After a couple of emotional days in Phnom Penh it was time for us to escape somewhere and unwind. Luckily, Koh Rong was the next stop on our list. This incredible island paradise is just the place for some rest and relaxation! If you want to escape the outside world then this is the place to go.
Getting there…
Fair warning. Getting here is a bit tricky but it is so worth the hassle! We (Char) booked a bus to take us to Sihanoukville. From here we got onto a speed ferry that took us to the island. Sounds simple doesn’t it? Not when your bus is 2 hours late and you have less than 5 minutes to go 15 minutes through town. We launched ourselves off the bus that was still moving and instantly descended upon a tuk tuk driver. We practically threw money at him to get us to the pier as fast as possible. Somehow, we made it on time although my journey got far worse as a storm set in making the boat trip fairly rough and my motion sickness pretty unbearable.
As if by magic, Koh Rong appeared out of the mist. The storm clouds lifted and sunshine rained down on a lush green paradise with white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Char and I had chosen to stay on possibly the least populated side of the island. We wanted the authentic rural experience. I can definitely say that this is exactly what we got.
Camping on the Beach
The ferry dropped us off on the main pier where we boarded another, smaller boat. This dropped us off on 4k beach. From here we had to hike along the beach and then through the jungle to eventually reach the Suns of Beaches Hostel.
This has to be the most chilled out, picturesque place I have ever stayed. We were offered the choice of a beach hut or a tent. No surprises, that living up to our reputation as the crazy British girls, we opted for the tent. This was set just off of the beach, surrounded by thick jungle where we could listen to the sounds of the local wildlife, as well as hear the waves crashing gently over the shore as we fell asleep.
What to do?
With no WiFi or electricity to distract us we didn’t really achieve much during our stay on Koh Rong. This isn’t to say that we didn’t have the option of hiking to the top of the island, kayaking to the local pagoda island or going scuba diving. We were immensely exhausted from our travels and chose to be total beach bunnies for the day.
This was followed up in the evening by relaxing with cocktails in hammocks at the beach bar! Should I return with a bit more time I would make sure I tried all of these activities. Fellow travelers assured us both that they are worth the effort.
Bioluminescent Plankton
One thing we did manage was finding bioluminescent plankton. This is one thing that Koh Rong is quite famous for! Having already seen them in Koh Phi Phi we knew exactly what we were looking for. Make sure there is no light around you at all and take a dip in the water. Movement is what causes them to glow!
Taking advantage of having the beach all to ourselves while the other guests were lazing around in hammocks at the bar, we went for a late-night swim. For some reason, quite spontaneously, I decided that having never skinny dipped in my life, now was the time to try it! I must admit that I have never felt so liberated, running through the waves under a gorgeous orange moon with glowing plankton at my feet. Absolutely once in a lifetime. The moon also made for some gorgeous silhouette photographs to be taken.
I could talk all day about how spectacularly gorgeous this island is but when you see it in person it speaks volumes for itself. Visit this lush paradise sooner rather than later if you can. Tourism is already beginning to take over, especially around the main pier. Once it does I fear the island will lose its natural beauty, which is what attracts travellers to it in the first place.
As you can tell, I honestly could not recommend visiting Koh Rong enough. It should be part of every backpackers South East Asia itinerary!
Have you visited Koh Rong yet? Let me know in the comments below!
