Cambodians call it by its old name – Kompong Som – but to Westerners it’s better known as the beach town of Sihanoukville. The centre of town was built in the 50’s and 60’s and is basically quite an ugly collection of concrete.
Beaches are about 1 km to the south and roughly 2 km to the west of the town centre with the port of Sihanoukville at the northern end of the western beaches. Do not expect wide stretches of sand here, Sihanoukville’s beaches are quite narrow.
Initially established as a holiday resort and tourist city in 1945, the area was named Kirirom namely"Mountain of joy"by the King at the suggestion of a monk from Phnom Penh. A hill of 700m covers an area of 35,000 hectares.
Especially interesting is the Chambok Ecotourism site.
Besides boasting a famous name and beautiful white sand beaches there are many wonders of natural beauty hidden in the islands near the coastal town of Sihanoukville.
One such island is Koh Russei (Bamboo Island), where picturesque beaches and the fresh sea air soothes tourists souls, sends them into a state of relaxation and melts their cares away.
Ream National Park is a lush, green ecosystem, unknown to most travelers who visit Sihanoukville. Ream encompasses 210 sq km of coastal land, including mangrove forests, the Prek Tuk Sap estuary, two islands, isolated beaches, and off-shore coral reefs.
Named after the spice that still grows on its slopes, the Cardamom Mountains region in southwest Cambodia is the last true wilderness remaining in mainland Southeast Asia.
The region is the focus of conversation efforts by the GMS Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative. Take part in one of the eco-tourism initiatives.
