Sihanoukville accommodation from AU$35

Let’s be honest, the main attraction of seaside holidays are the beaches, so does Cambodia’s trendiest coastal destination have the goods? The answer is yes - Sihanoukville doesn’t just have one good beach, but a selection of irresistible white-sand strips that have their own characteristics to suit your mood on different days.

Otres Beach is the southern-most beach within easy reach of the Sihanoukville, and while it is not very wide, this is more than made up for by how clean and beautiful it is. It is also one of the most relaxing beaches here, and you may just find yourself spending most of your time under its swaying and calm waterfront trees. Next along the coastline is Ochheuteal Beach, where drinking huts and guesthouses right on the sand create a cool vibe. It leads straight to Serendipity Beach, the centre of activity with breezy restaurants, crowds of happy travellers and the kind of late-night party atmosphere you can only find by the sea. Victory is Sihanoukville’s northernmost beach and the place to be if you love sunsets, which get pretty spectacular over the Gulf of Thailand. If wreck diving is your thing, the last battle of the Vietnam War took place in Sihanoukville and left two eerie shipwrecks below the surface that go well with the area’s colourful reefs to make a diver’s and snorkeler’s dream.

When you want to break free of the regular tourist haunts you can hop on a scooter and head north or south to beaches just as beautiful as any in town but with few or no other people around. The quiet here can be hypnotising. You can also pay for a ride out to the Kbal Chhay waterfalls in Ream National Park. Here, the river is surrounded by thick steamy forest and falls down a series of brown rock levels that are so smooth and square in some places that it looks man-made. Visitors can take a dip in the cool freshwater, which flows heavily in the rainy season.

If you prefer to stick to exploring town, try out Top Cat Cinema, where you can shut yourself in dark rooms with friends to enjoy a movie of your own choosing with snacks, blankets, pillows and chairs that you can just sink right into. A perfect way to relax!

As so many beach hotspots are getting crowded with buildings and people, Cambodia gives you an option that is just right. So wot are you waiting for? Our Sihanoukville hotels and flights to Cambodia are your ticket to that much-needed break from the daily grind.