|
Imagine breathtakingly beautiful beaches, crescents of pristine white sand backed by dense, green forest, impossibly blue water lapping at the edge of the shore, and many of these all but deserted. Welcome to Sihanoukville. The resort town of Sihanoukville, also known as Kompong Som, can easily be reached by car or bus from Phnom Penh in around three to four hours or so. The area is dotted with picturesque fishing villages, and most of the the action is centered around the beaches.
Watersports are widely available, as are boat trips, scuba diving, and a host of other natural attractions including spectacular waterfalls, trail walking, and just taking in the beautiful views across this verdant, tropical landscape. Dining out is one of the great pleasures of a stay in Sihanoukville, and the seafood is the freshest available. A lazy evening eating delicious food while gazing out across the Gulf of Thailand under a tropical moon is a delight not easily forgotten. Weary bones can easily and effectively be rested here, while the more adventurous or active will enjoy the fast developing -and usually very cheap - nightlife options in the area. Accommodation is quite plentiful and is one of the bargains of Mekong travel, with a reasonable room in a family-run guest house going for around five dollars (often less so shop around). There is even some free accommodation available at some of the beach bar operations although this will likely be a hammock strung between a couple of trees. Mid-range and even limited high-end hotels are also available in and around Sihanoukville, again at very reasonable prices. For these reasons, if no other, Sihanoukville is fast developing a reputation as a rewarding travel destination in the region. Finally, Sihanoukville's airport re-opened in early 2007 for domestic flights (from Siem Reap) and is expected to accept international arrivals later in the year, thus putting the resort town firmly on the map for tourists in the region. To explore Sihanoukville further, and for details of special deals currently on offer for ElephantGuide.com users, simply select your channel of choice at left and let The Elephant guide you.
 |
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
