A historic and inspirational southeast Asian country, Cambodia is known all around the world for its extraordinary historical sites and ancient temples. Cambodia is a hugely popular tourist destination for people with an interest in Asian history and architecture, with sites like the Banteay Srei temple and Angkor ruins being simply fascinating to explore and experience. The country is also known for the beauty of its capital city, Phnom Penh, home to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, but as well as all of these stunning landmarks and points of interest, Cambodia also has a lot of gorgeous beaches and is an excellent Asian destination for people looking for some fun in the sun.
The great thing about Cambodia's beaches is that a lot of the country's coastline is relatively pristine and untouched by the hands of man. Unlike other locations in Asia and elsewhere around the world, Cambodia hasn't yet fallen victim to the negative side effects of tourism. The beaches of this country often look like private tropical islands, with nothing but soft sand, warm water, and lush vegetation all around, as opposed to the built-up, resort-laden beaches of better-known vacation destinations. This means that Cambodia is a great honeymoon location and a super spot for people who just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern life, embracing and admiring the beauty of nature in a peaceful environment.
Best Beaches in Cambodia
There are plenty of beloved beaches along Cambodia's coast. These picture perfect seafront spots are gorgeous to look at and even better to experience, with some of the softest sands you can hope to find anywhere in Asia. The waters here are equally appealing, with shades of sky blue and crystal clear turquoise all around and just the right temperatures for wading out and swimming around. Read on for some useful details and overviews of the best beaches in Cambodia.
- Long Beach
Long Beach is located on Koh Rong, which is the biggest island of Cambodia and also the main touristic hotspot for beach-goers in this country. Fortunately, Koh Rong is very large and has over two dozen different beaches to explore, so even in the middle of summer at the height of the tourist season, it never gets too noisy or busy here. Long Beach, known also under the name Sok San Beach, is one of the best and prettiest locations to start your Cambodian beach adventure. This beach was actually used in the popular reality show, Survivor, and is conveniently located near several upscale resorts. As the name suggests, Long Beach stretches out a very long way, following the curve of the island and offering some silky smooth sands.
- Otres Beach
If you're looking for a Cambodian beach on the mainland so you won't have to worry about paying for transport over to an island like Koh Rang, Otres Beach is a great spot in the Sihanoukville area. Very popular with locals and tourists, this is one of the few truly built-up beaches in all of Cambodia, with a good range of resorts and snack bars nearby. Lots of good quality food and drinks can be purchased at low prices here, allowing beach-goers to spend a full day soaking in the sun without having to worry about packing their own picnics and other items. There are also several good hotels and resorts nearby, with lots of swimming pools and sun loungers for guests. The beach is also filled with little bamboo huts offering some refreshing shade for when you need it. If Otres Beach is a little too busier when you arrive, Otres 2 can be found right around the corner and tends to be quieter, while also having its own exclusive range of stores and eateries to check out.
- Lazy Beach
The beaches in Cambodia have some very well-chosen names and Lazy Beach is just another example. This beach is situated on Koh Rong Samloem island, which is less developed than neighboring Koh Rang Island, so it's a nice spot for backpackers looking to get off the beaten path or travelers in search of total tranquility. Lazy Beach is just right for long sunbathing sessions, with no sound in the air apart from the gentle splashes of the waves as they run softly onto the shore. In short, if you’ve come to Cambodia to kick back and forget all your worries in a beautiful setting, Lazy Beach is the one for you.
- Lonely Beach
Found over on Koh Rong, you can learn a lot about Lonely Beach from its name. The 'Lonely' part of the name has a double meaning: it describes the lonely location of the beach far out on the northern extremity of the island, but also describes the atmosphere here. Lonely Beach is one of the most untouched spots in all of Cambodia, so only a handful of people can ever be found here and you might even get the whole place to yourself if you're lucky. Naturally, there aren't any hotels, restaurants, or amenities in the area around Lonely Beach, so you'll need to bring your own snacks and beach gear.
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