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    Sihanoukville travel guide - gallery

    / Last updated 03 Jun 2014

    Introduction

    Sihanoukville is Cambodia's most popular beach escape. In the past it's been blighted by sleaze and a dependence on backpackers on the South East Asia cheap grog party trail. Corruption, poor regulation and environmental degradation haven't helped. But the beaches here are lovely and the islands off the coast are spectacular. It's a big hope but perhaps Sihanoukville can rise above its dodgy past to become the beach destination it should be.

    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • Sihanoukville is mostly about beach life and nightlife. This is Serendipity Beach - the most popular with travellers but not necessarily the best.
    • Serendipity Beach is a recent innovation. The beach's real name is Ochheuteal Beach - which may have required too much effort for the travellers arriving here. These days, Serendipity Beach seems to be sticking.
    • The secret to Serendipity Beach's success - 50 cent beer.
    • Serendipity Beach, Sihanoukville.
    • Serendipity Beach, Sihanoukville.
    • Serendipity Beach bar owner. Sihanoukville
    • Serendipity Beach sunset is a daily ritual.
    • Tuk Tuk to Otres Beach.
    • Otres Beach is a more mellow and less sleazy option than Serendipity.
    • Otres Beach - Sihanoukville
    • Those with a few days in Sihanoukville may enjoy a visit to nearby Ream National Park.
    • Tree top view - Ream National Park, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
    • Ream National Park, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
    • Secluded beach - Ream National Park, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
    • Travellers are increasingly drawn to Sihanoukville to visit Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloen. A 2- 3 hour hairy local boat service has been replaced by these fast boats making the trip very easy. These islands are set to boom.
    • Boat man. Sihanoukville.
    • Saracen Beach, Koh Rong Samloen
    • This is where we stayed - Eco Sea Dive aka. Koh Rong Samloem Villas.
    • The name's a little deceptive. These are very much bungalows - not villas. The bungalows were fine and the beach was beautiful. The atmosphere of the place was a disappointment though - as was the food. All I expect in places like this is some rice, veggies and fish - but it was all too hard.
    • Diving is a big draw here - though we didn't really get a sense of what the fuss is about. Swimming was a delight though.
    • A highlight for us was a walk down to a delightful local village called M'Pey Bey.
    • Volunteering backpackers worked with locals to keep the place tidy. It was the cleanest rural village I've seen in Cambodia - or Vietnam. All the plastic was collected. The place was spotless.
    • Bungalows at M'Pey Bey.
    • Cafe at M'Pey Bey.
    • M'Pey Bey, Koh Rong, Samloem.
    • Fishing. Mpey Bey, Koh Samloem.
    • M'Pey Bey, Koh Rong, Samloem.
    • M'Pey Bey, Koh Rong, Samloem.
    • Collecting plastic - M'Pey Bey, Koh Rong, Samloem.
    • M'Pey Bey, Koh Rong, Samloem.
    • M'Pey Bey, Koh Rong, Samloem.
    • M'Pey Bey, Koh Rong, Samloem.
    • M'Pey Bey, Koh Rong, Samloem.
    • Catching some rays.
    • Change is coming fast to Koh Rong Samloen.
    • The amazing 1960s Independence Hotel needs someone with some serious imagination to take over. It's an artifact of Cambodia's brief post-independence period of optimism and hope. Former King Norodom Sihanouk had a hand in the hotel's interiors -though I sense nothing of that remains. This is a cool place to stay for a couple of days in Sihanoukville - though expect plenty of hiccups.
    • The vast stretch of coastline occupied by the Independence Hotel, Sihanoukville.
    • The beach - Independence Hotel, Sihanoukville
    • Sihanoukville has its work cut out as a tourist destination. Nature has blessed the area with beautiful beaches, forests and islands. But corruption, sleaze, severe environmental degradation and over-development are real threats to its future. It's mostly a "lowest common denominator" destination when it could be so much more. The Russian built bridge here crosses from Victory Beach area to Pos aka. Morakot Island. It's slated for a major luxury development targeting Russian tourists - though progress has slowed since the bridge opened in 2011 and some prominent wealthy Russian investors in Cambodia are presently mired in scandal.
    Quicklink - Introduction - Sihanoukville