Otres Beach still offers a strikingly natural contrast to its more developed neighbor to the north, Ochheuteal Beach.
Unlike busy and hip Serendipity Beach, Otres Beach lacks anything resembling a town; along the northernmost portion of the 3km-long beach that lies between a bumpy dirt road and the sea, Otres features a dozen or so funky, rustic bungalows and restaurants with weathered, thatch roofs, but no ATMs, convenience stores, or souvenir shops.
While many of the establishments towards the center of the beach were bulldozed by developers who have yet to replace them with the luxury resorts that are scheduled for the near future, those that remain along the northern end of the beach continue to offer cheap rooms, tasty and inexpensive food, and laid-back service. Otres Beach is only a 10 minute motorbike ride from Ochheuteal Beach but it feels a world away.
While Otres Beach has for years been the enclave of a handful of ultra-basic beach bungalows and bars, it has been slated for some new development in the upcoming years, including an upgrade of the currently bumpy dirt road and a new walking-path that will extend the length of the beach.
A handful of new guesthouses that have been built in compliance with the development plans seem suitable for the laid-back atmosphere of a beach while providing higher quality accommodation than was once offered. While Otres Beach will certainly grow over the next few years, its still a very relaxing and relatively undeveloped alternative on the mainland and should remain a low-key alternative to busier Serendipity Beach.
Getting There
Otres Beach is located just south of Ochheuteal Beach and Sihanoukville town; a 10 minute motorbike or tuk tuk ride, but accessible by walking along the beach (and over the hill) or by bicycle along the coastal road. Sihanoukville is located 3-5 hours from Phnom Penh by taxi or bus and 3-4 hours from Koh Kong.