Sihanoukville Travel Guide

Other Things to See and Do in Sihanoukville

1. Go scuba diving

The islands around Sihanoukville have great visibility, vibrant colorful coral, and exotic fish. There are a lot of PADI certified schools in town. For an Open Water certification, expect to pay around $450 USD for the multi-day course.

2. Shop at the market

The market in the center of Sihanoukville is a good place to visit if you want to shop around and try some of the local foods. Come here for incredibly fresh seafood, and marvel at the variety.

3. Rent a jet ski

Jet skis and banana boats are very popular around this area. If you want to rent one, be aware of your surroundings, stay clear of the swimming section, and adhere to safety regulations. There have been numerous accidents in the last few years due to negligence. Prices will vary based on how long you rent one for but expect to pay at least $30 USD.

4. Visit Wat Leu

This temple is located on top of the big hill in town. There is a small museum here, and it’s a great place to catch the sunset, as well as take in wonderful views of the area. It’s much less busy than many of the other temples in Cambodia.

5. Take a day trip to Kampot

Kampot is a small town that is a nice break from the bustling backpacker atmosphere in Sihanoukville. A minibus to Kambot will take around two hours and cost $3.75-6 USD per person. You can visit pepper farms, beaches, temples, and overall, just relax. Be sure to eat at The Rusty Keyhole (for the best rib BBQ outside of Texas) and stay at the Bohemiaz Guesthouse!

6. Go snorkeling

Almost all of the islands offer snorkeling opportunities, and the further from Sihanoukville you get, the better the visibility and sea life seems to get. Snorkeling tours average $16-21 USD and include breakfast and lunch.

7. Jam with the expats at Otres Market

Every Saturday from midday until midnight the local expats gather together to eat, drink, sell handicrafts, and jam to live music. The market is fantastic. The dark night is light up with multi-colored lights and funky stands offering everything from passion fruit cheesecake to shots to handmade jewelry to hair dreading to hippie clothing. Do not miss out on this incredible musical experience!

8. Go to Ochheuteal/Serendipity Beach

This is one of the most popular beaches in Sihanoukville. However, don’t go in the water at Ochheuteal/Serendipity because the sewage pipes empty right out into the harbor in front of the beaches. Swim in Otres! It’s the liveliest beach area in Sihanoukville though, and Serendipity Beach Road is packed with bars and cheap guesthouses.

9. Visit Independence Beach

This is a smaller beach area, but it hasn’t been overly developed (yet). There are a handful of beach restaurants in the middle and a large casino and hotel complex at one end of Independence. It’s still mostly a quiet place to relax.

10. Relax on Koh Rong Sanloem

Koh Rong Sanloem Island is a smaller version of Koh Rong, with some really beautiful beaches on the eastern side. The sea life around here is very diverse and makes for great diving and snorkeling. Most day trips cost from $20 USD.

11. Go to Bokor National Park

At Bokor National Park you can hike through a great rainforest or see the atmospheric ruins of the French aristocracy for whom Bokor was a big draw back in the day. You’ll have some amazing views and find ruins, waterfalls, and temples all around. Admission is $5 USD per person. Day tours from Sihanoukville start from about $20 USD.

12. Take a day trip to Kep

Like Kampot, Kep is a small, chilled out town. This quaint beach town and fishing village is the quiet version of Sihanoukville: a nice place to relax near the ocean but without a party atmosphere. It’s famous for its pepper crab and empty beaches. A minibus to here will also take around two hours and cost $3.75-6 USD per person. If you want to spend a few days here you can also visit the secluded nearby Rabbit Island (Koh Tonsay).

Cambodia Travel Costs

Note: Cambodia uses USD. There’s no real need to carry the local currency, Cambodian Riels (KHR), unless you paying for really small things on the street, but for the most part, use USD.

Hostel prices – Hostel rates start around $5 USD per night for a bed in a basic 12-person dorm. Expect to pay up to $10 USD for hostels with better amenities (private bathrooms, hot water, etc.) or with locations closer to the beach. Private double rooms range start around $8 USD but are up to $25 USD per night for better amenities and location. Free WiFi is standard all around town but almost no hostels offer free breakfast or have a kitchen.

Budget hotel prices – Two-star hotel rooms start around $20 USD per night, but they’re fairly comfortable rooms with air-con, balconies, free WiFi, etc. If you want something closer to the beach you’ll pay about $32 USD per night for a double room which includes all the usual amenities. Airbnb is available in the town, though there are almost no options available for shared accommodation. For a private room, expect to pay around $15 USD per night. For an entire home or apartments, prices begin around $20 USD but average more like $35 USD per night for several guests. As always, the places near the beach are the most expensive!

Average cost of food – Sihanoukville has a surprisingly diverse range of cuisine. Along the beaches, especially at Ochheuteal Beach, there are many food stalls and some restaurants serving grilled meat, chicken, and seafood with chips/fries and a beer for AROUND $3 USD. There are many western restaurants in town as well that cater to tourists and cost around $5-10 USD for a meal.

Given that hostels and hotels don’t have kitchens and food is so cheap, I wouldn’t advise cooking your meals while here.

Backpacking Sihanoukville Suggested Budgets

It doesn’t cost much to visit Sihanoukville. It’s a super cheap place to travel.

If you’re backpacking Sihanoukville, you’ll spend around $30 USD per day. This will get you a bed in a larger hostel dorm, food from the street stalls (most hostels do not have cooking facilities here), a few drinks a day, and four motorbike taxi rides per day. You’ll also be able to do one attraction per day, like a snorkeling trip or a booze cruise. If you want to take advantage of Sihanoukville’s free activities (like the beaches) or lessen your drinking, you can save even more.

A mid-range budget of $70 USD will get you a budget hotel room with air conditioning (or a private Airbnb room), some sit-down meals at nicer restaurants, some drinks, a tuk-tuk ride to and from the beach, and plenty of daily excursions – including snorkeling, a booze cruise, or visiting a pepper farm. You can do a lot with this budget.

On a luxury budget of $233 USD or more a day, you can do whatever you want. This will get you a room at a 4-star hotel or resort complete with a nice swimming pool, dinners at just about any restaurant, two tuk-tuk or taxi rides per day, and any tours you want. If you want to do a multi-day diving course, you can also spread out this budget over several days. Either way, if you’re spending this much per day, the sky is the limit.

Note: Cambodia uses USD. You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less.

Sihanoukville Travel Guide: Money Saving Tips

Despite being such a tourist destination, Sihanoukville remains quite affordable. There really isn’t any big money saving tips here unless you go out of your way to find the most expensive things to see or do. Food, accommodation, and transportation are all cheap. But if you want to save some cash, here are some money saving tips for Sihanoukville:

1. Happy hour – The trend on Serendipity Beach is to advertise with a permanent ‘happy hour’, which usually implies cocktails for $2-3 USD and draft Anchor beer for as little as $0.75 USD!
2. Negotiate with tuk-tuk drivers – Make sure you negotiate the price of your ride before taking off. Moreover, don’t take the first number they give you — it’s inflated. Keep in mind, prices rise around sunset and negotiating becomes more difficult.
3. Work for your room – It’s pretty common to get a job in a hostel in order to stay longer in Sihanoukville so if you stay at a hostel and like the vibe, ask if they’ll let you work there.
4. Minimize your drinking – Drinks, though cheap, really add up. Every drink is a dollar and before you know it, you’ve spent more money on beer than on food and accommodation. If you drink a lot, you’ll need a slightly higher budget.
5. Pack a water bottle – A water bottle with a purifier will come particularly in handy in Sihanoukville since you can’t drink the tap water. Save money and thousands of plastic bottles and get a bottle that can purify the tap water for you. My preferred bottle is LifeStraw ($49.99).

Where To Stay in Sihanoukville

There are plenty of hostels in Sihanoukville. If you’re looking for some of the best places to stay, here are some of my recommended places:

• Monkey Maya
• Onederz Sihanoukville
• Mia Mia Hostel

How to Get Around Sihanoukville

Motorbike Taxis – Motorbike taxis are the most common way to get around Sihanoukville. The standard price for a ride is around $1.25 USD per trip, although expect to haggle at night or if the distance is long. The ride from the new bus station to Serendipity Beach should cost around $3.50 USD during the day.

Tuk-Tuk – If you’re uncomfortable with taking a motorbike taxi in Sihanoukville, tuk-tuks are also plentiful. They’re more expensive than the motorbikes, however, and haggling often doesn’t work with the drivers as they mostly work with other drivers to fix their rates. A trip from the city to Serendipity Beach should cost no more than $4 USD, and also no more than $4 USD to Otres. Hiring one for a full day will cost about $20 USD.

Taxis – Regular car taxis are also available here, but they’re rarely metered and they’re the most expensive option of these three. If you need to get to the airport, you’ll have to get your hotel or hostel to arrange the ride. The entire journey costs about $20 USD. Otherwise, I’d avoid them.

Due to construction, the road to the airport will take you a couple of hours. Leave hours before your flight! There’s constant delays!

When to Go to Sihanoukville

The high season in Cambodia is from November to April when temperatures are more mild. This is the best time to visit Sihanoukville (and the coast in general) — the sunshine is constant, and so are the blue skies. High temperatures are in the 90s°F (30s°C), and you’ll be able to enjoy a nice sea breeze on the beach. This is when most people visit, however, so be prepared for large crowds.

If you’d rather avoid peak tourist season, visit from May to the beginning of October. Although this overlaps with rainy season, generally that just means getting hit with brief heavy rainfall in the afternoons. April is the hottest month, and the humidity can be unbearable for some. But if you want to avoid hordes of tourists, this is the time to come!

How to Stay Safe in Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville is a pretty safe place to backpack and travel. Violent attacks are super rare. Petty theft is the most common type of crime here, and it’s unfortunately rather frequent on the beaches. Ochheuteal Beach is particularly a hotspot for thieves. You’ll be distracted by a child (or sometimes an adult) while another person takes your valuables from your towel. Leave your most important valuables in your safety deposit box or locker!

Also hold onto your bag tightly when you’re riding on a motorbike taxi. Keep your bag in front of you so other drivers can’t snatch it. The road between Otres and Sihanoukville is especially risky!

Avoid walking on the beaches alone after dark.

If you don’t do it at home, don’t do it when you’re in Sihanoukville. Follow that rule and you’ll be fine.

Overall, locals are really nice and helpful and you’re unlikely to get into trouble. The people who do tend to get into trouble are usually because they are inolved with drugs or sex tourism. Stay away from that stuff and you’ll be fine.

Read about these 14 major travel scams to avoid in Sihanoukville and be in the know!

Always trust your gut instinct. If a taxi driver seems shady, stop the cab and get out. If your hotel is seedier than you thought, get out of there. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they’ll know where you are.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.

Sihanoukville Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

Below are my favorite companies to use when I travel to Sihanoukville. They are included here because they consistently turn up the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors.

• Momondo – This is my favorite flight search engine because they search such a wide variety of sites and airlines. I never book a flight without checking here first.
• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is another great flight search engline which searches a lot of different airlines, including many of the budget carriers that larger sites miss. While I always start with Momondo, I use this site too as a way to compare prices.
• Airbnb – Airbnb is a great accommodation alternative for connecting with homeowners who rent out their homes or apartments. The big cities have tons of listings! (If you’re new to Airbnb, get $35 off your first stay!)
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there, with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Agoda – Other than Hostelworld an Airbnb, Agoda is the best hotel accommodation site for Asia as it has the largest inventory and offers the best rates. If you want a guesthouse or hotel, book it via this website!
• 12Go.asia – 12Go.asia is the best website for booking transportation around Southeast Asia. You will be able to research your journey ahead of time and figure out the best schedule and prices.
• Intrepid Travel – If you want to do a group tour around Southern Asia, go with Intrepid Travel. They offer good small group tours that use local operators and leave a small environmental footprint. If you go on a tour with anyone, go with them. And, as a reader of this site, you’ll get a discount when you click the link!
• Grassroots Volunteering – For volunteering, Grassroots Volunteering compiles a list of good local volunteer organizations that keep the money within the community.
• World Nomads – I buy all my travel insurance from World Nomads. They have great customer service, competitive prices, and in-depth coverage. I’ve been using them since I started traveling in 2003. Don’t leave home without it!

Sihanoukville Gear and Packing Guide

If you’re heading on the road and need some gear suggestions, here are my tips for the best travel backpack and for what to pack!

The Best Backpack for Travelers

What’s the best backpack for traveling long-term? I recommend the REI Flash 45 Pack. It’s light and comfy, front loading, and fits perfectly in an airplane’s overhead bin.
Size: 45-47L
Straps: Thick and cushy with compression technology that pulls the pack’s load up and inwards so it doesn’t feel as heavy.
Features: Removable top lid, large pocket at the front, hydration compatible, contoured hip belt

If you want something different, refer to my article on how to choose the best travel backpack for tips on picking a pack and other backpack suggestions.

What to Pack for Your Trip

Clothes

• 1 pair of jeans (heavy and not easily dried, but I like them; a good alternative is khaki pants)
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 bathing suit
• 5 T-shirts
• 1 long-sleeved T-shirt
• 1 pair of flip-flops
• 1 pair of sneakers
• 6 pairs of socks (I always end up losing half)
• 5 pairs of boxer shorts (I’m not a briefs guy!)
• 1 toothbrush
• 1 tube of toothpaste
• 1 razor
• 1 package of dental floss
• 1 small bottle of shampoo
• 1 small bottle of shower gel
• 1 towel
• Deodorant

Small Medical Kit (safety is important!!!)

• Band-Aids
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Antibacterial cream
• Earplugs
• Tylenol
• Hand sanitizer (germs = sick = bad holiday)

Miscellaneous

• A key or combination lock (safety first)
• Zip-lock bags (keeps things from leaking or exploding)
• Plastic bags (great for laundry)
• Universal charger/adaptor (this applies to everyone)
• LifeStraw (A water bottle with a purifier)

Female Travel Packing List
I’m not a woman, so I don’t know what a woman wears, but Kristin Addis, our solo female travel guru, wrote this list as an addition to the basics above:

Clothing

• 1 swimsuit
• 1 sarong
• 1 pair of stretchy jeans (they wash and dry easily)
• 1 pair of leggings (if it’s cold, they can go under your jeans, otherwise with a dress or shirt)
• 2-3 long-sleeve tops
• 2-3 T-shirts
• 3-4 spaghetti tops
• 1 light cardigan

Toiletries

• 1 dry shampoo spray & talc powder (keeps long hair grease-free in between washes)
• 1 hairbrush
• Makeup you use
• Hair bands & hair clips
• Feminine hygiene products (you can opt to buy there too, but I prefer not to count on it, and most people have their preferred products)

For more on packing, check out these posts:

• What I Pack For My Travels
• The Ultimate List For Female Travelers
• How to Choose and Buy the Right Backpack

Sihanoukville Travel Guide: Suggested Reading

First They Killed my Father, by Loung Ung
This is the real life story of Loung Ung, one of seven children of a high-ranking government official living in Phnom Penh until the age of 5. When Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge army invaded the city in 1975, Ung’s family had to flee and eventually separate. Loung became a child soldier while her siblings were sent to work camps, and this book recounts the devastating horrors she encountered along the way. The documentary of the same name (directed by Angelina Jolie!) is also amazing.
 
 
 
In the Shadow of the Banyan, by Vaddey Ratner
Raami is just seven years old when her father comes home early one evening, bringing news of the civil war in the streets of Phnom Penh. Not long after, Raami’s world of guarded royal privilege is turned on its head, as the Khmer Rouge moves in to attempt to strip the entire population of its individual identity. As a method of survival, Raami turns inwards and clings to her childhood stories and poems as told to her by her father. This book has tons of international acclaim. It’s a heartbreaking read, but well worth it.
 
 
Survival in the Killing Fields, by Haing Ngor
It’s true that so many of these books are about the Khmer Rouge reign of terror, but some of these reads just can’t be overlooked. This one is the true-life story of Haing Ngor, a survivor of the Cambodian genocide. Ngor was a doctor, and so he witnessed firsthand his country’s descent into brutality, slavery, squalor, and starvation – all of which are recounted in his book. It can be difficult to read at times. Since having first published this memoir, Ngor’s life ended with his murder. The perpetrator was never found.
 
 
A Woman of Angkor, by John Burgess
Here’s one that takes place during the 12th century, right in the middle of the Angkor civilization. Sray is a young woman who lives behind Behind a stone temple in a little village. Sray has a dangerous secret, and so she lives a quiet life away from the spotlight – until she is summoned to the royal court, where her loyalties are tested by the king Suryavarman II. In the background is her husband Nol, struggling to keep her devotion. This is a fun, imaginative piece of historical fiction that will transport you right into the ancient civilization!