Cambodia, situated in Southeast Asia, is a very desirable place to visit and live. Besides its well-known and rich cultural history, it is also known for having hundreds of miles of stunning beaches that beautifully line the Gulf of Thailand and other areas.

The beaches of Cambodia are magnificent, and a great place to relax and even explore, especially considering the fact that they are less-traveled and discovered by many other international travelers.

We hand-picked the best spots on the Cambodian shore to spend a beach vacation this year. Read on to find out what they are and all they have to offer.

Located on the wild, southwestern tip of Cambodia that shares a border with Thailand lies Sner Beach. It is in the Dong Tung commune of the Smachmeanchery District of the province of Koh Kong.

Sner Beach is slightly isolated in the best way possible. It is used and known largely by the locals, making it relaxing due to the simplicity that remains because many tourists do not know of it!

It is full of beer huts and desirable small eateries highlighted by the best of the local food scene. Seafood barbeque pits cook up the catches of the day that are added to delicious sides of rice and vegetables for the perfect Cambodian meal. The food on this beach speaks volumes about the authenticity of this Cambodian treasure.

Hammocks dot the sand providing a relaxing place to spend a day among the locals. The waters are cool, clean, and pristine and the background of the beach is full of more unique nature.

Sner Beach is easy to access. It is just 10 miles (17 km) from the heart of Koh Kong. Whether a car is hired or a personal one is taken, Sner Beach is one Cambodian beach that deserves to be recognized on the list of Cambodia’s top beaches.

Koh Rong Samloem, a stunning Cambodian island just 45 minutes away via ferry from Sihanoukville, is another less-crowded place to visit in this sometimes overlooked country.

It is truly a quietly discovered treasure that deserves some recognition. Although some may beg to differ that information not be shared about this gem, it deserves to be shared with the traveling world.

M’Pai Bay, on the north side of the island of Koh Rong Samloem, is even less busy than its southern counterpart Saracen Bay. The chill way of life that this beach holds shines a light on authentic island life. This beach is also scattered with genuine Cambodian food that fills up the stomachs of both the frequent locals and lucky travelers.

The shore of M’Pai Bay is also lined with quaint shops and accommodations for tourists. Besides some shopping and eating along the beach, there are also lots of opportunities for kayaking and boating trips.

The water in M’Pai Bay is very calm so kayaking is simple and boating trips satisfying. During these boating trips, other things such as exploring coves, snorkeling, and cliff diving are all usually a part of boat tours. Hiking is also a popular thing tourists do near this beach, and waterfalls can be found at the end of the hikes.

M’Pai Bay is certainly a more quiet and laid-back Cambodian beach, but this hidden gem of a place is filled with the colors of the locals. Its available activities appeal to relaxation and thrill-seeking vacationers alike.

On the opposite side of M’Pai Bay lies Saracen Bay. This beach is on the southern tip of the island of Koh Rong Samloem in Cambodia.

Overall the islands and beaches of Cambodia are much less populated by tourists than the neighboring country, Thailand, however, Saracen Bay does have much more hustle and bustle than many Cambodian beaches do. It is however still filled with both relaxation and local charm

The beach is a large tourist destination, but its resorts are still very peaceful and it does not host much nightlife. Resorts and several shops line the beachfront here, giving way to a view of turquoise waters and pristine white beaches. Most higher-end resorts offer boat services from the ferry port to the hotel as well, to help tourists avoid sandy suitcases.

Visiting Saracen Bay does allow for some exciting activities alongside relaxing beach time. Snorkeling, waterfall swimming, hiking, scuba diving, and even visiting a lighthouse can all be done at this exciting destination.

The best time to visit Saracen Bay is between mid-November and the end of May. These days typically provide warm temperatures and low humidity.

One last incredible thing to be noticed at Saracen Bay Beach is the difference in the tide level. High tide brings the water into where tables, chairs, and hammocks find themselves set up by local establishments, and low tide provides quite the walkout to where the crystal blue waters wait to be enjoyed.

Kep Beach sits in the town of Kep on the southern coast of Cambodia, not far from Vietnam. The town where the beach is located is also known as Krong Kaeb. The sandy beach sits nestled at the base of Kep National Park.

The beach itself is not overly-developed but still hosts numerous restaurants and cafes along the sand. One of the best parts of this amazing beach is the amazingly fresh seafood that is caught here daily.

Kep Beach is only about 30 miles from the backpacking areas of Kampot and it is certainly worth a visit to check out the historical area.

Kep Beach has been enlarged to provide a more recreational vibe, and rentals for boogie boards, beach chairs and umbrellas, and even rafts draw people to this vibrant and active area. It may not be known as a traditional, relaxing, and tranquil beach vacation, but it is perfect for those seeking a day trip with some fun activities, shopping, and eating mixed in.

The area of Kep where the beach is located has a very rich and intriguing history. It is a former French beach resort that was popular around an era of French Colonialism, and the way the streets are laid out and the architecture is finished reflect that French rule and background.

Koh Russey in Sihanoukville is home to a private, one-mile beach that is pristine and straight-up dreamy. Mangrove and palm trees back up this beach situated on an island full of jungle land that can be explored on foot.

One of the top Cambodian resorts resides here, the Koh Russey Villas & Resort. The resort has multiple restaurants, a spa, a beach bar, a beachfront infinity pool, and numerous other activities that are good for couples, individuals, or even families.

The resort’s accommodations are all private villas and pavilions, some with multiple bedrooms. It also has a private ferry to get you access to the resort.

Visiting Koh Russey is a must for a tranquil and luxurious vacation for anyone desiring to go to Cambodia.

Otres Beach is a part of the city of Sihanoukville, a resort city also known as Kampong Som. It is a coastal city in Cambodia and the capital of Preah Sihanouk Province.

Otres Beach is divided into two sections, 1 and 2, separated by a resort in the middle. Otres 2 is slightly further down the coast from the resort, making it less busy than its busier Otres 1 counterpart.

Beach bungalows and guesthouses line this beach and the vibe is both peaceful and relaxing. Quiet hours are respected and if guests are looking for a party island, this is probably not it.

The water here is clean and as crystal clear and calm as it could be dreamed to be. It is deep enough to enjoy swimming and incredibly warm.

This Southeast Asian paradise is a nearly 2-mile-long stretch of beach that is being more and more developed as time treks on, however, it still basks in the calmness and tranquility that tourists often seek out in their Cambodian beach visits.

Visiting Otres Beach in Sihanoukville can be an affordable trip with lots of things to do as well as relaxing on the nearly-white sand beach. Sea kayaking, four-wheel tours, resort pampering, boat trips, horseback riding, visiting the night market, and even nearby waterfall hikes are all favorites of tourists here.

While this beach has changed a lot over the last few years through development and continues to do so, it still provides a relaxing and fun way for travelers to explore this area of Cambodia.

The islands and beaches of Cambodia are true hidden gems. Tourists looking for calm and tranquil vacations as well as those looking for fun water activities, authentic and delicious local food, and regional shopping and experiences will find exactly what is being sought after in these sometimes lesser-known areas of Cambodia.

Visiting Cambodia will leave travelers and explorers with the perfect international experience that will leave them wanting to come back year after year.

A realistic dreamer and discoverer with Czech artistic roots. She's an MA Creative Writing graduate and a writer at Traveling Lifestyle.

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