A Guide to Visiting Koh Rong on a Budget

A Guide to Visiting Koh Rong on a Budget - Travel Lush

Like most backpackersΒ I’m always a bit concerned about visitingΒ islands because I always seem to spend way more money than usual when I’m on them. Β Let’s face it, things are just moreΒ expensive on islands. Β Personally, I wasn’t sure what to expect price-wise when I visited Koh Rong in January. Β I’d heard that the accommodation is of notoriously poor value but when it came to food and activities, I really had no clue.

Because I’m the type of person who obsessively jots down every little thing I spend money on,Β I figured I might as wellΒ compile a little backpacker’sΒ guide to Koh Rong. Β This way all of you budget travelers out there willΒ have a better idea of what to expect. Β Aside from the accommodation prices (all of which is really overpriced for what you get) I was pleasantly surprised by how cheaply backpackersΒ can travel on Koh Rong. Β I mean, this place is pretty much paradise….

koh-rong-beaches

AΒ Guide to Visiting Koh Rong on a Budget…

how to getΒ to Koh Rong:

The coastal town of Sihanoukville is the jumping off point for Koh Rong.Β  Since I was coming directly from Phnom Penh, I booked an all-inclusive ticket (including a mini-van from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville and a round-trip ferry ticket) for $30. Β It would have been cheaper to take a big bus and book the ferry separately, butΒ time was of the essence during my rushed 10 days in Cambodia!

If you’re already inΒ Sihanoukville, ferry tickets should cost around $10-15 each way. Β Fast boats take about an hour while the slowest boats can take up to two hours. Β Make sure you’re actually getting the boat you’re paying for, as I’ve heard a lot of travelers pay the more pricey rate butΒ get put on a slow boat.Β  I booked my ticket through the Koh Rong Dive Center and had no problems.

Where to stay in koh rong (and what to expect):

The accommodation was probably the most disappointing part of Koh Rong. Β I didn’t mind roughing it in a little bungalow with scant electricity. Β But the price tag for most bungalows was a tad ridiculous.

A Backpacker's Guide to Koh Rong - Travel Lush

I visited Koh Rong in January, which is the high season, so it’s likelyΒ that things get a lot cheaper during the low season.Β  But from my experience it is definitely possible to do Koh Rong on any budget, even during the high season. Β Dorm beds are available for as little as $5, bare bones rooms are available for $10-20, and more private (yet still very basic) bungalows can be found from $30-70.

It’s important to note that almost all accommodation is of poorΒ value. Β And the quality of rooms and bungalows totally varies so, if you can, explore your options before you settle on a room.

From the pier head right to find more pricey beach bungalows. Β If you’re on a budget there are some cheaperΒ (but just as nice) bungalows to the left of the pier. Β Just head over the bridge and past the water buffalo.

A Backpacker's Guide to Koh Rong - Travel Lush

Don’t book ahead:

Obviously, use your discretion.Β  If it’s a holiday, a full moon or just a popular time of year booking ahead might be safer but considering many of Koh Rong’s hotels don’t even have websites you’ll probably find something upon arrival.Β  If all else fails, you can always camp out on the beach! Β Just to be on the safe side, I booked one night at Paradise BungalowsΒ and paid $40 (for two people) for a hillside bungalow.Β  In Thailand or Indonesia $40 goes a long way but this is what it bought me on Koh Rong…

A Backpacker's Guide to Koh Rong - Travel Lush

The next day, we set outΒ to explore other options and I’m so glad we did. Β From what I saw the quality of bungalows really varies.Β  For example, the room atΒ Paradise Bungalows had a foam mattress, was illuminated by a single light bulb (which made it incredibly dark at night), had no outlets to charge gadgets and had no view (a beachfront bungalow comes with a higher price tag). Β At first I assumed this was par for the course.

But after a little hunting, IΒ found there were much better options.Β  I noticed a few bungalows high up on the hill and almost wrote them off thinking they must be out of my price range.Β  But weΒ walked up the hill toΒ Highland Beach Bungalows. Β Not only were these bungalows way nicer but they costΒ $30 a night (for two people).

A Backpacker's Guide to Koh Rong - Travel Lush

In our case it really paid off to look around because we were infinitely more comfortable.Β  Not only did we have the best view in town but there was a clean bathroom, a real (and comfy) mattress and plenty of lights and outlets.

A Backpacker's Guide to Koh Rong - Travel Lush
Seriously, I couldn’t dream of a better view!
budget-friendly places to eat on koh rong:

I can’t say that the food on Koh Rong is anything to write home about, but it is fairly cheap for being a touristy and isolated island.Β  Breakfast doesn’t seem to be included in the price of anyΒ hotel, so you’re on your own.Β  But there are plenty of western-oriented restaurants serving up eggs and toast, omelets, muesli and fruit plates for $2-5.

A Backpacker's Guide to Koh Rong - Travel Lush

For lunch I typically purchased a $1 shake from a beachfront stall.Β  For the most part, you can pick from a selection of fruits (red dragon fruit and mango is my favorite combo!).

A Backpacker's Guide to Koh Rong - Travel Lush

The easiest way to save money is by avoiding the western-oriented eateries and eating at one of the restaurants that are clustered around the pier.Β  They serve up cheap traditional CambodianΒ dishes (from noodles to seafood toΒ amok) and even some westernΒ staplesΒ (like spaghetti and burgers) for $1-4.Β  All in all, you can eat pretty inexpensively on Koh Rong.

A Backpacker's Guide to Koh Rong - Travel Lush
You can easily fill up on the beach for $1.50.
budget-friendly thingsΒ to do on koh rong:

Koh Rong’s a fairly small place but I was happy to find there were quite a few options in terms of activities.Β  I’m not a huge fan of tours but Koh Rong offers some pretty good ones.Β  And with a price tag of $5-7 I figured I might as well partake.

bioluminescent-plankton-koh-rong

My favorite tour was going out to see the bioluminescent plankton on Koh Rong. They are literally glow-in-the-dark plankton that are found in the waters surrounding Koh Rong.Β  If you’ve never seen this natural phenomenon before, this tour is a must-do.Β  It’s a trip to jump into the pitch black ocean and be surrounded by millions of glowing planktonΒ and looking up at the star speckled sky – it’s kind of magical and it only costs $5.Β  Bring your own beer on the boat and you’ll save some pennies too.

A trip to Long Beach is also a must.Β  If you’re on a budget (and up for a bit of adventure) I highly recommend doing the hike.Β  It takes about 45 minutes and it does get a bit steep toward the end so heed everyone’s advice and wear shoes.Β  You can also reach Long Beach via a boat, I paid $3 to get from Long Beach to theΒ main pier.

long-beach-koh-rong

Refill your water bottles:

As I mentioned previously, the trash situation on Koh Rong was something that really bothered me.Β  Part of what makes Koh Rong such an amazing and special place is that it is so undeveloped.Β  But the lack of infrastructure also means that there’s no realΒ way to dispose of garbage.

One thing I always try to do when I travel is refill my water bottles.Β  I always travel with a Nalgene and I buy the biggestΒ water bottle I can findΒ and refill it instead of buying multiple water bottles a day.

A Backpacker's Guide to Koh Rong - Travel Lush

I was happy to find that most beach front restaurants and bars will let you fill up largeΒ water bottles for $.50.Β  Not only is that a huge discount from the cost of buying a brand new bottle but it helps to reduce your carbon footprint – it’s a win win!

What’s your favorite tip for saving money on touristy islands?

About Justine

Justine Lopez is a California native who always seems to take the unconventional route in life. She also suffers from a serious case of wanderlust. In 2013, she set out on a yearlong round-the-world journey and never looked back. Since then she's lived the expat life in Jakarta, Phnom Penh, Beijing, and Ho Chi Minh City. She's now living and working as a freelance writer in Dubai. As she meanders her way through Asia she's always seeking out great vegetarian food, pretty beaches, and amazing new travel destinations.

21 thoughts on “A Guide to Visiting Koh Rong on a Budget

    1. I’ve found other touristy islands in Southeast Asia (such as Ko Phi Phi and Boracay) are way more expensive than the mainland, so I was curious about what Koh Rong would be like. But given that it’s still really undeveloped things were not super overpriced. But, in my opinion, the lodging was very overpriced for what you get. Oh well, I enjoyed my time in my little bungalow immensely so I can’t complain too much πŸ˜‰

    1. Thanks Sally πŸ™‚ Koh Rong is definitely one of my favorite places too! Yeah, there are some super cheap accommodation options. I was a little bummed to find that the cheapest bungalow I found was $30. But considering I split the cost with my boyfriend, $15 each a night isn’t so bad! It’s pretty awesome that you can travel solo to Koh Rong and only spend $3 on a dorm bed. That is a killer deal!

  1. Oh myyyy a bioluminescent plankton tour!? AMAZING! I saw them on my sailboat trip from Panama to Colombia, but never swam among them. They just lit up when the boat came down on top of a wave, and even that was freaking magical. I would absolutely love to do that, especially if it’s only $5. Great tips here, Justine!
    Leah recently posted…The Art of Saying Goodbye

    1. I know! I am obsessed with bioluminescent plankton! I’ve seen it a couple times in San Diego and it is seriously such a trippy natural phenomenon. Seeing waves turn neon green when they crash is pretty cool! Next time you see it you have to jump in the water. There’s nothing better that being in the water and having everything light up around you! Yeah, for $5 I was very excited to be able to do this tour in Koh Rong!

      1. Hey, that plankton tour also one of my list! I’ll be coming to koh rong early february with my sister. Do you think the plankton trip is safe for just 2 girls like us? To think that its dark at night. Are there many person joining the trip? Thank you!

  2. Thank you for writing this detailed post! I was looking for practical info about Koh Rong and found a lot of info there πŸ™‚ Just one question though, I know it might sound stupid but when swimming aroung the planktons, is there any risk of being attacked by a shark?? Or am I completely paranoid lol? In any case, thank you for writing this useful post!

    1. I’m glad you found this post helpful Steph! Ha, all I know is that I had no issues being attacked by sea creatures while swimming with the plankton. It is dark so it’s a bit scary but it was REALLY cool πŸ™‚

  3. Thanks for the tips! I’m heading to Koh Rong tomorrow for the Lunar New Year (I live in Vietnam and the whole country is off for a week), and I wasn’t really sure about what to do there. Some friends had told me about the bioluminescent plankton a couple years ago but I had totally forgotten about that! So thank you! πŸ™‚
    Marine recently posted…Saigon, c’est pas la vraie vie

  4. Wonderful tips!! Will arrive to Koh Rong in a couple of hours and have completely underplanned. So your guide gives me some peace of mind and great tips! Cheers! πŸ˜€

  5. I have been to Koh Rong last year and Long Beach is by far the prettiest beach I have ever seen!
    The hike during the morning is fun and a longboat back during sunset is great too πŸ™‚
    x

    1. I really enjoyed the hike to Long Beach. It did get a little steep at points, but it was so fun. And I’m glad I did it. And the boat ride back was pretty great too. All in all, Long Beach is a must-do when visiting Koh Rong. I loved that beach πŸ™‚

  6. Thanks for sharing these tips πŸ™‚ it’s nice to hear that the prices are not as bad as we feared. Especially now in off-season. Can’t esit to get to Koh Rong tomorrow!

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