Koh Rong, CambodiaSok San Beach
The Royal Sands Koh Rong
A thatched beachfront resort
Sok San Beach Koh Rong, Cambodia
Opened
2017
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Wellness ResortOutside the door
The house
Hotel RoyalA thatched beachfront resort
Open-sided timber pavilions line a quiet half-kilometer shore, where days wind down around sunken beachfront bonfires.
“The Royal Sands Koh Rong is the plushest address on this gorgeous island.”
What it’s good at
Notable
Open-sided timber pavilions and thatched-roof villas scattered across tropical beachside gardens.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
The open-sided lobby, with its rough-hewn reception desk and ceiling fans turning slowly overhead, signals the pace from arrival.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Sok San Beach spans Koh Rong's western coast, facing calm waters that glow with bioluminescent plankton after dark.
The rooms
Thatched villas feature high ceilings and crisp white walls, and select categories include private plunge pools facing the ocean.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The black-tiled infinity pool sits right beside the sand, with woven daybeds resting directly in the shallow water.
The spa
Treatment rooms look toward the island mountains, where traditional Khmer massages and floral baths unfold beneath draped canopies.
The gym
The air-conditioned gym faces the mountains, with cardio equipment and free weights set beneath timber ceilings.
At the table
Ocean Restaurant serves breakfast overlooking the sea, and beachside tables at The Chill host evening barbecues with Khmer specialties.
stay on the shores at a beachfront hotel like the villas at the Royal Sands Koh Rong.
How it began
Co-owner Luzi Matzig developed the property on virgin beachfront that had no existing power, roads, or infrastructure.
Koh Rong
More like this
The Royal Sands Koh Rong
“Thatched beachfront resort”
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.