Lazy Beach Koh Rong Samloem: An EPIC Guide + Insider Tips (2022)

Ahhhh…Lazy Beach…

Golden sand, vibrant turquoise water, pretty fishies…

It’s a beautiful paradise you’ll have practically to yourself. 

The problem is, almost ALL the info online about Lazy Beach Koh Rong Samloem (and the entire island in general) is outdated. 

This place has changed A LOT over the past couple years. 

We’ve been living on Koh Rong Samloem for over two months now and have hiked to Lazy Beach three times (using three different routes). Needless to say, we’ve picked up some helpful tips along the way.

And that’s what we’ll share with you today.

This Koh Rong Samloem Lazy Beach guide will show you EVERYTHING you need to know to have an awesome trip.

Check out this video for a fun alternative trek to Lazy Beach that barely anyone knows about (with some secret spots on the way).

Lazy Beach Cambodia is just one of MANY spectacular beaches on the island. Make sure to check out our full guide to ALL the best Koh Rong Samloem beaches. (We visited every one and can help you decide which ones to choose). Also, make sure to read our ultimate Koh Rong Samloem island guide before you arrive. There’s some super important stuff you need to know before you get here!

Why Visit Lazy Beach?

There are MANY incredible beaches on the small island of Koh Rong Samloem. And if you made the long voyage to the island (and survived Sihanoukville), you’ll want to see as much as possible.

Most travelers just stick to whichever beach their accommodation is on—which is a real shame.

The good news for you is, since most people are too lazy to hike to Lazy Beach, you’ll probably have it all to yourself.

…at least for now.

They are in the process of paving a road that connects all the different beaches. And once that’s completed (which, to be honest, might take a while), everything on the island will change. 

Easier access ➡ More development ➡ More people ➡ No more “secret spots”

So…make sure to visit before it’s too late!

Saracen Bay to Lazy Beach

Alrighty, so here’s how to get to Lazy Beach from Saracen Bay (if you’re staying in M’Pai Bay, you’ll need to take a boat). There are three routes:

Pro Tip: Download an offline map of the island onto your phone before setting off into the jungle.

Route #1: Lazy Beach Only

This is the quickest and easiest route—it’s what I’d recommend if you get a late start to your day.

Just take the path next to Octopussy Bar (it’s impossible to miss) and keep going straight. It should only take around 30 minutes.

Route #2: Lazy Beach + Sunset Beach

This is my favorite route, but you need an early start to have time to enjoy both beaches.

First, you’ll go to Sunset Beach. To get there, take a right off of the main Orchid Pier and head to the dive shop next to the green building. The sign for the trail isn’t super obvious (at the time of writing), and you’ll have to walk around the dive shop to find the path. There’s a lot of construction going on around this area, so it may look different for you.

Keep following the path through the jungle. You’ll pass a big open road on your left (this is the path to Lazy Beach that you’ll take later). Continue straight, and you’ll finish by climbing and descending a big hill.

Enjoy Sunset Beach in the morning and early afternoon, eat lunch at one of the restaurants, then head to Lazy Beach (taking the path you passed earlier) for the rest of the afternoon, dinner, and sunet.

You might be thinking, “But I should probably watch the sunset on Sunset Beach, right?”

Wrong. Two reasons:

#1.) The sunset is just as good in Lazy Beach

#2.) After the sun sets and it starts getting dark, it’s MUCH easier to walk back to Saracen from Lazy Beach than it is from Sunset Beach.

Route #3: Lazy Beach + Lighthouse + Military Beach

Route 3 is by far the longest route, great for those who want to take a break from beach bummin’ and get some exercise.

The goal is to make it to the lighthouse for sunrise (or at least sometime in the morning). Then circle around to the mysterious Military Beach. Then scramble over rocks to finish off the rest of the day at Lazy Beach.

This hike’s a doozy, so make sure to bring snacks and plenty of water! (See video above for instructions, I kinda invented this fun route and there isn’t a marked path).

If you’re traveling Cambodia solo, you might wanna bring a friend for this one. It involves rock-hopping way out in the middle of nowhere (which is a blast, btw), and if you were to slip and get injured way out there, you’d be in trouble.

Hiking to Lazy Beach

The direct hike to Lazy Beach (Route #1) is pretty easy. But if you’re expecting a super jungly trek, you might be disappointed. They’re clearing out a road from Saracen Bay to Lazy Beach, so it’s a wide open path. 

Route #2 and #3 offer more of a jungle experience…but I’m sure these will have roads soon as well.

Since there isn’t much tree cover, the trek from Saracen to Lazy Beach is also HOT. Prepare to get blasted with sun.

As far as footwear goes…

If you’re just going to Lazy Beach, the walk could be done in sandals (but shoes would be more comfortable). However, if you’re adding the lighthouse and/or Sunset Beach to the itinerary, you’ll DEFINITELY want shoes. 

Lastly, animals…

Koh Rong Samloem is home to some savage beasts you don’t wanna mess with. We’re talking ginormous wild buffalo, tons of poisonous snakes, scorpions, angry jungle dogs, and aggressive human-sized monkeys. I’ve seen videos of all these (except the giant monkeys, which may or may not be real).

Either way, be careful.

If you stick to the trail during the daytime, you shouldn’t have any problems. Most of the danger lays deep in the jungle. (Seriously, don’t be scared. You’ll be fine!)

Lazy Beach Things To Do

Lazy Beach is a place to disconnect and relax. 

There’s no wifi here (although at the rate the island is developing, I wouldn’t be surprised if it arrives soon), so it’ll just be you and nature.

Here are some of my favorite things to do on Lazy Beach:

#1.) Go snorkeling. You can rent a mask for a couple bucks at the restaurant. One of the best snorkeling spots on the island is at the very end of Lazy Beach, near the rocks. Try to go when the sea is calm, otherwise visibility sucks. 

Don’t forget to take your GoPro (or cheap GoPro alternative!)

#2.) Beach bum. Read a book. Play frisbee. Make a sand castle. Get sunburned and sand in your mouth. You know, typical beach stuff.

#3.) Enjoy the sunset (and be lazy). Sunsets on Lazy Beach are incredible. And like I said, the view is similar to that of Sunset Beach, but it’s easier (and safer) to walk back to Saracen in the dark afterwards.

#4.) Pick up trash. When we visited Lazy Beach, there was quite a bit of trash washed up on the shore. Not enough to ruin the trip, but enough to be sad. The worst part was some shards of glass bottles we found in the sand. It makes you think twice about running around barefoot. 

Do planet Earth a favor and clean up anything you see as you walk.

Note: I hear the resort staff normally clean the beach regularly. But when we were there, the resort was temporarily closed. This could explain our trashy experience.

#5.) Try the delicious restaurant. The restaurant on Lazy Beach is DELICIOUS. The food costs about the same as your average meal on Saracen Bay, but it’s much tastier.

#6.) Find the secret rock carvings. There’s a rumor of several impressive rock carvings scattered through the jungle near Lazy Beach. Apparently there’s a guy living there who has been working on them for years.

To get there, walk up the big dirt road next to the pier. Once at the top you’ll see a little village, take the first right and keep climbing up the paths. It’s kinda confusing up there, so you might want to ask the restaurant staff (or local Khmer) for a map.

I went up and found this cool carving in the middle of nowhere. They say there are more if you keep searching (I was about to pass out from dehydration and had to turn back).

Accommodation on Lazy Beach Koh Rong Samloem

Depending on what you’re looking for, you might be better off just staying on Lazy Beach instead of Saracen Bay.

Lazy Beach or Saracen Bay?

If you really want to disconnect, you can stay for a couple days in the rustic Lazy Beach Resort—the only accommodation on the beach. Prices vary by season.

This is for people who seriously want to get away from it all. There’s really nothing there besides the Lazy Beach Bar and Restaurant on one end of the beach.

Unless you’re purposely searching for some rustic solitude, I’d recommend staying on Saracen Bay and just doing a Lazy Beach day trip. That will give you more options for food, transport, and internet connection. 

Here are my accommodation recommendations for Saracen Bay:
Budget Pick: Onederz Hostel
Mid-Range Pick: Paradise Villas
Luxury Pick: The One

That said, if you do choose to stay on Lazy Beach, you have a couple options for getting there.

Option #1.) Take a ferry directly to Lazy Beach from Sihanoukville (usually leaves once a day around 12pm-1pm).

Option #2.) Take a ferry to Saracen Bay from Sihanoukville, drop your bags at Octopussy Bar (right next to the path), walk to Lazy Beach, and ask them to pick up your bags with their tractor.

Setting Expectations for Lazy Beach 

Having proper expectations is important for visiting Lazy Beach Koh Rong Samloem.

I’m not gonna lie…

Lazy Beach has seen better days. 

It gets hyped up because National Geographic once ranked it one of the top 21 beaches in the world. Don’t get me wrong—it’s still beautiful and worth a visit. But don’t get too excited (if you look at the other beaches that made the top 21 list, you’ll see why).

It seems like a lot of the sand has washed away over the years (as evidenced by this super tall swing), so it probably used to look a lot different.

So just keep your expectations in check:

• There is no wifi (at least, for now).
• There might be trash (but it’s still pretty).
• The beach looks different depending on whether it’s low- or high-tide.
• There may be sand flies (but they didn’t bother me much with bug spray).

If you’re prepared for those four things, you’re going to have a blast!

Leave me a comment and let me know how it goes (especially if you followed the adventure hike I invented!)

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