Five best Cambodian islands for some peace in paradise

isolated white sands lapped by clear turquoise water, to more vibrant beach life, Cambodia's once-forgotten islands are increasingly being planted on intrepid travellers' to-do list. While some of the islands have transformed from peaceful havens into bustling stretches of beaches, the idyllic life exists in abundance. And there are more than 60 islands waiting to be explored.

"Some of the islands really are pristine and offer a natural beauty that seems to have disappeared from Thailand's islands," says Kimhean Pich, founder of tour operator Discover the Mekong. However, as the picturesque beauty of the islands is picked up on more tourists' radars and development continues to pick up pace, to experience deserted tropical island life and get back to basics, now is the time to visit.

Koh Rong

At 78 sq km, Cambodia's second-largest island is undoubtedly the country's most developed. Within a few short years, the southern part of Koh Touch village has transformed from untouched pristine white sands that are home to a few bungalows to a vibrant stretch of beach littered with guesthouses, bars blaring music until early morning, beach shacks and a few marts serving convenient snacks.

When Paddy Robinson opened Monkey Island bungalows in 2010, it was a very different scene. "There was one guesthouse at the top of the beach and a couple more the other end. That was it," he says. "We used to be known as the place to party; now our bungalows are the place people come to for peace."

Despite the nightlife, today Koh Rong still boasts bright-white beaches, crystal-clear waters and dense tropical jungles. And peace and quiet can be found on many of the other beaches that skirt the island and attract a tamer crowd.