The Southern Islands
Under new French management, Kactus is a labyrinthine backpacker estate that hosts new-agey stuff like meditation, tantra yoga and creative art workshops using objects found on the beach. It's all part of its sustainable-living mantra, which also includes solar power, a vegan menu, detox drinks and horse riding (discovery rides US$25). A handsome beach extends 1km or so northwest.
Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and snorkelling gear are available and it has 24-hour electricity.
25.41 MILES
Past the Koh Tuch Beach headland (near Treehouse Bungalows) is Long Set Beach. Walk another half-hour along the sand and encounter little more than hermit…
20.46 MILES
Saracen Bay is an almost impossibly beautiful 2.5km-long crescent of white sand on the island's east coast, lined by two dozen or so resorts. Saracen Bay…
11.98 MILES
The large island of Koh Thmei is part of Ream National Park. It was once slated for a major development, including a bridge to the mainland, but as…
21.49 MILES
This idyllic swath of sand is home to just a few resorts that are all quite lovely. It's a 30-minute hike (sneakers necessary) here from Saracen Bay, or…
10.52 MILES
Midway between Independence and Serendipity Beaches lies Sihanoukville’s prettiest stretch of sand, 1.5km-long Sokha Beach. Its fine, silicon-like sand…
27.36 MILES
On the west side of the island is Koh Rong's finest beach, a 7km, almost empty stretch of drop-dead-gorgeous white sand. Sok San village at the northern…
24.74 MILES
At the easternmost point of the island, this jungle-clad, white-sand cove is roughly two hours from Koh Tuch on foot along the coast or 30 minutes by moto…
27.81 MILES
Ong Lang Beach has a series of sandy bays sheltered by rocky headlands, and several midrange resorts in the area service those wanting to get away from…
2.98 MILES
Lined with barbecue shacks, this is not Ream's prettiest beach but this is the main jumping-off point for boats to Koh Ta Kiev. It's the first beach you…
6.54 MILES
The most southern section of Otres Beach, known as Otres 2, is mainly the domain of Chinese developers these days, with a few Western-oriented holdouts.
7.66 MILES
Past the southern end of Ochheuteal Beach, beyond the Phnom Som Nak Sdach (Hill of the King’s Palace) headland, lies stunning Otres Beach, a seemingly…
7.73 MILES
Otres 1 is the first stretch of sand along Otres Beach. It's changing fast as Chinese companies take over from predominantly Western-owned businesses and…
10.05 MILES
This 4km-long beach qualifies as Sihanoukville’s main beach, but it's no place to swim these days as the rapid development of high-rise casinos along its…
10.34 MILES
The highly garish and impossible-to-miss Golden Lions Roundabout sits at the top of the hill where Serendipity Beach Rd heads down to the sea.
10.52 MILES
Midway between Independence and Serendipity Beaches lies Sihanoukville’s prettiest stretch of sand, 1.5km-long Sokha Beach. Its fine, silicon-like sand…
11.4 MILES
Northwest of Sokha Beach, much of Independence Beach (also known as 7-Chann Beach) has been taken over by a gargantuan new property development, but a…