Koh Rong Sanloem is an up and coming Cambodian Island with some of the nicest beaches in Southeast Asia. While many are starting to be built up with guesthouses and hotels, you can still find seclusion at places like Lazy Beach in Cambodia. In fact, at the time of writing this the only way to get from Saracen Bay to Lazy Beach is by hiking! Once you arrive and grab a seat for the Lazy Beach sunset, you’ll see it was all worth the short walk through the jungle on Koh Rong Sanloem.
Saracen Bay to Lazy Beach Cambodia
Your journey will start from the center of Saracen Bay to Lazy beach. In between the Leng Meng and GreenBlue Beach Bungalows, enter the the wide dirt trail.
There was some bigger trucks motoring around and it looked like they had just built the road, so it will be pretty apparent where to go. The entire walk takes about 30 minutes but leave yourself plenty of time to head back if you stay for sunset.
We should tell you there was plenty of construction on our last hike here. Let us know if anything has changed about the train in the comments!
→ How to Visit Saracen Bay on Koh Rong Samloem: Paradise Found!
Hiking to Lazy Beach Koh Rong Sanloem
Honestly, we would call this more of a walk than a hike, but you’ll probably still want to wear shoes or decent sandals. About 10 minutes in you’ll reach the end of the wider trail and find a fork in the road. Head left, and NOT RIGHT HERE!
A right turn will take you towards Sunset Beach which is still worth going to, but that’s for another day. After the left you’ll head up a steep incline which is the hardest section of hiking to Lazy Beach. The rest of the trail is a flat sandy stretch mostly enclosed by forest.
→ Lazy Beach Cambodia Location
Arriving at Lazy Beach Koh Rong Sanloem
Once you see the entrance sign you’ve made it to Lazy Beach Cambodia! Go left towards the restaurant and it will bring you to west side of the beach. It opens up to a small cove with, golden sands, clear ocean water, and lush green mountains in the background.
Now you can relax… You’ve made it to paradise! Lazy Beach Bungalows are the only restaurant and hotel on this beach. So even in the peak of the day you should only be sharing it with a few other travelers. It’s easy to see why National Geographic named this on their recent top beaches in the world list!
Other Things to Know About Lazy Beach Koh Rong Sanloem
Tides: Lazy Beach has extreme high and low tides. This means the water will go all the way in at high tide, but you’ll have to walk out a bit to reach it during the low period.
Sand: Completely opposite from the white sands of Saracen Bay, Lazy Beach has soft golden brown sand. This gives it a unique look to the rest of the beaches on the Koh Rong Islands. Even with the different colored sand, the water is still crystal clear at Lazy Beach in Koh Rong Sanloem!
Snorkeling: The clear blue water also makes Lazy Beach a great snorkeling spot. Rent masks for $2 USD from the restaurant, and head to the far end of the beach to see many tropical fish.
Other Animals: During our short hike to Lazy Beach we saw monkeys, cows, lizards, and toucan-like birds that call the jungle home. As long as you keep to yourself you shouldn’t be in any danger!
Relaxing: This is the perfect spot to escape the commotion of Saracen Bay and disconnect. The hotel/restaurant does offer wifi, it’s still easy enough to get away and enjoy the beautiful beach.
Sunset at Lazy Beach Cambodia
Many people head to Sunset Beach, but you can actually get just as good of a view here! There’s also 3 hotels on Sunset Beach so hiking from Saracen Bay to Lazy Beach is a great alternative.
Some days the sun might dip behind the mountains, while others you’ll get a full on view as it sets into the ocean. Just make sure you start hiking back before it gets too dark!
Have any questions about this article or want to share your own tips for Lazy Beach Koh Rong Sanloem? Comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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Where To Stay In Koh Rong Sanloem
Ultra Luxury – The One Resort – Looking for absolute luxury in Koh Rong Sanloem? The One Resort is a top of the line hotel with state of the art bungalows. Not that you need it with the clear blue ocean in front of you, but it’s also one of the only places with a beachfront pool on the island.
Fun Vacation – Bamboo Jam – As if the setting on Saracen Bay wasn’t enough, once you see the design and unique decor of Bamboo Jam it will be tough to leave! The comfy chairs and hammocks right on the water is everything you need to enjoy an island vacation.
Hostel Life – Onederz Koh Rong Sanloem – Right on the main strip, this is the perfect hostel to meet others, soak in the sun, and enjoy the island. Also, perfect walking distance to catch the Lazy Beach sunset. This hot spot sells out fast so make sure to book in advance!
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Cambodia Travel Planning
Cambodia: Make sure to check out all our Cambodia articles including our popular 2 to 3 Week Cambodia Itinerary! We cover everything from Siem Reap and Angkor Wat to the Kep Crab Market and Kampot boat tour!
Flights: We always find deals using Skyscanner and Kayak. That’s how we got flights from Thailand to Siem Reap Cambodia for under $50 USD!
Transportation: 12Go is what we use to book ferries, trains, buses, and private transfers while traveling through Southeast Asia.
Accommodation: Compare competitive sites for hotels such as Booking.com and Agoda. Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget.
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for activities all over Cambodia. You can book everything from an Angkor Wat small group sunrise tour to visiting the Kompong Phluk floating village, and even take a Cambodian pottery class!
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without being covered. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
Packing Lists: Here’s all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists! Including electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
Thanks so much for the report! It convinced us to go to Lazy beach and it’s great!
Updates though: there is WiFi at the bar now and it became a little more popular by 2023 😉 but it’s still beautiful and not too crowded!
Awesome that’s so great to hear! Thanks for the update on the wifi, too.
Interesting article, but not fully accurate. You can also take a boat to to Lazy Beach if and only if you are staying at the resort. (It is all privately owned and the owner will not allow other boats to land).
There is also 4 places to stay on Sunset beach, offering bungalows, tents, tipis, and dorms, although they are not all open due to the Pandemic.
The hike to Sunset beach is more of a true jungle hike, up and over the mountain, so there are less casual dayhikers. You can also hire a boat, but it will cost you ~$50.
I have a few pictures from Sunset Beach in my Cambodia gallery, if you want to see what it is like.
Hi Tristan! We loved this beach and have always had a great time while visiting Cambodia. Thanks for the updated information about the range of accommodations on Sunset Beach.
Very informative ,. thankyou ??
Anytime! This beach is amazing (: