Sihanoukville, formerly known as Kampong Sam or Kompong Som, is located on the south coast of Cambodia at the gulf of Thailand, nearly halfway between Thailand and Vietnam. It is both Cambodia's major port, which is the country's only deep-sea port, and Cambodia's most important seaside resort with an ample supply of accommodation and a large variety of restaurants and nightlife. Three sides of the town are bordered by beaches and islands, offering different kinds of accommodation categories and tourist facilities. Sihanoukville's beaches are less spoiled than those of famous other beach holiday destinations in Southeast Asia, but can not be called 100% clean.
The best time for a beach holiday is between November and March, when the coastal area is sunny and comparatively cool. April to June is much hotter. Low season is the rainy season from July till October. There are more rainy days at the coastal area than in the heartland.
The best time for a beach holiday is between November and March, when the coastal area is sunny and comparatively cool. April to June is much hotter. Low season is the rainy season from July till October. There are more rainy days at the coastal area than in the heartland.
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Victory beach is the tourist beach on the northwestern side of the peninsula. It offers a choice of budget guesthouses near and on the Weather Station Hill. This beach is close to the seaport.
Lamherkey Beach is a smaller strand at the south end of Victory Beach. At this beach, you can hire boats to nearby islands.
Independence Beach, much quieter, is also known as "7-chann beach", it is dominated by a seven-storey hotel.
Sokha Beach, another long beach, close to Independence Beach, is privately owned by Cambodia's first 5-star beach resort.
Serendipity Beach is popular among western backpackers, it offers a good choice of inexpensive guesthouse accommodation and many food stalls as well as bars and restaurants and shops, right on the beach and along two streets parellel to it.
Ochheuteal Beach, together with Serendipity Beach, is a 4 km long strip of white sand. Both beaches are filled with chairs. Whereas Serendipity Beach offers more Western style bars, Ochheuteal Beach has more beach stands.
Otres Beach, further south-east and outside town, is another 4 km long stretch of clean sands and much more silent than Serendipity/Ochheuteal Beaches.
Day excursions from Sihanoukville to the nearby "3 islands", for snorkeling activities and beach relaxation, and to Ream National Park, a mangrove nature reserve with long white sandy beaches, are offered every day as shared group tours. But daytours to Phnom Bokor National Park are not always available as such inexpensive "join-in" group tours.
Koh Russei (Bamboo Island) and Koh Rong can be reached by regular boat service every day. The main scuba diving area is at Koh Rong Samloem, 22 km offshore from Sihanoukville, offering perfectly unspoiled beaches, too. Scuba diving at Koh Tang, which is the best diving area, requires overnight stays outside Sihanoukville.
Lamherkey Beach is a smaller strand at the south end of Victory Beach. At this beach, you can hire boats to nearby islands.
Independence Beach, much quieter, is also known as "7-chann beach", it is dominated by a seven-storey hotel.
Sokha Beach, another long beach, close to Independence Beach, is privately owned by Cambodia's first 5-star beach resort.
Serendipity Beach is popular among western backpackers, it offers a good choice of inexpensive guesthouse accommodation and many food stalls as well as bars and restaurants and shops, right on the beach and along two streets parellel to it.
Ochheuteal Beach, together with Serendipity Beach, is a 4 km long strip of white sand. Both beaches are filled with chairs. Whereas Serendipity Beach offers more Western style bars, Ochheuteal Beach has more beach stands.
Otres Beach, further south-east and outside town, is another 4 km long stretch of clean sands and much more silent than Serendipity/Ochheuteal Beaches.
Day excursions from Sihanoukville to the nearby "3 islands", for snorkeling activities and beach relaxation, and to Ream National Park, a mangrove nature reserve with long white sandy beaches, are offered every day as shared group tours. But daytours to Phnom Bokor National Park are not always available as such inexpensive "join-in" group tours.
Koh Russei (Bamboo Island) and Koh Rong can be reached by regular boat service every day. The main scuba diving area is at Koh Rong Samloem, 22 km offshore from Sihanoukville, offering perfectly unspoiled beaches, too. Scuba diving at Koh Tang, which is the best diving area, requires overnight stays outside Sihanoukville.
