How to get to, from, and around Koh Rong

How to get to and from Koh Rong and around the island, including ferry schedules.

Before leaving shore, be sure to know where on Koh Rong you are going! Koh Rong is a large island with four villages and 28 beaches, and accidentally disembarking in the wrong place can mean you’ll be stuck paying for a longtail (a traditional Cambodian fishing boat) to get you where you want to go. Koh Toch is the main village on Koh Rong and the destination most people are looking for. For other locations, we have a map of the island to help you get a sense of the geography.

Koh Rong ferries

How to make your way to Koh Rong — it’s worth the effort!

To get to the popular Koh Toch part of Koh Rong you have several options in 2023, including speed ferries that take between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the schedule (it’s rarely as fast as advertised). There are also a few slow-boat options. Schedules change often, so be sure to confirm a few days before. If you’re headed somewhere other than Koh Toch, such as Sok San Village, we have information below, but ask your guesthouse for details about transport.

There are several speed ferry companies operating multiple daily boats to and from the island’s main village, Koh Toch, and most offer hotel pickup in Sihanoukville. Tickets cost $25 return or $14 one way and can usually be booked online in advance (details below). Confirm your ferry time a day in advance to reserve your seat.

All boats leave from Serendipity Autonomous Port in Sihanoukville, and the former Serendipity Beach Pier is no longer in use.

Looking for information on Koh Rong Sanloem? Check out our guide.

Boats to Koh Toch Village and Beach

These days, there’s very little difference between the three ferry companies, Cambodia Island Speed Ferry, GTVC, and Buva Sea. Tickets cost $25 for a return ticket or $14 one way.

Buva Sea Ferry is a ferry company operated by the same company as the controversial Virak Buntham buses. Buva Sea offers a fast service and drop-off at Koh Toch along with alternative piers not serviced by the other ferries, such as Long Set Beach, Sok San Beach, and Daem Thkov Village (see sections below for more information on getting to these beaches). Tickets cost $25 and the advertised time is 30 to 60 minutes.

Buva Sea boat schedule (Koh Toch):
Sihanoukville to Koh Rong (Koh Toch area): 9 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m.
Koh Rong (Koh Toch) to Sihanoukville: 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.

⮕ Buy a Buva Sea ticket now

GTVC has speedboats running to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem several times a day. They advertise the trip as taking 30 minutes, but our experience has been closer to 60 minutes. Tickets can be purchased online in advance.

GTVC speedboat schedule:
Sihanoukville to Koh Rong (Koh Toch): 9 a.m., 12. p.m., and 3 p.m.
Koh Rong (Koh Toch) to Sihanoukville: 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m.

⮕ Buy a GTVC speedboat ticket now

Koh Rong speed ferry

Getting to Koh Rong couldn’t be easier with a speed ferry.

Island Speed Ferry Cambodia (formerly TBC), sometimes called Cambodia Island Speed Ferry or Island Speed Boat Cambodia or TBC. They operate two speed ferries, one a brand-new 150-seat ferry that is enclosed and air-conditioned. The second is older and not air-conditioned, so you’ll have to take your chances. The trip can take up to 90 minutes because they make two stops on Koh Rong Sanloem before heading to Koh Rong, where they stop at the Koh Toch pier.

Cambodia Island Speed Ferry schedule:
Sihanoukville to Koh Rong (Koh Toch area): 9 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m.
Koh Rong (Koh Toch) to Sihanoukville: 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m

⮕ Buy a Cambodia Island Speed Ferry ticket now

Additionally, there are yellow supply boats aka “The Slow Boats” that are mainly used for transporting locals and goods to the mainland, but tourists are welcome to use them as well. The cost is $5 each way, and life jackets are not guaranteed! The trip usually take two hours, but it can be three if there is bad weather. The boats leave from the Sihanoukville port, at the New Royal Pier.

Supply boat schedule:
Sihanoukville (port) to Koh Rong (Koh Toch): 3 p.m.
Koh Rong (Koh Toch) to Sihanoukville (port): 9 a.m.

The Happy Boat offers a popular three-island day tour that visits Koh Thas, Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem. The trip includes a basic breakfast and an asian-style buffet lunch and costs $27 for an adult and $13.50 for a child. This boat can also be used for transport directly to and from Koh Rong for $10 each way.

Sihanoukville to Koh Rong (Koh Toch): 9 a.m.
Koh Rong (Koh Toch) to Sihanoukville: 5 p.m.

⮕ Buy a Happy Boat ticket now

How to get to Koh Rong

You can take a village boat or a slow boat to other parts of Koh Rong.

Boats from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong’s other beaches

Sok San Village and Beach (Long Beach)

Buva Sea (more info in Koh Toch section above) has daily speed ferries to Sok San Beach. The trip takes 20 to 40 minutes. Tickets cost $10 for a return ticket.

Buva Sea boat schedule (Sok San):
Sihanoukville to Koh Rong (Sok San): 1 p.m.
Koh Rong (Sok San) to Sihanoukville: 1 p.m.

⮕ Buy a Buva Sea ticket now

Speed Ferry Cambodia operates a smaller taxi boat from Koh Rong to Sok San Beach twice a day for $8, one-way. There are no return times however, as there are many taxi boats to choose from at Sok San Beach that are happy to bring you back to Koh Toch.

Speed Ferry Cambodia schedule (Sok San):
Sihanoukville to Koh Rong (Sok San): 1 p.m., 4 p.m.

Island Speed Ferry Cambodia offers a speedboat shuttle service from Koh Toch to Sok San Beach that connects with the ferry from the mainland. Expect to add 30 to 45 minutes to your trip by the time you change boats and get to Sok San. Return tickets cost $27.

Cambodia Island Speed Ferry (TBC) fast boat schedule:
Sihanoukville to Koh Rong (Sok San): 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 3 p.m.
Koh Rong (Sok San) to Sihanoukville: 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

Sok San Beach Resort runs a daily private speedboat ferry that leaves from Pier 65 at Sihanoukville Port. Tickets cost $40 return for adults and $20 for children under 13 years old. This ferry is only for guests of Sok San Beach Bungalows and Sok San Beach Resort and takes approximately one hour. Tickets need to be reserved in advance. If you are having trouble finding Port 65, please contact Srey Thea on (+855) 12 573 142.

Sok San Fast Cat schedule:
Sihanoukville (Pier 65) to Koh Rong (Sok San): 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
Koh Rong (Sok San) to Sihanoukville (Pier 65): 7:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m.

For more information on getting to and from Sok San beach, check out the Sok San Beach Bungalows transportation page which is updated regularly.

Daem Thkov Village

If you’re heading to Daem Thkov or any of the nearby beaches, there’s a converted fishing boat that goes every day to haul locals and the occasionally tourist. Tickets cost $5 each way (or 15,000 riel for Khmers) and the trip takes about 2.5 hours, depending on the weather. Boats go to and from Pier 52 at the Sihanoukville Port, and are often late.

Daem Thkov Village boat schedule:
Sihanoukville to Daem Thkov: 3 p.m.
Daem Thkov to Sihanoukville: 8 a.m.

Buva Sea (more info in Koh Toch section above) has daily speed ferries to Coconut Beach, where it’s a 10-15 walk to the village, and if it’s windy they go straight to Daem Thkov. The trip takes 45-60 minutes. Tickets cost $22 return.

Buva Sea boat schedule (Daem Thkov):
Sihanoukville to Koh Rong (Daem Thkov): 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m.
Koh Rong (Daem Thkov) to Sihanoukville: 6:45 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 11:45 p.m., and 1:45 p.m.

⮕ Buy a Buva Sea ticket now

Prek Svay Village

There’s a local village boat that goes to and from Prek Svay Village and uses Pier 52 at the Sihanoukville Port. Tickets cost $5 each way for foreigners and the trip takes 2.5 to 3 hours.

Prek Svay Village boat schedule:
Sihanoukville (Pier 52) to Prek Svay: 7 a.m.
Prek Svay to Sihanoukville (Pier 52): 3 p.m.

Lonely Beach and Palm Beach

There are daily ferries run by Lonely Beach and Palm Beach Resort, you will need to buy a ticket directly from your guesthouse when you make your reservation.

Long Set Beach, Nature Beach, Coconut Beach, Vietnamese Beach

Buva Sea has daily speed ferries to Long Set Beach (4k Beach), and Romduol/Nature Beach, and Coconut Beach. The trip takes 45-90 minutes and an open return ticket costs $22.

Buva Sea boat schedule (Long Set Beach, Nature Beach, Coconut Beach):
Sihanoukville to Koh Rong (Long Set/Nature Beach): 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m.
Koh Rong (Long Set/Nature/Coconut Beach) to Sihanoukville: 6:45 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 11:45 p.m., and 1:45 p.m.

⮕ Buy a Buva Sea ticket now

Private long tail boat to Koh Rong

More adventurous travelers can take a private boat to Koh Rong.

Hire a private boat to Koh Rong

If you miss the ferry but are determined to make it to Koh Rong, you can hire a private boat. All of the local longtail boats (Cambodian fishing boats) are willing to go to Koh Rong, weather permitting. The price varies depending on whether or not you book direct or through a travel agent, but usually ranges between $100 and $150. Boats can seat up to 15 people and the journey takes two to three hours. Most of the time, the price includes a same-day return, so it’s possible to do a day trip to the island. However, if you’d like to stay longer and want to take the same boat back, the price will increase.

Smaller boats are available that can seat eight people and cost around $80 for a one-way trip, and only marginally more for a same-day return. You can find boats hanging out near the Serendipity Pier and book directly with a fisherman. Or go through one of the local travel agents, such as Best Beach Travel (Serendipity Beach Road, Sihanoukville; T: 015 678 924) or Ana Travel (Serendipity Beach Road, Sihanoukville; T: 034 933 729). Negotiation is possible, but remember that gasoline is pricey!

Getting to Koh Rong by helicopter

If you really want to splash out, try taking a helicopter to Koh Rong. No apparent progress has been made on building the long-promised Koh Rong airport, but there is a helicopter landing pad that was built to spare the VIP guests of Song Saa Private Island the indignity of having to hobnob with the riff-raff on the Koh Rong ferries. From Phnom Penh the trip is 90 minutes. Helistar Cambodia offers flights to Koh Rong from Phnom Penh Airport for $4,500++ , and Helicopters Cambodia flies Phnom Penh Airport to to Koh Rong for $5,772.2++.

Koh Rong Koh Toch

Taxi boats in Koh Toch Village ready to take you around the island.

Getting around Koh Rong

There are  a few basic roads on Koh Rong beginning to connect different parts of the island, but for the most part you’ll be walking on the beach most of the time you’re on the island. There are a few moto drivers, but they aren’t cheap. Expect to pay $15 to $20 to get from one end to the other. Longtail boats are another option, either through the regular shuttle services or by hiring a private taxi boat.

Daily shuttle boats:

Koh Toch To Sok San Beach: 1 p.m., 3 p.m.; $6 per person, one-way
Sok San Beach to Koh Toch: 6:30 p.m.; $5 per person (includes plankton swim)
Koh Toch to Sok San Village: 1 p.m., 3 p.m.; $7 per person, one-way
Suns of Beaches: 12 p.m.; $5
Coconut Beach: 12 p.m.; $5

Ferries and shuttle services don’t suit you? You can always take a local longtail “taxi boat” to other parts of Koh Rong Island. Any more than 4 passengers may incur a $5 per person additional fee each way.

These are the prices we were recently quoted for taxi boats:

Koh Toch to Long Set (4K) Beach: $15 one-way, $30 return
Koh Toch to Long Beach: $20 one-way, $40 return (return trip is after sunset)
Koh Toch to Sok San Village: $30 one-way, $60 return
Koh Toch to Coconut Beach: $25 one-way, $50 return
Koh Toch to Suns of Beaches: $25 one-way, $50 return
Koh Toch to Palm Beach: $50 one-way, $100 return
Koh Toch to Lonely Beach: $60 one-way, $110 return
Koh Toch to Prek Svay Village: $40 one-way, $80 return
Koh Toch to Koh Song Saa : $40 one-way, $80 return

If you’re going from Sok San Beach to Koh Toch, you can hitch a ride on the Sok San village slow boat.

Getting from Koh Rong to Koh Rong Sanloem (and vice-versa)

If you want to rent a private longtail, it will cost approximately $40 each way to Saracen Bay, while M’pei Bei is around $20 and Lazy Beach is around $60.

Buva Sea speed ferries go from Koh Rong to Koh Rong Sanloem twice a day, at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (be aware that the times are approximate). You can buy tickets online in advance for $7.

Speed Ferry Cambodia’s slow boat costs $5 and usually takes around 45 minutes. It stops at 3 locations on Koh Rong Sanloem, including M’Pai Bay, Driftwood and Saracen Bay. The return trip is a supply boat that loads and unloads at M’Pai Bay prior to departure from Koh Rong Sanloem, so that leg of the journey takes a while.

Speed Ferry Cambodia schedule:
Koh Toch to Koh Rong Sanloem: 8 a.m., 1 p.m., 5 p.m..
Koh Rong Sanloem to Koh Toch: 5 p.m. pick up Saracen Bay, 6 p.m. depart M’Pai Bay.

Buva Sea schedule:
Koh Toch to Koh Rong Sanloem: 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m..
Koh Rong Sanloem to Koh Toch: 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

Looking for more? View the full Koh Rong island guide for tips on where to stay, what to eat, and which are the island’s best beaches.

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