Trying to figure out where to stay on Koh Rong? We’ve got you covered!
This laid-back Cambodian island is all about white-sand beaches and clear water, so if you’re looking for a barefoot vacation, you’re coming to the right place! But while Koh Rong looks small on a map, its different beach areas can actually feel quite separate from one another, and getting between them isn’t always the easiest.
That’s why choosing the right place to stay can make a big difference to your trip. Lucky for you, we live in Cambodia, and since Koh Rong is our closest beach, we’ve been here many times. In this guide, we’ll break down the three best areas to stay in Koh Rong and our favorite hotels for every budget. Let’s get into it!
Don’t miss out!
Our Top Choice
This is the area and hotel we love the most and suggest booking ASAP!
Our FAVORITE area to stay on Koh Rong is Long Set Beach! It offers convenience, secluded resorts, lively bars, and stunning beaches throughout.
We recommend staying at BeachWalk Koh Rong, offering luxurious beachfront bungalows, a pool, and more, at a surprisingly affordable rate!
Where to Stay in Koh Rong Map
Overview of the Best Areas to Stay on Koh Rong
The first thing you need to know about Koh Rong is that it’s absolutely gorgeous! The second is that its different areas are pretty spread out, so where you stay matters!
Most travelers reach Koh Rong by ferry from Sihanoukville, but different services stop at different beaches and piers. Check the closest ferry stop before booking and ask your hotel to arrange any onward transfer in advance.
Getting around can also require a little planning. Tuk-tuks are available but limited, so renting a scooter is the easiest thing to do, and most resorts can arrange one for you.
Finally, bring plenty of cash! There are a few EFTPOS terminals on the island where you can withdraw money, but fees are high at around 10%, so we only use this as a last resort. Small bills are most useful, as many smaller shops can’t break large notes. Most resorts accept cards, but service is patchy, and power cuts are common – we call it Cambodia time!
Here’s a quick look at the best areas and hotels on Koh Rong:
- Long Set Beach – Best for first-time visitors – This area is a real all-rounder, with a fantastic balance of beautiful beaches, restaurants, fun bars, and a wide range of hotel choices. We love BeachWalk Koh Rong for its boho-style rooms and excellent location at the quieter end of the beach.
- Pagoda Beach – Best for beachfront resorts – Pagoda Beach is ideal if you want a quieter resort escape, and You&Me Resort is a gorgeous option with a peaceful beachfront setting.
- Sok San Beach / Long Beach – Best for a romantic getaway – This quieter part of Koh Rong is perfect for couples wanting secluded beaches and beautiful sunsets. We love the Golden Beach Resort because it offers an indulgent stay right on the sand without breaking the bank!
Important Tip
Multiple Koh Rong trips have taught us that this island doesn’t reward spontaneity when it comes to planning. The good places get snapped up months in advance, leaving the overpriced and underwhelming options for last-minute travelers.
The sweet spot for booking Koh Rong accommodations is 3-4 months out—enough time to secure good rates but not so far ahead that you’re locking in plans excessively early.
Where to Stay on Koh Rong
Long Set Beach
BEST FOR FIRST-TIME VISITORS
Pros
- Great balance of beach time, restaurants, and bars
- Plenty of hotel and bungalow options
- Close to livelier Koh Touch without being right in the middle of it
Cons
- Busier than Koh Rong’s more secluded beaches
- Some areas can feel livelier, especially if you’re close to hostels and nightlife
If it’s your first time on Koh Rong, this is where we’d recommend staying. Long Set Beach gives you that gorgeous white-sand island experience, but with enough restaurants and bars around that you don’t feel cut off from everything. We think it’s the best all-round base on the island!
The beach itself is long, wide, and beautiful, so you can still spend your days swimming, sunbathing, and doing very little else if that’s the plan! But when you do want to head out, there’s a much bigger concentration of restaurants and beach bars here than in some of Koh Rong’s quieter areas.
You’re also close to Koh Touch, which is the island’s main hub for hostels, nightlife, and partying. That gives Long Set a bit more energy than somewhere like Pagoda Beach, but you definitely don’t have to be in the middle of the action. If the party scene isn’t for you, you can easily avoid it by staying further along the beach, where it tends to be much quieter.
That’s what we like most about Long Set. You can have lazy beach days and then go out for dinner and drinks in the evening, dipping in and out of the party scene as you see fit! And you can do all of this without having to worry about transport, because you can walk everywhere.
Koh Rong Lagoon – $$$
If you want somewhere a little more upscale on Long Set Beach, Koh Rong Lagoon is a great choice. It sits right by the sand, so you still get that gorgeous beachfront setting while staying close to the bars and restaurants.
Now, this place is our luxury pick, but it’s not super fancy like some of the hotels in Pagoda Beach and Long Beach. However, it boasts comfy beds, and it’s super well-equipped, with great facilities that deliver that resort feel. The food at the restaurant is super tasty, and the staff treats guests like family, which always makes a stay ten times better.
Some villas are private while others are shared dorms, so it’s a perfect choice for groups. There’s a really fun and social vibe here, but it’s not a rowdy party hostel.
Rooms typically start from around $550 USD per night for a 4-bedroom villa.
If Koh Rong Lagoon is all booked up, Koh Rong Beach Resort & Bungalows is a more polished option nearby, with beachfront bungalows and an on-site restaurant and bar overlooking the water. This is another great one for groups, too, with deluxe family-style rooms and bungalows available.
BeachWalk Koh Rong – $$
BeachWalk Koh Rong is our favorite hotel on the island! Its boho-chic decor is very Instagram-friendly, and it’s definitely in keeping with Koh Rong’s laid-back vibe. It also boasts an amazing location right on Long Set Beach, super close to the pier and all the action.
The bungalows feel modern and beachy, and we just love the 25-meter swimming pool right on the sand! It even has a swim-up bar built in, and to us, nothing says “vacation” like cocktails in the pool!
We love this hotel because it’s sociable enough that you can meet people and have a few drinks, but it doesn’t feel like you’ve accidentally booked yourself into a full-blown party hostel. And when you’ve had enough of socializing, you can retreat to your private room or bungalow and just relax.
Rooms typically start from around $100 USD per night.
If BeachWalk Koh Rong is all booked up for your dates, Royal C Beach Resort is a stylish alternative just steps from Long Set Beach. The restaurant serves food from all over the world, and the friendly staff can set you up with all manner of activities, from jet-ski rides to snorkeling adventures.
We also think that Koh Rong Hill Beach Resort is worth considering if you want somewhere quieter towards the eastern end of Long Set. It has ocean-view rooms, a beachfront restaurant, and a more peaceful setting away from the busiest part of the beach.
Onederz Koh Rong – $
If you’re traveling on a budget and want somewhere sociable, Onederz Koh Rong is a great shout! It’s directly on Long Set Beach and only around a five-minute walk from the pier, so you step off the ferry and you’re basically there!
We love this place because it’s a hostel, but it has fantastic, modern facilities like a delicious restaurant and common areas with lots of games. It also has a beautiful beachfront location, and they throw some great beach parties. It’s not the place to stay if you’re looking for serenity, but for solo travelers and backpackers who want to meet people and have fun on the beach, it’s ideal.
Dorm beds typically start from around $10 USD per night, while private rooms start at about $40 USD.
If Onederz is full or you want a hotel rather than a hostel, Scarlet Sails Resort is another affordable option around Long Set Beach. It’s definitely a better fit if you’re after a quieter stay, although you can still easily walk to other beach bars and restaurants nearby.
Why We Book Hotels on booking.com
Booking.com is a trusted online booking platform for hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and boutique stays around the world. We’ve been using Booking.com to reserve our accommodations for over a decade, and we keep coming back for a few key reasons:
Pagoda Beach
BEST FOR BEACHFRONT RESORTS
Pros
- Peaceful, beautiful beach with clear water
- Great choice of stylish beachfront resorts
- Ideal for couples and a quieter stay
Cons
- Very limited restaurants and bars outside the resorts
- Less convenient if you want to explore without renting a scooter
If you’re dreaming of a quiet beachfront escape, Pagoda Beach is where we’d recommend staying. This part of Koh Rong is much calmer than Long Set and instead of hostels, you’ve got a collection of stylish resorts lining the beach.
The main draw here really is the beach itself. Days tend to revolve around relaxation, so if you’re dreaming of reading by the pool and swimming in the sea whenever you feel like it, we think you’ll love Pagoda Beach!
We think it works especially well for couples and honeymooners, or anyone looking to switch off and recharge. When you stay here, the resort you book will be a big part of your vacation rather than just somewhere to sleep.
There is a trade-off, though. Pagoda Beach doesn’t have the same concentration of restaurants and bars as Long Set, so you’ll probably end up eating at your resort most of the time. That’s not exactly a hardship if you choose a good one, but it’s definitely worth knowing before you book!
You’re also more isolated on this side of the island. If you want to explore beyond the beach, we’d recommend renting a scooter, which you can often arrange through your resort.
For us, Pagoda Beach is best if your dream Koh Rong trip involves doing as little as possible, and doing it somewhere very pretty.
You&Me Resort – $$
If you want a beachfront resort stay without going completely overboard on price, You&Me Resort is our top pick on Pagoda Beach. It sits right on the sand and has two outdoor pools that look right out onto the beach.
The rooms are modern and comfortable, with air conditioning and private balconies, while the onsite restaurant serves everything from Cambodian dishes and fresh seafood to Western favorites. There’s also a bar, spa, canoeing, and even motorbike rentals, which is super handy if you do decide to venture beyond Pagoda Beach.
We think this one is a great choice for couples and families who want an easy resort-style stay. You’ve got the gorgeous beach right outside and plenty of facilities on site, so all you need to do is check in and enjoy your vacation!
Rooms typically start from around $190 USD per night.
If You&Me isn’t available for your travel dates, The One Resort is another lovely beachfront option on Pagoda Beach, with a swimming pool and rooms overlooking the tropical surroundings. It has that same stay-put-and-relax appeal, so it’s another good choice if you want your hotel to be the main focus of your stay.
Meanwhile, Anaya Koh Rong is a romantic, modern resort with a gorgeous infinity pool and sumptuous spa treatments on offer. We love the beachfront restaurant that overlooks both the pool and the sea, and some rooms even come with their own small private pool!
The Secret Garden Koh Rong – $
If you’re looking for something a little more intimate, The Secret Garden Koh Rong is a gorgeous choice. The rooms and bungalows have a contemporary Scandinavian-inspired design mixed with local Khmer touches, and every room comes with its own private balcony or terrace.
The resort is modern and minimalist, so it’s stylish, but it lets the beachfront setting do the talking. The onsite restaurant serves a mix of Asian, Western, and fusion dishes, so you won’t get bored of eating dinner here, and the staff can even arrange romantic beachside dinners!
Rooms typically start from around $135 USD per night.
Another option is the very literally named The Beach Resort, which also sits directly on Pagoda Beach and has a private beach area and swimming pool. It offers a clean and comfortable barefoot stay right on the sand, with super delicious and flavourful food available from its open-air restaurant.
Sok San Beach / Long Beach
BEST FOR A ROMANTIC GETAWAY
Pros
- Gorgeous sunsets and wide stretches of sand
- Peaceful without feeling completely isolated
- Great beachfront seafood restaurants
Cons
- Quieter than Long Set, so nightlife is limited
- Getting around can take more planning
If you’re planning a romantic trip to Koh Rong and want plenty of privacy, Sok San Beach is the area we recommend – no contest! This long stretch of sand runs along the island’s western coast, so you get beautiful sunsets and plenty of space, with a much more peaceful atmosphere than on the busier eastern side.
The beach itself is the main attraction here. It’s wide and quiet, so it was practically made for long walks and lazy afternoons! There are also several lovely resorts dotted along the coast, so you can enjoy a more secluded feel without giving up all of your creature comforts.
Another big reason we like this area is the beachfront dining. Sok San is a great spot for fresh seafood, and being able to eat dinner with your feet in the sand definitely adds to the whole romantic getaway vibe.
It’s quieter than Long Set, but that’s exactly the point! And it’s not totally cut off from civilization, either. There are still places to eat and drink, but the atmosphere is much calmer. No thumping music over here!
For us, Sok San hits a really nice sweet spot. It’s peaceful enough to feel like an escape, but not so remote that you feel cut off from everything.
The Royal Sands Koh Rong – $$$
If you’re coming to Koh Rong for a honeymoon or romantic getaway and fancy going all out, The Royal Sands Koh Rong is THE place to stay. This gorgeous 5-star resort sits along 550 meters of white sand on Koh Rong’s western coast, so you get a secluded beachfront setting and those beautiful sunsets that make this side of the island so special.
Accommodation is in spacious villas, with options ranging from ocean-view stays to beachfront villas with their own private pools. Of course, all of that comes at a price! But if you’re celebrating something special and want a real luxury island escape, we think this is one of the most memorable places you could stay on Koh Rong.
Rooms typically start from around $350 USD per night, or $650 USD in peak season.
Golden Beach Resort – $$
For something a little more affordable that still has that dreamy resort feeling, Golden Beach Resort is an amazing pick in Sok San. It has direct access to a private stretch of beach, plus outdoor pools, a spa, and plenty of places to kick back with a sea view.
We particularly like this one because you get lots of resort facilities without feeling completely cut off. The onsite restaurant serves Khmer and international dishes, including fresh seafood, and there’s also a bar, gym, and even an artificial surf wave if lying horizontally on the beach eventually gets too taxing!
Rooms typically start from around $200 USD per night.
If Golden Beach is fully booked, White Sand Ark Resort is another lovely option right on the beachfront in Sok San Village. It has modern air-conditioned rooms, an on-site restaurant and bar, and it’s right on the beach.
Lanting Villas – $
If you want to keep costs down, we love Lanting Villas because it offers a nice beachfront stay. The rooms and apartments are comfortable and modern, and you can wake up each morning with pretty views of the water. This property is tucked away by Sok San Beach and has a swimming pool, tropical gardens, and a restaurant and bar overlooking the surrounding scenery.
What makes this place so great is how lovely the owner, Jerry, is. He truly can’t do enough for you!
We also just love this stay because you still get that lovely secluded Sok San atmosphere, but at a much more accessible price point. Sold!
Rooms typically start from around $120 USD per night during peak season.
If Lanting Villas is fully booked for the dates you want, Paradiso Oceanfront Bungalows is another affordable option right in Sok San Village with direct access to a private beach area. The property consists of colorful bungalows on stilts, so it’s one of the most unique stays on the island, and who doesn’t love waking up just steps away from the water?
Book your Airport Taxi in advance
Start your trip stress-free by booking your airport taxi before you arrive. You’ll skip the long lines, avoid overpriced fares and scams, and won’t have to worry about explaining your hotel address to a driver. Simply prebook your airport pickup online here, and your driver will be ready to take you directly to your hotel!
AIRALO e-SIM Up To 15% Off With Code “DTRAVEL15”
What’s an eSIM?
An eSIM is a digital version of a SIM card. Instead of buying a little plastic chip and swapping it into your phone, you just download it. It connects your phone to a local network in whatever country you’re visiting — no stores, no waiting, and no fiddling with tiny cards.
In simple terms, it’s the easiest way to get data and stay connected while traveling.
We’ve tested a bunch of eSIMs over the years, and after a few frustrating experiences, we’ve found our favorite — Airalo. It’s fast, reliable, and incredibly easy to use. You can set it up in minutes (even my mom managed it solo on her first try!), and the prices are some of the best out there.
💡 Bonus: We’ve got an exclusive 15% discount for our readers. Use the codes:
Thanks for reading!
While many other Southeast Asian islands get the glory, Koh Rong is just as beautiful without the crowds. It’s truly a hidden paradise and is easy to add to your Cambodia travels! All three of these areas are great to stay in, so you can find the best hotel to fit your travel style.
Before you go, check out the rest of our Cambodia blogs. We have more guides to help you plan a memorable trip, from choosing the best place to stay to planning your itinerary and picking out the best activities. Here are a few blogs you might be interested in – cheers!
5 BEST Things to do in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Where to Stay in Siem Reap, Cambodia: 5 Areas & Hotels
How to Spend THREE DAYS in Siem Reap, Cambodia: The Best 3-Day Itinerary
The Services We Recommend
From hotels to guided tours, we only recommend services we know and trust. Here are our recommended partners so you can explore with confidence.
Meghan is a slow traveler and meticulous planner, who fell in love with traveling while exploring North and Central America on motorcycle and backpacking through Asia. Now based in Cambodia, she specializes in crafting seamless itineraries that balance must-see sights with spontaneity—favoring mountains, history, craft beer, and experiences that go a little off script.
