Treehouse Bungalows and White Beach resorts on nearby Koh Rong island, with their unspoilt natural beauty, are a world away from the developed modernity of Sihanoukville and the perfect places to relax.

And with its excellent Asian and Western food, a visit to Yasmine Cafe by the ferry jetty is the ideal way to start any excursion to the tropical paradise island.

The venue has recently added to its offerings, with an upstairs pub having been opened on November 27 to extend its hospitality to visitors further into the night.

“Yasmine Cafe, a long-standing Sihanoukville favourite, has become one of the city’s most popular places since it opened in 2015, and we have been through the many changes to the city and the tourism landscape to remain as popular as ever.

“We have become well known for our quality food, good service, good environment and good vibes, and our warm and laidback atmosphere. And with the pub opening, we are looking forward to offering guests even more and making their welcome even warmer,” said Yasmine Cafe owner Sakip Cadal.

Relaxed vibe

Once on Koh Rong, Treehouse Bungalows or sister resort White Beach are among the most delightful places to stay, with relaxed, accessible luxury ideal for families, and the former offering the chance to sleep among the branches.

Treehouse offers a choice of 24 well-appointed bungalows – six tree houses, with double beds, 13 twin double bed bungalows, five traditional Khmer-style houses that with one double and one single bed are ideal for families, and one top-end suite.

Treehouse first opened in 2009 with a single bungalow, and co-owner Ros Kun Nuch recalls watching the resort rapidly grow.

“I remember us clearing the jungle with just simple tools, stripping back the undergrowth to construct the original simple structure – and our first Western guest – before building others one by one.

“The resort soon evolved into the one we see today with its high-end accommodation, and just four years later it had become so popular that we had to open a sister resort next to it to meet demand – White Beach,” Kun Nuch said.

So called because of its beautiful white sandy beach, the resort offers the same relaxed vibe, stunning surroundings, quality Asian and Western menu, well stocked bar and international-standard service as its sister.

“The strength of Treehouse Bungalows and White Beach is shown in that they are to the only ones of the original resorts on Koh Rong to have survived the storms to have buffeted the tourism industry and remain in business,” she added.

Offering a comprehensive range of services including marine recreation and tourism activities, such as Scuba diving, and motorcycle hire, the resorts make sure you can get the most out your stay on Koh Rong and not miss out on anything the tropical paradise island offers.

‘Best possible experience’

Hiring a small fishing boat is delightful way to island hop or visit the 28 beaches – all now also accessible by motorbike – of Koh Rong, perhaps stopping to do some fishing and snorkelling along the way.

And exploring the other islands around the coast of Preah Sihanouk province is made is comfortable and convenient with Speed Ferry Cambodia and Happy Boat Cambodia, with the two companies offering very different ways of doing so.

“With Speed Ferry Cambodia – the first in the Kingdom – if you have a group of 20 or 30 people, for example, you can hire the fast boat privately for a day and use it to move around the islands that dot the Sihanoukville coast at your own leisure

“You can have the boat for the day, which is ideal for smaller groups to explore Koh Rong, spending a few hours before setting off for Koh Rong Sanloem and Koh Koun, for example.

“You can come to Koh Rong and do some fishing, snorkelling or coral diving, before exploring the smaller bays. Our experienced crew knows exactly the top spots around these islands to give customers the best possible experience,” said co-owner of Speed Ferry Cambodia and Happy Boat Cambodia Bora Ozturk.

For those seeking a livelier form of transport, Happy Boat provides a slower but more exuberant way of island hopping, he added.

“With a large three-floor, steel catamaran with a club able to hold foam parties and a water slide at the back, Happy Boat Cambodia provides a different service.

“Catering to up to 300 people, with the highest levels of safety, Happy Boat is the way to party your way around Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem, while also enjoying the marine recreation activities,” said Ozturk.

With Yasmine Cafe the perfect beginning to any trip to Koh Rong, Treehouse Bungalows and White Beach resorts beautiful places to relax, and with Speed Ferry Cambodia and Happy Boat Cambodia on hand for unique excursions, Sihanoukville offers a truly memorable island experience.