10 best Cambodia beaches: The Guide for Travelers

The Best Cambodia beaches may be located in four provinces: Sihanoukville, Kampot, Koh Kong, and Kep. The beaches range from rural, undeveloped beaches with just the odd fisherman's shack, such as those on Koh Rong Samloem, to well-developed beach resort areas fronted by luxury hotels, such as those in Sihanoukville.

While many visitors are aware of Cambodia's rich cultural past and tourist attractions, such as the Angkor Wat temples, the nation also features hundreds of kilometers of magnificent beaches along the Gulf of Thailand. Aside from over 300 miles of coastline, this Southeast Asian country includes 60 offshore islands, many of which are vacation spots with beaches to explore and enjoy. These islands are home to some of the top resorts in the country.

Plan your tropical holiday with list of the best Cambodia beaches of Cambodia Immigration Services!

1. Saracen Bay, Koh Rong Samloem

The country's islands include some of the most incredible places to visit in Cambodia to enjoy isolated, gorgeous beaches. Koh Rong Samloem, one of two sister resort islands off the coast of Sihanoukville (the other island is Koh Rong), features some fantastic, quiet beaches and a variety of exciting activities. The ferry voyage from the mainland takes 40 minutes, departing from Sihanoukville.

Saracen Bay was formerly a small fishing community, but it's now a hip tourist attraction with several beach options. It is popular with young people and couples. A tiny village and coastal lodgings are available. There are also a few beach resorts nearby. Most have a very relaxed atmosphere.

Learn more: Surfing in Cambodia

The overview of Saracen Bay, Koh Rong Samloem

2. M'Pai Bai, Koh Rong Samloem

Saracen Bay's tourism appeal (and crowds) are increasing, and discerning visitors looking for a more intimate experience are heading to the northern side of Koh Rong Samloem island and the settlement of M'pai Bai.

There is a large M'pai Bai village beach that faces M'pai Bay and is seldom crowded, as well as two more beaches in the neighborhood that are usually abandoned save for local fishermen. There are no beach resorts or hotels on the island; instead, there are modest hostels, beach bungalows, and guest homes. A short trek from the beach leads to two waterfalls, which is a good way to cool down throughout the day.

When you're looking for additional social fun and activities, South to the Saracen Bay region is the best suit for you.

3. Otres Beach

This Cambodian beach is part of the Sihanoukville resort area yet far enough to provide a more isolated feel. Otres Beach in Sihanoukville is a five-minute moto-taxi journey from downtown or from adjacent Ochheuteal Beach (the main tourist beach in the area). The sea is cleaner and clearer here, and the beach is flanked by towering casuarina and palm trees rather than resort buildings.

Otres Beach offers a variety of lodging options, including small boutique hotels, independent resorts, and family-run beach guesthouses. The beach is split into two sections, Otres 1 and Otres 2, by an alternative. Otres 1 is busier, whereas Otres 2 is less developed and further down the shore.

Otres Beach is one of the cleanest beaches in Cambodia

4. Ream Beach

Ream Beach is located around 30 minutes from Sihanoukville City and is part of Ream National Park. This vast wildlife park contains a long stretch of undeveloped beach. There are a few fishermen's shacks and a few small, family-run beach cafés. There are also covered sitting areas with hammock rows. A mangrove wetlands region is nearby. It's a fantastic area to go to if you want to avoid the crowds on Sihanoukville's more extensive beaches, especially on weekends or holidays.

Despite being a national park, the region is home to a small community of around 5,000 families who work on farms or fish (or operate tourist businesses). For travelers traveling in or out, this beach is close to Sihanoukville Airport.

5. Sner Beach

Sner Beach is located in Koh Kong province. It has a distinct atmosphre from some of Cambodia's other beaches since it is located on the country's southwestern coast, directly adjacent to the Thai border.

It's one of those amazing spots to visit in Cambodia where you'll primarily, if not entirely, find Cambodians having fun, as it's not a popular destination for international visitors. The beach is never crowded, the water is typically clean and transparent, and there are covered hammock portions where you can simply rest.

Sner Beach is also an excellent spot to go if you like seafood since you can get it cooked for you on the beach barbeque pits. Along the beach, there are a few small beach shacks and cafés.

If you want to visit Sner Beach from Thailand, let visit this article: Travel to Cambodia from Thailand.

6. Koh Russey

Koh Russey, popularly known as Bamboo Island, has a mile-long, beautiful private beach. The very gently sloping beach is backed by a series of large mangroves and palm trees that provide shade during the day.

The exquisite Koh Russey Villas & Resort is located on this Cambodian island. It's all individual villas and pavilions at one of Cambodia's greatest resorts (and part of the Small Luxury Resorts of the World series). They are all wonderfully designed and equipped and contain one, two, three, or four bedrooms. The resort also offers a full-service spa and some fantastic dining. The resort's own ferry takes you off or picks you up at a wharf near Ream.

The island's interior is mostly rainforest, which may be explored by pathways.

Beautiful scenery of Koh Russey with stunning coastlines and golden sand beaches

7. Kep Beach

Kep is a big seaside town on Cambodia's southern coast, near Vietnam. The town, also known as Krong Kaeb, features a lovely beach area with just enough development. It's an isolated, wild beach, but there are a few cafés and market booths where you may select your own fresh seafood and products along the beachside promenade. Kep Beach is well-known for its delicious, freshly caught fish.

The location is especially fascinating because Kep was a historic French beach resort famous during and after French colonialism (Cambodia was a protectorate of France from 1863 to 1953). The architecture and spacious avenues date back to the days of French dominance. In the 1950s and 1960s, Kep was the core of what was known as the Khmer Riviera.

Vendors on the beach rent rafts, boogie boards, umbrellas, and beach chairs. The beach itself was renovated a few years ago by the government, and enormous amounts of sand were brought in from other regions to create a wide, recreational beach.

If you want to visit Kep Beach from Vietnam, let visit this article: Travel to Cambodia from Vietnam.

The turquoise water of Kep Beach brings peace of mind for travelers

8. Koh Ta Kiev

This picturesque tiny island, known as KTK, can only be reached by ferry or speedboat. It's roughly two kilometers from Otres Beach. KTK is constantly developing, yet it remains a great area to enjoy the beach.

The island remains isolated, with no shops or other places to shop other than the few hotels and resorts. The core of the island is the jungle, and treehouse-style guesthouses are available. Koh Ta Kiev is a fantastic day trip location in addition to the guesthouses and overnight accommodations (you may even camp here).

9. Koh Tonsay

This secluded and underdeveloped beach resort location, sometimes known as Rabbit Island (because of its form), is located just off the south coast of Cambodia, near the border with Vietnam. The beaches in this area are either narrow and sloping, with coarse brown sand, or large and flat, with fine white sand. In both situations, they are surrounded by towering trees. It's an excellent beach for swimming and snorkeling since the water is clean and transparent.

A 20-minute boat journey from Kep takes you there. Aside from its lovely beaches, the island is a famous fishing destination. You may rent a fishing boat for a few hours or simply fish from the beach or a pier.

10. Lonely Beach

This beach is located on Koh Rong, the sister island of Koh Rong Samloem. It is located off the coast near Sihanoukville and takes around 40 minutes to reach by boat. Lonely Beach is located on the northern extremity of the island, away from most of the other resort developments.

The sea here occasionally shines at night. The surf is packed with bio-luminescent plankton during certain seasons, which practically shine in the dark.

Lonely Beach keeps its natural look for travelers to experience the true beach

Great Travel Tips for Cambodian Beaches

When is the best time to visit Cambodia's beaches?

You can visit Cambodia all year, but it's worth noting that the wet season lasts from May to October. Expect a higher number of travelers and thus higher prices during the high season, November to March, with potentially less choice of accommodation and tours as they begin to fill up.

Cambodian transportation

To get from one island hot spot to the next, we recommend double-checking the booking to ensure your privacy.

Remember to Bring Your Island Essentials!

It's critical to have everything you need with you at all times when staying on remote islands! Here are the essential items you cannot live without:

• Cash – with no banks or ATMs on some of the islands, you need enough cash to last you!
• Sunscreen
• Insect Repellent
• A Travel Flashlight

Beaches in Cambodia are one of the best beaches in Southeast Asia. With miles of pristine coastline, postcard-perfect tropical islands, and pure white sands bordered by turquoise waters, the Best Cambodian beaches that we highlighted are a must-see for every explorer.

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