Cambodia is a fascinatingly divided country – the cities of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh are polar opposites of past glories and recent tragedies – and it’s a highly recommended stop off given it’s quite easy to reach from Bangkok. Many visitors to the country head to Sihanoukville for the Cambodian style beach break on the Gulf of Thailand.
The premiere surf spot is at Bamboo Island, about a 25-30 minute boat ride from Sihanoukville. It’s one of the more secluded beaches in the area, particularly for surfing, and there is no board rental here. Still, if you’re itching for surf and it’s the right time of year, you can head over from the mainland quite easily.
It’s best to go in the rainy season (June – October) as there are monsoon swells. During the rest of the year the exposed beach break doesn’t always work so you might want to head to another of our recommended places.