Sneak into Sihanoukville….A beach haven for backpackers.

Photo from Flickr by WanderingtheWorld (www.LostManProject.com)

Prior to setting off on my SE Asia backpacker adventure, I knew very little about the Kingdom of Cambodia. I had been told about the impressive temples of Angkor at Siem Reap. This is where my knowledge of this amazing country ended. I can say ‘amazing’ with ease as I have not been able to leave. There is a very certain charm about the place, especially the southern coastal city of Sihanoukville, aka Snooky, located  around 185km south of Phnom Penh.

Beaches, bars, BBQ’s and booze in abundance, it is very easy to stay longer than first anticipated. That is exactly what happened to me. I had only planned to stay for 4 days. How very naive of me. That was over a year ago. With a strong ex-pat community, doubled with backpackers from all walks of life passing through, there is rarely a dull moment. You will find yourself indulged in buckets till the early hours of the morning, most mornings if you can handle the pace! There is a very good array of cheap beach bars that you can shake your money maker to until the sun comes up. The music blares and the booze will flow till you are ready to call it a night/day!

If like me, you are no longer the spring chicken you once were, there are plenty of things to enjoy whilst having a ‘day off’. Home to two well equipped cinema’s and every film ever made to date (maybe), you can lose a day or two in front of the big screen or in your very own private room. However, please don’t forget where you are. This is Cambodia! It’s not just about boozing and recovering. Explore a little. Waterfalls, jungle paths and extremely fun dirt bike tracks with amazing views are all a stones throw away.You would be a fool not to get involved! A couple of hours further a field from Sihanoukville is the charming riverside town of Kampot and the tranquil seaside getaway that is Kep. Both very much worth a visit.

With more and more clean, comfortable guest houses popping up every other week you can afford to take your pick, depending on your budget. Making strides in the affordable backpacker bracket is The Big Easy. Clean, fresh and fun it certainly is. Great western and Khmer food adorns the menu. Popcorn anyone? They got it, by the bucket load! Munch away like an addict as you watch the weekly pool competition.  Every major sporting event worth watching is projected on to a big screen so you don’t miss any of the action. It is worth noting that the quirky bungalows and dorm rooms are set far enough back that you don’t get interrupted by all the lovely happy people having fun in the bar!

If you ever manage to leave Sihanoukville, you will come back. Trust me.

Free Sihanoukville Guide:

Here at Happytimeblog we’re committed to keeping you updated and on the road. We have put together all our knowledge in the shape of a free smartphone Sihanoukville Guide web app called SHVguide.com. Visit it on your smartphone for all the latest info about where to stay, what to see and how to get there.

davefysh has written 3 articles.