Cambodia Beach Resorts: Private Islands, Kep and the Best Months (2026)

Cambodia’s coast is small and still quiet, which is exactly why it’s worth a few nights at the end of a trip to Angkor. The best of it is out on the islands in the Gulf of Thailand, where a handful of resorts have whole bays, sometimes whole islands, to themselves. Back on the mainland, the old seaside town of Kep is known for crab and pepper rather than nightlife. Here’s where to stay, how to get there and which months to pick.

The island resorts

Six Senses Krabey Island

Six Senses opened on Koh Krabey in March 2019: forty villas on a small, forested island about five kilometers off Ream National Park. Getting there is simple. The resort’s mainland reception is around ten minutes by car from Sihanouk International Airport, and from there it’s a fifteen-minute boat ride. The villas have their own pools and the island has a spa and walking trails, so it suits couples who want comfort without having to go far once they land.

Song Saa Private Island

Song Saa is two small islands in the Koh Rong archipelago joined by a footbridge, with overwater and jungle villas and a strong focus on protecting the reef around it. It’s about 45 minutes by speedboat from Sihanoukville, and it feels further. If you want the private-island experience in Cambodia, this is the one people ask for. Check availability early, because there are only a few villas.

Alila Villas Koh Russey

On Koh Russey, closer to the mainland, Alila has 63 pavilions and villas along a long white beach. It’s a bit bigger and more relaxed than the private islands, which makes it a good choice for families or for a longer beach stay.

Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem

The two largest islands have a mix of simple bungalows and a few smarter hotels, with long beaches and clear water on the far sides. They’re livelier than the private islands, and less polished. Good for a couple of nights if you like to wander, less so if you want full-service luxury.

Kep and Kampot

Kep was a seaside retreat in the 1960s, and you can still see the shells of modernist villas from that time in the forest. Today it’s a quiet town known for its crab market, where blue crabs are cooked with fresh Kampot green pepper. Knai Bang Chatt, a small hotel of 18 rooms built around restored 1960s villas on the water, is the place to stay. From Kep it’s a short drive to Kampot, with its riverside shophouses and pepper farms, and to Bokor Mountain. Kep is on the mainland, so there’s no boat involved. See our Kep and Kampot pages.

What about Sihanoukville?

Sihanoukville is where most boats to the islands leave from, but it isn’t somewhere to stay. The town has changed fast over the past decade with casinos and construction, and the beaches in town aren’t what they were. Think of it as the jumping-off point. Read more on our Sihanoukville page.

Getting there

Sihanouk International Airport is the closest airport to the islands, and the resorts arrange transfers from it. By road, Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville takes about three hours. Phnom Penh’s flights now use the new Techo International Airport, which opened in September 2025, so check which airport your ticket says.

One thing has changed. You used to be able to cross overland between Cambodia’s coast and Thailand at Koh Kong. The land border between the two countries has been closed to travelers since 2025, and Thai officials said in July 2026 it would stay that way for now. If you’re combining a beach stay with Thailand, fly via Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. Our Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand trip guide has routes.

When to go

November to April is beach season, with dry days and calm sea. December to March is the most settled. The south-west monsoon brings rain and rougher water from about June to October, and some boat transfers are cancelled when the sea is up. If your trip falls in those months, consider Kep, where you don’t depend on a boat. Our best time to visit Cambodia page has the rest of the year.

Adding the coast to a Cambodia trip

The easiest version is Siem Reap for Angkor, Phnom Penh for a night or two, and then three or four nights on an island. If you’re coming from Vietnam, you can travel up the Mekong to Phnom Penh by boat and finish on the coast. Our Cambodia tour packages guide shows 5- to 10-day routes, and luxury experiences in Cambodia has more ideas.

Americans need a visa for Cambodia. The official e-visa is the simplest way, and our Cambodia visa guide for US citizens explains it.

Planning it with us

We plan private trips in Cambodia with your own guide and driver, boat transfers arranged, and hotels chosen for the month you travel. My Way Travel is rated 4.8 to 5.0 on Tripadvisor across its listings in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Spain, Germany and the United States, with more than 3,000 reviews in total. Have a look at our Cambodia tours or tell us your dates.

Sources: Six Senses opening announcement (2019); resort fact sheets for Song Saa, Alila Villas Koh Russey and Knai Bang Chatt; Thai PBS on the Thai-Cambodian border checkpoints (29 July 2026, read in Thai); Vietnamese reporting on Techo International Airport. Last checked October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best beach resorts in Cambodia?

Six Senses Krabey Island and Song Saa Private Island for a private-island stay, Alila Villas Koh Russey for a longer beach holiday, and Knai Bang Chatt in Kep on the mainland.

When is the best time to visit Cambodia’s beaches?

November to April, with December to March the calmest. From about June to October the south-west monsoon brings rain and rough seas.

How do you get to Cambodia’s islands?

Fly to Sihanouk International Airport or drive about three hours from Phnom Penh, then take the resort’s boat. Six Senses Krabey Island is about fifteen minutes by boat, Song Saa about 45.

Can you travel from Cambodia’s coast to Thailand overland?

Not at the moment. The land border has been closed to travelers since 2025, so fly between Phnom Penh or Siem Reap and Bangkok.

Is Sihanoukville worth visiting?

Mainly as the gateway to the islands. Most travelers pass straight through to a resort.