About the ride from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong
For the 32 km (20 mile) journey from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong, taking a ferry is your only option. A simple and enjoyable jaunt from Cambodia’s mainland to one of its most popular islands, several companies service the route every day.
After the endless partying on Sihanoukville, with cheap drinks and late-night entertainment, you might be ready for something a little more laid-back.
And while Koh Rong gives you just that, with treks, kayaking and bright-white beaches, it isn’t just any old Southeast Asian island. Though it’s more relaxed than mainland Sihanoukville, Koh Rong still serves up hefty servings of non-stop nightlife.
Many tourists take the trip from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong every day. Sihanoukville is known as the gateway to Cambodia’s southern islands - and Koh Rong is the most famous of them all.
Getting to Koh Rong from Sihanoukville is simple, affordable and easy. And because you only have one option of how to tackle the journey, you don’t have to endure the hassle of choosing between various transport options.
Once you get to Koh Rong from Sihanoukville, you’ll be greeted by an island which is somehow both charming and chaotic. An endless party scene resides alongside some of Cambodia’s most beautiful tree-lined beaches, while cheap drinks and white sands meet for a loud but lovable combination.
If you haven’t yet tired of Sihanoukville’s party scene, Koh Rong offers much the same - just a little quieter and in a much more beautiful location.
For a perfect combination of non-stop nightlife and stunning shoreline sights, it doesn’t get much better than Koh Rong. One of Southeast Asia’s most exciting islands, it attracts travelers from around the globe.
What to see when traveling from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong
The ferry ride to Koh Rong from Sihanoukville is short, but it’s packed with great views. Typically lasting 45-60 minutes, the journey takes you between two of Cambodia’s most popular destinations, with plenty of wonderful panoramas along the way.
For most of your journey from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong, you’ll see the faraway shores of distant lands, including mainland Cambodia, Koh Rong Sanloem and various other tiny islands which hug the Cambodia shore.
You’ll also pass other boats, from small tourist ferries to wooden fishing boats and local people making their way home.
Though the journey itself is peaceful, the destinations on either side are anything but that, with endless nightlife, jaw-dropping drinks deals and hearty portions of infamous Cambodian hedonism.
Both piers are adventures in themselves, and offer a great insight into the comings and goings of how life works on Cambodian shores. Rustic and rudimentary, these piers are busy and bustling, packed with action and adventure.
Upon approaching Koh Rong, you’ll be greeted by the humble shores of what is perhaps Cambodia’s busiest island, with wooden piers, sky-high palms and the surprising charm of some of the world’s most colorful fishing boats. Both friendly and frenetic, don’t expect any time to acclimatise - arriving in Koh Rong throws you right into the heart of the action.
How to get from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong
Taking a ferry
The ferry ride from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong is a pleasantly short trip, with sufficient comfort, regardless which option you choose. Largely a relatively calm journey, the seas it serves are pretty tame and relaxing.
Some ferries from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong offer toilets, AC and English-speaking staff, while others are a little more basic.
Some ferries to Koh Rong from Sihanoukville offer open air seats in tiny boats, which are fantastic for catching great views, enjoying sea air and getting close and personal to the water’s surface.
Other ferries are larger, with indoor seats, which means more comfort but less excitement.
While you’re joyously journeying from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong, you’ll meet plenty of other travelers along the way, perfect for swapping travel tales and future plans - and finding some travel buddies for adventures still to come.
There’s something wildly romantic about exchanging tales as you journey over the seas during your travels. And because travelers in Cambodia are typically a super-sociable bunch, this journey is one of the best places to do it.
