Koh Rong has been pretty much untouched and unknown to most tourists until very recently.

Getting to this beautiful island in Cambodia is no easy feat. There are very few flights that go to Sihanoukville, the jump-off point for the speed boats that will take you to the island itself.

The cheapest and fastest option that I found is to fly to Phnom Penh from Bangkok, and take the bus to Sihanoukville from there that lasts four to six hours depending on traffic. The return ticket for a speed boat to Koh Rong costs around US$ 25, depending on which beach you choose to stay at.

Koh Rong is a pretty big island so there’s something meant for all kinds of travelers — families, couples, friends, and backpackers. Our beach of choice is the quiet one, Coconut Beach, but whichever part of the island you choose, the beach looks pretty much the same.

You’ll get the same clear blue water…

And fine white sand…

That’s perfect for walking barefoot!

The Galaxy A8+ (2018) captures the fine white sand really well up close

Did I say the water is so clear? This is the stuff made for Instagram!

Whether you’re there for three days, one week, or even longer, there’s plenty to do at the island including snorkeling and kayaking.

You can also rent a scooter to go to other beaches although only the locals and very few tourists choose this option to get around. There are very few developments on the island for now — no paved roads, airports, or big buildings yet.

Accommodations consist mostly of nipa bungalows and tents owned by foreigners who moved to Cambodia.

Closest to Coconut Beach is Long Set Beach. It’s bigger and has fewer tourists when we visited but accommodations and food are also a little bit more expensive.

Pura Vita is one of the resorts at Long Set Beach that also has a restaurant at the beachfront.

Here’s a fullscreen selfie with Live Focus turned on

My favorite thing, whether I’m on vacation or just in the office working, is food. I have been to Cambodia before so I’m a little more familiar with Khmer cuisine now. Beef lok lak with rice and a glorious runny fried egg is my favorite.

Here it’s served with fries and the traditional Kampot pepper dip. Another thing to try is Cambodia’s national dish, fish amok.

As any beach destination, fresh fruits are a great afternoon snack to get a little refreshed and a dose of energy.

Khmer dishes are also highly influenced by Lao, Vietnamese, and Thai cuisines, so don’t be surprised if you find beef lab and spring rolls on the menu.

The Galaxy A8+ (2018) takes photos with great color reproduction

There are already plans of developing beaches of Koh Rong into luxury resorts, so traveling there will be much easier as the demand goes higher.

Sun-kissed in Koh Rong

So if you’re the type who likes a little adventure and just chilling at the beach without the luxuries of modern life, put Koh Rong on your list of places to visit in 2018 before the big corporations take over the island.

How can something Koh Rong feel so right all along?