Cambodia has an image problem when it comes to beaches. Everyone thinks Angkor. Nobody thinks white sand. So travellers do Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, then head to Thailand or Vietnam for the beach half of the trip.
That is a mistake. Koh Rong has just broken into the top 10 of The World's Best Beaches ranking, the only Southeast Asian entry at that level. And alongside it, the country still has a handful of islands where the electricity runs off a generator for a few hours each evening.
Here are the 10 best beaches in Cambodia, from the easy ones to the wild ones. 👉 Worth knowing: decent island accommodation is scarce and fills weeks ahead from December to March. I give the rates I found for each, with a link to check availability on your own dates. The rest of our Cambodia guides live on voyages-yolo.fr/blog.
First, the geography of Cambodia's coast
- Two gateways: Sihanoukville for the western islands (Koh Rong, Koh Rong Sanloem, Koh Ta Kiev, Koh Thmei), Kep for Koh Tonsay.
- Crossings: 30 to 60 minutes from Sihanoukville depending on the operator and the island.
- Season: November to April for calm sea and clear skies. June to September, the monsoon makes some crossings unreliable.
- Comfort: the further you go, the less electricity, wifi and cash machines you get. Bring cash.
- Rates below were checked for one night in December, two people.
1. Long Set Beach, Koh Rong: the one that put Cambodia on the map
Four kilometres of white sand, turquoise water, tropical vegetation running right down to the shore. Locals also call it 4K Beach, for the four kilometres. It is the finest beach on Koh Rong. One of the reasons the island climbed into the global top 10, too.
The ranking praises the white sand, the vegetation and the bioluminescent water. It also flags, honestly enough, growing pressure on the ecosystem, waste management and coastal construction. Go now, and be careful what you leave behind.
- Getting there: ferry from Sihanoukville, then walk or water taxi from Koh Touch
- Sleeping: what is available on Koh Rong for your dates
- Who for: everyone, this is the country's postcard beach
- Best time: early morning, before the day boats
2. Saracen Bay, Koh Rong Sanloem: where everyone drops their bags
The big crescent bay on the neighbouring island, east side. This is where the resorts, beach restaurants and jetties cluster. The water is almost unnaturally calm, which makes it the best option if you are travelling with family or you are not much of a swimmer.
On accommodation, Saracen Bay Resort runs at 9.3 across more than 500 stays, around $115 a night. SunBoo Beach Bungalows posts 9.5 across more than 500 stays for about $61. And Robinson Bungalows, 9.3 across more than 700 stays, drops to $31.
- Getting there: direct ferry from Sihanoukville, around 45 minutes
- Sleeping: $31 to $115 a night depending on standard
- Who for: families, couples, first island trips
👉 Saracen Bay's beach bungalows are the bottleneck for every Cambodian island in high season. If your dates are set, book well ahead: compare everything still free on Saracen Bay.
3. Lazy Beach, Koh Rong Sanloem: one beach, one resort, that is it
My favourite on this list. Lazy Beach sits on Sanloem's west coast, facing open sea. It has a single property on it. Which means you share the sand with twenty people at most. You cross the island on foot from Saracen Bay in about thirty minutes, through the jungle.
The sunset here is the best in Cambodia. No competition, the beach faces due west.
- Getting there: 30-minute walk from Saracen Bay through the jungle
- Sleeping: one eco-resort on site, booking essential
- Who for: couples, people avoiding crowds
4. Sunset Beach, Koh Rong Sanloem: the name does not lie
Still on the west coast, further north. A narrow cove, a few bungalows set into the slope, evenings that look like postcards. KAMAKU Bungalows posts 9.1 across nearly 480 stays, around $43 a night.
The path from Saracen Bay climbs a bit. Take closed shoes and a torch if you are walking back after dark, the trail is unlit.
- Getting there: trail from Saracen Bay or water taxi
- Sleeping: from $43 a night
- Who for: sunset people, smaller budgets on the west side
5. M'Pai Bay, Koh Rong Sanloem: the fishing village
North of Sanloem, M'Pai Bay keeps a real village life. Fishermen, families, dogs asleep in the middle of the path. The beach is less spectacular than Saracen Bay but the atmosphere more than makes up for it, especially if you are travelling alone.
It is also the cheapest corner of the islands. Easy Tiger runs at 9.1 across more than 160 stays for about $18 a night, Bong's Guesthouse at $17. For sleeping on a Cambodian island, hard to beat.
- Getting there: some ferries serve M'Pai Bay directly
- Sleeping: from $17 a night
- Who for: solo travellers, small budgets, long stays
6. Sok San Beach, Koh Rong: seven kilometres to yourself
The longest beach on Koh Rong, west side. Seven kilometres of sand, a handful of resorts spread along the whole length, a fishing village at one end. Compared with the noise of Koh Touch, it is another planet.
- Getting there: boat from Koh Touch or a rough road across the island
- Sleeping: a few well-spaced resorts on the beach, worth comparing before you pick your stretch of sand
- Who for: anyone who wants to walk a long way without meeting anyone
7. Lonely Beach, Koh Rong: the bioluminescent plankton
Far north of Koh Rong, miles from anything. Lonely Beach is known for one thing: the bioluminescent plankton. You walk into the water after dark, move your arms. The water lights up blue around you. The kind of memory people are still telling ten years later.
The effect depends on conditions. Aim for a moonless night in the dry season. And do not treat it as a guaranteed show.
- Getting there: boat from Koh Touch, allow a good hour
- Sleeping: very limited, plan a long way ahead
- Who for: anyone happy to be genuinely cut off
8. Koh Tonsay, Rabbit Island: Cambodia twenty years ago
Twenty minutes by boat from Kep. Koh Tonsay is tiny, with no roads, no wifi, and electricity from a generator switched on for a few hours each evening. Behind the palms, a few very simple family-run bungalows.
Most visitors come for the day. I think that is a shame. A night on Koh Tonsay is exactly what the Cambodian islands were before the fast ferries.
- Getting there: 20 minutes by boat from Kep
- Sleeping: a few family bungalows, very basic, booked on arrival. The fallback is a night in Kep either side of the crossing
- Who for: travellers who want to properly switch off
If you are passing through Kep, sleep over in Kampot. Our 10 best homestays in Kampot are 45 minutes away.
9. Koh Ta Kiev: no roads, no cash machine, no signal
The rawest island here. No paved roads, no ATMs, very limited electricity. Most of the accommodation runs along Long Beach, several kilometres of sand in a wild state. On Plankton Beach there is one property, Kactus. The Last Point also comes up often in recommendations.
- Getting there: boat from Otres, next to Sihanoukville
- Sleeping: very simple bungalows and huts, bring cash. The handful of places bookable online are here
- Who for: hardened travellers, anyone relieved by the lack of wifi
10. Koh Thmei: the bird island in Ream National Park
The most obscure of the lot. Koh Thmei sits inside Ream National Park and has exactly one place to stay, Koh Thmei Resort, a run of simple bungalows. It is a recognised birdwatching spot. You will probably be the only group of visitors that week.
- Getting there: boat from the mainland, arranged by the resort
- Sleeping: one property on the island
- Who for: nature and birdwatching
What about Sihanoukville?
Let's be straight, because no brochure will tell you. The mainland beaches around Sihanoukville, Otres 1 and Otres 2 in particular, have been deeply changed by the construction wave of recent years. Some guides still recommend them, others describe ruined beaches. The most detailed recent accounts come down firmly on the disappointed side.
My advice: treat Sihanoukville as a transit point to the islands. Arrive, take your ferry, come back for your bus. Save your beach time for Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem.
One exception: the first ferries leave early, so a night on the mainland before departure saves you a night bus and a missed crossing. Take it near the port rather than in town: see the hotels in Sihanoukville.
Cambodia beaches: frequently asked questions
What is the best beach in Cambodia?
Long Set Beach on Koh Rong, four kilometres of white sand. The island is the only Southeast Asian entry in the top 10 of The World's Best Beaches ranking.
Koh Rong or Koh Rong Sanloem?
Koh Rong is bigger, livelier, with the longest beaches. Koh Rong Sanloem is smaller, quieter, better suited to couples and families, with better snorkelling. Plenty of people do both in a week.
When is the best time for Cambodia's beaches?
November to April. Calm sea, clear skies, reliable crossings. In full monsoon some services are cancelled at short notice.
How much is a night on a Cambodian island?
From $17 a night for two at M'Pai Bay, around $31 to $60 for a decent bungalow at Saracen Bay, up to $115 for a beach resort. Rates climb sharply in December and January, so check the real prices for your dates rather than trusting an average.
Are there cash machines on the islands?
Very few. None on Koh Ta Kiev, Koh Thmei or Koh Tonsay. Withdraw dollars on the mainland before you board.
Is the bioluminescent plankton easy to see?
You need a dark, moonless night. And luck. The best spots are in the north of Koh Rong, around Lonely Beach. Several resorts run evening trips.
The verdict
Here is how I would cut up a beach week in Cambodia: three nights at Saracen Bay to settle, one night at Lazy Beach for the sunset, two nights at M'Pai Bay for the atmosphere and the budget. And if you have time, Koh Tonsay from Kep at the end.
Go soon. Cambodia's beaches are in that precise moment where they are already reachable and still empty. That will not last. And if you are building the full itinerary, our piece on Angkor Zipline in Siem Reap will help you balance temples and sea.
Got a favourite beach in Cambodia? Tell me in the comments, I still have islands to get to.