Cambodia’s primary coastal party town, SIHANOUKVILLE occupies a hilly headland rising above island-speckled waters and six gently shelving white-sand beaches. The area is blessed with a pleasant climate all year round – cooling sea breezes in the hot season (March–May), comfortable heat in the cool season (Nov–Feb) and enough sun during the rainy season (June–Oct) to spend mornings on the beach. The town centre is a little way inland, and although the sprawling layout and architecture are workaday – plain concrete blocks connected by wide, undulating streets – the relaxed atmosphere is still what you’d expect of a seaside resort.
The main hub of activity is on and around Ochheuteal Beach, roughly 4km south of the town centre, off which you’ll find the majority of the bars and guesthouses. Should you weary of the beaches, there are inland waterfalls to visit north of town, and the Ream National Park, 18 kilometres to the east, which includes a protected marine area enclosing a diverse landscape of rivers, mangrove forest, islands and farmland.
