Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fortunately, the islands appear to be largely excluded from the development agenda,
and existing resorts are far enough from the mainland that the commotion is out of
earshot, if not completely out of eyeshot. Koh Sdach has 24-hour electricity.
Sleeping
Mean Chey Guesthouse
( 011 983806; Koh Sdach; r US$7.50)
Budget travellers will have to settle for this simple
guesthouse close to the main fishing village on the northwest side of Koh Sdach. Accom-
modation is in 15 powder-blue concrete cottages with basic beds, TVs and attached bath-
rooms. The Yvonne restaurant, on the premises, has lovely views of the neighbouring is-
lands and serves French and Khmer food.
GUESTHOUSE
$
Nomad's Land
( 011 916171;
nomadslandcambodia.com
;
Koh Totang; bungalows US$40-135)
It's hard to ima-
gine a more chilled-out place than Nomad's. Owner Karim has serious Zen cred, hosting
periodic yoga retreats and making this the greenest resort in the islands. The five bunga-
lows have solar panels, and the toilets are waterless. The sturdy bungalows are funky for
these parts and rates include all meals and transfers. The resort sits on a lovely stretch of
white beach on Koh Totang, a speck of an island about 20 minutes from Koh Sdach by
outboard. The resort is closed from the start of June to the end of October.
RESORT
$$
Belinda Beach Lovely Resort
( 017 517517;
www.belindabeach.com
; Koh Sdach; r incl breakfast US$130; )
Belinda's lacks
the brilliant beach that would normally be de rigueur for a resort of this price tag, yet it
somehow makes up for it in other ways. The four rooms are in a pair of duplex concrete
cottages that are the most stylish of the affordable accommodation around the islands.
Belgian owner Benny cooks ridiculously good food (three-course dinner US$18) and
leads post-dinner trivia sessions.
RESORT
$$$
Getting There & Away
There are two ways to get to the archipelago. The easier and cheaper way, for now, is on a
boat from Sihanoukville to Koh Sdach. The main 'passenger' ferry (it's more like small
cargo boat with a few local passengers) leaves Sihanoukville's port area daily between
noon and 2pm (US$10, 4½ hours with a stop or two along the way). The return leg de-
