang.

If you're flying into Cambodia specifically for Koh Rong, Sihanoukville International Airport is the closest airport to the island. If you're already travelling around Cambodia, you may find it easier to travel overland to Sihanoukville rather than flying.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

How to Get to Koh Rong from Phnom Penh

If you're travelling from Phnom Penh, you'll first need to travel to Sihanoukville and then continue by ferry to Koh Rong. The bus or minivan journey from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville generally takes around 4–6 hours, depending on traffic and the type of transport you choose. I would allow plenty of extra time between your arrival in Sihanoukville and your ferry departure rather than trying to make a tight connection or book a full trip organised for you.

How to Get to Koh Rong from Siem Reap

If you're travelling from Siem Reap directly to Koh Rong, you first need to travel overland to the coast and then take a ferry from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong.

The easiest option is usually to take a direct bus or minivan from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville, rather than travelling via Phnom Penh. This is normally around 9–11 hours, depending on the company, traffic and road conditions. Once you arrive in Sihanoukville, you'll need to continue with the ferry. I would allow roughly 11–13 hours for the entire journey, including the transfer to the ferry and waiting time.

You can also travel via Phnom Penh, but this isn't necessarily faster. You would take a bus or minivan from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, usually around 5–6 hours, and then continue from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, which is another 4–6 hours.

If you're planning a Cambodia itinerary that includes both Angkor Wat and Koh Rong, this is definitely a route you can do, but it's worth allowing a full travel day rather than thinking of it as a quick transfer. If you have the time, breaking up the journey with a stop in Phnom Penh or Battambang can make the overall itinerary much more enjoyable.

Koh Rong, Cambodia

Best Places to Eat in Koh Rong

Even though Koh Rong is a relatively small island, it has surprisingly many restaurants. However, I have to say that not all of them are great. Especially some of the ones connected to the hostels honestly just had horrible food. So below are some of the ones we really liked and ended up going back to.

Final Thoughts: Is Koh Rong Worth Visiting?

Koh Rong is one of those places where you don't necessarily need a packed itinerary. Yes, there are plenty of things to do in Koh Rong, from exploring beaches and hiking through the jungle to going out on the water and seeing the island's famous bioluminescent plankton, but I think part of the appeal is having time to slow down. The beaches are obviously the biggest reason people come here, and there are some genuinely beautiful ones.

Koh Rong is also a great addition to a Cambodia itinerary if you're looking for some beach time after exploring places like Siem Reap, Battambang and Phnom Penh. It gives you a completely different side of the country and is the perfect place to slow down before continuing your travels.

Plan Your Trip to Koh Rong

Hopefully this guide has given you everything you need to plan what to do in Koh Rong. To make planning the rest of your trip even easier, I've included all the resources I personally use when I travel.

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