Experiences & Activities (2026 Guide)

1. The Bioluminescent Plankton Night Swim

The waters around Koh Rong are known for bioluminescent plankton that can be seen almost year-round. Most evening boat tours (typically $20-$30 including snorkeling, fishing and a barbecue) end with a night swim in a dark bay away from resort lights. When you move in the water, the plankton lights up in a bright blue-green glow. The intensity varies from night to night.

Pro Tip: Plan your night swim around the new moon, when the sky is darkest and the glow is easiest to see.

Detailed guide: Bioluminescent plankton on Koh Rong

2. Exploring the Island by Road

The new concrete road network, much of it now paved, has opened up parts of the island that used to be reachable only by boat. Rent a scooter (around $10-$15 a day in Koh Touch or Sok San) or hire a taxi to explore:

• The North Tip (Lonely Beach): About a 45-minute ride north; the last stretch is rough, so many visitors park and walk the rest. The resort also runs a boat, and water taxis are an option.
• Prek Svay Mangroves: Ride about 35 minutes north to the fishing village of Prek Svay and rent a kayak to paddle through the mangroves along the river, where you might spot monkeys or otters.

3. Snorkeling & Diving

Since 2018 the waters around Koh Rong have been part of the Koh Rong Marine National Park, Cambodia's first marine national park. Boat trips take you snorkeling around the small islands near Koh Touch, where you can see reef fish, corals and, with luck, rays or sea turtles; snorkeling gear can be rented for about $5 a day. For diving, Koh Rong Dive Center in Koh Touch offers PADI courses from a first try dive to Open Water, plus fun dives for certified divers; expect roughly $95-$110 for two dives. Visibility is best in the calm dry season.

Detailed guide: Snorkeling and diving on Koh Rong

4. Beach Clubs & Nightlife

Koh Touch and nearby Long Set Beach (4K Beach) are the social center of the island. Nest Beach Club on Long Set hosts Nestival, a beach party every Saturday from noon until midnight, while Police Beach near Koh Touch is known for late-night parties with DJs.

5. Waterfalls & Forest Walks

Much of Koh Rong's interior is still forest, and a few easy walks lead into it:

• Varisan Nureach Waterfall: About 30 minutes by scooter from Koh Touch, near Sok San village. From the village it is a 5-10 minute walk along the river to the falls, with some rock scrambling if you want to climb higher.
• Prek Svay Waterfall: Hidden deeper in the forest near the village of Prek Svay. The trail is not well marked, so go with a local guide (ask at your accommodation).
• Coastal walk: A path links Koh Touch with Long Set Beach through small bays and patches of forest, with bars and cafés along the way. Walking to the far end of Long Set takes around two hours one way.

Pro Tip: The waterfalls are at their best in the rainy season; in the dry season there is often little or no water.

6. Kayaking & Mangroves

Kayaks can be rented at many guesthouses and beach bars in Koh Touch and Long Set, typically for around $5 an hour or $10-$15 a day.

• Prek Ta Sok Eco-Tourism Community: A community-run mangrove forest in the middle of the island, about 20 minutes by scooter from Koh Touch. A 1.8 km wooden boardwalk leads through the mangroves (entrance about $2), and you can rent a kayak (around $10) and paddle down the river to the sea.
• Koh Toch (Pagoda Island): The small island just off Koh Touch beach is an easy paddle away and has a small Buddhist temple.

7. Sunsets & Fishing Villages

Koh Rong's villages are still home to fishing families. Sok San, at the north end of Long Beach on the west coast, is the best place on the island to watch the sunset, with seafood restaurants right on the sand; get there by scooter or by boat from Koh Touch. In Prek Svay in the north-east you can wander among stilt houses, and in the nearby bay facing Song Saa island sandbanks appear at low tide.

8. Day Trip to Koh Rong Sanloem

The neighboring island of Koh Rong Sanloem is only about 6 km away. Fast ferries from Koh Touch and Long Set take 15-45 minutes (from about $9), and local boat taxis start at about $5. Saracen Bay has a long, calm white-sand beach, M'Pai Bay is a small fishing village with a relaxed backpacker scene, and Lazy Beach on the west coast is known for its sunsets. Check the time of the last boat back before you go.

9. Local Food

Most restaurants are in Koh Touch village, from simple Khmer eateries to Italian and Western places. Try Cambodian classics such as fish amok or lok lak, fresh seafood from the barbecues many beach restaurants set up in the evening, and cheap fruit shakes. Prices are higher than on the mainland because most supplies arrive by boat.