Koh Rong is known for its stunning white sand beaches and the backpacker day party Nestival. While Cambodia is generally not known for its beaches (unlike Thailand and Bali), Koh Rong and its neighbour Koh Rong Samloem are the exceptions. A lot of people skip the islands of Cambodia if they’re short on time, preferring to allocate more time to the more famous Thai Islands. But this just adds to the island’s charms, as they are lesser-known and not overdeveloped. Think no cars, no ATMs, slow island life, volleyball on the beach and untouched snorkelling. This guide will cover everything you need to know about Koh Rong including how to get there, how to get around, where to stay, what to do and restaurant and nightlife recommendations.
How many days to spend in Koh Rong
How many days you spend in Koh Rong, depends on a couple of factors such as how much you want to party and how many beach days you want to enjoy. In my opinion, three days (not including travel days) is a good amount of time for Koh Rong to enjoy a day party, a boat tour and relax on the beach. However, you’re short on time two days on Koh Rong would allow you a day to party at Nestival and a day to do the boat snorkel tour. Any shorter than two days would be super rushed and wouldn’t make the boats to and from the islands worth it.
You could also spend longer on Koh Rong if you want more days to party or more days to chill. If you don’t plan on heading to Koh Rong Samloem afterwards, then you may want to add a few extra beach days to relax on Koh Rong. Most people won’t spend longer than a week on Koh Rong.
How to get to Koh Rong
Koh Rong is a small island in the South of Cambodia, next to another smaller island called Koh Rong Samloem. There are direct ferry/ speedboat transfers from Koh Rong Samloem Island and Sihanoukville Port. While Sihanoukville city isn’t a recommended place to visit or stop, you can easily get overland to Sihanoukville from Phnom Penh or Kampot and then easily make your way to Koh Rong on the same day. All transportation (except from Koh Rong Samloem) can be booked online at 12GOAsia.
All ferries/speedboats have different drop-off options on Koh Rong Island. The two main drop-off points are Koh Rong Pier (also called Koh Toch Beach) and Long Set Beach. Check where your accommodation is before getting on the ferry to ascertain which drop-off point is the least walking distance. If you’re staying at Nest Hostel or Bunna’s Hostel, unfortunately, you are right in the middle of these two drop-off points. I have a detailed section below comparing the different ways to get to Nest Hostel so you can decide which is your best option.
TIP: If you are coming from somewhere where you are catching a van and then a ferry, do not book the ferry in advance. Van transfers are notoriously late and many people miss their boats due to this. Either book the ferry in person when you arrive at the port or when you are in the van and almost at Kampot town. For more transport tips and what to expect on ferry/van transfers in Cambodia, read my full transport guide here.
How to get to Koh Rong from Koh Rong Samloem
A few boats are running every day between Koh Rong Samloem and Koh Rong. These aren’t available to book online, but you can book virtually anywhere in Koh Rong Samloem, like shops, restaurants and hostels. Boats cost $5 USD and will pick up and drop off at multiple locations on both islands. There’s no official schedule online (I believe it changes as per demand). When I was there, there was an early morning boat at 8 am, a midday boat and an afternoon boat at around 3 pm. This boat went directly from Saracen Beach Pier on Koh Rong Samloem to Nest Beach Club Hostel on Koh Rong. Other boats are going to Koh Rong Pier (also called Koh Toch Beach), with pick-ups on Koh Rong Samloem at Lazy Beach, M’Pai Beach and Saracen Beach Pier.
How to get to Koh Rong from Phnom Penh
If you’re coming from Phnom Penh, you’ll need to get a van transfer to Sihanoukville city centre, then get a Tuk Tuk to Sihanoukville Autonomous Port and then get a boat to Koh Rong. Reminder: don’t book your boat to Koh Rong in advance in case the van is severely delayed. Van transfers run super frequently between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville starting from 1 am with the last transfer departing at 7 pm daily.
Sihanoukville is not the nicest city to stop off in overnight, so I would be taking a transfer no later than 10 am if you want to guarantee being in Koh Rong on the same day. Departing any later you run the high risk of the van being delayed, missing the last ferry and having to stay overnight in Sihanoukville. The van transfer takes around 5 hours and costs between $10-$17 USD depending on bus company and time of day.
The van will drop you in the city centre, but the boats depart from the port. From the city to the port, you have a 15-minute Tuk Tuk ride which should cost around $7 USD (split between however many people you share with). Boats depart regularly from the port to Koh Rong from 8 am to 5 pm. The journey can take anywhere between 45 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Every boat will stop at Koh Rong Pier as it is the main drop-off, but you can also speak to ticketing staff at the port about alternative drop-offs at Long Set Beach or elsewhere. Expect to pay between $14-$24 USD depending on the boat company and type of boat. Overall, the journey from Phnom Penh to Koh Rong should take around 7 hours and will cost between $26-$48 USD.
How to get to Koh Rong from Kampot
If you’re coming from Kampot, you’ll need to get a van transfer to Sihanoukville city centre, then get a Tuk Tuk to Sihanoukville Autonomous Port and then get to a boat to Koh Rong. Reminder: don’t book your boat to Koh Rong in advance in case the van is severely delayed. Van transfers depart Kampot at 8:30 am and 10:30 am daily. The journey takes around 3 hours and will cost around $8 USD. From the city to the port, you have a 15-minute Tuk Tuk ride which should cost around $7 USD (split between however many people you share with).
Boats depart regularly from the port to Koh Rong from 8 am to 5 pm. The journey can take anywhere between 45 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Every boat will stop at Koh Rong Pier as it is the main drop-off, but you can also speak to ticketing staff at the port about alternative Koh Rong Samloem drop-offs at Long Set Beach or other destinations. Expect to pay between $14-$24 USD depending on the boat company and type of boat. Overall, the journey from Kampot to Koh Rong should take around 5 hours and will cost between $24-$39 USD.
How to get to Nest Beach Club or Bunna’s Hostel from the ferry drop-off
If you’re staying at Nest Hostel or Bunna’s hostel, it will be a bit of an adventure getting there. Long Set Beach is closer to these hostels, but you can also get off at Koh Rong Port. If you get off at Long Set Beach, it is about a 15-minute walk along the beach to Nest Hostel. Be warned, if it’s high tide, you must cross a section of around waist-high water. At low tide, it’s barely ankle-deep.
If you get off at Koh Rong Port and want to get to Nest Hostel, it’s about a 30-minute walk along a beach and through a shaded jungle path. After it’s been raining, the jungle path will flood and become muddy and slippery. Otherwise, it’s usually fine. If you don’t want to walk, local guys on motorbikes at Koh Rong Port will take you for around $5 USD. The journey is pretty bumpy, and you will need to hold your bags on the motorbike.
How to get around Koh Rong
Koh Rong Island is a small island so getting around is fairly simple. The main way of getting around is on foot. Most of the walks are on small jungle trails or along beaches, making the experience of getting anywhere an adventure in itself. The other main form of transport would be boats and taxi boats. Most hostels organise day or half-day boat trips or you can ask them about calling a taxi boat to take you to beaches on the other side of the island. It is also possible to get around the island on a motorbike: either by motorbike taxi or by renting a bike yourself.
Motorbike taxis hang around Koh Rong Pier, so you can chat with them about prices for getting to further away beaches. There are also some motorbike rental services near the pier, but they tend to be a bit more expensive than other places in Southeast Asia, averaging between $10-$20 USD per day. You would want to be a pretty experienced driver given the terrain on the trails can be rocky in parts and slippery in others. Renting motorbikes is not a popular way to get around considering how short the walks are and how challenging the terrain is to navigate.
Where to stay in Koh Rong
There are accommodations scattered along different beaches in Koh Rong, however, most backpackers will stay in either Kaoh Touch or Long Set Beach areas. Kaoh Touch is the closest thing Koh Rong has to a city centre, which is where most restaurants, bars and shops are located. It is also where the main pier where all boats will depart and arrive. While Kaoh Touch is a convenient location, it is not the nicest location aesthetically. The majority of the good hostels are on Long Set Beach (20 minutes walk from Kaoh Touch). Long Set Beach is much nicer and quieter than Kaoh Touch and all the hostels are beachfront. You can book any accommodation for Koh Rong here.
Nest Beach Club– best party hostel
Nest Beach Club is a famous hostel in Southeast Asia for their day parties every Saturday, known as “Nestival”. However, you don’t need to stay at the hostel to participate in Nestival. Nest is a great place to stay if you’re just wanting to party and don’t mind too much about comfort. The beds are basic with curtains and big lockers. However, the rooms are bathrooms aren’t the most comfortable/clean. For example, there’s no wifi or service in the rooms. Nest has a good vibe, particularly around Nestival (so on weekends). They have a great bar on site and often have drinking games running. During the day, people day drink, play volleyball on the beach, swim or sleep off their hangovers on the beach.
Bunna’s Jungle Hostel
Bunna’s Jungle Hostel is only on Booking.com (not available on Hostelworld) and is right next to Nest Beach Club. They have pod-style beds with curtains, good A/C and really clean bathroom amenities. Bunna’s Jungle Hostel is right next to Nest Hostel (about a 1-minute walk) and is much more quiet and comfortable. There’s not much of a social atmosphere, so most people who stay here will head to Nest Bar for events and socialising.
What to do in Koh Rong
The main activities in Koh Rong are party, beach and chill. Similar to its neighbour island Koh Rong Samloem, it is used as more of a destination to relax and chill on the beach, before heading back to the mainland to more activity-filled destinations. However, unlike Koh Rong Samloem, Koh Rong has much more of a party scene, focused around Nestival, which occurs every Saturday at Nest Beach Club.
Nestival
Nestival is a must-do on Koh Rong Island! Starting from 2 pm every Saturday, Nest Beach Club Hostel hosts an all-day festival and party. They host games, paint everyone with body paint, have plenty of drink specials and everyone ends up partying late into the night. Some of the games include things like wheelbarrow races, egg and spoon races and sack races. You don’t have to stay at Nest Hostel to participate in Nestival or even pay anything to join, you just can’t bring your own alcohol.
What to expect at Nestival
Nestival officially starts at 2 pm, but people start drinking and forming teams on the beach from about 11-12. At the start of Nestival, you’ll need to find a team and choose a team name and team colours. Teams need to be exactly 4 people, but the volunteers also help group people together if you need an extra person or a group. Afterwards, everyone gets painted up in their team colours and waits for the first game. Some games will be single-player (meaning you nominate someone from your team), two-player or the whole team has to play. There are four games that every team plays, each game usually has to split into multiple rounds because there are so many teams.
Points are awarded to teams depending on what place they finish in each game. In the end, the teams with the highest points play an additional fifth game to crown a winner of Nestival. In between the games, there’s plenty of time to drink, dance, eat and socialise. The games usually finish up just before sunset but Nestival runs into a night party. If you’re staying at Nest Hostel, don’t expect to be able to get an early night’s sleep on a Saturday.
Relax on Long Beach/ Sok San Beach
Not be confused with Long Set Beach (where a lot of the hostels are), Long Beach (also called 5 Mile or Sok San Beach) is on the west of the island. Long Beach is the nicest beach on Koh Rong, with clean white sand and clear blue waters. There are not many boats or much of a current so it’s perfect for swimming. It’s also the best spot on the island to watch the sunset.
Getting to Long Beach
To get to Long Set Beach, you do need to hike around 50 min along a Jungle Trail from either Long Set Beach or the Kaoh Touch area. This is a challenging hike as it’s incredibly humid, and sweaty and involves scrambling over rocks using ropes at some points. If you do want to hike, simply follow the only paved road from the pier heading inland. After you pass Happy Elephant Bungalows, the path turns into a dirt trail, which you will follow to the East Coast beach. Hiking one way during the day is safe, but it can be dangerous hiking back at night after sunset. If you want to stay for the sunset, consider getting a one-way taxi boat back instead.
If you prefer not to hike, you can get a shared longtail taxi boat from the Kaoh Touch area to Long Beach. Simply chat with any of the shops/ travel agencies in this area to discuss timings and prices. There will be a few boats going back and forth every day, with exact timings depending on demand. You should not be paying more than $5 USD one way per person for a longtail taxi boat. If you have a larger group or they already have an almost full boat, you can haggle the price down even cheaper. If you’re departing at an odd time, you may have to wait a while for more people to join the shared taxi boat. Coming back at a time just after sunset shouldn’t be an issue as most people will stay at Long Beach for sunset.
Boat tour with night plankton
A few companies are running day-to-night boat tours around Koh Rong. Tours usually start at 1 pm and finish at around 8 pm, including dinner. They include a few snorkel stops, trips to remote beaches for swimming/relaxing, fishing off the boat, heading to a spot to watch the sunset and then swimming with bioluminescent plankton. All hostels sell a variation of this tour or you can book it easily from Kaoh Touch town from any of the shops or tour agencies. Expect to pay around $15-20 USD per person for a tour.
Where to eat in Koh Rong
The majority of the standalone restaurants in Koh Rong are in the Kaoh Touch area; however, most accommodations and hostels also have restaurants on site. If you’re staying in the Long Set Beach area, you probably won’t be walking back and forth to the town for every meal. The quality of the food and diversity of choices is much better if you head to Kaoh Touch restaurants though.
Enocafe
Probably the best restaurant on the island! Enocafe specialises in Italian food, with a lot of menu options including paninis, pizza, pasta, hamburgers and salads. They also do set breakfast menu offerings. They have seating upstairs and on ground level (upstairs is a bit nicer IMO). Enocafe is located in the Kaoh Touch area, just a 2-minute walk from the pier.
White Rose Restaurant
White Rose Restaurant is a busy spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner located just opposite the pier. The food is pretty good, but given it’s so busy it can be a fair wait for food. They offer Khymer foods as well as Western food like Mexican food, burgers, sandwiches and salads. White Rose Restaurant is also open for breakfast and they have a good range of different breakfast offerings.
Nightlife in Koh Rong
Nightlife in Koh Rong revolves around hostels like Nest Beach Club and Mad Monkey. Both hostels have super lively bars that stay open until very late with music, drinking games and drink specials. If you do like to party, make sure you’re on the island for Nestival. The festival called Nestival happens every Saturday from 2 pm at Nest Beach Club Hostel. The day includes many games like sack races and wheelbarrow races, lots of dancing, drinking and partying late into the night.
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