Beach holidays in Cambodia. Holidays in Cambodia: reviews
Travelers, for the most part, consider Cambodia a country of attractions, not beaches, which adds convenience to those who like to relax by the sea - there are an order of magnitude fewer people on the shore than at popular resorts.
The Khmer country is not as famous for hotels and beach holidays as Turkey, or even its neighbor, which is popular in this regard, but beautiful coastlines are not uncommon here.
The best beaches and resorts in Cambodia
The most popular place can be called the village Sihanoukville- a center of pilgrimage for lovers of sunbathing and swimming in the Gulf of Thailand. This place is famous for almost round-the-clock parties and an abundance of places for fun. Considering the influx of tourists, the seashore may not seem very clean, and the water may be cloudy. This is especially noticeable on beach areas Serendipity, Victoria or Ochitel.
The beaches are worth paying attention to Sokha And Independence, considered practically the standard of cleanliness in Sihanoukville. True, they are available only to clients of hotels of the same name, and. By the way, as for prices in hotels, you should expect an amount of approximately 25-30 dollars per night in a standard room.
A beach holiday in Cambodia for a family with children will be pleasant if you do not stay in the noisy youth of Sihanoukville, but choose accommodation in a quiet town such as Kep. This is a great place for lovers of a measured and slow pastime, and the coast here is always clean and well-groomed. The town is not particularly popular among tourists, although it used to be practically a Mecca for guests from Europe. This can be called an advantage, especially for those who want to sunbathe on clean and beautiful beaches with clear water. Prices in hotels here are lower than in Sihanoukville - for 15–20 dollars per night you can find a very decent room.
Excellent beach holidays can be found on the nearby islands: Koh Rong, Koh Tan or An Tai. The islands not only have beautiful scenery, but also clear azure water with white sand.
If you want complete privacy, then you should go to the outskirts of almost any resort. The territory, of course, will be without landscaping, but you can calmly enjoy the sea and the sun. We can confidently say that the Cambodian shores are one big beach, with something for every taste.
Specifics of a beach holiday in Cambodia
One of the advantages of the coast of this country is the small number of tourists, not counting, of course, Sihanoukville. The main interests of guests are focused on the attractions inside Cambodia, and the shores of the South China Sea are relatively sparsely populated. The advantages include unobtrusive but varied service, safety and friendliness of the local population.
The main thing to remember is to choose a hotel based on your interests. Young groups will find it a little boring at resorts in the area, for example, Kep, but for married couples with children, these places are ideal. The price range in the cost of living is quite large, which is suitable for both wealthy tourists and ordinary backpackers.
It is important to immediately choose a suitable place, since Cambodian transport is not particularly comfortable, and moving from town to town along the winding roads of the Gulf of Thailand coast may not be the best way to spend your time.
Cambodia, recently overshadowed by its Asian neighbors, is beginning to firmly establish itself in global tourism. The Kingdom of the Indochina Peninsula has won the hearts of millions of vacationers from different parts of the planet. There are several main features that made a holiday in Cambodia attractive and memorable.
Original cultural values
A country with a great history has preserved the identity and centuries-old traditions of the Khmer Empire. The heyday of the ancient Asian state is reflected in the outstanding and unique temples of Angkor. The grandiose complex of historical buildings is the main attraction and real cultural heritage of Cambodia.
Liberal prices
Affordable prices are characteristic of many countries in Southeast Asia, but even among them, Cambodia surprises with its liberality. The country has not yet caught up with the tourism boom from neighboring Thailand, Vietnam and India, so you can successfully count on a holiday in Cambodia at very reasonable prices.
Great beach holiday
Velvet beaches are considered the hallmark of Cambodia. An unforgettable holiday awaits tourists on the sandy shores of Sihanoukville province, surrounded by palm groves and lush bushes. The islands of Cambodia offer equally luxurious beach areas with clear azure water. The Gulf of Thailand washing the coast welcomes tourists with calm soft waves and delicate white sand.
Hospitality and cordiality
Local Khmers are distinguished by their cordiality and hospitality towards foreign guests. It is difficult to notice aggression or unfriendliness addressed to you here; Cambodian residents greet tourists with a smile and friendliness. Despite the rather low standard of living, the Khmers are happy and satisfied with living in their poor, but very cozy country.
Peace and privacy
Cambodia is just in the process of developing its tourism potential, so the country manages to avoid a massive influx of tourists even during the hottest season. Untouched exotic nature, secluded islands, quiet uncrowded beaches - there is everything for a relaxing holiday away from civilization.
Extraordinary underwater world
For scuba diving enthusiasts, Cambodia offers excellent diving and snorkeling opportunities. The depths of the sea promise divers encounters with the unique fauna and flora of the Gulf of Thailand: colorful coral reefs, colorful tropical fish, rare turtles and octopuses. The best dive sites are located near the islands of Koh Rong and Koh Tan near the resort of Sihanoukville.
High security
The low crime rate makes holidays in Cambodia safe and relaxing. Traveling even to the most remote and remote places does not pose any threat, and the Khmers warmly welcome tourists in the best Asian traditions.
The kingdom is loved by tourists for its rich culture, exotic nature, picturesque beaches and amazing recreational opportunities. Cambodia will give you an unforgettable experience visiting this diverse and beautiful country.
Holidays in Cambodia at sea pleasantly complement the rich excursion program of this country. Holidays on the beaches of Cambodia will be more comfortable if you carefully study the swimming conditions, the presence of dangerous animals in warm tropical water, and the tide schedule, which is quite whimsical in these parts.
The dangers of a beach holiday in Cambodia
There are many wild beaches here, which are carefully not recommended for guests due to the whimsical nature of the Gulf of Thailand. The treacherous underwater currents and various marine life of the Indian Ocean are dangerous enough to rely on proven resorts. And there are not so many of them.
Is it worth going on a beach holiday to Cambodia with children?
Best Beach Resorts in Cambodia
The best seaside holidays in Cambodia will be in Sihanoukville, Kep and several islands.
Unfortunately, both Kep and Sihanoukville beaches are not very clean.
Koh Rong Island
First of all, this is Koh Rong, which is easy to reach from Sihanoukville. Boats sail regularly in both directions. Accommodation and transport should be booked in advance. Housing prices here are not too expensive, but it is also quite ascetic and simple. On average, you will pay 10-25 USD for a bungalow. A tour to Cambodia with a sea holiday is also possible to the island of Koh Rong Saloyem. Both islands have good diving and the sea is clean.
Sihanoukville
Or Kampong Saom, is considered the most famous resort in Cambodia. It is called the "Coastal City", or the "City of Fishermen". The resort, located on a peninsula in the Gulf of Thailand, is known for its sandy beaches framed by palm groves. The beaches of Victory Beach, Hawaii View, Independence Beach, Sokha Beach, Serependity Beach and Ochheuteal are quite famous. There is water skiing and fishing. Diving is quite possible, but it is better to go to the islands.
Kep
Kep is a resort town in Cambodia on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, 25 km southeast of Kampot. It is a krong, meaning it has the status of a city-province. A former popular resort in Cambodia, it was a holiday destination for the French colonial elite until the 1960s when Sihanoukville was built. Over the long years of the civil war, little remained of its former luxury.
Today Kep is slowly opening up to travelers again. There are fewer guests, great views and the best crabs on the coast. A boat trip and a day on the beach of the virtually uninhabited Rabbit Island is also one of the highlights that Kep offers to its guests.
A beach holiday in Cambodia is possible, but for people who are not very picky about cleanliness, since all the beaches of Cambodia are littered with garbage, regardless of whether they are private beaches or public ones.
In Cambodia today there is only one resort - this is, however, its development and infrastructure is very weak, even compared to. People accustomed to snow-white European beaches, for example Italy or Spain, will not understand why they should go to such a hole as, especially since package tours to this country are not sold.
Based on the fact that you cannot buy a ticket to Sihanoukville from any travel agency, you will have to organize a beach holiday in Cambodia yourself.
You must also book a hotel room in Sihanoukville. For this it is better to choose either Victory Beach or Ochheuteal. Accommodation and food will be cheaper on Victory Beach, but for entertainment you will have to travel across the city to Occheuteal Beach. If you don’t drive a motorbike and don’t want to deal with scam taxi drivers, then it would be better to immediately settle on Ochutele.
For safety reasons, you can also purchase medical insurance for Cambodia in advance, but it is not mandatory. You decide.
In addition to the resort of Sihanoukville, a beach holiday in Cambodia can be spent on one of the 52 islands that are located in the warm Gulf of Thailand. If you think that there will be no garbage on the tropical islands in Cambodia, then you are mistaken. Is not . Cambodians are used to eating on the beach in large groups and immediately throwing everything away. This factor most likely influences the poor development of resorts in Cambodia compared to neighboring Thailand.
To relax on the islands in Cambodia, it is not necessary to check into one of the hotels on the same islands, especially since there are not many of them there. You can find accommodation on the mainland in Sihanoukville and go on day tours around the islands. Every day, several ships and boats depart from the pier on Occheuteal Beach, which specialize in tours of the islands. The cost of the excursion is from $15 for visiting 3 islands, including food and drinks.
It is better to combine a beach holiday in Cambodia with an excursion trip to the temple complex and a visit to Thailand. Thus, you are guaranteed to get the maximum impressions, since a monotonous beach holiday in Cambodia may seem quite boring due to the small amount of entertainment.
As for prices for holidays in Cambodia by the sea, the cost of living in guest houses in Sihanoukville starts from $6 per room per night. For $25 you can rent a room in a nice boutique hotel with a pool. The average cost of a dish in Sihanoukville is 2-3 dollars. The most expensive part of a vacation is the cost of an air ticket, since there are no direct flights to Cambodia from Russia. You will have to fly with a transfer either through (Thailand) or through Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam).
The Cambodian beach destination, as an alternative to the Thai one, is increasingly appearing in the search queries of Russian travel agencies: potential travelers want variety within their favorite Southeast Asian region. Every year, whole groups of fans of a serene holiday arrive at the resorts of Cambodia, which can be easily combined with a rich excursion program, because there are no Khmer temple complexes equal in size and significance anywhere else in the world.
"For" or "Against"?
Undoubted ticks in the list of arguments for a trip to the resorts of Cambodia can be checked if:
- You like oriental exoticism and do not mind high humidity, extreme cuisine and not very well-groomed beaches.
- You prefer not to overpay for a vacation simply because the resort is too popular and promoted.
- You are attracted by a luxurious excursion, even for the sake of which it is worth flying halfway around the world.
The arguments against it are usually the long flight and the need for a visa to Cambodia for Russian citizens. But in fairness, it is worth noting that a visa is issued at the border without any problems, and the time spent on the road from Moscow to Thailand is practically the same in the short term.
Fishermen's town
The most popular of Cambodia's resorts is located about six hours from the country's capital. A bus or an old and slightly rusty boat helps to overcome this distance. The first means of transportation involves stops along the way, the second is rafting along the Tonle Sap River with all the ensuing colorful consequences.
The resort of Sihanoukville was in the past a fishing village, and today hundreds and thousands of Europeans and Americans spend their holidays, winters and even years of their lives here. The beaches of Sihanoukville are sandy and stretch along the Gulf of Thailand in the South China Sea. The busiest of them are located within the city limits and just to the north, while the southern beaches are more suitable for backpackers and those who are unpretentious in terms of comfort and who like to smoke weed while lying in a hammock.
There are more and more Russian tourists at the Cambodian resort every year, and therefore former compatriots, who settled there long ago and firmly, opened several Russian restaurants in Sihanoukville and even hotels on the islands.
