Koh Rong for women travelling alone
Quiet island with long beaches and few crowds
- Budget
- $30 a day
- On foot
- somewhat walkable
- Getting around
- minimal
- Best months
- November to April
- First solo trip
- Good first trip
- Wifi
- poor
- English
- Expensive
- Places to stay
- 8+ read
01 of 07
The read
Koh Rong rewards women who make the right choice before they board the boat: party strip or quiet beach.
What holds up
- English is spoken widely in Koh Touch guesthouses, bars, and restaurants, so you will not struggle.
- The island runs on foot and boat: no traffic, no navigation apps needed, no language required to hire a water taxi.
- Koh Touch hostels have common areas and organised activities that make meeting other travellers effortless without trying.
What to weigh
- There is no proper ATM on the island. Bring enough USD cash from Sihanoukville before you board, in small denominations, and treat it as your whole budget.
- The rainy season runs from mid-May to early November: ferries still run but the jungle trail turns muddy and remote beaches feel very isolated. Mid-November to April is when the island is at its best.
Koh Rong is Cambodia's main island destination, about 45 minutes by speedboat from Sihanoukville. There are two islands to choose from: Koh Rong (bigger, more developed, has the party beach at Koh Touch village) and Koh Rong Samloem (quieter, better beaches, more bungalow-style accommodation). Most solo women prefer Samloem for its calmer atmosphere.
On Koh Rong, the Koh Touch pier area has hostels, bars, and restaurants within a short walking stretch. Long Set Beach (also called Long Beach) on the west side is a 45-minute walk or short boat ride from Koh Touch and is far quieter. Koh Rong Samloem's Saracen Bay has the most accommodation and is good for swimming and snorkeling. Bioluminescent plankton tours run on moonless nights from both islands.
Infrastructure is basic. Power can be intermittent on the quieter beaches, wifi is slow, and ATMs are limited, so bring enough cash from the mainland. Solo women will find the island social if they stay near the main areas and peaceful if they seek the outer beaches. The boat schedules from Sihanoukville run several times daily, but check seas conditions during the wet season (June to October).
02 of 07
Common questions
What people ask about Koh Rong, answered with specifics rather than in general terms.
- Is Koh Rong a good place to travel alone?
- Koh Rong is one of the easier places in the region to travel alone for the first time. English is spoken widely in Koh Touch guesthouses, bars, and restaurants, so you will not struggle.
- How much does Koh Rong cost a day?
- Around $30 a day covers a bed, food and local transport for one person in Koh Rong. That puts it at the cheaper end of the region.
- How do you get around Koh Rong?
- Boats between beaches. Water taxis connect Koh Touch to Long Set Beach and other spots. Schedule is informal. Ask at any guesthouse and someone will arrange a boat.
- When is the best time to visit Koh Rong?
- November to April is the window most travellers aim for in Koh Rong. The rainy season runs from mid-May to early November: ferries still run but the jungle trail turns muddy and remote beaches feel very isolated. Mid-November to April is when the island is at its best.
- Where should you stay in Koh Rong on your own?
- Distances in Koh Rong are larger than they look on a map, so the area you pick matters more than the property. Quiet island with long beaches and few crowds
03 of 07
Where to stay
Each of these has been read rather than listed. The full set is on the stays page.
- Nest Beach Club
The resort sits directly on the beach, with dorms featuring decks and jungle views.
hotel · 4.1 from 922 reviews - Mad Monkey Koh Rong
Solo women mention the female dorms and secure lockers as the main draws here. Noise from the bar runs late, so light sleepers should come prepared.
hostel · 4.5 from 600 reviews - BeachWalk Koh Ronghotel · 4.9 from 370 reviews
- The Secret Garden Koh Ronghotel · 4.7 from 334 reviews · about $150 a night
- The Cliff Hostel,M'pai bay
The common area has multiple seating areas with direct views over the bay.
hostel · 4.2 from 263 reviews - The Lost Boys
Nightly events draw a crowd, but quiet corners exist if you want to sit one out. The reviews name specific staff rather than the place in general, which tells you something about how it runs.
hotel · 4.5 from 251 reviews - Sweet Jungle Bungalows & Restauranthotel · 4.4 from 165 reviews
- Sleeping Trees
Tents and bungalows on a remote beach, with restaurant and bar on site; check in 2:00 PM.
hotel · 4.7 from 138 reviews · about $25 a night
04 of 07
What to know
- 01
Koh Touch vs. remote beaches is a real choice
Koh Touch is social, noisy, and has everything you need. Long Set Beach is isolated with just a few bungalow operations. Choose based on whether you want people around or solitude.
- 02
Cash only on the island
There is no ATM. Bring enough USD cash from Sihanoukville. Some places accept Bakong (Cambodia's mobile payment) but don't rely on it.
- 03
The jungle trail is not marked
The path between Koh Touch and Long Set Beach has minimal signage. Go during daylight. Download offline maps. Some sections are steep with no handrails.
- 04
Electricity and wifi are limited
Power is reliable in Koh Touch now but can be patchy at remote beaches. Wifi exists but is slow everywhere. Treat this as an offline destination.
05 of 07
Getting around
- 01
Boats between beaches
Water taxis connect Koh Touch to Long Set Beach and other spots. Schedule is informal. Ask at any guesthouse and someone will arrange a boat.
- 02
Walking paths connect some areas
A jungle trail connects Koh Touch to Long Set Beach (about 2 hours). It's hilly and muddy in wet season. Wear proper shoes, not flip-flops.
- 03
No roads or vehicles
There are no cars on the island. Some areas have basic dirt paths. Getting around is either by foot or boat.
- 04
Ferry from Sihanoukville
Speed boats take about 45 minutes, slow ferries about 2 hours from Sihanoukville. Multiple companies operate daily. Book at the port or through your accommodation.
06 of 07
How the day runs
Beach, snorkeling, breakfast
Mornings are calm everywhere on the island. Long Set Beach is pristine at sunrise. Koh Touch restaurants serve breakfast by 8am. Snorkeling trips depart around 9-10am.
Beach, jungle walks, hammocks
The jungle trail between Koh Touch and Long Set Beach takes about 2 hours. Most people just pick a beach and stay there. Afternoon rain showers are common in wet season.
Bioluminescence, bars, bonfires
Koh Touch has a handful of beach bars that get going around sunset. The bioluminescent plankton in the water is visible on dark nights. Beach bonfires are common. Things quiet down by midnight.
07 of 07
Neighbourhoods
- 01
Koh Touch
The main beach strip where most travellers land on Koh Rong
- 02
Long Set Beach
The quieter, longer beach on Koh Rong for actual relaxation