This little bit of paradise is called Bamboo island, a small island just off the shore from Sihanoukville, Cambodia. You won’t find TV or internet there, or even roads. What you will find is warm blue water, perfect for swimming, soft golden sandy beaches, lush natural surroundings, and loads of peace and tranquility.
If you are fond of a certain amount of civilized amenities, there is lodging available at the island for a true “get away from it all” retreat. The island accommodations are bungalows with private verandas and hammocks, and private bathrooms (there are only 16 of them so reserve yours in advance). There is an open air bar and restaurant on the premises.
Before the bungalows are operated by Coasters at Ochheuteal beach in Sihanoukville, the sponsor of this website.The restaurant offers ultra fresh seafood, just caught, BBQ’ed right over the coals. There is also traditional Cambodian Khmer cuisine on the menu, and western favorites such as hamburgers and now someone ell run the business BUT the activity are still the same.
Relaxing on the beach is not the only thing to do at Bamboo Island by any means. For swimmers, or even non-swimmers, the pristine crystal clear water is warm and shallow near the soft sand beaches of Bamboo Island, perfect for swimming, or just playing in the water. There are footpaths running throughout the island, so you can explore the jungle covered interior. There is a volley ball net on the beach, and there is no better place for beach volleyball than Bamboo Island.
Experienced snorkelers say that the snorkeling at Bamboo Island is as good as anywhere in the world. Snorkeling gear is available for rental at the Island during your stay, and snorkeling tours to the best spots are offered by the Bamboo Island Ferry.
The Bamboo Island ferry departs Coasters on Ochheuteal beach at about 9:00 am. Be sure to come to Coasters early, because breakfast is included with the ferry service. It leaves Bamboo Island for the return trip around 2:00 pm. You can come to Bamboo Island as a day trip, or you can stay the night.For reservations at the Bamboo Island Bungalows, contact Ravuth Travel & Tours at Coasters Bungalows Resort on Serendipity Beach. For the Bamboo Island ferry service prices, packages, and schedule, visit the Bamboo Island Ferry page
Ko Russei or Bamboo Island is a place worth seeing. The boat ride over was so beautiful that the pictures I took were mostly a disappointment.
The camera couldn’t capture the beauty.
Especially when I sat on the front of that small boat, watching the bow of the boat cut through the clear emerald waters with the rat-tat-tat sound of the diesel engines in the background; This gorgeous Island getting bigger as we approached the beach.
The beaches are much better than those on the Mainland of Sihanoukville. It’s so calm that it’s immediately infectious. No hawkers constantly coming by. ‘YOU BUY MY FRUIT’
And the honking horns and motorbikes that swarm the city, filling the air with a nagging noise that you don’t even notice until you come out here. It’s nice without all that under.
You have to get a boat to Bamboo Island or Ko Russei (Same place). There are probably a lot of options abound and I got the boat that was most well spoken of and established.
When it comes to boats and planes and places where I could die, I go the established route.
The boat leaves every morning from the pier in front of Coaster’s Restaurant on Serendipity Beach (Which is part of Ochheuteal beach.)
It departs at 09:00 am. On the way to Bamboo Island we will stop at the nearest of the Island that is we can see clear for snorkeling depend on how long the customers enjoy with the carol and fish when they are on snorkeling, then we get on the boat straight away to Bamboo Island. We return from Bamboo Island at 2:00 PM, also on the way back we stop one more Island for 15 or 20 minutes for swimming and snorkeling again, then we will be back on the mainland around at 3:30 or 4:PM. The journey takes around 45 minutes in average sea conditions if none stop.
Especially easy if you are staying at Coaster’s Bungalows.
They will wait for you for up to 10 minutes. Only because if they don’t get your ticket, then they don’t get their money. Everyone will leer at you angrily for the rest of the day, though. Wear your life-jacket right away. Don’t ask how I know.
I was told that tickets on the boat and any reservations for the bamboo huts on the beach could only be booked through Ravuth Travel & Tours, located at Coaster’s Bungalows Resort, Serendipity Beach in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.
It seems this is both a lie and the truth.
I reserved a Bungalow on the beach and a seat on the boat over to Bamboo Island at the reception desk at Internet Café in Coaster’s Bungalows Resort At the reception desk, in fact. It was a very ordinary moment. You can do it at any time between 7 am and 11pm.
I later found a few people who said they had booked for accommodation on the Islands or the day boat trip. Ask any driver to take you to this place or that place and then you can find the boat driver for the Islands. BUT if you wish to do trip with Ravuth travel & Tours (Anny trips) just waiting at Coasters Restaurant or at the hotel where you are staying we will arrange to pick you up from your hotel.
You can book all trips or any Services with Ravuth Travel & Tours by
Tel: (+855)(0) 12 43 92 92 / (+855)(0) 16 641 777 / (+855)(0) 888 641 777 / (+855)(0) 13 999 454