Sihanoukville and Koh Rong
Tucked away in the south of Cambodia, the town of Sihanoukville is not much to write home about. However what lies beyond the town is postcard-perfect beaches and islands, with powdery white sand and turquoise seas. Days here are spent soaking up the sun, island hopping and snorkelling and diving on coral reefs.
Sihanoukville was originally just a small fishing town, however nowadays, it is Cambodia’s premier beach destination. Many of the islands in the Koh Rong Archipelago are solely occupied by individual hotels, making this the ideal place for those seeking something exclusive and private. Back on the mainland, the tree-lined beaches are dotted with laidback resorts and boutique properties.
The Koh Rong Archipelago offers some fantastic diving. There are a number of dive sites throughout the islands, with marine life including colourful coral, stingrays, scorpion fish and parrot fish. The waters around the islands are also home to rare species such as dugongs and sea turtles. The area is part of a 405 square kilometre protected marine area. On the coast around Sihanoukville there are also lush mangrove forests, which can be explored by kayak.