Sihanoukville

As you walk along the coastline, drink in hand, admiring the turquoise water as it rolls up onto the pristine, white sand to cool your feet, you’ll know that your Sihanoukville holiday was the right choice. Sihanoukville is home to nine beaches and dozens of small, mostly uninhabited islands. Each beach on Sihanoukville has its own personality. Right on the waterfront, you’ll be able to find bars, restaurants, chairs for lounging, brightly colored umbrellas for shade and maybe even a masseuse. While relaxing in the shade of your umbrella, you can soak up the salt air or read the novel of your choice while getting a pedicure or manicure. The complete relaxation you’ll feel while on holiday in Sihanoukville will keep you coming back for more. As the waves roll in and out, the surf creating the perfect background noise for calm nerves, you’ll know that all these amenities only cost you a few dollars a day. The currency in Cambodia is US dollars and a beachside massage only costs $8.

If you start to get restless sitting on the beach then have no fear as there’s lots of exploring to do during your holiday in Sihanoukville. Boating to the small, natural and unkempt islands can be a great day trip away from the beach. While on the islands you can rest in the sun on the beach, fall asleep to the rocking of your hammock or swim in the crystal clear waters checking out the wildlife. Holidays in Sihanoukville provide a great opportunity to snorkel or scuba dive off the coast and explore the depths of the ocean floor. The exotic fish, clear water and bright colors combine to create the perfect adventure.

If you’re holiday to Sihanoukville is long enough to make you grow weary of the pure white beaches and rolling surf, there are lots of little places to explore. Just a short distance away from the beaches and city center of Sihanoukville, you’ll find the dense trees of Ream National Park. As you explore the park you feel transported to another world as you wander beneath the palm trees as they reach for the sky. While there, you can enjoy a tour on foot, motorbike or boat. If you choose to explore one of the islands for a day away from the beach, be sure to see Koh Ta Kiev where you’ll enjoy a tour of a local absinthe distillery and free tastings from the shady and breezy treehouse bar. If your soul needs a little revitalising while on holiday in Sihanoukville, be sure to stop in at the gold- and prayer flag-adorned Wat Leu or Buddhist temple and Anam Yoga. At Anam Yoga, you can find complete stillness in your savasana or while practicing Hatha, Raja or Kundalini yoga with renowned instructor Greg Zuccinali.

Unlike some quieter destinations in Cambodia, Sihanoukville holidays are perfect for enjoying the night. With beach front bars where the water laps at your toes while you enjoy your drinks and staff who refuse to go home until the last person has had their fill, holidays to Sihanoukville never fail to impress. Get in early to enjoy a great view of the sunset which will set the mood for a romantic evening. If you’re looking to enjoy great music, a nice dance floor and killer drinks, be sure to check out JJs Playground or Dolphin Shack. If you want to join in on the music making, you can borrow an instrument and start a jam session at Retox. Sihanoukville is also known for its fantastic, local seafood. There are many restaurants that can serve you the freshest seafood you’ve ever had.

There are two seasons to be mindful of when planning a holiday to Cambodia- the wet season and the dry season.

Located on an elevated peninsula, tourists on holiday in Cambodia are protected from monsoons. The climate is moderate, ranging from 20 to 36 degrees Celsius with January being the coldest month and April being the warmest. If you’re planning to take a Cambodia holiday in April, be ready for warm weather and the Khmer or Cambodian New Year. Located on the Gulf of Thailand, Sihanoukville is humid year round, reaching over 90 percent humidity at night.   From November to February, the weather in Sihanoukville is cool and dry. The average temperature are in the mid 20s, sometimes dropping below 20 at night. The monsoon rains start to trail in October and should be done by November. This is often considered the best time of year to visit Cambodia. December and January offer warm days, clear skies, minimal rainfall, a light breeze and cool evenings. It’s the perfect weather to enjoy the beach during the day and beachside dinners in the evening.   Be sure to check out the celebrations for the Chinese New Year in January or February and the Day of Cambodian-Vietnamese Friendship on January 8. From March until May Cambodian holidays are hot and dry. The only precipitation during this time is short “mango showers” in the afternoon. While precipitation is infrequent, the humidity in Cambodian can reach 90 percent at night, year round. During these dry months, the river and lake levels are low and may make travel by boat more difficult and can increase travel times. Road travel becomes easier during this time because the rains are not washing out the dirt roads.   Temperature peak in April, sometimes reaching up to 33 Celsius, before tapering off in May when the monsoon season begins. Be sure to bring your sunscreen and hat, the sun can be quite intense at this time of year. During April you can enjoy the huge celebrations for the Khmer or Cambodian New Year. If you’re taking a holiday to Cambodia in June, July or August, be prepared for hot and wet weather. The weather can be warm but is usually moderated by the cooling monsoon rains that begin arriving in May and June. Though the air will be hot and humid during these months, the monsoon rains tend to be quite predictable, making it easy to plan around the showers. The rain usually comes in the afternoon for a few hours or during the night.   Though the rains may slow down your touring a bit, they also bring a lushness and degree of verdigris to the plants and forests. During this time the rivers and ponds are full making the countryside more beautiful and boat travel more reliable. Some roads may be damaged by flooding so beware that travel by road may be difficult. Along the coastline, the rains can last for days at a time, but then also stop for days at a time. This would be a great time of year to visit the Ream National Park to enjoy the abundant wildlife and growth of the plants. The cool and wet months in Cambodia are from September to early November.   The air begins to cool in October and November, bringing the average temperatures down to the low 30s. By October, the frequency of monsoon rains begins to dwindle, stopping completely by the end of October. After the rain stops, the best time of year to holiday in Cambodia begins. During this time you can enjoy the Pchum Ben or the celebration of the ancestors in October or the Water Festival in November.