Sihanoukville is Cambodia's premier beach destination, popular
with locals, backpackers and expats alike. But despite massive
amounts of recent development, the town can still be disappointing
for those who come expecting a Thailand-like beach
experience.
Sihanoukville's beaches just aren't very impressive, and the child
beggars and crusty sexpats only add to the feeling of seediness
that the place exudes. Luckily, though, Sihanoukville proper can
just be a pit stop on a trip to a true beach paradise.
If you've been to one of the islands off Sihanoukville before
this year, Koh Rong Saloem was probably it. Lazy Beach has
been the accommodation of record for the Sihanoukville islands for
more than six years now, and the island is still just as lovely and
lazy as ever. Every night Lazy Beach guests relax with a cocktail
on the porch to enjoy stunning fuchsia sunsets. The most recent
development on Koh Rong Saloem has been the opening of the Freedom
Beach Bungalows on the other side of the island in Saracen Bay,
where one should be able to see an equally beautiful sunrise.
Koh Rong is the star of the islands off Sihanoukville. With
white sand beaches and turquoise waters, Koh Rong is a dreamy
tropical paradise and one of the loveliest islands in the Gulf of
Thailand. Apart from sunning on the miles of white sand, there's
also diving, snorkelling and trekking paths for visitors.
Koh Ta Kiev is the widely-ignored little brother of the island
group. Koh Ta Kiev Resort has been in operation for a few years but
many travellers have passed it by, perhaps due to the "resort"
moniker (which for a collection of simple but sturdy bungalows is
soundly undeserved). Recently new accommodation has taken up
residence where Jonty's Jungle Camp used to be. Ten103 Treehouse
Bay is nestled deep in the jungle.
Koh Russei is still living under the shadow of its former self,
as a package tour and backpacker hangout with dirty beaches. But
these days, the island has renewed itself after a major bulldozing
by the Cambodian government eliminated all but one set of bungalows
and a small cafe.
The most pristine of all of the islands, Koh Thmei is part
of the Ream National Park and doesn't even have an entire village
to call its own. Last December the Cambodian government granted a
German couple the right to build an eco-friendly lodge there,
complete with solar panels and natural water filtration
system.
