Visit Koh Rong Island and Samloem Diving Center and Koh Rong (Center) Cambodia things to do
Koh Rong Island and Koh Rong Samloem Island, Cambodia.
Traveling to these islands is easy. There are several ferries leaving daily from Sihanoukville on the mainland. The 25 km journey takes approximately 1 hour on one of the fast ferries or 1 hour and 45 minutes on one of the ‘slow boats’. Fares are currently $20 roundtrip for the fast ferry or $10 roundtrip for the slow boat option.
Check carefully when booking that you are going to the correct island, not all ferries go to both islands and travelers often get confused between Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem. Also, while it is possible to travel between the islands, there are no ‘scheduled’ services and you may need to negotiate with a local water taxi or wait until another ferry has a service available.
KR is the more active of the two islands with more facilities, KRS is quieter, less developed and generally more expensive.
Traveling to Koh Rong, you will arrive at the town of Koh Touch, where there are many bars, dorms, rooms for rent and bungalows, currently only a couple offer air conditioning. Koh Rong Samloem is also inhabited and offers some accommodation, bars and restaurants, but is much less developed and can be more expensive. Two other nearby islands, Koh Koun and a small island known locally as ‘Little Island’ are virtually uninhabited and boats do not drop off passengers there, however all four islands offer excellent snorkeling and diving spots. This makes Koh Rong an excellent ‘base camp’ for scuba diving, snorkelling boat trips and ‘island hopping’.
Life here mainly revolves around beaches and bars. Things to do include boating, scuba diving, snorkeling and the High Point rope park located high in the rainforest canopy with 400m of cable cars and stairs and a 130m zip line. Snorkeling equipment and kayaks can also be rented. As you get further from town, the beaches become more deserted and the waters become clearer.
One of the main attractions is scuba diving and if you are qualified you can have fun diving, alternatively you can do a ‘Trial Dive’ under the supervision of an instructor or even take a course and become a qualified diver.
Bring enough cash as there are no ATMs and there is a 10% commission on cash advances. Medical facilities are also limited with a couple of pharmacies and a volunteer clinic. So if you’re likely to need any medication, bring it along and be prepared for a return trip to the mainland for any major treatment.
The islands offer you an ideal solution to relax on a deserted white sand beach, party or adventure, just be prepared and informed and you will have a great time.
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