Sihanoukville is a coastal city in Cambodia that is a great place to head to if you want to go off the beaten path a bit. Most of the time, when people plan their itineraries, they include the two most important cities in the country. These are Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Phnom Penh is attractive because it is the capital of the city but it still sees less tourists when compared to Siem Reap which is popular because of the famous Angkor Wat complex.
Few tourists head out to places like Sihanoukville which makes it a great place to escape the crowds. It is also a costal town so it has the beach and some pretty amazing sunsets. You will find that there are plenty of things to do in Sihanoukville too so you won’t really get bored either.
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Getting From Siemp Reap To Sihanoukville
I was traveling through the Cambodia and after visiting grand Angkor Wat temple complex and thought that it was time for some beach time. We traveled by road for Sihanoukville from Siem Reap, it was a long and tiring journey. We reached Sihanoukville at late night and crashed in our hotel near Otres beach, which is little outside the city.
Where To Stay In Sihanoukville
The thing about Sihanoukville is that there are some exceptional places to stay in. These don’t even have to break the bank. Most the accommodations whether luxury or budget come with all the amenities you could desire on a holiday. Here are some of the top picks in the area.
Villa Blue Lagoon – Budget
⭐️ Rating: 9.5/10 (163 Reviews) Price: $16 per night 📍Location: Phum 2, Sihanoukville Details: Read more on booking.com now!
This is one of the best budget accommodation options available in Sihanoukville. Located just 2 km away from Victory beach, you will find that the Villa Blue Lagoon has it all. Its own swimming pool, a shared garden and even free parking for your rented bikes/cars. It even has high speed Wifi so you can work from home should you want to.
Even the airport is just 22 kilometers away and you can book a (paid) airport shuttle service to and fro which makes getting to the accommodation a breeze. Don’t want to head out but still don’t want to get bored? There’s a table tennis table and a billiard table on site.
“The accommodation provides an incredible comfortable experience facilitated by the beautiful hosts that have made this truly a little oasis in Sihanoukville.”
Guido (read more reviews now!)
The rooms are clean and luxurious with some spectacular views. You’ll find that it is a nice quiet place to stay in should you choose to book a room here.
Queenco Hotel & Casino – Luxury
⭐️ Rating: 8.5/10 (181 Reviews) Price: $78 per night 📍Location: Victory Beach, Mohavithey Krong, District 3, Sihanoukville Details: Read more on booking.com now!
If you want to really pamper yourself then think about booking a room at the Queenco hotel & Casino. The rooms are contemporary styled and have a huge flat screen TV. The best rooms have a sea view with a balcony.
Now obviously like all the great places in Sihanoukville, it has its own outdoor swimming pool plus a spa and a wellness center. So you can really pamper all your senses.
There are even four in house restaurants on campus so you don’t have to go far to enjoy a good meal. Or just have them bring it right up to your room where you can enjoy it on your balcony.
“The attention of the staff was amazing, the best one we experienced along Vietnam & Cambodja, specially from Mr Tak Chork and Mr Marith. It’s helpful to have a driver to take you to close places, like to the pier to go to the islands. Also, the massage service are delightful, highly recommended! This was the perfect place to spend the night before going to Koh Rong.”
Maria (read more reviews now!)
The place obviously also has a casino attached. Duh… Right? Its right there in the name. Plus it has a billiards room, a souvenir shop and a beauty saloon. Totally a hotel that has it all if you know what I mean!
Sunrise At Otres Beach
Next morning we woke up early and went to the beach for sunrise. The sun rises from the opposite site of the sea so, the view is not really great but the beach was empty and clean. There was a garden area developed next to the beach and trees provided us a place to sit in shade.
Serendipity Beach
After coming back to the hotel after sunrise, we decided to go to Serendipity beach for rest of the day. It is one of the most popular beaches in Sihanoukville and there are many shops and shacks. The beach was full of activity, we settled in a restaurant by the beach for lunch and drinks.
The food was yummy though a bit expensive than other parts of Cambodia. We spent rest of the day had to relax at the beach doing nothing and it was a welcome respite after a hectic schedule. Later that evening we went to Casino for some entertainment.
Otres Beach Market
Next day we went to Otres beach’s market for breakfast and spent a relaxed half a day exploring the market. Later on, in afternoon we went hired a boat for Island tour. We did snorkeling but the water was muddy and we could not see anything but boat tour to the island was good. We decided to spend a relaxing evening and came back to our hotel
While we were coming back from Serendipity beach to Otres beach we saw the Golden Lion Roundabout. It is one of the most iconic landmarks in Sihanoukville and there are some good restaurants and bars around it.
Kbal Chhay Waterfall
I could not go to Kbal Chhay Waterfall due to lack of time but it is a good place for a day picnic. It is seven kilometers from the center of Sihanoukville. If you have hired a bike then ask for directions to go to the waterfall and if not then hire a Tuk-Tuk.
It is a perfect place to spend time in untouched natural beauty. We spent two days in Sihanoukville and next day morning we left this relaxed town for our next destination.
Shopping
There is nothing special about it but if you are interested then buy some souvenirs from gift shops. Some shops sell gems and decorative items or jewelry made from sea shells etc. Beachwear is also available in small shops around beaches.
Things To Remember When Visiting Sihanoukville
- It is beach town and most of the activities revolve around beaches.
- If want to spend time in quiet then walk towards the far end of Otres beach. If coming from town then cross the market area on the beach, which is closer to the city.
- Serendipity beach is most popular in Sihanoukville and there are many activities.
- Take a tour of islands from the jetty at Sihanoukville, do bargain.
- Food at the beach is a bit expensive but view and quality of food make up for it.
- Hire a bike/two wheeler to explore Sihanoukville, it is most convenient and economical way.
- Avoid snorkeling and scuba diving, water is not clean and Thailand has better options.
- It is better to do kayaking, windsurfing, and kitesurfing though prices are a bit on higher side. Bargain hard to get a good price.
- There are some good Casinos in the area for night out.
About The Author
Sapna is a travel blogger from India, who in her previous life was working with international fashion brands sourcing from India. Her blog is focused on her travel experiences and how she traveled. She has traveled solo, with friends & family as well as with groups.
Sapna likes to see monuments and converse with local people to get the feel of the place. She prefers to go out and sit on the beach or on banks of a river or in some café or roam around on streets instead of lazing around in the hotel. Apart from travel, she loves food and while traveling she prefer to eat local food.
She likes to add a lot of pictures in her post because she strongly believes that “A picture is worth a thousand words” You can get read her work at My Simple Sojourn or get in touch with her on Twitter or Instagram
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** Photographs and pictures have been provided by the author for use in this post and do not belong to Globetrove.