Just north of Koh Rong Saloem is Koh Rung, a gorgeous island with several long, pristine beaches.
10 years ago Koh Rong was a sleepy, wilderness with white sand beaches and was unspoiled, uncrowded and genuinely beautiful. Unfortunately, tourism has found Koh Rong and the tiny village of Koh Tuch is chock-a-block with backpacker haunts, bars and restaurants. Over the next 25 years Koh Rung is likely to evolve from secret spot to internationally renowned beach resort.
There are several beaches that stretch for miles with hardly another visitor in sight and the sand is as soft and white as the sea is glistening and blue. Eventually, a marina, golf course, airport, and luxury hotels will develop amidst several planned protected nature reserves; in the meantime, the island is a nature reserve, albeit one where illegal logging still sadly occurs.
The fishing village on the southeast-facing beach is where the island’s pier is currently located. Just north of the village, where a band of monkeys lives in the trees behind the beachfront guesthouses, Monkey Island Resort and then Paradise Bungalows share the windward shore with a handful of simple but amazing beachside restaurants and ultra-basic rooms for rent.
The stilted beach bungalows at the Treehouse Resort are a short walk north, along the path that leads to a 3.5km stretch of as yet undeveloped powdery white sand. A challenging hour-long hike from the southwestern beach to the Broken Heart Guest House, the ultimate beach getaway, is an fun option if you are looking for adventure or need to escape even the modest number of tourists on the ‘main’ beach.
The tiny village of Koh Tuch is now a popular stop on the party itinerary circuit.
Getting There
Many of the guesthouses on Koh Rung are accessible via only two boat services: the one operated by Tree House bungalows and the other operated by the Dive Shop (and Paradise Bungalows). The times for departure and return of the various boats are likely to change from season to season or year to year, so contact Monkey Republic or The Dive Shop in Serendipity Beach for up to date boat information and pricing or contact any of the island’s resorts via phone or email.